Remember last week when I told you I was going to be busy and you may not see many posts from me. Well, I have been – a little more than even l initially thought. I planned to work on my decorating projects over the weekend, but the beautiful weather beckoned. I spent the weekend outside enjoying autumn in all its glory. Too soon it will be cold and then I will have plenty of inside time to get my projects done. I know you understand this.
I have also been thinking this past week that I have to find balance in what I try to accomplish every day. This was never a problem for me. I was lucky to be a stay at home mom for 21 years and got used to having time while my girls were in school to do my own thing, take care of the house, volunteer, do decorating consults all on my own schedule. Those days are gone and I totally took them for granted. Now, I work full-time Monday through Friday – little time to do other things like painting a room, reading a good book, and working out. Let alone cleaning the house and laundry. I either do it all in little increments at night or on the weekends.
Since I began blogging I also have been doing my Pilates workout less. I faithfully had been doing it for 10 years- 3 times a week, but working FT and blogging has pushed that to one time a week and I want to be able to do this when I am 90
-so I am making it my priority to do my Pilates routine before I turn on my computer, cause you know once you log on – addiction!!!
I started this blog after my hubby lost his job. To save money and still be able to make and re-create items I have shown you smaller inexpensive or free projects. I love creating stuff from nothing, but I also want to be able to show you re- decorating projects in my home. Some rooms need updating, especially if we have to move for hubby’s job. I have been wanting to redo my dining room for sometime and with the holidays approaching, I am taking the leap – a very thrifty one, but I want to make it truly a room we love and works for the way we live. Everything and I mean everything in this room is a hand me down or came with the house… builder chandy. I plan to have it all re-done and ready to go by Thanksgiving.
Being that the projects are larger in scale and take more time than smaller ones I have not finished any yet. I am working on a few at a time, when one is drying I can go on to another. When I do this I call it one of my “Decorating Marathons” I have made progress – nothing pretty yet, just one step closer to completion.
I have literally taken apart my dining room. It is a rarely used room – 3 times a year – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and my youngest daughter’s winter birthday. My oldest daughter’s birthday is in the summer and we always have her party outside. I have purged, purged, and gotten rid of everything I do not need in this room. I don’t like clutter and I have no need anymore for 3 sets of china. Why did I ever have it all in the first place? I now live by this quote:
” Life is too short to be the caretaker of the wrong details”
-Alexandra Stoddard
I have only kept enough white place-settings for about 20 people. White plates go with everything and can be used for any occasion. If I ever need more – Chinet to the rescue. I am not Martha, nor do I want to be and having too much stuff, just feels “stuffy” to me. It feels wonderful to have taken so much “stuff” to a consignment shop and the rest donated. I saved all my tea stuff for my littlest one who loves it. I boxed it up and put it in the attic for when she has a home of her own one day. The flowers that you see in the photo are soon to be goners along with the purple slip covers. The walls are going to be painted Shelburne Buff.
I have the primer on the hutch and just added the first coat of paint this afternoon. It is out in my garage. I have to get this done soon as it is getting too cold to paint outside. *Take a look at the finished hutch here.
I never replaced the builder chandy in the dining room, it was passable. I have lived in this house for 17 1/2 years. I have seen styles come and go, I made do to save for what was more important at the time. I am now putting my own style into this standard fixture. I don’t need the newest thing. I like the challenge of coming up with something unique and one of a kind – which reminds me of another favorite quote of mine:
“Fashion says, “me too”. While Style says. ” Only me”
-Geraldine Stutz
I have two coats of paint on the chandy so far. I have a few more to go, plus some other additions to add, but you will have to wait and see how it turns out. *Here is the finished product.
Traveling out of my dining room and into my foyer you can see I have another project going on. I told you I was on a decorating marathon. 17 1/2 years of carpeted steps have come to an end. I must admit the beige carpet held up great. I never thought it would last for so long with kids and pets running up and down all the time. Taking carpet off steps is HARD. I am strong and do all kinds of heavy lifting at work, but the contractor who installed the carpet on these steps loved, loved, loved, his staple gun. So far, I have removed the carpet from half the steps. It takes about an hour to remove the carpet from 4 steps. Lots of sanding is in my future – but it will be so worth the effort. *To see the finished stair makeover, click here.
As my marathon continues – I am sewing lots of fabric to transform the furniture in my family room. Trax likes my choice of fabric so far. *To see how I transformed a quilt into a sofa slipcover, click here.
I have re-done quite a few pieces of furniture and have found that keeping track of every hinge, drawer pull and knob when removing them and marking exactly where they came from on the piece of furniture helps when it is time to put them back on. It is so frustrating when the refinishing is done and you are all excited to see the piece completed when a cabinet door won’t close or align correctly because you didn’t put the exact same hinge back in its original place. I use a magic marker to mark -right, left, top, bottom, etc. on the back of hinges and pulls.
Then I put each door or section’s hardware in a baggy and mark it.
The work on my decorating marathon is over for the day, now it is time for bed and hopefully the last few chapters of the book I am reading, although I think the book is going to end up on my face as I will probably fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
When you decorate do you do one project at a time or do you do a few at once?
and
How do you find balance in your daily life?
Wow, you’ve been so busy, I’m amazed! I’m loving my new Pilates routine too, I always feel so good when I finish. Can’t wait to see how your projects turn out!
xo
Kate
I think we all feel the same way at times:)
I ebb and flow with balance!
Sometimes i’m balanced and sometimes i’m not!
What works for me is to prioritize:)
Health and fitness come first for me and so that’s the one thing that comes before everything else ….
Good luck finding balance and getting all your projects finished!
You “only” kept enough white place settings for *20* people? How much did you have before the purging?!
Hi Callipygian-
I had alot of china and “pretty” dishes that I picked up at flea markets and garage sales. Some I just used to decorate with – hung on walls and displayed in the open hutch and never served food on them. I never paid a lot for any of it and none of it was new or a sought after collectible. I also inherited 2 collections – one from my maternal grandmother and the other from my hubby’s side of the family. I came up with the number 20 to save as that was the biggest Thanksgiving dinner I ever served and I figured I would never need anymore than that even if one or two plates break. I love the fact that I won’t have to take care of it all and the best part – what I kept all goes in the dishwasher. No handwashing the dinner china on big holidays anymore for me.
Oh how I wish I could do that at 48! I might have to enroll in pilates! It is so refreshing to see that I am not the only one with a ton of projects going on! You have your work cut out for you, wow, those stairs…it is all going to be worth it though. One day at a time right? Your fashion/style quote is outstanding, I am going to remember that.
You have definitely given yourself some projects there, Diane! I totally understand about the time issue. I have been cutting my blog time down and really still need to cut it down a bit more. I have things to get to around my house and like you, I work full-time, plus do my interior decorating business on the side as it is called for. So far, October has been a busy month in that regard! You obviously need to tend to your home first and then if you can, share with us your projects. Sometimes the little projects are something I need to do for myself – getting some instant gratification and satisfaction of something completed and pretty!
Wow, you are going to be one busy lady! I love your stairs already with the wood showing :) Love you outlook on life
XO
Kristin
You have been super busy! Good luck on the pilates and be sure to show us your pic when you can hike your leg up like that… its something to brag about! lol
I work full time and wish I could create full time. The house is getting ready for a cluttered house episode. I think a bulldozer, a paint brush and a ton of paint would do wonders in my world. I have way too many sets of dishes, candlesticks and stuff. A rule I started 4 years ago is please don’t give me anything I need to dust store or maintain. There is already way, way too much here. I’m moving towards the all white and have gotten a collection of serving items. I started on the white dishes with two place settings. Open stock I was told months later Mikasa discontinued it.
Hi Diane. I just found your blob and was excited to see your stairs. I too am refinishing my stairs. Please keep us posted as to what you are doing with your stairs. I need help! Good luck.
OMG Diane you are my hero! So many projects! I really hope time moves slowly for you and you get to Mission Accomplished! I would love to see the end result! Neve
What a wonderful post, Diane. I struggle constantly with how much is “too much”…when is enough really enough? I always have a dozen projects going on and need to just get at them and get them done. I work full time (supposed to be part time.yeah.and good luck with that)…and then want to spend time with family and grandkids. Sometimes days just become a blur and I don’t get anything done. I am proud of you- you are making massive strides forward into a simpler life. Hugs- Diana
I think we are running the same race, Diane! I am working on my to-do list and am determined to cross the finish line on at least 10 projects. I didn’t even list “remove carpet from stairs” because I knew it would be an overwhelming project, and you have confirmed that! I will save that project for 2011 : ) Also, I keep saying I will add yoga to my daily routine so I think I might take your advice and do my stretching before I sit down on the computer. Thanks for the tip!
I always have multiple projects going on at once. I get bored with one project, so I’ll hope between a few. It drives my husband crazy, but it works for me. As for balance, I’m still working on that.