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Tag Archives: organization

Mudroom Makeover Brings a Welcome Change

11 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by SOF in Before & After, Mudroom

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Mudroom Makeover, nautical decor, organization

I have a confession to make. This is what my mudroom has looked like for…well, let’s just say waaaay too long. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a travesty if it wasn’t the main entrance people use to my house. I remember when we bought our house five years ago that I was so excited to have such a large mudroom, but then suddenly it became so small. It was small because it became cluttered with every item that entered our house. The jackets that didn’t get changed over properly from one season to the next, the hand-me-downs that were dropped off and the ones that I’d compiled to hand over to the next kid, the tote bags for the grocery store, and just about every other thing you can imagine would come into a house with two small children. It had gotten completely out of control! I finally reached my wit’s end and voila, we have a majorly re-worked mudroom that I now love to look at when I enter the house!

I started by going back to basics. We emptied the space completely and took down all of the shelving. Good news, it really is a decent size space! Then we painted the wood paneling Benjamin Moore Simply White (using the kitchen and bath paint because we live near the water and this room experiences the dampness that goes with that). This turned into a little bit more of a production than I intended, but once you start scraping a little bit of paint, it makes sense to go all the way so all the doors and windows got a makeover too.

I brought in the two chairs that I found at Brimfield last month, and actually their wood coloring and imperfections are what inspired me to go full speed ahead with a nautical mudroom (well, there’s probably a good chance I would have anyway with my track record, but they made the vision clear). I added a wire basket from Marshall’s to gather the kids’ shoes in. Then we hung a series of eight cleats that we picked up at the local ship supply store to hang our severely edited collection of coats (we actually do have two coat closets in the house!) and bags on.

They offer a perfect spot to display our favorite Sea Bags while also making them handy to grab as we’re heading out the door!

I had also picked up some used nautical rope when we were at the consignment ship supply store. You can easily find it new as well, but I like the vintage effect it adds, particularly since the chairs are vintage. I didn’t really have a plan for it and was actually envisioning using it in the garden, but it became obvious that the perfect spot to use it was going to be in this space. I thought about just winding it across the upper molding, but then I decided that spelling out a little welcome to our guests would be more fun and so I created this “ahoy” message for all to see when they walk in the door, and I added a little anchor stencil to ground it better in the space.

It only seemed logical that we post a farewell message on the opposite wall where people exit the house and while “fair winds” might have been slightly more appropriate, my husband and I both preferred the sound and the look of “bon voyage” to send our guests off with well wishes. And because I was able to scoop up so much rope at such a great price I even had enough to create a rope border along the molding around the entire space.

It so much nicer to walk into this bright and fresh space, and perhaps the most unexpected benefit of this makeover is the new view I have from the kitchen when I glance out the door. It’s so much more refreshing to see this space than the mess that once was.

There are of course still several more things we’d like to do in here. I hate the textured tile that is also in our kitchen and catches every bit of dirt (less than ideal for a mudroom). We’re also incredibly tempted to open that awful tiled ceiling up, but while we hope we’d find some nice beams, there’s a good chance that it’s just a mess that we’d have to fix and seeing as it took us this long just to tackle the mudroom at all, I think we’d better wait until we can tackle any problems that arise with that job.

But at least I’ve knocked one more think off my very long to-do list!

If you liked this post on my house, you might like these:
Sneak Peak: Nautical Stripe Staircase
Let There Be Light…at Last!
DIY Headboard and Duvet Cover

Etsy Pick of the Week: Organize with Clothespins

21 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by PEY in Accessories, Etsy Pick of the Week, Home Office, Kids, Shops We Love

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

clothespins, Etsy, Heart and Handmade2, ikat, organization

Sometimes something simple and beautiful is just what is needed to inspire organization!  These Ikat clothespins and kit by Heart and Handmade2 are perfect for hanging your favorite photographs that have not made it into an album or an art display for your child’s best artwork or an eye catching way to group all of your must do notes.  Available in “kits” with 8 clothespins, picture hanging wire and 3 hooks or in a “package” of 8 clothespins, there is an option for any decor or organizational need.

Chevron patterned clothespin package

Rustic – walnut stained clothespins

Back side of green damask clothespins covered in cream and tan paper

Bright colorful clothespins

If you like this, then check these out:
Etsy Pick of the Week:  The Yarn Kitchen’s Felted Fun
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Pops of Vintage Wallpaper
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Modern June’s Chalkcloth for Entertaining 

Mason Jars in the Pantry

12 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by SOF in Inspiration, Kitchen

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Mason Jars, organization, Pantry

Image Credit: Design Sponge

I’m going to blame it on mom-brain (because it’s so easy to do) that the original inspiration photo for my pantry post last week was actually the one above which I somehow forgot to include! I just adore this pantry that Emerson and Ryan of Emersonmade have in their home. Can you imagine having all of your spices and dry goods organized so beautifully? This pantry is the perfect combination of my love for pantries and mason jars.

And while my cupboards don’t even come close to comparing to any sort of beautiful built-in pantry, there’s no reason that I can’t still have some aspect of that beautiful pantry above in my life. So this weekend I re-organized the cupboards and put all of the dry goods whose opaque boxes and bags were cluttering the space into mason jars and the like. From popcorn and nuts to quinoa and rice to flour and cocoa powder, it wall went into its own jar.

Besides making the cupboard so much prettier to look at, this system also has many other benefits. For one, I can actually see exactly how much I have of each item every time I open the cupboard. There’s going to be no more “Do I have flour for the pie crust?” when I’m at the grocery store two days before a party (it appears I had three different 5 pound bags of it for exactly that reason–that should last me about 10 years!). Keeping things in opaque boxes and bags provides no inspiration when you’re trying to decide what to make for dinner. This way I’ll know exactly if I have enough of whatever it is I need or want.

This also gave me the opportunity to combine items where I had more than one box of the same product. When I combined my baking chocolate squares which were of a variety of strengths, I just marked on the wrapper which ones were semi, bitter, or un-sweetened so that I could limit them to one jar.

Overall it makes such a difference in feeling organized and on top of things as well as beautifying the simple things. I’m a firm believer that the things you look at or use on a daily basis should be the prettiest. And this project cost very little to do. I found the extra-large mason jars at Target for about $5 apiece and purchased a dozen of the quart jars for $12. The rest of the jars were ones that I’d saved after using the products that came in them.

It’s a start, but I of course won’t stop dreaming of having it on a larger scale!

If you liked this, you might also like:
My Love Affair with the Pantry
Mason Jar Art Nook
A Sweet and Simple Hostess Gift

My Love Affair with the Pantry

07 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by SOF in Inspiration, Kitchen

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Built-in Cabinets, Butler's pantry, China Storage, Dishware Storage, Food Storage, organization, Pantry, storage

I love long walks on the beach, sunsets, chardonnay, and pantries. Yes, pantries! In fact they are one of my most favorite rooms in a house (if you can find a house with one). I’m not talking about the closet you call a pantry. I’m talking about a full on walk-in or walk-through butler’s pantry. My grandparents had an amazing one that connected their kitchen and dining room, and living in Newport, there are so many homes that still have them. When we were looking to buy a house, I swear we saw places that were in shambles, but if they had a beautiful old pantry, I was sold. Unfortunately, the rational side of my brain and my husband won, and we ended up in a home sans pantry. However, I’ve got some back to back closets in the kitchen and dining room that in my dreams will be busted through to create a small pantry. But while I wait for that dream to become a reality, I thought I’d peruse the world for some other inspiring pantries so that I could live vicariously through their home owners, and here’s what I found.

While a pantry can be used to store food, it’s really best suited to store china, serving pieces, and linens in an organized and well displayed manner. I love this pantry which was converted from a ho-hum office space into a chic and elegant space.

However, pantries don’t have to be all about the glamor, they are equally as appealing when rustic.

Of course, when you add a sink, wine fridge, dishwasher or any other amenities they get a little sexier.

Of course when you are storing food in the pantry, it helps when it is as beautifully organized as this and has a fun entrance.

Ironically, one of our C & B readers and amazing DIYer and decorator Dani happened to just be finishing up her new pantry this week which she shared with us. This space used to be a bathroom off the kitchen, but since she has another bathroom on her first floor she chose to turn it into a pantry. I love the open shelving and the combination of having it be great storage for everything from platters and bowls to food (the clementines in a bowl look amazing, but don’t the oreos look even more delicious in a glass jar than a plastic package), and it’s also a workspace where she can keep her small appliances off the counter in the kitchen. This is a great solution for the modern family.

Imagine if you could even fit your full size fridge in the pantry! And I love the open baskets on the bottom shelf too.

Maybe I could have one pantry for food and one for dishware and glasses? That’s not overkill, is it?

Yes, I would even very happily take this old-school pantry. I mean besides it’s sheer size, look at all those glass cabinets and the latches on the doors. Really, why did they ever stop putting these in houses on a regular basis.

*Sigh*

Some day one of these will be mine.

Image Sources:  Willow Decor, Willow Decor, Decorology, Old House Online, Country Living, Danielle Braun, , Org Options, Hooked on Houses

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Kitchen Ladder Lust
The Party Closet
 
 

Mason Jar Art Nook

01 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by PEY in Before & After, D.I.Y., Inspiration, Kids

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Mason Jars, nook, organization

Since I am not a canning expert, or even in the market for a new chandelier, the mason jar craze has been passing me by.  This weekend I finally got fed up with my daughter’s art cabinet being messy and inaccessible.  So I thought I would give the mason jars a try.  I purchased two flats – one of half gallons and one of quarts, both wide mouthed jars.  And, voila!

Upon inspection my daughter said, “Mama, what a great idea”.  Did she know about mason jars, too?  Mason jars do make everything better!

And while I may not be able preserve my foods, I think I’ve just preserved my sanity!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Mason Jars in the Pantry
Small Cool 2012:  Small Spaces with Big Design
Organize 2012:  Sort, Stack, and Store

Hidden in Plain Sight

15 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by PEY in Accessories, Eco-friendly, Kitchen

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Ikea, Knodd bins, organization, recycling

In our quest to be house-ready for entertaining during the holiday season, it is a perfect time to beautify basic household functions.  One such day-to-day is recycling.  Seriously, recycling?!  Yes.  The Knodd bins from IKEA are hiding paper, plastic and cans.  Did you guess?  Most of my guests have never noticed the recycling bins, and those that do are surprised by their purpose.  In addition to the universal blue and green recycling colors, Knodd bins are also available in white, red and yellow.  (The red bin would be perfect for collecting the ashes from the fireplace.)

We’ve got more IKEA fun coming your way soon. There are so many things they just make so easy!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Organize with Clothespins
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Organize 2012:  Sort, Stack, and Store

Hang in There! Alessi’s Gianni A Little Man Holding on Tight

14 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by PEY in Kitchen, Tabletop

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Alessi, jar, organization, storage

A little whimsy in the kitchen can take the sting out of dishes.  Alessi, an Italian icon for innovative design, has created these classic kitchen jars – Gianni A Little Man Holding on Tight – for function and fun.  Mattia Di Rosa, one of the youngest designers in Alessi’s catalog, inverted the traditional ornamentation of the jar so that it is a treasure inside the jar.

Available in six colors, and multiple sizes for storage needs. And, the glass jar has an air-tight lid to keep your goodies fresh.

If you like this post, you might like these:
Mason Jar Art Nook
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Sweet Meas for Upcycled Vintage Finds
Shepherding the Goods (a.k.a. How I Find Cool Stuff)

All is Not as it Appears with Hidden Passage Doorways

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by SOF in Bedroom, Dining Room, Furniture, Home Office, Inspiration, Kitchen, Living Room

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Built Ins, Closet Solutions, Doors, Hidden Passage Doorways, organization, Small Space Solutions, storage, Wine Racks

I’ve always thought hidden passageways in houses were pretty cool, but I’ve also always thought that you have to have huge house to need one. Then I came across this company called Hidden Passage Doorways. They can replace your standard interior door with a swinging bookcase, wine rack, or just about anything else you can think of. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?! You don’t need to have something to hide to use one of these doors. Why not put a door to use with extra storage space, specially when you’ve got a small space.

I have a pantry in my kitchen and could easily use one of these to hold cookbooks or my more decorative cookware and serving pieces. Or the closet in my dining room that is useful but drives me nuts because closets don’t belong in dining rooms could be hidden behind a “built in” book case displaying silver and crystal. The company claims that because of the super-smooth hinge system that they use, items on the shelves don’t shift as long as the door is closed properly.

A little bit of paint and you can create a truly custom look with these hidden doors. And as Hidden Passage Doorways builds to spec, the possibilities are just about endless. These could be life changing for someone living in a small apartment in the city, and are just perfect for those rooms that don’t have enough wall space for furniture to fit into well. Plus it’s kind of fun to ask a guest to grab you something from the closet and have them try to find it. If you happen to notice that I suddenly don’t have any closets, there’s a good chance I’ve ordered a bunch of these up.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
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Books on Display

13 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by SOF in Inspiration, Kids, Living Room

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

books, bookshelves, organization

File this under “Why didn’t I think of that?” This wall of books on display in a nursery means you’ll never forget what titles you have in the house and is sure to instill a love of reading. Plus, it’s fun to look at. While it works great in a nursery it would also be fabulous in a living room. Why hide all those beautiful book covers? And all you need is a few pieces of wood to get the look of an incredible feature wall.

Image via Blabla on Facebook

Bookshelf Stairwell

01 Friday Oct 2010

Posted by SOF in Home Office, Inspiration

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Apartment Therapy, bookshelf, organization

I was researching a totally different topic for today’s post when I came across this bookshelf staircase on Apartment Therapy in an image search and decided it was too good not to share. This is in a London flat and the stairwell is hidden from the main living space and takes the unit’s owners up to a previously unused loft space that is now a bedroom.

Being someone who is always looking for storage solutions and someone who hates to get rid of books, although I don’t have nearly this many, I figured there are others of you out there that might have a similar storage problem. And it doesn’t have to be books. If you have collections of other (non-breakable) items, you could display them in the same way. This stairwell was a new build so they were able to do it exactly to their specs, but it’s always good to think about what lies behind your walls. In so many cases there is “dead” space where built-ins can be installed, especially where there are dormers, fireplaces, etc. Obviously you’ll need to be careful not to do anything to any load baring walls without the assistance of a professional, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box, or in this case inside the walls. Go to Apartment Therapy to read their full story on this project.

Image Source:  Apartment Therapy

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Amazing Bookshelves
Library of Design
Vitra:  Collectable Iconic Designs

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