Week 8: The Party. The Hybrid Plan

In this hybrid cure, none of us are holding a party. But the idea of a party is still useful--that is, you want to finish off any projects you have started and tidy and clean the place as if you are expecting guests. In fact, it would be fun to do a "before and after" post at the end of the week showing off what we've done.

So, what follows is a selective list of things to do this week from Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan's much larger list for Week 8 on p. 224 of Apartment Therapy, the Eight Step Home Cure.

Bones:
Vacuum the entire apartment and clean all the windows

Breath:
Do a final purge for clutter and empty the outbox

Heart:
Buy fresh flowers

Head:
Cook and eat at home
Plan the week at home.

*************
For me the focus this week will be on my Basement.
To put it mildly, it is an absolute disaster.

(Yep, that's the dreaded dungeon down there.)

So, in addition to working on my project list, I will be working in the basement (and the garden) this coming week. So, without further ado:

Spring Cleaning List:

Stairway
Wash stairs
Attach loose rubber matting
Wash treads
Wash wall

Storage Area
Discard old furniture
Set up Zones
Clean out dressers
Set up curtains for storage wall

Laundry Room
Clean dryer vent hose
Scrub out lint trap
Clean washer
Clean dryer
Set up something to organize bedding

Declutter Spots:
Baskets with sports equipment
Under the stairs
Tables by washer and dryer
Donation centre

PS: I would include pictures with this post but I cannot open my usual photo editing software. I'm have been trying to "fix" the problem, now, for several hours. I give up (for now).

Hybrid Cure: Bedroom Progress

When I came up the stairs with the camera in my hand this morning, this is what I saw when I looked through my bedroom door.

I actually haven't done all that much, but all of last week I was in the midst of sorting the clothes from winter to summer.


Now that that's done and everything is packed away, it feels like there's been a great improvement!

The clothes were all over this little loveseat. Unfortunately, you can see my storage boxes underneath it.

I have vacuumed the floor and dusted and washed the surfaces. I have vacuumed the lampshades and the window screen.



I vacuumed the box spring and mattress, and flipped the mattress. I changed out the bedding from its winter covering of sheets and a duvet to its summer attire of sheets, a blanket and my Matelasse quilt I've had for years and years.

The quilt at the foot of the bed was made by my great grandmother. It is beginning to get quite fragile. I may not leave it out.

And there we have it.

Left to do:
1) Wash walls
2) Wash the floor
3) Clean out the closet (maybe)
4) Tidy and declutter the linen closet
5) Plan the changes I want to make in this room. There's quite a few. Stay tuned for that post.

Hybrid Cure Week 7: The Bedroom

source: country living

*The "e" key on my keyboard isn't working too well. Please forgive me if I don't catch a dropped "e" here and there!

vacuuming the box spring before I flip the mattress.

I am very anxious for bedroom week to begin. On Friday, I vacuumed my bedroom and my son's room. I also vacuumed and flipped his mattress, changed the mattress pad and washed all his bedding--including the pillows. It felt so good to get it done!

I'm probably going to spend most of my energy giving the same treatment to my daughter's room (Monday) and my own. I also will be focusing on purchasing the tile we need for the bathroom project and seeing about getting a hole in a wall in the bathroom fixed. After that, I want to concentrate on the garden this week. So, I'm not like to do a whole lot on Maxwell's list.

source: Cote de Texas

On p. 208 of Apartment Therapy, the Eight Step Home Cur, MG-R would have us do this:

Bones:
Clean the bedroom and related storage
Buy an air filter for your bedroom.
Buy new sheets, pad, or mattress as needed.

Breath:
Declutter the bedroom.
Arrange the bed against the best wall.

Heart:
Makes sure your bedroom inspires you.

source: Jim Howard via Things that Inspire

Head:
Look into ways to improve your sleep.
Optional: Outfit your bed to reduce allergens.

source: Pottery Barn. I love the colours in this quilt.

The Spring Cleaning List:

Wash walls
Dust furniture
Wash floor
Dry clean duvet
Wash pillows
Rotate mattress
Wash mattress pads, bed skirt and duvet cover
Wash heavy winter blankets and store

source: our suburban cottage I always think of this image as the "doable," budget version of the version by Joanie at Cote de Texas above.

Declutter spots:

the clothes closet
Change out winter clothes for summer
Inventory Sheets and pillowcases and discard what isn't needed.
I've heard it recommended that you should have three sets per bed including the guest bed.
Organize the linen cupboard

Sarah Richardson via HGTV

What will you be doing this week?

How to Make the Shelves Look Good

I'm no expert: but I do have a lot of shelves! So, I thought I would share with you the best advice and examples I found in my research for this dilemma.

The folks at Young House Love share the same attitude as I: errrrgh!

It's hard.

I want functional. No colour coding! No books turned backwards! Fortunately, they are practical people and they don't suggest it. (They do mention perhaps covering your books with plain paper, but only parenthetically, so I don't hold it against them). Here's the link to their post: Styling a Bookcase. (I have paraphrased their excellent advice below.)

Back in the old days, when I first assembled my Expedit, I set things up just so:


I was so thrilled with it.

But, it has grown--and overgrown.


Here are a few inspiration photos I followed while following the advice from YHL.

source: Flickr. left, Chez-Larsson, right, almostbunnies.

This one, however, from Karen, a Canadian blogger is my favourite, hands down. It looks functional. It looks like what it is: a bookcase. And it is attractive.

source: The Art of Doing Stuff. Technically it isn't the Expedit, but 5 narrow Billy's. Close enough!

So, how to go from mine to hers?

1) I did take everything out. I wouldn't have except I wanted to wipe the dust and dirt out of each cubby, and I wanted to move it down the wall a few inches.

How frustrating was this? I just wanted to tuck...it...in...there.

So, to put everything back:

2) YHL says to put the big stuff back in first. Group like-coloured things together and put them back in a staggered pattern--but not an obvious zig-zag. This is my attempt at this step:

Hmmm. I haven't quite got the hang of the "staggering" thing, do I? But see the hanging paper files peeking out at the right? W hew. All tucked in!

I decided to treat my scrapbook albums as "one thing." That is, I'd group all the red, all the green, all the blue: regardless of finish. (I have been slowly converting my albums over from modge podge of brands and styles to American Craft cloth albums.) It was an enormous improvement..


But then, then, I thought to call my scrapbook store and see if they had any more in stock. They did! And not only that but everything in the store was 30% off! Oh happy day.

I wanted to go to Ikea and get two more large green Kasset boxes, too.

3) YHL then recommends I put back the medium sized items, like plants, vases and baskets. Oh--and books, of course.

4) Lastly, the little things. I don't have "little" things, not really.

And so, after much fussing about, I finished.


There we go. I've staggered the green things, the red things and the black things. Following the example of bookshelves from The Art of Doing Things, I also grouped things horizontally (or with horizontal lines) more or less around the center. The wooden magazine holders are in an attractive "L" shape. At least, I hope it is attractive. And you know what else? All the books are arranged by subject--though, I admit, they're by height within those groupings, and not, ahem, in alphabetical order.

But then there was the top to do--and not only the top of the Expedit. There was the top of the China cabinet and another book case to contend with too. I looked to a few sources. Here's a post by Maria Killiam at Colour Me Happy. Candlesticks, books and a flower. A good place to start.



This is the top of my Billy bookcase. I framed a piece of my daughter's art with scrap paper.

For the tops of my Expedit and China cabinet, I let the following pictures inspire me:

left to right, Miss Mustard Seed, Danielle Thompson and Maria Killiam.

Here is the China cabinet:


Yes, that's the wall paper that was used as shelf paper in my cleaning closet. Isn't that gorgeous?



The top of the Expedit is a work in progress, still, I'm sad to say. I bought these canvases just a couple of days ago. I was thinking of the top of Danielle Thompson's expedit, of course.


I don't like the colour of the urn but I'm not sure what exactly to do with it. The big sugar bowl is from an old tea set my half-sister's grandmother gave to her (and which she gave to my daughter).

So, here are the dramatic side by side befores and afters.

Bookcase:



The top of the China Cabinet:


And last, but by no means least, the Expedit.


What do you think?

Linking to the 120th Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.


Check out the other entries! They are a wonderful source of inspiration and motivation. And thanks for visiting.

Week 6: Bathroom week: The Hybrid Plan

Campaign by Restoration Hardware. How can a faucet set--a faucet set! make my heart go pitter pat? I'd shine these beauties everyday. No problem.

I entirely agree with scb. This will be a continuation of Office week for me, too. I still want to vacuum my window screens, wash the windows, and the floor. The shelves above the desk need a clearing and a wash, too.

That may take me until Wednesday, we'll see how it goes.

However, I thought I'd do this post and get it out of the way, even though my bathroom is in such bad shape that it needs a complete overhaul.

It has too much moisture (resulting in peeling paint, water on the floor around the toilet constantly, and even mold growing on the baseboards near the wall heating vent.) The last problem is caused by a leaky tap, but the other--I'm not sure if we have the wrong toilet--or the wrong sized exhaust fan. (Changing to a bigger one will require cutting a larger hole in the side of the house and that's obviously the first solution to try--though the scariest!)

So, it has functional problems. It also has an aesthetic one: our tub surround is beige fiberglass. Beige! It was gouged in several places by paint remover when I scraped the ceiling and repainted it several years ago. I had thought that nasty bath tub surround would be long gone by now, but of course, it is still with us. I want tile in there: the husband will live with the same sort of fibreglass/plastic insert thing--he just wants white instead of the dingy stuff we have now. Here's a picture of "the fibreglass/plastic" sort of thing I mean:

source. Ours is pitted, scratched, and even more beigy.

I would rather have something like the white tile with the black stripe around the top as in this image:

source: Katie Ridder (I think) via girl meets glamour I'm not fond of the tiled in tub and the checkerboard stripe along it, however.

Here is an affordable version, with 4x4 tile, though I have yet to price it for the area we want:

source: unknown. (I would only have it around the tub, though. Can't afford to do the whole room.) This just says classy and "classic" to me.

Moving on....

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan gives us the proscription for this week on p. 187 of Apartment Therapy, the Eight Step Home Cure.
Bones:
Clean bathrooms and related closets.

Breath:
Declutter cabinets and closets.
Arrange your bathroom efficiently.

Heart:
Upgrade razor and shaving supplies.
Purchase bath salts and nice soap.
Place a candle in your bathroom.
Consider scents for your home.

Head:
Plan for the week ahead on Sunday.
Wake early and take a bath before work.
Optional: consider a media fast for the next week.
Optional: straighten your desk at work.

Now, the Spring Cleaning List:

Downstairs bathroom:
Wash shower curtain and liner
Wash window curtain
Vacuum and wash fan grille
Wash walls. Sand off loose paint.
Wash baseboards (clean mold)
Look into new taps

Memoir by Kohler. (These are very similar to the taps I replaced a long time ago, though I don't know if they were original. We have a half moon sink on two chrome legs. I'll have to check to see if I can find out what was originally installed with it.)

Wash or replace tub/shower surround
Replace grout around tub
Wash and dust shelves and medicine cabinet
Clean fixtures thoroughly
Clean shower head

Upstairs, clean:
Wash walls
Wash floor
Look into replacing the floor
Wash shelves and inside medicine cabinet

Declutter:
Medicine cabinet (up and down)
Cleaning supplies and cupboards (up and down)
Cosmetics (up)
Sort through old towels, clean and donate to animal shelter (up and down)

And so there we have it.
Rev your engines---we're over the hump and into the home stretch now!

When I woke up this morning:

I was greeted with this:



I may be a while!



Hope you all had a productive week!

Week 5: Home Office Week; The Hybrid Plan

source: Charming Family House Tour at AT

Everyone has been quiet since the beginning of the week. I had been starting to feel a bit worn down by everything--but I went on a big shopping trip today, (more on that later) and I'm raring to go again.

I will post the "Official" plan--and then tell you what I really want to accomplish this week which may or may not be similar to the Official Plan.

source: Emily A. Clark This is her home office (and Expedit).

From The Book:
In Apartment Therapy, The Eight Step Cure, by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Week Five deals with the Home Office, however humble it may be. The following is from p. 156.

Bones:
Take care of repairs this week.
Clean office area and related closets.
Vacuum, dust, and mop throughout.

Breath:
Declutter files
Tackle cord octopus.
Try a one-day fast.

Heart:
Buy fresh flowers.
Choose at least one soft or hard thing to add or subtract.

Head:
Cook three meals at home this week.
Eat at home Sunday through Thursday.
Go to bed early and read before sleep.
Optional: Look into wireless technology.

source: Miss Mustard Seed

Spring Cleaning List:

Dust and wash walls
Dust and wash shelves
Clean baseboards
Clean floor with Murphy’s Oil
Wash/Touch up/paint desk supports
Vacuum screens
Wash windows
Wipe down telephone
Clean moniter
Clean computer keyboard

source: Colour Me Happy. (This is the top of a bookcase of Maria's. Why am I showing you vignettes of the tops of shelves and things? Hmmmm.

Declutter:

Paperwork (toss last years bills, etc.)
Book shelves
Redundant files on computer
Clean out e-mail
China cabinet

Wouldn't it be lovely to get all that done?

source: Made By Girl What is a picture of a bathroom doing in a post about home office week? Simple: I love the curtain. (see below)

In addition to the decluttering I've planned above (and the paperwork may take an entire day) my tasks are:

• Wash desk
• Wash windows
• Vacuum screens
• Sew curtains for dining room and living room
• Sew covers for living room chairs
• Style the top of the Expedit, the China cabinet and the bookcase
• Wash floors in living room and dining room. (Can you tell I kind of fell behind in cleaning the living room?)

What is in store for you this week?

Taking a Brief Break

I will be watching THE WEDDING tonight: I believe it starts at midnight, here, and goes 'til 8am or so. That means I'll be spending the day tomorrow sleeping! I don't know quite when I'll be recovered from the whole thing. (These old bones don't bounce back the way they used to.)

source: the house that lars built

I am getting excited!

I'll see you on the other side, hopefully not too long from now.

Hybrid Cure: Living Room progress?

I am, I must confess, procrastinating steam cleaning my couch.

The way things are, right now.

So,

I've washed the inside glass of the windows and the window frames.
I've vacuumed the window screens.
I've vacuumed the lampshades.
I've vacuumed the couch, the chair and the floor.
I even pulled out the piano and vacuumed in behind it. Ugh.
I've vacuumed the rug. Twice.
I've washed down the ottoman.
I've opened the ottoman and sorted the contents into 1) wash and keep and 2) wash and give away.
I've washed the television screen.
I've washed the piano.
I've washed the small table that lives in between the two chairs.

Ugh.

I really have to do it now, don't I?

Hybrid Cure Week 4: The Living Room Plan

Tobi Fairley via Pepper Design Blog

Are we having fun, yet?

I am. I find myself smiling at my house and all its little (and not so little) messes. For some unknown reason the process of the Cure (and Spring Cleaning) always makes me happier with my home--even though most of the year I find it frustrating and difficult.

via Pepper design blog

This week is the Living Room. As usual, I have a fairly ambitious list, and I doubt I will get to it all. First though, the tasks from the Cure proper:

In Apartment Therapy, The Eight Step Cure, by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Week Four deals with the living room and all the stuff that's in it. The following is from p. 131.

Bones:
Clean up living room and any related closets.
Repairs are being taken care of this week.

Breath:
Declutter all books and media.
Cancel 75% of all catalogues you receive.
Empty Outbox.

Heart:
Confirm what you need to increase or decrease colour in each room.
Identify what you need to increase or decrease softness in each room.

designer: Scott Yetman Source unknown. I absolutely love the warmth in this room.

Head:
Cook three meals at home this week.
Send out your invitation.

Now, for the cleaning part. Here's a slightly less ambitious cleaning list than mine, from The Unclutterer by Erin Doland:

source unknown

Spring Cleaning List:

Move furniture and vacuum or sweep where furniture had been.
Dust books and bookshelves
Wash slipcovers and steam clean upholstered furniture
Polish furniture and tables

source: Kelly Rae Roberts

My List:
(Leena asked me how I have the time to do all that I do. I don't work outside the home. I am a sahm. In part, I'm doing so much precisely because I feel the time on my hands. I'm beginning to go a little stir crazy, to be honest.)

Take down brown drapes and store carefully
Wash windows and frames, inside and out.
Vacuum window screens
Steam clean couch
Sew new covers for chairs
Sew inserts for curtains
Put up curtains
Put out new cushions and blankets
Steam clean carpet
Wash floor
Dust books and bookshelves
Dust and polish furniture

source: unknown

Declutter Spots:

Winter throws and pillows
Bookshelves
DVD’s and CD’s
Games and puzzles

I have been itching to get to this room.

Sarah Richardson via HGTV