In somebody else's house, what do you notice most?

[4littleones]

when you go to somebody else's house, what do you notice/judge the most?

I always find myself looking at dirt in the bathroom. Possibly because I'm alone in there, but also I think if you having guests round, you should at least spend 10 mins wiping the bathroom.

but I know everybody has different standards and priorities so just interested to know what you notice most?

open plan kitchens and dining rooms
bay windows love em
and always notice if kitchen and bathroom clean.

Oscar

"commenting on DH's WW2/Nazi obsession"

This! If you look at DH's books, you'd expect him to be wearing a tinfoil hat and hoarding tins! They're all WW2, scary history and obscure science!

I love crime fiction and pulp horror. I collect scary gross old recipe books (Americana type ones with pink jello covering savoury food).

Our bookcase is not for the faint hearted!

Re the book thing. We both have two degrees each, mine both in literature type subjects and one of DH's needed lots of texts but we don't have any bookshelves apart from in our office. I have a little stack in the bedroom that I'm currently reading but the rest are in boxes.

I would like to have bookshelves somewhere but not sure where they'd fit in, especially downstairs. It never occurred to me that anyone would notice.

I too am shocked that people are judging on if there are books on view. We have no bookshelves downstairs. We have 5 bedrooms full of books, but of course your avverage guest tends to stick to the living room, possibly dining room , downstairs toilet and possibly kitchen. Does this mean all MNers who have visited our house assume we are bookless ?

Oh fucking HELL not this fucking books thing again!

Whether I am offered a nice coffee and also whether I am offered a second cup when I have finished the first one.

I feel more comfortable in slightly untidy houses. Immaculate houses feel a bit uncomfortable to me - reminds me of visiting elderly relatives.

Oh and I really not keen on being asked to remove my shoes either.

Yes, I would absolutely hate having to take my shoes off. Luckily, no one I know seems to expect it!

Oh fuck. We are stuffed! I hate people wearing shoes in my house. We have wooden floor in main living areas but white sheepskin rugs etc... Plus a white fabric sofa. And someone once came round and had shit in shoes and ds1 nearly crawled in the mess created!

I usually notice flowers and art work. Not something that features much in our house sadly.
I also like looking at photos but I'm never sure if this is rude!

Actually this reminds me. We lived in Germany for a while, and I once visited a friend at her house. I went to use the toilet she directed me to and it was full of porn pictures of her husband and her!!! Like 6ft photos in frames on the walls. Was really bizarre keeping a straight face after

Fully naked pics? That deserves its own thread!

I really hate having to take my shoes off. Especially in Summer when you aren't wearing tights or socks. My feet are nice but I don't feel comfortable sitting there with bare feet.

Coumarin - yep! I know nakedness is more liberal there, and I think it's good, but these were extreme. They have kids also

The feeling that everyone is happy and loved; no tense atmosphere, lots of laughing and an authentically warm welcome.

I don't care about mess.

I love a well-lived in place with books and sports stuff and happy family chaos.

And home made cake with decent coffee, you could have trouble getting rid of me!

Right so... I have cats and my house is warm. If I open the windows to get rid of the cat smell my house will be cold. Since they're both no-nos, which do I sacrifice? Heat or nice smell?

Air fresheners, especially plug-in ones, do not freshen the air they're fucking TOXIC.

TV left on, especially if the host interrupts what I'm saying to comment on something on the telly, height of bad manners! I know someone who does this

When going to a friend- coffee, sofas , relaxed friend and friends kids. I would hate it if they'd spent all morning cleaning /tidying for me - a basically sanitary house is all I need to be happy!

I suspect if your house was pristine I'd be scared. It's taken me years to feel reasonably relaxed in my lovely bil/sil house as it's minimalist chic and visiting DS godfather at his parents house with even well behaved smalls was just awful!

I notice how clean the bathroom is too - I suppose it is just because you're sitting there with not much else going on to focus on for a bit. I don't judge though, just wonder (if clean) where they get the time & energy to keep things clean though or (if dirty) think thank God they can come round to mine without my worrying.

The thing I find difficult is that my house smells of dogs - the carpet and sofa get cleaned and washed regularly, but I know the house must smell and given it is a small cottage with an open plan downstairs it will smell all over. I have finally reached the point of saying to new friends who haven't been around before and have dog-phobic children that this probably isn't the house for them, and feel liberated to be honest. Its actually quite nice to be honest and say that we would all feel happier elsewhere rather than try and pretend I don't have dogs.

I do bake if people are coming and offer lots of tea/coffee though.

hahhhaah at 'book wankers'

I love gazing at someone's bookshelves but I would never judge if they didn't have any....that is wanky and pretentious.

Our books are all upstairs and on our kindles..got rid of loads of the dust traps when kindles came out.

I notice the loo seat before I sit down , that's about it.

How homely it is. Things like nice rugs a d curtains.

I do notice it because we live in a doer-upper and it's all taking a long time and our house is most definitely not homely.

I am also grateful to see toys everywhere.