Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: matching flatware

[Joani Blank (joani]

At Swan's Market we started out with everyone's odds and ends including a 
couple of unopened small cheap "sets" that various neighbors had.  Then 
bought matching stuff when a Dansk sale came around!  And we are very happy 
with them. I know a lot of communities who do the same with flatware--and 
dishes, and pots and pans (just buying a few really big pieces at the 
beginning), and CH dining room tables and chairs, and sitting room 
furniture.  We had no money in our budget for these things at the outset, 
so we didn't have a choice as to how and do this.  But even if there is 
enough money at the outset, I think it's cool to make do with everyone's 
odds and ends until you can get a better feel for what will work best for 
your group.

Also it ends up being a really big treat when one day a year or two after 
you've moved in, the common house committee brings the group three 
different sets of possible flatware or three different  possible dining 
room chairs and everyone who cares about it gets to look-see and express 
their opinions.

On the other hand, if there's money in the budget for these things, and you 
think your group would not enjoy the "treat" aspect I've described above, 
by all means get the some or all of the matching stuff at the beginning. As 
far as silverware and dishes are concerned, a couple of communities I've 
visited have decided they are happy to stick hand-me-downs in perpetuity

Joani
Swan's Market Cohousing

Joani Blank
510-834-7399
Cell: 510-387-1315
joani [at] swansway.com
www.joaniblank.com 

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