apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Oh, bless you for the delay! It will be so nice to be essentially moved-in before tackling the Curing part of the project.

Awww, I was all revved up for today. Well, Monday then.

Me too, Lady J.

Me too.

I had been wondering about the choice of date in the first place.

Oh, well, a little extra time never hurt anyone.

I'm in for the cure this time around, and methinks I might even start small today (off this week), so I can keep up when the Cure officially starts.

Going for the whole kaboodle; will post pre-cure pics later today.

Oh -- please fix the link to ATLA on their Flickr site. :-)

whew - still hadn't had time to discuss with bf - last time i fizzled out because he was not in the know (and he does not operate at all when he's not in the know) about the stuff i was doing - so he said he'd do it with me in the fall!! whoopee! glad it's monday - my best friend is moving to portland this weekend and i have been UBER busy with her leaving, my school starting, and two puppies (who are now 10 weeks, by the way!!). let's hope bf is okay with it - i'm sure he will be!!

Elizabeth,

Are you going to follow the Chicago group or the NY? I did NY last time, but Chicago is technically the one for us, I guess.

Fun!

OK, I suspect I'll be in again, and doing the Deep Treatment rather than the one room (little money at the moment, but more time). Presumably the husband won't mind me tidying up around him and fixing little things while he studies, but I think he might get pissed if I decided to re-do our bedroom. I'm glad it's starting Monday, though, since this will be my last low-key day between now and then.

Blogging my cure:

http://sampleshandsandshamans.blogspot.com

Anyone else doing the same?

Sorry-- bad link.

Here's the correct one:

http://samplehandsandshamans.blogspot.com/

Hmm... I'm not sure how I feel about being asked to join a "local" cure. I kind of enjoyed interacting with folks from all over during previous "cures"...

MamaC I agree, I will be interacting with everybody on flickr so why not do the same on here? The more the merrier, I say. Especially when it comes to feedback and creative ideas.

My pre-cure pics are up. Be gentle...

Just a reminder - everybody post your pictures to the group! I think you probably have to join first (search for apartment therapy cure) but then you just go to the little icons above your photo and click add to group and it will show you apartment therapy cure as an option, that way everybody's pics all show up here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/39185427@N00/

I'm in, but I think I might need a super deep cleansing burn the apartment to the ground and start over treatment. I'll see what happens.

thanks for the tip Anne; just added mine to the pool.

Sadia, your flickr links on your blog don't seem to be working.
Could just be my computer.

Great to see you so up-beat about this!
I find the actual work quite depressing--but it is the process I love. Does that make any sense?

I started washing my floors--can't really put it off until Monday. And we really need new flooring in the bathroom. More than we need a new coat of paint in the living room and dining room. If you knew how much lobbying I've had to do for new paint, you'd know just how bad it is.

Sparkiy--

Ah yes, that would be the blow-torch method. Coming soon in Appendix B of Apt Therapy, the Book, 2nd edition.

Sparkiy, the book specifically warns against that. The purpose is to Cure not scour.

flickr seems to be down rignt now. boo.

It appears that maybe everyone is uploading their Cure photos in Flickr today because none of the Flickr links are working. I can't even get the main Flickr page to come up. Anyone else having this problem?

it's not working for me now either, how many sick homes are out there? Could we have brought down the site??

finally got the Official Flickr Is Down page, looks like they're having some work done. boo again.

someone posted on a few of my pics 20 minutes ago, so it must have been working

I think there are quite a few sick homes out there looking for some help. I noticed quite a few pieces of furniture out on the curb the first weekend of the last cure.

If you know anyone with a trunk, next weekend should be prime for furnishing empty apartments. I know I'll have a few things out there.

next time I see Maxwell I'll ask him if he specifically bans blowtorches, and if so, why.

flickr is down! amazing.... all us CureHeads must have toppled their system..

Anyway when it's up again, I'll fix the LA link...

I'm in for this go round- last time it was a whole house cure, this time it's 2 one room cures- the kitchen and my mudroom. I have already had 2 DIY disasters this week- my kitchen wall is destroyed and my cat attacked me and sent me to the ER. (pics are on flickr) but I am ready to go next week!

I just added my "before" photos to the pool. I will be doing the deep clean AND the one-room cure. I rent a room from a couple who's been there 25 years... so obviously I have limited say about the rest of the loft. Which kinds of drives me crazy, but they're nice, the rent is cheap, and the location is good. My challenge, therefore, is to try to make my bedroom more of a living space, like a small studio without kitchen and bathroom. I'll be deep cleaning it AND doing the one-room cure. The floor desperately needs to be painted, and the furniture rearranged/changed.

You can see the before pics by clicking on my name, I hope.

Flikr is flikring--it didn't work when I tried to register (for the first time)--got a page that said "Flikr is having a massage (?!). I registered, and it went down again....

Does anyone know where the first 100-plus Cure comments went? They were up before the delay-until-Monday announcement....

Oooops!

Found the earlier comments. Big Duh.

(almost glad it's postponed)... I did not yet received the book I ordered.

Just posted my before pictures and added them to the pool... Which made me noticed that the office and the storage spaces are those who desesperately need work... I think that being a neat freak and because I don't like to SEE clutter, I tend to hide it away... it makes my apt. LOOK clean and organized but the problem is actually put somewhere else (wardrobes, cabinets & office) as you'll see. I think that the office and the storage areas will be my main focus during the cure.

This is what I love/hate about the cure:

I go to do one tiny little thing. A ten minute job, max.
Next thing you know, I've pulled all the books off the bookcase, washed all the shelves....and the wall behind it.

Off to do my "ten minute job," now.

Sadia -- Also blogging but not Flickring.

http://anotherdayanothercure.blogspot.com/

Me too Sadia...

http://blackwhiteyellow.blogspot.com/

Wende--that blog of yours is terrific. Thanks for the link and a peak at your quirky apartment.

3rd time's a charm! i'm joining in again :)

I am not sure how to upload pictures of my apartment to the links or even how to create a BLOG page of my progress. I joined Flickr, but it seems too complicated for me. I don't want to be all over the place. Can somebody help me find a home - is there one on apartment therapy I can go to and set up a blog? I am so not computer savvy. I see all these blogs others have, but no idea how to create my own. HELLLLLP!
I'd like to post my b4 and after photos.
Thanks,
Demejan

love the blog wende.

GZgoingMod aka Geraldine:
I think your apartment has great potential. Once you have built the shleves for the books on the green wall, you'll see much more clear for arranging the livingroom.

Deme,

Flickr is pretty simple. You've created your account. Now search for the Group Apartment Therapy Unofficial Cure, click Join This Group.

Once you have your photos on your computer you can either email them to Flickr or go to You > Upload and browse for the right pictures. Add the links apartmenttherapycure, click Upload, click Save This Batch when they are uploaded and the photos will be on your photo page.

When you have all the photos you want added, go to Organize and you can add all the photos (Send to Group) at once. Then your pics will appear in the Group Pool.

Deme--If you aren't too computer savvy (like moi) don't worry about creating a blog. You can leave comments on your pictures at Flickr (in fact, please do) and folks can respond and leave suggestions, etc.

As well, anything you want to share, discuss, vent, etc can be done here, in the cure threads.

Deme -- As others have pointed out, Flickr is very straightforward once you get into it, and it's good about letting people comment.

My personal preference for blogs is because I like to (a) chatter and (b) keep track of links. If you have a blogging personality, you can easily get going with just two things:

1. A free blogger.com account. Blogger is designed to be super-easy to use -- literally, you just sign up for an account and follow their instructions. They give you templates and make it so, so easy to add links.

2. A free photobucket.com account. Photobucket walks you through uploading photos, and it provides the exact code you need to paste into a blog to make the photos appear there. (You can't make Flickr photos appear directly on another site.)

THANK YOU, Deme! I couldn't figure out Flikr either, but now we have all these excellent instructions......

OK, my new pics are up on flickr - if anyone remembers the bright blue office of the spring cure, you can see it there in all of it's tan and red glory. :)http://www.flickr.com/gp/47055102@N00/DK7M8j

I am very excited to join the Home Cure but I am not sure how to play the game. Do I just update the pictures week by week to flickr?

Nicole R -

I'm not sure, which one are you following?

giggleuma - update the photos whenever you see fit. You may want some feedback on something outside of the weekly projects. ...Like curtains...

I agree with having one big group so we can "meet" people from far and wide so... I "joined" all the groups. I have no idea how I will keep up with all of that. I already have to make sure I post here. :p
Gotta post my pics still. will probably take my pics this weekend and post monday.
God. I'm SOOO excited. i'm a total spaz.

Actually, I like the idea of having smaller groups, only because it's too hard to read over so many comments, as in some of the older cures where there are more than a hundred comments! But it will be fun to follow along, and if there are fewer comments at the end I may comment on more than one group.

I have officially started my Cure by tackling some of my condo repairs, some of which have been malingering on my list since the first Cure. I'm going to try to fix a drip (that has become a torrential minor waterfall) early next week (requires turning off the building's water, which requires giving others a certain amount of notice) and I have made an appointment with a person who fixes things to come over and fix some light fixtures that haven't worked in a couple of years, replace a leaky faucet set, and install a new programmable thermostat.

Yes, this will all cost $ (I'll save some because I already have all the parts), but the torrential drip has put me over the edge. I wouldn't be fixing that myself, except I couldn't get the appointment right away and I really need to get that drip done. It feels fantastic to get these things taken care of. Yay!

I'm joining the Green Home cure. I think adding a level of complexity will help me focus more on the tasks, as well as maybe be good for the environment. But what to do with all my old cleaning products? And I've already encountered my first dilemma: I found the bedding I had selected for my Style Tray for half off, but it's not organic!

Well, I'm going to the City of Love. It is 300 miles closer to me than Chicago. There are only a few curees going by the post of Sept. 5th. It would be wonderful if more joined us.

Good for you getting that drip looked after Pixie.

Okay, I've just been checking mileage, and Chicago's 500 miles closer to me than San Francisco, so technically I should be joining that group, according to the suggestion to join the closest group. Haven't made up my mind yet, though.

I definitely want to do some "greening" of my home, but not enough to join the Green Home group, although I'll be reading it with interest.

Like choosing a major when I was in college, I think I'll have trouble having to choose one group. I liked the big-group style of the last cures, but... oh, well...

Hi Alana and Beth, In last year's Fall Cure, you guys were dynamos. I just couldn't keep up. But I did OK. Even though my place is still a mess, it's so much better than it was before the Cure last year. I'll be able to tidy up a little before taking my "Before" pictures -- last year I couldn't even do that! Good luck on this Cure.

Hi Marilyn! Congrats on maintaining what you accomplished last cure. That's really wonderful.

Given we're all being split off and shuttled off to different home sites, I created a blog.

(Actually, it's Dr. Wende's fault. She knows why.)

Here's the link. http://prairiehometherapy.blogspot.com/

I've created a spot for fellow curees, too. So if you want me to link to you, leave me a comment with your address and I'll include you too. I've got a few already.


Oh--and to the mods--it would be great if the link to the book blog on each site linked to its own site's cure threads instead of this one. Otherwise, I'll be lazy and just stay and hang out here in New York.

PS. This weekend, I'm sanding a little wooden drop leaf table that should have been done YEARS ago. And my ever-helpful frugal husband is re-gluing our kitchen and dining room chairs.

Am also blogging...and flickring
http://curingwhatailsme.blogspot.com/
I'm in Pittsburgh, don't know what group I belong in? Chicago, NY? Can't decide....
Still need to take before pics of the whole place....kids will all be in school starting Monday, so here I go.

As I'm in the UK, I have no idea which group to join. I may just hang out at flickr instead. Technically, I'll be completing a one-room remedy started during the last cure, which got a bit out of control once I started knocking down walls to improve the light...

Before photos and progress so far on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zooza/

Blog at:
http://zooza.wordpress.com/

polkadot and zooza are with NYC. Pennsylvania is an East Coast state which borders NY. And England...

I've spent some time today going over other people's flickr posts. There are so many that I thought now was best before the official start so others can have some feedback to begin.

My kitchen is a bit of a wreck. Defrosted the fridge last week out of necessity but have many dirty dishes to confront. Bathroom not so bad, but not so great either.

I'm in too, and also blogging here: http://delpantanocure.blogspot.com/

Due to technical difficulties and an unexpected (and mosquito-ridden) business trip, no before photos yet, but they'll be up soon. Love looking at everybody else's, though.

Thanks to Alana's example, I have jumped on the blogwagon, and can be found at http://serenityathome.blogspot.com

I've linked to a few AT Curers (hope y'all don't mind), and if there's anyone else out there who has a Cure blog, I'd be glad to add a link to your blog, too.

I'll be in the Chicago Cure, but will be checking out the other Cures regularly as well -- everyone always has so much to offer!

Hi, I'm another UK curer, I'll pobably hang around New York since it is technically 'closest' to me :)

well, due to unexpected extreme family emergency that will probably last quite a while, i won't be able to completely follow the cure. sad, because i just bought a second copy of the book for bf and i to follow together. we may still try, since it will probably help us get our minds off of things, but we aren't making ourselves stick to any deadlines. plus, i have night school and full time job so that means less time to read. i will still be following along in everyone's progress, and from time to time popping in to show the decluttering we are doing.

we kind of started last night - i inherited a new desk from a friend of mine and we rearranged the spare bedroom/office to be more geared towards the many papers i have to write this semester. it looks much better, although not how i would have it. figured i'd let boyfriend have that one.

anyway, good luck to everyone.

Hi Smallcitybeth: I'll be joining you in Chicago

Oh boy! Can't wait to get started. I thought it was a great idea to start a blog, so here's mine:

www.starsdreamblog@blogspot.com

So far I've posted some photos from my style file.

I have found that I like a cottagey style, only perhaps more clean and simple. Maybe that's because our place has teeny tiny rooms - like 9' x 10', etc.

Oh well, I'll take some actual "beginning home photos" tonight and post them.

Thanks loads to all who responded to my dilemna...I'll try to get those pictures up by the weekend for your comments.
Thanks again. Have a great weekend.

Late to the party, but I need all the help I can get - I'll see if I can't give it a shot! (I'm in DC, can I hang with the NY kids?)