Hello chic friends!
Today I want to share more of what I’ve been working on for my ‘Show
Home Life Project’. Remember in this
post here, I talked about wanting to have a lovely tidy and neat home where
everything is perfect, just like in a show home or even a hotel (five star
please!) The phrase ‘a place for
everything and everything in its place’ has always appealed to me. It just sounds so soothing, doesn’t it? Every time I hear it I am reminded of my
goal.
To recap the first few steps for this project, they are:
Step one: deciding what your project is. For me, it’s making my home – and life – into
that of a perfect show home. Not really,
and I’m not obsessive about it, but just for fun. I am inspired not to be
slovenly with this project :)
Step two: working out what is getting in the way between you and
your desired vision. In that same
post I detailed the areas which were most bothersome – my office, my closet, my
sewing room and a few cupboards about the place.
Then I moved onto step three: taking action! Because I had already been ruminating over
what I wanted to improve in these areas I was ready to go all in and start
making big changes. My sewing room was
the biggest because it had become the room where things went ‘just for now’ as well as temporarily storing some items for family members.
One day a few weeks ago I had the whole afternoon free, or rather I
ignored everything on my to-do list and focused entirely on my sewing
room. Every single thing came out, into the
garage, leaving only a few large pieces of furniture – a desk, bookshelf and
small dining table which I use for a cutting table. Then I vacuumed lots. Then I moved the desk and table around to
suit the room better. Then I put back
the items I wanted to keep and boxed the rest up for donation.
(Before pictures! So sorry for the assault on your eyes!)
Even Jessica cat was hiding behind my sewing machine from the chaos.
It was a marathon effort and I slept like a rock that night. I even had to get my husband Paul to bring takeaway
Indian home for dinner because I was so exhausted. But it was a good exhaustion. I felt exhilarated and my sewing room looked –
and felt – wonderful. I have been using
it more and even shouted myself a new iron, because ours was rather elderly and
even a bit dangerous. It had been
dropped years ago and glued back together.
The on/off light on the handle had pushed in and was showing
wires! I found out that irons aren’t
even *that* expensive either, so I do wonder why I waited so long (and risked possible electrocution).
I want to put some more pictures up in my sewing room too. Now that all the clutter is gone it will be
nice to bring in some beauty. I need to
buy a few packets of those gold picture hooks for this so they will go on my
shopping list. I have enough art prints
and old paintings to supply a few for this room.
(The After pictures. So soothing.)
(Our old dining table which is now my cutting table and I am making some new cloth coasters from lovely fabrics out of a sample book).
And that’s step four – adding a few final touches to make your home an inspiring and encouraging place to be in. You can see here in my office below a little picture wall I put up. One print is from my trip to London which I had framed, and the rest are from charity stores and auction box lots – all inexpensive, but with a similar theme in terms of colour, framing, and topics – London, Paris, floral, feminine.
I hope you found my before and after photos inspiring. I LOVE seeing others results, even if it's a bit embarrassing to put up the before photos - I do it all in service to you :)
xx Fiona
PS. I know it's Thanksgiving in the US, and even though we don't celebrate it officially in New Zealand, I want to say that I am super grateful for you, my readers for being here.
To celebrate, and for Black Friday (black is very chic, is it not?), I am offering something I have never done before. All of my Kindle books (many of which are usually $9.99) will be priced at $2.99 for a strictly limited time.
Take this opportunity to fill your Kindle library with chic inspiration heading into the holiday season and to start your new decade with a renewed spirit.
You can find all of my books here:
Happy Chic Friday everyone!
Good work! I don't have or need a sewing room but I do have a storage room with shelves. I keep Christmas decorations in this room with wreaths on the walls and all other decorations in boxes. I also have my gift wrapping supplies, craft paints, income taxes forms and receipts , just everything is stored in this room. It usually is very neat and organized -- it has to be to function properly. But, sometimes, it gets all jumbled up and I have to just empty it out and start over. It is the best feeling to have this space put to rights again. Of course, I know that in about a year I will be doing it all over again! Having silk flowers, vases , all floral supplies in the proper places, seasonal decorations in clearly marked boxes and even a lamp that needs to be rewired in an organized space is wonderful. Getting organized is the best, staying organized is a miracle! Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteThis is very inspiring to see the before and after photos. It must feel so satisfying to see the results every day in your home. You really are creating your vision!
ReplyDeleteHello, Fiona, and I don't know how I missed this post! I find it fascinating as I love to see 'before' and 'after' photos of anything! Well done on your big sort out, and how lovely to see everything neat and tidy. I don't 'do' crafts, so don't have the problem of storing all the clutter assciated with crafts but I do have my huge collection of books and magazines! I'm glad you put some pictures on the wall, though, otherwise the room could look a little bleak. Een show homes have accessories, dear girl!
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a lovely Christmas and that 2020 will be a good year for you and Paul.
Very best wishes
Margaret P
www.margaretpowling.com (it was you who encouraged me to have my own blog and now I've written my 700th post!)