apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Jenny,
Past cures have posted on a Flickr tagged into the 'Apartment Therapy Cure (Unoffical)' Group. Some people have their own blogs and post their, but the majority see to use this site.
In the last cure, if we had new images we would include the flickr site link with our comment (in the URL box) - and this worked well. Lots of great comments and support from others on the cure and from the AT community.
Click on my name for the link.

Is it possible to do the Home Cure on an extremely limited budget (like if you're living entirely off of student loans) and if you live in a studio apartment where you can't paint or put lots of holes in the walls? If so, I'm in!

perfect! i've been gearing up to do the bedroom and i'm ready to go!

I've been reading the book and started doing some of the worksheets. I'm still stuck on selecting a paint color. I think I'll start with my bedroom as well. I'm happy with it, so far, just need to find that perfect wall color. My accents are red, I was thinking khaki.

VickyA - I've got a sort of Khaki color on my walls now and I love it.

I used to have Dunn Edwards Rustic Taupe but it didn't look right in my new place because the lighting was different. Now I have Dunn Edwards Almond Latte.

I think the Almond Latte looks great with red. It looks yellow in the can but it dries to look just like the name.

oh, just in time!!
i just moved, yet again..and i was hoping we would have another one while i was still putting things together.

Rachel - Yes, you can do this on a budget; I did for the fall Cure (I'm "Tara" there; another showed up over the summer).

I haven't done any painting, and for avoiding holes in the walls I think one of the tape manufacturers sells an option. I can't think of the name; perhaps someone else can?

I would suggest paying extra attention to accents and lighting. If you *have* to paint that wall, there are ways to use fabric instead. Either hang it loose, just in front, or if it won't bleed you can put it right on the wall with starch.

i'm ready!
that was fabulous seeing the gillingham-ryan family on oprah today!
i can't wait for the youtube so i can post it on my blog!

Tara in VA: Did you mean 3M Command strips? I used them everywhere, they're great!

I'm so excited! I bought the book last month to prepare, and since I'm moving next week the timing's perfect.

Count me in- I got the book and i am ready to go!!!

I bought the book back when there was an article about it in Christian Science Monitor. Cleaned out a good deal of excess stuff then, and did some projects, but I've still got lots to do. So I'm in! This round it will be getting lighting installed, repainting some more of the kitchen cabinets, and working on the garden. All you bona fide apartment dwellers can enjoy my spring bulbs vicariously. Soon. Joanne

I'm so in! It's my first cure, and I'll be doing the deep treatment. I'm on a limited budget too, Rachael. I think we are going to have to shell out more than we probably want to, but it will be worth it. Going to take my "before" pictures soon! (scary!)

Seriously, guardcat. You can hang framed photos with those things? I've got several medium to large items to hang.

Oh good! I'm actually going to try to cure my bathroom - sounds funny, but it's the worst room in our place right now. Can't wait!

Count me in!

We've been in this place for 4-1/2 years, and it's time to shake things up.

Jeff

rachael-

you & i are in the same boat so maybe we can cheer each other on. i have cfids & am trying to get on disability b/c i can't work anymore. so, there's not really income. i have to be very creative. i also can't paint.

i think i'm gonna start working on my dining room b/c it's pretty much empty. i find it the hardest b/c what it needs are kinda big ticket items. i need to organize my living room. it's ok, but not efficient. & i'll be adding small finishing touches to some of the other rooms if i can.

I'm in! I'm frantically trying to finish the building work in my sitting room so I can enjoy focusing on the finishing touches during the cure. I think it's just what I need to make sure I don't just leave it as 'good enough, but could be better'.

See you all there!

We have been mulling over the book for some time now, and this is the perfect jump start for us. My husband is looking forward to getting rid of lots of our junk, and buying new, more attractive furniture (our current scheme being definitely "early attic").

I wonder if this is something that can be done while we unpack? We move into our new space on 3/3. Hmm....

Rachael, I'm also working with an extremely limited budget in a small rented apartment with rules about not painting or drilling holes, etc. But my space is definitely in need of help, so I hope AT can provide me with some inexpensive solutions. I can't wait to get started!

I am so ready for this. I am going to cure my living room which is currently painted bright green and bright blue. I've been living this way for a year and a half and can't wait to have a more relaxing living space.

Rachel, mg & Katy -

The great thing about the book and the Cure is that you don't have to spend much money at all (or you can spend a ton if you have it), it's very much about how you arrange things and decide to keep what's of value to yourself--making your home the best place for doing what you need to do and function well.

The best part for me was the ability to ask for opinions and ideas, and to see other people's ideas (I did the fall one and will be doing the spring one).

I kept on decorating after the cure based on the plans I made during it but couldn't execute at the time.

No more excuses! I've sat on the sidelines the last two times, but this time, I'm in! I will be joining the bedroom cure bandwagon.

Erica -- I'm with you. I had a great time during the Fall Cure, and was planning to do a "Behind Closet Doors" Cure this time. Was planning. Then I decided to move, and like you, will be getting into the new place in early March (except the movers aren't bringing the furniture until March 14, so really it's more like mid-March).

Anyway, I'm going to see what kind of Curing I can do in the process of settling in to the new apartment.

And -- glad to see you back again, too, skywaykate!

Sounds like there's a lot of folks eager to get Curing!

Nice to see familiar names again. Welcome to the new people: the cure is a lot of fun. Where is the opoponax?

I'm so excited! I've been reading AT for a while and I have been dying to get some feedback on the work I have been doing on my rental. This is the perfect time for the cure- I feel like I have decorator's block- I'm completely stuck...I just finished making the purchase on Amazon and I'm looking forward to the journey!

I'm in too! I read the book over the holidays and am so motivated to get rid of stuff and redo my living room. But there's never been enough time to get to the big piles (sigh). It will be great to have a group schedule and deadlines to help with the cure.

Would love to join! I just got the book and it's great; so inspiring. I'm ready to move beyond a just-graduated college look and into a fun, stylish, useful apartment.

I'm reading the book right now and I am SO ready to do this. Better go take some before photos.

I am worried though, I am attached to most of the furnature in my place. But I know I don't have room for half of it and am dreading having to give it away to create more livable and usable space.

We'll see if I can get in on this one - we jsut gutted the master bathroom and I am accumulating fixtures and whatnot while I wait to hear back from the tile guy (a friend doing us a favor so I don't want to be pushy). So I guess I can kind of do the One Room Cure on this bathroom, it sure needs a paint job and some lighting issues definitely need addressing. Does anyone have any opinions on can lights in the bathroom? I feel like they give good light without having to address as many visual issues as sconces and things. Would that just be weird? Pics in my name...

Eryn -- that's the beauty of the Cure, and especially of the Outbox concept that's emphasized during the Cure... you get to let go gradually. I found that once the purge bug bit, it got easier and easier to let go of things. The encouragement of the group helps too.

I'm moving to a brand new place in Oak Park that weekend, so I may need to play a little catchup as we get our stuff in. I'm ready to jump in though.

I've bought the book and started reading it. I'm definitely in for the Deep Treatment. Tomorrow, I'll take my before pictures, though I've already bought fresh flowers. What a difference that one little step made! Can't wait.

yay! I can't wait. Actually , I sort of didn't wait, and have been busy this week setting up a new work space, painting, installing lighting, etc.

meridith,

That's great! Now, if you slow down a little later on, you'll still be OK. =)

I just finished taking my before pictures. My place needs the deep treatment, all right... Planning to do the floors, today.

I'm in! I just finished the book and I can't wait to get started. I'm moving to a new (smaller) place on June 1, so my goal in doing the Cure is to clear out all the stuff I don't need/use/want anymore, so I can make a fresh start in my new apartment.

Count me in for the small-budget club as well.

I'm in. I already painted my walls, as I am in the "new apartment" category with others. Thank goodness the building manager said I can paint - I can't bare white walls. Looking forward to The Cure.

Where can we post our before pictures?

My husband and I are in! We've had bad timing on the other cures, so we're ready to go!

Thanks Alex! I uploaded my pictures and can't wait to get started!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87173319@N00/sets/72157594559311704/

yay! I started in the fall but got incredibly behind and quit. I'm up for another go around. Plus, with extra incentive, my husband and I will be moving somewhere unknown for grad school in august and I'd like to rid our spare room of it's excess clutter since the spare room in our new apt (if there is a spare room) will need to be an office/workspace area. I plan to use a mix of the declutter/one room cure. I don't really know the size, color, or shape of our future room, but I can get an idea of it's purpose. My first step is to buy more of the shelves we currently own, cardboard boxes, and sort and label our art, keepsakes, and memorobilia. Link to the pics of the room in the fall in my name. Note, it's messier now, but tonight I start the outbox!

I've reading the archived cure entries since Christmas and am really looking forward to my deep treatment. I'll basically be cleaning out my apt. for a fresh start. This should be fun (or well... challenging.)

i'm in! one room focus for me - time to actually move in after 6 months of boxes piled in my home office / den / yoga room / closet. i'll post photos soon on flickr which is a sight I definitely recommend. -d

Count me in! I move to a new apartment this weekend, have next to no furniture, and am basically starting from scratch. Hoping the Cure will help me do things right from the start.

awesome! i've had the book for a while now, but just moved and am ready for the cure!

All right. I saw everyone else cure their apartment the last two times. If I don't do it this time we'll be moving before I ever get things just the way I like them, so I'm in too!

in! in! in! this is my first cure and i am curing from fort worth, tx. i actually started a little bit early and am doing my big shopping trip this weekend. although, i am sure to make more purchases along the way. will try to post my before pics over the weekend! good luck to all!

I've been reading the AT book all week and getting rid of stuff on Craigslist, too. I'm calling it "Operation Get Rid of Stuff I Don't Need" to motivate me.

I'm aching to cure my appartment I've been here 7 years), but I'll only be here till October because I finally bought my own place - a loft in a recycled cookie factory!

Can I do a "partial" cure?

Brilliant! I'm tired of having aparment-jealousy. I'm in, but still trying to hunt down a book though.

Jenny, where did you get the fantastic little birds that hang on the archway outside your kitchen? I think I'm in love!

I'm brand new to Apartment Therapy, just bought the book! Excited to start the cure and looking forward to lots of help from you veterans!

I've been reading the archived AT Cure blog and have to say I am intrigued, inspired and plan to join the Cure starting on the 5th.
Maxwell, is there a formal registration process for the AT Cure?

I've been working my apartment for nearly a year. I'm doing most of the work myself with a few exceptions. The kitchen, floor installation, plumbing & electrical work. My first apartment, I've started from scratch with regard to furniture--shopping sample sales, antique stores and the mid-priced stores (IKEA, West Elm, et al). Definitely a warm person, I can only imagine what I will find when its time to declutter. Paint is an obstacle, I'll ponder color choices for weeks. I've attached a link to my photographed progress.

Looking forward to getting the book this afternoon.

I'm would love to join this! I've been in my apartment with my boyfriend for almost 2 years now and it still looks like we've just moved in. There aren't any personal touches or anything. I'd love to do something more fantastic.

I've also ordered my book here, so I guess I'm a little late but I'll catch up. :)

Laura - thanks for the Dunn Edwards Rustic Taupe and or Almond Latte suggestions. I'll check those out this weekend. Joanne, I didn't know we were doing gardens, I've got a little patch of green outback. I've got a wrought iron table and chairs out there and desperately needs some plants besides the big tree. Jenny, I could look at your photos, the page said "not found"...you requested a bad link" something to that effect. I tried it a couple of times with the same result.