DIY

Ready to downsize?  The pioneer of one-day interior redesign, Lauri Ward, has a new book out!  It’s called “Downsizing With Style“.  The book is about living well in smaller spaces.  Mine is in the mail, and I can’t wait to read it.  I’m all about living well with less (space, stuff, whatever).

Have you read the book?  Give us a review in the comments.

I decided to take a few days off and get some projects done around the house.  It’s been a nice time for me to decompress before the school year starts (since my little one is starting Kindergarten this year!).  The particular project I am working on has been on my mind for about three years, and it feels good to be crossing it off my list!

Do you have unfinished projects around the house?  Been procrastinating?  Here’s a few tips to get them off your list:

1. Is this project really important to me? Home improvement and other projects can stack up like Saturday morning pancakes.  Stop and think about what projects are important to you, and make them a priority.
2. The Yearly Review: Take time once every year and decide what projects you want to accomplish this year.  Put all the others on a staggered list of 2, 5, 10 years and beyond.  Keeping that list fresh in your mind will work its magic in getting those things done!
3. Set aside time to actually do them. There’s no use in having a great list of things you want to do if they never get done.  No one is making more time, so you have to make it yourself.  Put it on the calendar, and get moving.
4. Simplify and let it go. Do you have things on your list that are just plain crazy and not really what you want to do?  Give yourself permission to get those darned things off your list and breathe a sigh of relief.  Honestly, you’ll thank yourself.
5. Get organized and get it done. Once you have your project on your radar, you’ll need to do some planning.  What do you need to get it done?  Are there things you need to purchase?  Do you already have things you can use to get the project done?  Do you need specialized help?  Knowing the whole picture will not only help you get it done and done right,  but also help you know when you are actually finished!

So, you’re looking at your dining or office chairs and thinking, “Yeah, I’m not so thrilled with these.” Does this mean you need to go out and buy new ones? Well, that depends on you budget. However, if you would like to keep that budget to a minimum, why not repurpose your existing chairs?

A little elbow grease goes a long way to refreshing your style.

All it takes is a little stain, paint, fabric or a slipcover. Have white chairs? Paint them black. Don’t like the fabric on the seat? Change it out with upholstery fabric at your local fabric store. Don’t really like the style of your chair, or wish that it even had a style? Try a slipcover – they are washable, and you can change them with the seasons.

Any way you look at it, your chairs can be updated and fabulous. And you don’t have to bust your budget to do it!

Books:

Simply Upholstery

Products are only part of the solution.

Have you ever started an organizing project at the store?  “I KNOW this box is going to be the answer to my prayers…” you might have told yourself.  Now, before I go any further, let me just say that I have no issue with products (as you can tell by now), but for most, they are not the place to start.

If you are embarking on an organizing project, consider that when you go through your belongings, it’s important to sort - get rid of what you don’t need, keep what you do.  Once that process is complete, you have a way better idea of what will stay and how it should be housed.  Sure, research and an occasional field trip is great - just don’t go crazy and clean out the store, bringing it all home, finding it doesn’t fit or isn’t quite what you need, and have that stuff that was supposed to help become more clutter you don’t need, that you have to sort through, decided if you want to keep it, what you’ll do with it……  get the point?

So hey, sort first, then go and buy those cute containers at Storables or russell+hazel.  You’ll  save yourself some money, aggravation and time in the end!

Have kids? Or have a need for a sideboard? Love antiques, or want to use what you already have? Here’s a project for you. This was using existing furnishings and accessories, with a few extra supplies.

This is the picture of the desk, with the organized contents below. This particular desk was being used as a sideboard, with a dual purpose of holding kids’ craft supplies. But, it was lacking a little something, and still looked a little cluttered.

With a little “stitch witch”, tension rod and an inexpensive curtain…..

The sideboard now looks like this. Kids’ stuff is hidden but within reach, and now attractive enough for grownups. The whole project was around $10 and 20 minutes!

What’s YOUR redesign challenge?

Should you do it yourself or hire it out?

Ok all you Do-It-Yourselfers out there.  Here is a great article from Real Simple magazine about when you should get out the tool belt, and when you should hire one who wears said tool belt.  Whether you can’t figure out whether to go with sage green or oatmeal for your dining room walls, have a stained carpet that needs some TLC, your energy bill is sky high but you’re STILL cold (or hot) or your room and furniture arrangement need some restyling without breaking the bank.

There is great information there, and it might save you some time and frustration!

Check out this blog I just came across, it’s called “IkeaHacker“.  The idea is to take things you can find at Ikea, which are very clean lined (is that a word?) and make them fun!  I love it when people take something and make it their own.  You could even use these ideas on what you already have!  The possibilities are endless.  Enjoy!

Getting ready to sell your home? Not sure where you should start to get it ready? Check this out:

http://www.homegain.com/tool_center/home_sale_maximizer/checklist

This checklist is quite comprehensive. It includes checklists for:

Carpet & Flooring, Clean & De-Clutter, Exterior Painting, Interior Painting, Kitchen & Bathrooms, Lighting, Plumbing & Electrical, Staging and Yard

Work your way through the lists and you home will sparkle!

Ok, so I ran across these monogrammed wooden hangers on-line …. I’m a big advocate of ditching the plastic hangers and going with sturdy wood. I transitioned our hangers over a two year period (keeping a few for the laundry room for drip-drying and donating the rest to a local charity), but you can do it all at once if you wish! They last longer and hang your clothing beautifully. When we put in our closet organizer in our (then) new home, my husband said our closet looked like the Gap. ^_^ Furthermore, we removed the door to the closet so the organized beauty is visible at all times (not to mention unimpeded by that space-hogging door!). Beautifully organized closet - so much better than piles falling on one’s head, don’t you think?