• Cure Clock: 7 weeks to go
• Assignment: Read Read Chapter 1: Creating Your Own Vision
• Members: 1518
We're rounding out the beginning of Week One of the Cure and if you're just ramping up, don't worry you're right on track. This weekend you can start gathering inspiration (like csharpe's bathroom inspiration above), taking your before pictures and spending some quiet time in the least used parts of your home:
Paradem has an inspiration tray ready to go for their foyer--love the simplicity and that poster!
Our Job: We (Laure and Abby, both of Apartment Therapy Los Angeles) will be here each Friday to show you how your fellow Curees are doing and to focus you on the most important parts of each week's tasks, things you can do in a short bit of time, so that you can keep up (we know all too well how work and life can intrude on doing the Cure). This week Laure's pulled all the pictures and commented on them so I (Abby) will take care of the pep talk and share some of what Laure and I experienced and learned when we did the Cure.
The Style Tray: I loved this part of the Cure. I got out that giant box of magazine tear sheets that I'd been saving for years, put on some music and started going through them. If you don't have a folder already, go to the newsstand and get a whole bunch of decor magazines (get at least one of the super expensive ones) or start surfing the web (Sarah Rae's got a good list of image resouces in the Wednesday post or go back to house tours you've loved), bring your camera and visit that pricey home store you've been eyeing. Don't censor yourself as to what you feel you can "accomplish" or "afford," just go for it. Have fun. Let your dreams for your home be big! Later, when you look at everything together, whether it's in on your computer or laid out in a tray, you'll start to see patterns. Maybe you like a certain arrangement of furniture or a certain colour that keeps repeating and this will give you clues to your style that we'll clarify next week. Go back and look at the Monday and Wednesday posts for this week. Can you see how all of the bedroom pictures that Maxwell pulled look sorta the same? In Sarah Rae's style tray, it's clear that she likes large dramatic lights and unusual shelving ideas.
peachheights spent the last two weekends warming up the concrete floor of their living room--what a great improvement.
Small Changes = Big Improvement: Sometimes, all it takes is a tweak to make your home feel different. It's important to note that Peachheight's "tweak" took two weekends. You won't accomplish everything you have planned for your home in one fell swoop. Some projects will take longer than others. At this point, when you've got lots of energy, it's tempting to race ahead. Try and pace yourself. You're starting a new relationship with your home and, like any new relationship, start slow and enjoy the process, even if it's cleaning! See how small improvements -- - a vase of flowers, a cleared off dining room table, a sparkling bathroom mirror -- make a big difference in how your home feels. Sitting in unused areas, notice how your home looks different.
cowgirlinwellies wants to ditch the painting and rethink the space filling it with the stuff she loves!
jmdezines has a pretty beautful style tray happening in the flickr pool.
jenicrae84 wants to cull and organize her pantry--a great place to focus before the holidays.
Remember, this week is JUST about creating your vision, experiencing your home from new angles, making a list of things that need to be fixed, and cleaning. Don't drag your feet on accomplishing the two most important tasks for this week: buying fresh flowers and getting rid of one thing. We're shaking up the flow of stuff in and out, the movement of your home's qi (chi), and getting your home energized so we're bringing in one thing of beauty (the flowers) and taking out one thing we don't use.
TODAY'S COMMENT QUESTION
What can I do today or this weekend, that I haven't done in a long time or have never done, that will make me happy in my home?
If you're not sure what to do, here are some suggestions: take a bath (and use the bubble bath and the candles you got for a gift and have been saving); sleep on the other side of the bed; eat at the dining room table instead of on the couch in front of the tv or, if you already eat in your dining room, switch to a different chair; play different music than the kind you usually play or if you don't play music, try it; enter your home through a different door; open the window you usually keep closed; use a different burner on the stove; read in a different chair; rearrange your knick knacks or clear them away; eat your food -- even if it's takeout or pizza -- off the good china; have your breakfast in bed or in a different room.
Let us know, in the comments, how you're planning to get to know your home this weekend. Also, if you have anything you want us to address, or if anybody's particularly proud of what they're accomplishing so we can make sure to show off your work to your peers next week.
POST INDEX
• Week 1 - Creating Your Vision
• Week 1- Tips and Tricks
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My living room inspiration is still true to this blog post from months ago! Elements have come closer--new fabric for a couch cover, more plants, and experimenting with ideas for our existing glass top coffee table...
http://evenhoward.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/neverland/
Is anyone else using twine.com to collect ideas?
view evenkhoward's profile
This weekend I'd like to read while sitting in the extra chair in our living room. I like the chair, but never sit in it because it doesn't face the tv. While my husband is away for the weekend, and since I just recently added a different lamp in the corner to make it more cozy, I'd like to relax and read there.
view everythingistaken's profile
loving your "style tray" and looking forward to seeing how it all translates into your space
have you tried roaming the aisles of home depot to see if you can find something that you can use to fabricate something similar to those coffee table supports?
cheers,
abby
view abby's profile
^ that comment was to evenkhoward if there's any confusion.
everythingistaken,
sounds like a great plan! love to know how your "experiment" works out.
- abby
view abby's profile
i'm collecting my style tray over here:
http://www.imgspark.com/image/listing/doubledutch
with lots of help from AT!
i'm also blogging my progress here:
http://spontaneousgeneration.typepad.com/superhappyrainbowhouse/
and would LOVE to follow someone else's. i know somebody else is blogging their cure. come on, give me a link!
view doubledutch's profile
Any idea what paint color that is in the top bathroom? I love that green.
view Priscatip's profile
I cannot be bringing more stuff into the house, no matter how beautiful. Instead of buying flowers each week, I'm going to try to better showcase something I already have. This week I am going to re-pot a plant into a beautiful pot I have already bought and I'm going to water all my plants.
In answer to today's comment question, I could open the curtains in my dining room and look out into the yard while eating breakfast. I really miss doing that. We have had all the curtains shut tight this summer, even with tin foil covering the windows in some cases, because the summer sun has been so crazy hot.
view GrainSmasher's profile
I'm doing the cure on my whole apartment (living room/dining area/kitchen and bedroom) so lots to come! Going to blog the whole process over at SYL: Slipcover Your Life! Posted my living room/dining room/kitchen inspiration today...
Erin @ SYL: Slipcover Your Life
http://www.slipcoveryourlife.com/?p=2631
view slipcoveryourlife's profile
Very exciting and interesting to read what everyone is up to. I'm going to finish painting my front door. Started the project a few weeks ago but have not finished. This weekend is it!!!
view danze's profile
erin/syl - thanks for the link!
i forgot to answer the comment question. hmm. this weekend i could . . . make the beds. i would love to see the beds made up and looking pretty.
view doubledutch's profile
doubledutch, here's a link to a list of people who are blogging their Cure progress: http://www.flickr.com/groups/homecure/discuss/72157622412362415 (AT Home Cure group)
view fabulissime's profile
AWESOME everyone! totally excited for this cure!
doubledutch,
if you don't make your beds often and it's something you'd like to do perhaps it's time to simplify your bedding? i use a down comforter with a duvet and the duvet acts as a top sheet & gets cleaned along with the fitted bottom sheet & the pillowcases every week. Making my bed is as simple as shake the duvet, shake the pillowcases, done. i did a post on it a while back: 8 tricks to make making the bed a habit
happy weekend!
abby
view abby's profile
Like everythingistaken, I'll be reading in our living room this weekend. I set up a reading light behind the one chair remaining in this torn-up disaster zone, and hope to get reacquainted with the space. We removed the carpeting quite some time ago, thinking that we'd paint the floor. Unfortunately, the pine subfloor just wasn't adequate for that solution. We'll be installing bamboo flooring in that room, the kitchen, and my studio as part of the Cure. It's been a long time coming, and I'm getting very excited.
I'm collecting inspiration photos here: http://www.imgspark.com/image/listing/scantron3/
It's nice to see everyone's links. More, please!
view scantron3's profile
hmmm...my bedroom has been a COMPLETE blank canvas since I moved into my apartment in Feb.2009. It's my first apartment and while the rest of the place is coming along I've been stuck on what to do, where to start...think I'll sign up for this cure. At least by the end of it I should have SOMETHING in the room!
off to sign up!
view kiwi's profile
I spent all day yesterday (yes, I even called in sick at work) unpacking moving boxes (we just moved 3 weeks ago). I brought in the cafe table we use as a dining table and decorated it for Halloween. Just that little bit made a huge difference in our living room and how I feel about it. Hopefully tonight I can get the husband to bring in our dresser and nightstands so I can feel a little better about the bedroom, too!
view lifeinthefortress's profile
Thanks Abby,
The recent cardboard 'stone' table on AT was inspiring too. Actually, my dad has stone cutting and carving tools so I'm inspired to design my own version. It may not be an 8 week thing though with holidays coming up, so found objects could substitute temporarily.
As for something new--I've just started baking more and will be spending some time doing that and enjoying the kitchen for more than just a quick bite!
view evenkhoward's profile
I'm excited! I've compiled my style tray on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22874016@N06/
Tomorrow morning I plan to get up super early (ok, maybe just kind of early)... have breakfast in bed (!!) and tackle this week's tasks.
I'm also in need of a coffee table - would love to try a diy.
view apt11's profile
I posted my style tray on another thread, but since people are interested here, I hope no one minds. I also intend to blog once I get the first pictures taken and uploaded.
Style Tray: http://www.imgspark.com/image/listing/cellosubmarine/1/
I am really loving the blogs and style trays everyone else is posting! Please keep them coming.
view cellosubmarine's profile
Hello, conrats to everyone on the progress! I can see that everybody is quite busy putting toether inspiration. I started the process by trying to figure out my personal style. It really helped me to see my vision more clearly.
This weekend I am planning to go to the brocante (flea market) and hopefully I will not return with empty hands.
You can see my inspiration what I did so far here:
http://eco-stylista.blogspot.com/search/label/home%20detox
view cekla78's profile
I moved a bookcase out of my dining area! Having a piece of furniture there made the narrow room seem narrower. Also, it was a dark color, so moving it lightens the space. Now I'm going to live with the new feeling of the space to decide what size and shape dining table will work best.
view Lizzy's profile
What can I do today or this weekend, that I haven't done in a long time or have never done, that will make me happy in my home?
So this may seem really lame and strange, but I folded the laundry in the living room while watching a dvd with the family. I have a dedicated space for folding laundry: in the basement, but it is cold, dark and lonely. And it wasn't getting done.
So, that has certainly made me happier: though I don't think I'll do it on a regular basis--but for this time, I really needed to let go of how it "should" be done and just go with what works.
view Alana in Canada's profile
we just bought our first home over the summer, and i'm trying to build the color pallete and work on my style tray. the past couple days have been spent painting the living/dining room (a medium bluish gray) and entry/hallway (a darker slate blue/gray).
having trouble choosing accent colors because i love so many color combinations!!!
i'll be working on our kitchen, living/dining, and entry/hallway.
view erinpearce's profile
I want to wish everyone a successful cure. I have done the cure three times, and it made such a difference in my living experience. I am moving in six weeks, so I look forward to possibly doing the Spring cure next year.
view Lynne F's profile
I've started the Cure 2x before and never followed through, so am determined and excited for this round, I'm doing sort of a hybrid Cure--part full house, part 1 room, and then part Green as well. I switched to green cleaning products last year, so that's taken care of, and I will recycle as much stuff as possible.
I have to put together a Style Tray, though a lot of it I already know what I want to do.
So far I've taken 2 bags to Goodwill and a bunch of books to the communal shelf in the basement, given away a pair of boots, and fixed a cabinet door. Would like to go through clothes and shoes today to get rid of more stuff.
Today I plan to mop the floors, cook, and my new sitting space will be taking a long bath after I've scrubbed the bathroom.
Anyone else feel like their place is too messy for the 'before' pix?
view moongrrl's profile
Hey, I have that poster! Good to know someone thinks I have good taste. ;)
@moongrrl, the messier the better, I say. The afters will look that much more amazing! lol
view Mrs.Mack's profile
I looked through AT and Kitchen Tours for inspirations, and at some books for inspiration for my country kitchen. I want the open shelving to hold lovely pottery, colorful mugs & dishes. I am culling needed cookware from a modern kitchen as part of this fall's Kitchen Cure. This kitchen has great style but was slowly being overwhelmed with "stuff." So I am "curing" two different kitchens at one time, trying to keep only appropriate "stuff" that I love and will use and sending the rest on to another life in someone else's kitchen.
view EllieA's profile
I honestly don't know why I signed up. I guess to give an excuse to change things up? I literally change every room in my house all the time! Each week I pick a room to "cure" and change up a couple things in it. I love the feeling of a new space all the time.
However, this at least gives me some motivation to tackle bigger projects and finishing up the stragglers that I neglect to take care of. I normally just switch out chairs and accessories to suit my current mood, but now I can convince myself to pick out a color for my craft room and get some supplies and storage that I've put off.
view iheartmini's profile
I am doing the one-room Cure for the bedroom (and other parts of the condo generally, as there's time). I primarily need a new mattress. I also need new blinds (and/or curtains) for the two windows. The main floor lamp needs repair or replacement (works great, but the bottom--plaster?--crumbled and fell out, so I'm anchoring it with something, in a most unsightly way). As long as I'm looking at the broken lamp, I'm also considering the whole lighting situation in the room (all lamps, no ceiling lights). I am also considering the bedside tables - refurbish, replace? Finally, if there's any $$ after everything else, I'd like to get a new, luxurious set of sheets.
view Pixie's profile
I'm changing up my artwork, so it's all stuff I really love (I'm behind on the cure, but I'm trying to post comments anyway!)
view jenc's profile
i am going to bake and decorate a cake at home. i can end up decorating cakes from time to time at work a realized that i love it but i've never done it at home, so i am going to do it for my boyfriends birthday.
also, i am going to throw out a ton of things this weekend that are just clutter.
view keroleeen's profile