More Uncluttering

While I was coming to terms with the condition of my sewing area.  It occurred to me that I really need to take a look around the house and see what other 'clutterings' have happened.

Take this spot in my kitchen.  An unassuming set of drawers.  Now, here in the Little Red House, I have mentioned before how space is at a minimum.

When the drawer is opened... avert your eyes if you cannot handle clutter - this could cause you anxiety:

Now.  I know this is bad!  I am not sure how this even happened. I am sure it started when the girls were little.  Back when they needed access to all kinds of 'kid' things in the kitchen.  It kept them happy.  Everything has to have its place - and this was their place.

But if you look here - right NEXT to that drawer is this:

Now.  Something is not right.

SO I spent some time last night FIXING this problem.

Half way done:

Completely empty:

Hmmm.....  found this in there... it's blue- so that means Easter.  Should I?  Would YOU?

NOW - this seems much better:

But wait - yes, THIS is better.

And - gee I think this drawer is best for this stuff now.

I cannot believe it has taken me this long to make this switch but I feel that inner peace again when I open those drawers.

Tight on Space - Mud Room

In the 'Little Red House' we are tight on space.

When the girls were little and each had a jacket, raincoat and two pairs of shoes - life was good.

Now I have to figure out how to store:

Two Book Bags
Two Lunchboxes
Two Dance Bags
Two Soccer Gear Bags
Two CCD book sets
Two Enrichment Day bags
Two Spring jackets
Two Raincoats
Two Hoodies
AND two each of: dress shoes, sneakers, Chuck Taylors, flip flops, boots...

This does not include Winter Gear.  And did I mention dog food?  OH the Mr. and I have jackets also.  Recycling bin, broom/mop...do I really need to go on?

How do we do it?  We have a tiny little mudroom that you enter our home through.  I had this system built in after I saw something similar in a Pottery Barn Catalog.

Talk about inviting you into my mess!

Even on it's best day  - it is overflowing. I hate that this is the first thing my guests see when they enter my home - so that motivates me to try to keep it organized.

We have a rule: EVERYTHING has its PLACE.  If you put it back in its place you will find it the next time.

I hung a canvas shoe bags on the wall which is great for controlling hats and gloves for everyone in the winter and holds sunscreen & bugspray in the summer.

Our shoe problem was solved by a shoe tree.  Most of the time shoes actually are on the tree and not all over the floor.

We are on week two of school and so far so good this year.  The bag system is really the only thing that works for us.  EVERYTHING stays in those bags.  Items go from laundry back to the bags.

The good news is this little room is due for a Face Lift! And I have already started!

How do YOU organize your small space with so much crap stuff?  Leave a comment!!

Home Decor: Round Tray

I needed something to put on my new round coffee table.  Something to protect it, be functional and look pretty.

The solution was to find something round!  I popped into Home Goods and went looking for a large charger plate or low profile bowl.  I just did not see what I wanted.  Then in the clearance section I tripped on this horrendously ugly metal platter:

I mean it is not pretty.  But - it was the right size, low profile and I love that it is metal.  Then I flipped it over and saw the price.  For that  price - I could play with it! 

So I picked up some of THIS in Oil Rubbed Bronze
 

and one of these (Hello!  I love you!)  

Started spraying!

Nora keeping an eye on me

I realized... I should have primed this first.  So I added a few layers of this:

 The reason I like this product:

  Now - look how pretty it is.  And the bonus is - the texture of the paint splatters created texture on the tray.

Guess What!  I bought 2!!  I have one for the coffee table and I have one for my oval dining room table too!  

I like that I have a base now for my table decor for easy change ups.  I also added some felted stick on feet to keep my table from scratching.  

The moral of this post - don't pass by ugly things that are priced right - they could be perfect!!