apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

my dog is always at the door and really excited to see me. that is what i look forward to.

My dogs and my cat all come to greet us at the door when we come home.

I see my living room. A straight view of my couch and my favourite lamp. It just says "come relax here!". And then I do!

My cats' smiling faces. Actually they peek out the window at me before I even get to the door.

(So maybe the question we're answering is really "Who welcomes you home?")

i see a cold diet dr pepper in the fridge and the laptop by the couch. i'm ready to sit!

As I enter from my garage into my kitchen, I am greeted by the familiarity of the kitchen of my dreams. It is the place where many meals have been cooked, family and friends have gathered and memories have been shared. It is the hub of our home, and most importantly, the heart of our home.

yep, kitties.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/2217399069_1dcbb53930.jpg

behind her is a weathered wood bench and a basket holding a star-shaped cake pan and a little cookbook called "pies men love."

My beautiful cat!

Hmmm, as in the proverbial "What would you save in a fire?" where everyone inevitably answers "my cat/dog/child/husband" maybe we need the disclaimer of "other than a pet, spouse or significant other, WHAT welcomes you home?"

In my home, it is a HUGE black and white portrait of a monk's head, against a deep chocolate wall. It is like a pressure relief valve.

And my ex, when he lived in New Jersey, used to have nothing on the wide landing at the top of his entry stairs excpet a pile of shoes. With some coaxing (and a trip to Ikea), he turned that landing into additional square footage for his already ample home... with the simple addition of a shoe cabinet, and an adorable print of a wet black dog against a bright red background... it TOTALLY changed the space, and TOTALLY changed how he (now happily) arrived in it...

after a long day at work, i open my door to a collection of small watercolors i've painted, photos of family and a bright living room full of cheery patterns. i make a beeline for my well-worn, hand-me-down couch and kick my feet up.

After a crazy day at work I walk right into my living room where I have a pug so excited she literally coughs as she does crazy pirouettes.

My Nelson bench with Agnes the cat sitting on it, swaying her tail.

The cat, purring and rubbing against my legs in our sunroom, full of books and light and happy colors, as I shrug off the day: keys, purse/bag, outerwear, shoes. Ahhh!

three dogs lined up at the top of the landing. just about the right height for kisses and pawshakes!

My dog doing a happy dance & licking my knees. Other than that, the best 'first things' are my potted plants. I live and work in downtown LA so the green space is rare. They're really relaxing and a great reminder of the south (where I grew up).

When I come home, my cat comes running toward me meowing at the top of his lungs.

My front door opens onto a long entrance hall with a lovely runner that I especially like that's black with muted green, mustard and dark red squares on it and to the left, I see my kitchen, which has pale yellow walls, stainless appliances, dark grey countertops, white cabinets and red accents.

I reach down to pet the cat, kick off my shoes, look into my happy kitchen and am so glad to be home.

My birds welcome me with song before I turn the key in the door.

my two extremely excited dogs (ruby and juno) although ruby peers out the window when she hears my car pull up. they always make my day better when i see their two faces.

Glad to see everyone is taking my disclaimer advice, not.

When I open the door I'm welcomed Home by my favorite family photos and collection of small chairs and sea shells all things that I love. It's my version of my Mom's home. sweet.

As soon as I crack the door open, my dog's head pokes out the door and that's what greets me. I love it.

My three dogs greet me. Sorry if that bores you, Patrick.

Doesn't bore me at all. It's just not the point of the posted question.

My cats really are all I pay attention to when I first walk in. Maybe that means I should figure out something else for the decor.