Making Room For What Matters Most

We can actually see the carpet and easily walk around the storage room. Previously you had to have your flamingo legs on to high step and navigate all the obstacles on the floor.

This isn't going to be a pretty decorating or inspirational blog post today, it's one of those "life as it happens". When you close a home decorating store you are bound to keep a few things. Our home had random boxes and bins scattered around after the closing and they had to go somewhere. The storage room got an overhaul to make room for the new arrivals.

I'm still working to find homes for the strays on top of the counter.

I found this entire set of kitchen cupboards in the classifieds, that was BC (before Craigslist). We were newly married, had just bought our first house and the fourth level was unfinished. My mom was anxious to off load some of her dishes, so these were a life saver. We bought a stock piece of formica at Menards and I spent days organizing.

When we moved, they made the move with us. A smart man at Home Depot convinced us to take them with us rather than buy all new. Hubby says these stay with the house for the next move. He remembers cutting the base cabinet in half to get it down the stairs.

A wall of bins, it's not a pretty sight, but to me it's sanity. In a perfect world I would have liked to had all matching clear bins with labels and each season have its own area. The wall brackets interfere with the bin placement so it's like a giant puzzle to get them to fit. I parted with things that I no longer wanted or had a use. I managed to squeeze a few extra empty bins into the wall configuration to hold the items that are currently decorating our home seasonally.

The two cupboards under the wall of bins were intended to hang on the wall. I flipped them upside down so the handles would be at the top.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This tall cupboard was previously a broom closet, we added shelves to make it a pantry style and house more dishes.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few of my many dishes passed down from my mom. A cupboard to hold off season lamps.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A place for all my architectural decorating pieces. A crib rail hung from the ceiling with chain to hold off season florals.

Just so you don't think I have everything under control, here's another pile that still needs a home. I have a newly acquired wainscot cupboard in the garage awaiting a makeover to house some of these goodies.

Our store, Patina General, has taken the bulk of my time the last several years. Our home has taken a back seat, so I'm taking this summer to re-claim our home and garage. I've purged 18 gallons and 20 quarts of paint and a box of spray paint from my stock. A garage sale, two van loads to the auction and a van load to a non-profit organization. I'm starting to see bottom. Feels like I've lost 10 pounds to rid my life of stuff. I'm just keeping what matters most.  I'll continue to purge items as I go, because I still have a lot. This house has a lot of storage and sometimes that's not always a good thing.

It may be stuff, or it may be your calendar, just make room in your life for what matters most.

Comments

[Lora Bloomquist]

Oh, boy! This makes me so thankful for my screen porch where I shoved everything, until I have the patience & cooler weather to go through it all!

[Kristi Pohl]

Cheryl, you had me at the words "storage room". I dream of having one someday when I grow up.

Hope you are making time for FUN this summer too!

Kristi

[Cheryl Jarl]

I do love having a storage room. Now that it's organized, it makes me smile. I'm enjoying the little things this summer, family time, neighbors, our yard and just more relaxed in general. :)

[Cheryl Jarl]

Out of sight, out of mind! :)