Playdate

While the little girls played, 

the big girls did some P~O.  You know...pretty organizing?!?  What else can you do on your first trip to see your friend's new house???

Erin has a great new home out in the country.  She wanted her record player to have a different spot, so, we moved it and hung some great art by her sister.

We worked on the mantel...more great art by Jenny.  But then we were stumped.  We tried to balance it with vases, bowls but nothing worked.  So we headed outside in the first snow and cut some branches.  Never overlook sweet nature as a place to find (free) decor.

The book shelf got sorted and arranged.  We took some items out that could find new homes and kept things looking clean and pretty.

Then I had my fun with the National Geographics.  HOW many people have such a fab collection of these I ask you?  Well, Erin's husband does and they are amazing and very handy and totally hip.  So this is how I left them.  

Erin ended up having to move them out of her daughter's reach, but that is the fun of decorating...nothing is permanent!  You can move and rearrange and see how you like things and move 'em back if you don't.  

So, take a little risk this week.  Move or arrange something you've been thinking about but have not been brave enough to try.  Change the furniture, hang that picture you've been contemplating...the other day my friend and I removed her kitchen cupboard doors...the sky's the limit.

And you can always put it back!

Back!

It's been awhile. 

 All I can say is...reno life is busy.  We'll talk about that another day though.  Today let's look at Colleen's laundry room.

My friend Colleen has a HUGE room for laundry and storage and even extra space to set up a craft/sewing table.  I went over the other day to help her purge, sort and get things placed efficiently.

Before

Huge right?

Our first task was to create a space for Colleen's scrap booking supplies, gift wrap and sewing items.  Before I arrived, Colleen's swell hubby put up peg board.  We put a table against it and gave her a chair for the craft end and another chair for the sewing end.  We moved a shelf from across the room to the end of the table for additional storage.  Everything got it's own little spot.

Before

After

Let's have a closer look at the peg board.  What a fun invention!  You can buy a wide variety of hooks to hang just about anything.  You could paint it.  You could outline your items on there for a fun look.  Another friend has it on her basement ceiling instead of dropped panels.  Love it!

Next, the storage area.  We went through every cupboard and organized them by category...bedding in one, seasonal decor in another...you get the idea.  

Before

The pink basket holds ironing.

After

The laundry area.

Before

We put all the cleaning supplies in the red box and the green bin is for lone socks.

After

The back corner by the door got tidied as well.

Before

We put the filing cabinet and shredder in the corner as they are not used often, and stacked extra laundry baskets on top.

After

So, let's review.

Before

After

Ahhh...that peaceful feeling that comes when your stuff has it's own spot and you know exactly where it is...priceless.