Interior Designer Gina Stigi and Barbara Lemley of ColorStoryHome are teaming up to bring Baristaville a series of fun, relaxing design seminars. The first event is tonight, Tuesday, March 24th, from 7 – 9 pm. They still have four spaces; sign up here.
Frankly, I’m thrilled. I plan to attend and take lots of notes. I love my home but I hate the way it has become cluttered and less appealing in the few years I’ve been here. I don’t have a lot of money to spend on big improvements — I just need some sound design advice to help me work with what I’ve got. The picture shown here is of my living room. It needs some serious de-cluttering. I’ll keep you posted.
I decluttered my home last summer. It’s a great feeling; I’m enjoying my house so much more. I’m taking great pains to keep it neat and clean.
Garage sale.
I don’t like clutter (Fran, this is no reflection on you! That room pictured above is really not all that bad) but I am married to a “collector.” I find that it’s just a nicer word than “hoarder.” I know there’s a psychological root there somewhere (my mom was a “collector” as well) but am not sure what it is. At least we’ve compromised: His clutter is confined to only a couple of places now, the basement and garage. A collector’s favorite sentence is, “But you never know when you might need a _______.”
But, if this is his worst trait, I consider myself lucky. 🙂
Good solution Mrs. M. My husband has his “guitar” room in the attic and his “shop” (euphemism for too many tools and guy stuff) in the garage. It keeps all the junk out of the living areas.
Speaking of design, what happened to the right side of this page? Yesterday, it just plain disappeared. All I see is white. Perhaps it is my computer? Either way, I miss the “recently posted” update.
LOL…also, I’ve learned something else: Never buy a collector a larger storage bin, container, basket, whatever, to contain the clutter. He/she will just fill that up as well, often with an overflow into the surrounding area.
Yeah, I noticed that about the right side of the page, too. I don’t like it.
Garage sales are far too much work. I prefer having a big bonfire on the front lawn.
Anyway, if you decluttered last summer, Nellie, your house, if you’re anything like me, will by now be recluttered.
JG,
Ask you husband if he’s interested in a 1986 Paul Reed Smith Standard guitar. It’s tobacco sunburst in near mint condition – a true collector’s item.
I need the money to finish my kitchen job.
MB2 – If I ask, he’ll say yes to a PRS. Although maybe he could barter finishing the kitchen for the guitar? When we re-did the kitchen in our last house the contractor was so bad and took so long we threw him out and finished ourselves. I hope you have a better experience.
I’m actually doing pretty well, Walleroo. I make myself do a walk-through/clean-up daily. And as soon as the books start to pile up, I make a bag for the College Women’s Book Club.
Books were my biggest problem. They were EVERYWHERE!
It disappeared on mine, too. Thought it was my computer.
While we’re on the subject of design complaints, the “sign in to comment” line is way too close to the advertisement that sits directly below it. Every time I try to log in I end up accidentally opening up the pop up ad for Whole Foods. Unless that is intent, and in that case, never mind–just one more reason never to shop at Whole Foods.
I see all that is supposed to be on the right hand side of the page at the bottom after the “leave a comment”.
Nellie- Get a Kindle…really gets rid of the book clutter. Best gadget ever!!!!
JG,
The kitchen is almost done. Chris Stearns is doing the work for us and his crew is doing an excellent job.
Just kidding about the PRS of course. I’ll never sell that or my 1975 Martin D18. I have a few Tayors I might part with though(815C, 714CE, 555CE).
I think the running gag about my kitchen is about to come to an end. You’re a good sport.
Nachos, how long did it take to get used to using the Kindle?
I think about it from time to time to cut down on the book-related clutter in my house, but I just don’t know if I can give up holding a real book in my hands.
Another way to cut down is to take books out of the library, something I swore I would do after my major clutter clean-up but have not done yet.
LOL, complainer, I’d noticed that too. I figured the baristas had indeed done it on purpose as I’ve found myself on Whole Food’s website more times than I can count.
You’re going to need to paint to reduce the clutter. Take off all the wall stuff and patch the holes and paint. Look very carefully and pair down to only what you absolutely have to have on the walls.
Sweep off the mantle. Only put one or two items back up there. Lose the pic on the fireplace under the mantle. Put the books away. Leave 3-5 on top of your new coffee table, which I recommend you get one without the handy book storage under shelf — its only tempting you to hoard books and magazines and other clutter there. That benchy thing on the side is only enabling your cluttering as well. I guess you’ll want to keep the cat, but technically, its clutter.