Since learning about the January Cure, I've been thrilled at the prospect of devoting some time to freshen up my space. My home is in dire need of deep cleaning, clutter-clearing, and rearranging, especially after the chaos of the holidays. After the first week, I'm already starting to see some progress, and I'm getting even more excited about the challenges ahead.
To give you an idea of what types of issues I'll be facing in the coming weeks, it may be helpful to give you a few background details about myself. I moved into a condo a few months ago with my boyfriend Ed and our chinchilla, Chibi. The building was built in the 1920s, and the unit was renovated in 2006, so it's got some really wonderful features: lots of windows, an open kitchen/living space, exposed brick walls, and spacious bathrooms. Luckily, all the bones are in good condition, so most of what I'll be tackling in the cure will be cosmetic issues.
That said, those cosmetic issues are manifold. Since I moved from a studio and Ed moved from a larger suburban home, a lot of our furniture doesn't fit, and we lack several other crucial pieces of furniture. There are still some clutter and storage problems that haven't been resolved since we moved, and while our list of ideas and projects is extensive, we need to save a bit more before making them a reality. Eventually we'll paint more and invest some money into furnishings that fit our home, but for now, I'm aiming to get rid of the furniture that doesn't work, organize using materials that I already have, and figure out how to make my home flow better.
• January 2: Make a list of projects
This step was surprisingly easy, although by the time I was done, the three pages of items to address made Ed's eyes pop (until I explained that they weren't all projects for this month). The items ranged from small things like repotting some plants and cleaning under the bed to big things like getting rid of a credenza and mounting the TV. Cord management, magazine storage, and deep cleaning are also key items on the list. The kitchen and bathrooms are functioning pretty well, so most of my attention this month will be on the living room, hallway, and closets.
I resisted the urge to tidy before taking these photos, because really, what's the point of a before picture if it's been altered? So yes, there are dirty dishes, cords and computer chargers, various other items that have been tossed asunder (including a blanket basket raised so as to be safe from Chibi's gnawing attention).
The bric-a-brac that you see lining the left-hand wall of the living room is the items that were once in the credenza. You can also see the delightful piece of paper that we've got hanging on the wall to represent the TV when it goes up. Currently, we're using two pieces of our coffee table as side tables, so I'd like to repurpose some items or find an inexpensive solution to that as well.
We definitely need a better storage solution for Chibi's hay and food pellets. (The tub is so dusty because he had just had his dust bath, and I hadn't yet cleaned it up before taking the photo. Part of the cure is deep cleaning though, right? And total honesty about our homes?) Then there's the issue of a pesky entry wall that I've already covered with magnetic primer but that has long been waiting for a coat of blackboard paint.
• January 3: Set up your outbox
The outbox is already a regular feature in our home, but we emptied it before we left for the holidays, and it's definitely time to start anew. The box lives in a corner of the kitchen near the pantry, and the first item in it today was a pair of old gloves that I no longer need thanks to a new pair acquired at Christmas. I've already tossed in several other items, and I also listed our credenza on Craigslist.
• January 4, 5, & 6: Flowers, floors, green cleaners, and outbox
A Friday trip to Trader Joe's left me with a cactus that seems like it's almost ready to bloom and some new cleaning supplies to add to my stock of vinegar, baking soda, and Method dish soap. I also tossed some more knick-knacks, some unused throw pillows, and a couple of DVDs into the outbox. Without even beginning to clean, my place was feeling better already.
On Saturday, my floors got a much-needed scrubbing. Our bed frame is pretty low, making it really hard to sweep all the way under it, and I don't even want to tell you what kinds of dusty fuzzies I found under there. Saturday is always the day I clean Chibi's cage, and I made sure to give it an extra scrub today as well. Here's the little guy tuckered out from all that cleaning (read: running around the living room while I cleaned).
The outbox gained a mirror and a few video game systems that I no longer play regularly. Yes, I still have my Sega Saturn, Sega Game Gear, and Nintendo Game Cube. These have been hard for me to part with, but I think it's now or never. And at least the concept of the outbox means I can rescue them if I decide I just can't bear to see them go.
Sunday was mostly a non-cure day, but I did tidy up a bit more around the house and started making rough organizational piles out of some papers and media that need to be put in place later this month.
(Images: Carolyn Purnell)
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thanks for sharing, what an adorable chinchilla.
You should be able to sell your game systems on ebay or craigslist but if that doesn't work try taking them to gamestop. good luck!
A Swiffer duster mop is useful for under the beds. My mom gave me one (!!) and you can just use microfiber cloths (dry first, then damp) to dust and clean under furniture. This is great for dust bunnies, less effective for grit (near the front entrance, say).
Good luck as you continue on the Cure!
I love your apartment and chinchilla! Thank's for sharing your progress!!
I love your place! And I'm really interested to see how you incorporate your chinchilla's habitat and things into your Cure. I have many pets and it's tough for me to keep their cages from sticking out like sore thumbs.
I'm so excited to see a chinchilla on AT! We have two, and it can really be tough to manage their hay, dust, food, etc. in a small apartment. I hope we'll be reading more about Chibi during the Cure.
Thanks for sharing. I look forward to seeing your progress. Chibi does look like he has had enough though.
I know I shouldn't be focused on the chin, but he is just too cute not to notice! I love those little guys.
Sorry to be a bit off topic- Did you install those curved curtain rods? I was wondering if you remember where you got them. Our windows go all the way into the corner and we've had a heck of a time finding a curved curtain rod that works for us.
Thanks!
Oh my gosh! An AT post with a work-in-progress home, pre-clean & pre-organization?? Be still my heart! I *LOVE* this post for its honesty [not to mention its chinchilla]. Let's face it, we all love seeing gorgeous homes in perfect lighting, but the vast majority of us face the same issues presented here. Thank you so much for making such a down to earth post. I look forward to the "after"!
had no idea that's what a chinchilla looked like! How effing cute!
I love your honesty in the photos. Can't wait to see how your Cure comes along.
One thing I noticed right away, though, is that all your furniture, pet cages, etc., are all pushed up against the walls. That's probably making your rooms feel cramped. A new floorplan with at least some floating furniture would probably help a lot.
Good luck with your Cure!
Thanks everyone for your nice comments! I'm hoping that Chibi doesn't catch on that he's a superstar because the last thing we need is a diva chinchilla.
@MCross: A Swiffer is precisely how I managed it, and oddly enough, my mom gave it to me for Christmas. It seems that moms know what's what. I also learned that instead of the Swiffer cloths you can go green (and cheap) by using pieces of flannel. The static works really well.
@AMS110: We did indeed install the curtain rods. They were a really easy and cheap DIY. We used electrical conduit ($2 for 10 feet of it), regular curtain brackets for the far ends, 2 right angle connectors (also in the electrical department), and some spray paint to make everything uniform. I'm going to eventually make some finials, but the way the brackets are arranged, the curtains won't come off, so it's more an aesthetic issue than anything else. And just FYI, it's all really sturdy.
@Lisa (Montreal): Thanks for the suggestion. I completely agree, and after staring at my space for yesterday's assignment, figuring out a better configuration is one of the things on my list for this month. I've already got some ideas, so hopefully they'll be in place in time for the "after."
Thanks again everyone!
I agree that this post is refreshingly honest and down to earth. I'd love to see more of these kinds of posts as the Cure progresses. Thanks so much for sharing!
We have two chinchillas in two separate cages. We keep their stuff (food, dust bath, etc.) in a built in cabinet (we live in a 50s rancher). However, we have the same issue: their cages and our furniture are pushed up against the walls. I will be interested in seeing how you rearrange things...maybe that will inspire me!
I really appreciate that you resisted the urge to preclean a bit prior to taking the picture. I completely agree with you, what's the point of doing a bit of organizing just so that the Before picture look a little better?
You have just inspired me as to which project I am going tackle in January. Thanks!
Oh, and Chibi is so adorable.
My 20 month old loved Chibi and would not let me scroll down. She was not all together sure what she was looking at, not quite a baby, but very cute.
ASM110 Ikea makes a wire rod that we have in the bay window that works well around corners.
Carolyn, Chibi is TOO CUTE! Looking forward to seeing what you and Ed do with the space.
That chinchilla is TOO cute. I would get a steamer-style trunk and put his accessories (bath, food etc.) in the trunk and put his cage on top of the trunk and stick it perpendicular out of the wall. If kept tidy metal animal cages can be surprisingly elegant and there's really no way to hide a cage of this size so you might as well make it a focal point. I agree about the furniture seeming to be all lined up against the walls (one reason why I recommend you put the trunk perpendicular).
I agree with CaseySue! I also have 2 chinchillas + a small apartment (and a cat). Keeping everything clean is a challenge.
I love the living room--those plaid panels, the olive (or is it brown?) sofa, and the zigzag pillows are just great together. Can't wait to see it after the cure!
Carolyn, I LOVE your posts! No, actually I love the pics best. It's so refreshing to see your rooms because, well... this is so me! Lots of work in progress and pets taking over (that is, if hubby allowed me to have more than just one cat) and a bunch of clutter. However, I can tell from the basics that you definitely have style and I will be your loyal follower on AT. You inspire me to conquer my own home (which is a lot worse, of course) and get rid of all that stuff I have accumulated over the years. I will restrain myself for the time being from running out and getting magnet paint because that wall is just awesome. Thank you so much for this, I bet you can tell from the comments how much we all love to see a room that gets lived in and has not been tidied in advance :)
Looooooove your living room- those windows make me swoon!
If you're looking for something inexpensive for Chibi's hay/pellets/etc, I'd suggest a long low Trofast bench from Ikea- if the cage fits on top it would be reasonably unnoticeable - three deep bins fit in those benches- hopefully enough storage for his stuff!
@aldershof: Thank you so much for all your sweet comments! I'll admit that I was nervous to post that cluttered photo, but it's nice to get such a great reaction from people like you :)
@talby: Oooh, in all my scheming and Ikea trolling, I hadn't even thought of the Trofast. I'm off to fetch my tape measure.