apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

The selling off part of my Cure continues. In the last two weeks, I've sold 8 items on eBay including my floral rug from Anthropologie.

I nominate Alana in Canada for the sheer poundage of that she removed from her previously disfunctional basement. She has definitely served as an inspiration to me throughout this process, not only for what she accomplished but for the sheer audacity of tackling a basement as part of the Cure!

I actually finished at week seven. Thanks Maxwell, for posting my finished bedroom, it was well worth all of the work! Some fine tuning is still needed and will keep you updated. I nominate sidstiles, who gave strength even though her home flooded due to a fire at her neighbor's place! She hasn't finished, but her flickr site still shows she's hard at work!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidneys_cure/

and my finished room

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjburke/2446628102/in/set-72157604069588155/

We'll be back for the Fall cure. We are now starting our backyard cure...now that the weather is warm...

Almost done. Painted the bathroom on Saturday, still need to hang a mirror over the landing strip but that will have to wait until the weekend.

There is still a lot I would like to do in our office/guest bedroom, but we are well on our way...

Pictures here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandabutler/sets/72157604665462584/

It's difficult to choose! In one form or another, everyone has been an inspiration to me.

Regarding specific inspirational photographs, I'd choose andijl and very lame for their awesome bedrooms, neeecole for her new entry/landing strip, and the holidaygirl928 for her lovely party panache and amy sedaris cheese ball.

But seriously, good going everyone!

Oh good heavens. Thank you CQinDC.

Lorijo/the farmer's daughter's energy always spurred me on whenever mine flagged (her list of accomplishments is much larger than mine--as was probably her out-box) and Raikenn inspired me with his beautiful photographs.

The entire Chicago group was marvelous and I'm entirely serious--I could not have done it without each and every one of you!

Wow thanks again AT! I'm serious, my friends are surely sick of me by now with the bedroom redo - but I had a great time!

I nominate suziegoombs for her constant encouragement and support throughout the cure!

I'd say I'm in the "will be done" category. Everyone has been great, but especially Alana in Canada and suziegoombs. I'm once again out of town, which means no more progress this week, but I've got a picture or two of last week's flowers.

I second the nomination for Alana in Canada, and for Lorijo. Both of them have achieved great things! (Alana, in particular, has moved mountains!)

I'm in the "will be done" category. I'll be posting a few pictures this week, but I still have a way to go. I'll be doing some stuff behind the scenes, and gearing up for the Fall Cure.

Almost done. I'm going to finish when I get back from vacation by sort of doing a mini cure with the steps I didn't do this time around.

I did learn a lot though!

Oh yeah and count me as an almost done :-)

I am done. Happy, tired and done. Thank you to Alana and SCB- both gave my strength when it was needed. Alana moved mountains in her basement (literally) and was an inspiration to me.
We are doing a small to medium remodel of the bathroom this August (floor, cabinets, sink, lights- hopefully not tub) and I will post those pics as they get finished.
My outbox is going to be sold the first week of June (along with a lot of other stuff- I am still filling one outbox every 2 days ) and will also be posting pics of the sale online.
Thanks everyone- this cure was fun!

I'm a "will be done" I'm giving myself an extra week because I'm doing a little fiesta/bon voyage party in my outdoor area next Sunday afternoon. I installed my new shower head last night, and bought paint for the bathroom. I tried to hang a divider curtain to separate my living/bedroom, but not sure I like it so much. And I got a lovely bunch of lilacs sitting by my bed and on my table now, so progress is coming along.

I think you were all super fantastic and very inspirational, but if I have to pick, I nominate Suziegoombs for always being so involved and supportive and Alana for making me want to be a guest in her home. I love how she really brought her style tray to fruition in the guest room.

Great job everyone!

Aw, thanks Jen64, that's so sweet!

I hope I'm not too late in posting this...
So, I fell off the face for a bit, and I've been floating out in the atmosphere, but I think I've finally come in for a (temporary) landing...
I'm in the "will be done" category as well. I've gotten most of the big things done...painting, lighting, furniture arranging, but I've still got several details to attend to.
I've finally posted some photos of my room in it's current state, and while I'm definitely not finished, I have to say I'm super happy with it!! After getting the arrangement of furniture done, I went to bed thinking "this room is going to be so nice to wake up in tomorrow" and I was right--I can't really describe how awesome that feeling is.

So here's my latest photos, and as I said, it's not done...but I've gotten a lot farther than ever before. Thanks AT!!
cure After (but not done!)

As far as nominees, Its really hard to pick one as well. The people who motivated me the most and kept me going with their comments and inspiration were suziegoombs, Alana in Canada, and Colleen (CQ in DC) and the people who's personal cures impressed me the most were AndreaU and Alana in Canada...So I guess since she falls into both categories, I nominate Alana in Canada too!!

Thanks for all the motivation and help everyone--you guys really are what kept me going (and will keep me going to completion!)

I will definitely be done, but I'm also a week off. My last big push in the bedroom will be done later today when I hang the last of my photos. Unfortunately, I didn't finish my office/workspace - I thought I could hang the shelves myself, but I got scared and I'm waiting for my super to be able to do it for me.

The decluttering and simplifying was the most educational part of it all for me. I will never be a minimalist, but it's so calming to have more air and less stuff around. I also learned to look at my space in new ways - taking my before photos was so educational!

My dad is in town this week, so while there won't be a party, there will be much cooking, eating, and drinking of wine. My tapas & knitting party is tentatively planned for the 26th - photos to follow, I'm sure :-)

I've been inspired by all of you, but I really love HollyInDC's place and the changes she's made to make it so bright and welcoming. And she loves Amy Sedaris!

Will be done--aiming for this weekend. The new water heater's installed in the bedroom closet and I painted the closet. Now, I have to wash all the organizer hardware (been dragging my feet on that for some reason) and then put it back in (wish me luck) and then put all the clothes and half my life back in there.

Still haven't made a decision about the blinds in the bedroom. I may just get another cheap set of mini-blinds and do something more interesting later, since it all costs so much. I have to do something, since they're a wreck and I can't pull up the blinds on one of the windows without the whole thing falling down.

The Cure is always an inspiration and I'm always bummed when it ends. But, part of what's effective about it is that it ends, so you only have a certain amount of time to get it done.

oh, I'm glad this was bumped because I couldn't find it!

Thank you guys for "voting" for me! What a surprise. While I didn't feel like my own cure was necessarily very inspirational (since it mostly entailed closet cleaning, organizing, and very little money!) I LOVE commenting on other curee's photos. I will be missing you all so much!

If I had to nominate someone for most inspirational I would go with harmony_france and very lame (their flickr names)! They both made such awesome changes and did A LOT of work. When looking at HF's after photos I almost couldn't believe it was the same person. and I love Jenny/very lame's and sidstiles bedroom cures. They have totally inspired me to break out the blue paint I bought for my bedroom walls.

I would consider myself "sort of done." I don't know if I will ever really be "done" my apartment... much to my boyfriend's chagrin! I am really happy with what I got accomplished this time around but I know I still have some things to work on - namely my monster of a closet. I'm having surgery next week and as soon as I'm better I will be tackling it! I'm also already looking forward to the Fall cure and will probably spend the entire summer getting ideas for my living room :) Trying to have reasonable goals this time around was key for me- even scaling things back a bit once life got a little chaotic.

For those that didn't "finish" don't lose hope! Join us in the fall!

Congrats everyone!

I'm at the Almost Done stage. I can't stop curing so I'm sure I will be Done any day now.

My favourites were Raikenn & HollyInDC for great & constant updates & well-taken photographs that were inspirational to view. And Suziegoombs & SidStiles for their input & encouragement.

My mom saw my Cure photos the other night & said she looked at them for almost 2 hours & is so ridiculously momproud of me, it really makes it worthwhile. Before I moved into my place a year ago, I was kind of homeless living, for 2 years, in a windowless room in the back of my friend's shop with no kitchen or bathroom. This is a huge step forward & AT really inspired me to live the good life.

Remember that Vitamin C song 'Graduation'?

suziegoombs, you did make great strides--and while closets and organizational stuff may not be the most exciting to document, lets be honest, the other rooms can't work without the behind the scenes stuff like closets being "cured" too!
Good luck with surgery, and take some much-deserved downtime while you recover!!

Sorta done. I think part of the problem (and it's a good problem to have!) is that I got a job and started working full-time again. When I was unemployed, working on my house was a good distraction from actually looking for a job.
I did accomplish a lot (especially in the 2nd bedroom), even though the only pictures that I posted were the before-and-after of the kitchen.
In the near future, I hope to paint the upstairs bathroom and tackle the office.

Hello All,

I was away for two weekends, so I am a little behind. I plan to finish this weekend with the organization of my bedroom. Hopefully over the next few weeks I will do some redecorating with some new bed linens, a bed side table and rug. In two weeks I plan to host a dinner or brunch for a few friends. The best part of doing the cure a second time around is that I have created some daily habits that helps me keep my apartment organized, clean and uncluttered.

Congratulations to all the Spring Cure 2008 participants.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lffrank/sets/72157604213436452/

Good health to you, Suziegoombs!

As I've said before, it's been a good but odd Cure on this end. Our big bath remodel had an eclipsing effect, but nonetheless, this Cure helped me organize for it. It was invaluable, actually.

Good job, each and everyone! More pictures tk.

The whole point of an on-line cure, for me, is to give and get encouragement--so I'm grateful so many of you felt I was an inspiration to you.

After all, we can paint stuff and move stuff around, throw out stuff and change our lives any old time, but it isn't often we get to do it as a group--with the energy from the group propelling us forward when we need a little nudge.

I still have a few things to do but won't be able to get to them this month. So you'll have to put me in the "ever-on-going-never-quite-done" category, too!

And I have to know--why THAT picture, Maxwell? Of all the pictures! I think I deserve a signed copy of the House Tour book. (As do Suziegoombs and Lorijo, of course.) ;)

Done.

Thanks laurelann and Jenny! And thanks to everybody who gave me suggestions. I loved getting a peek at everybody's apartments.

All of my apartment pics, including the Cure-specific ones:
http://flickr.com/photos/theholidaygirl/collections/72157603790898657/

Will be done! and I will post pics of my progress on flickr

Congrats HollyinDC!

I totally droped out of the Cure, even though I'd wanted to do it since the Fall. I realized that I couldn't do it alone, even though I had "permission" to dump any of my boyfriend's stuff into his office without thinking about it. I thought that would be enough. But it wasn't.

Luckily, a friend is not letting me give up and will lend a little elbow grease. I'm re-starting the cure next week, with my little buddy in tow.

I'm really impressed by all of you who have affected real change in your homes. I now appreciate how challenging it is!

Oh, and here are my before pics, from way back in the fall:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97955589@N00/sets/72157601964763522/

And the Spring cure pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97955589@N00/sets/72157604133738550/

Congrats to all and see you in the fall!

thank you sidstiles and wig!

You all are the best, its been a really fun cure. I got my new coffee table in the mail today and while I shall be relaxing for the next two weeks I'll also be coming up with new ideas for next time around.

Maxwell, I'd like to second Alana's request for a signed copy of the book :)

does everyone have one of those "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters? Am I the last one to get one??!

MFlick --

Yes, you are. For Like Ever too.

Victoria has some for sale in her etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5244654

So is it that you don't graduate if you aren't completely done on time? I feel like I should be considered a graduate.I got all my work done within the Cure time frame, it's just the contractor who continues to do the work.

It's the second Cure in a row that I participated in and completed. Somehow I didn't get mentioned on the Graduates page either time. Ouch.

In any case, I did enjoy this process and am still blogging as my contractor finishes his work on my bathroom: http://j-fer-rose.blogspot.com/