Lost in Lowes
I got to go to Lowes for the first time today. That may seem strange to some, and it definitely seemed strange to my mom who kept asking me if I was sure I hadn't been there before, but it's truly the case. You see, seven long years ago when I left the U.S. for France these DIY stores were much more rustic in nature and smelled of lumber. You couldn't really buy appliances, ceiling fans and pretty whatnots in them. These places existed to satisfy the burning desire of the mortal (male) to purchase power tools and other weapons of mass 'construction' such as glue and putty knives. Period.
Today was my first visit to the new and improved (for me that is) land of DIY, and all I can say is a hearty, "wow." I was really impressed! I suddenly wanted to be here renovating our home. I had no idea how much of a struggle I really had. All of our DIY stores in France stores are like the old throwback stores from seven years ago. You know, lumber glue, and NO pretty whatnots.
I actually contemplated rewiring and shipping back a ceiling fan I saw. But then I turned the corner and saw a double wide fridge that I'd fantasized about all my life (okay maybe I've lead a rather sheltered life...). And Ditto for a whole bunch of other amazing, stylish, other stuff. In short, I think I went a little out of my head, loony-mad for about 20 minutes, processing the frightful reality that we pay so much for EVERYTHING in these type of stores in France and if we lived here we could renovate for so much less. We'd actually be able to use that extra money to do so much more than what we can do now. We'd have so much more selection.
We payed 25 Euros for a hammer at a DIY store in France not too long ago. A hammer. A HAMMER. And hold on. It was not a 25 euro hammer either, it was about a $5.95 hammer. Can I hear a chorus of sympathy here? This really stinks.
So my trip to Lowes was fun and a little, I don't know, depressing. How can I ever go back to shopping at Bricorama, La Boite d'Outil, or Castorama , sanely tolerating the gross lack of any free paint samples, stylish interior lighting that doesn't look like it came off of a Dynasty set, and the ability to stare longingly at a red Kitchen-Aid bowl mixer in an aisle just over from the dreaded electricity aisle where I often lose my husband for hours on end.
This is a revolting calamity!
Today was my first visit to the new and improved (for me that is) land of DIY, and all I can say is a hearty, "wow." I was really impressed! I suddenly wanted to be here renovating our home. I had no idea how much of a struggle I really had. All of our DIY stores in France stores are like the old throwback stores from seven years ago. You know, lumber glue, and NO pretty whatnots.
I actually contemplated rewiring and shipping back a ceiling fan I saw. But then I turned the corner and saw a double wide fridge that I'd fantasized about all my life (okay maybe I've lead a rather sheltered life...). And Ditto for a whole bunch of other amazing, stylish, other stuff. In short, I think I went a little out of my head, loony-mad for about 20 minutes, processing the frightful reality that we pay so much for EVERYTHING in these type of stores in France and if we lived here we could renovate for so much less. We'd actually be able to use that extra money to do so much more than what we can do now. We'd have so much more selection.
We payed 25 Euros for a hammer at a DIY store in France not too long ago. A hammer. A HAMMER. And hold on. It was not a 25 euro hammer either, it was about a $5.95 hammer. Can I hear a chorus of sympathy here? This really stinks.
So my trip to Lowes was fun and a little, I don't know, depressing. How can I ever go back to shopping at Bricorama, La Boite d'Outil, or Castorama , sanely tolerating the gross lack of any free paint samples, stylish interior lighting that doesn't look like it came off of a Dynasty set, and the ability to stare longingly at a red Kitchen-Aid bowl mixer in an aisle just over from the dreaded electricity aisle where I often lose my husband for hours on end.
This is a revolting calamity!
posted by christine at 8:25 PM
1 Comments:
Yes, but I sit in my broken down cottage going "this place would rock if it were in france!"
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