apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Wiremold also has some interesting cable management options:

http://www.wiremold.com/www/consumer/index.asp?bhcp=1

My problem is that I've got my cable TV coaxial cable running up from the living room floor, through the ceiling and into the bedroom. I'm trying to find a way to secure it into the corner from floor to ceiling without putting nails into the wall all the way up.

Love my cable turtules. Use the tiny ones to corral my iPod cables and earphones.

I got a new used filing cabinet last night and it's working perfectly in the spare room.

On cable management, I highly advocate putting away computer peripherals and any tv components that you don't use frequently. I keep my scanner stored in a cabinet near my computer. I can pull it out and hook it up whenever I need it, but it's not on my desk taking up space. Plus you might realize that you don't really need all the stuff you have hooked up now. I unhooked my VCR and didn't use it for 6 months which was when I decided to find it a new home. Also not having as many things running on your computer, in your kitchen, or with your tv or stereo can cut down on your energy usage.

I guess my point is that before you go out and spend money on cable organizer, you should really make sure you need all those cables first.

mattS: Roger, I used Wiremold's cordmate to great success (along basboard heater and (ATTN: mattS)but as a hint I would by the additional "accesories" pack which includes some useless items but does make installation a snap, literally. There is a snap attachment that screws into the wall. I use two for each 5' cordmate section (I prefer the metal one to the plastic adhesive backed one, less crud to clean up). But know that there also are self-adhesive cord runs (didn't use them on my textured walls but did use on wretched panelling, and then covered with cheap faux wood contact paper to blend with wall). If you'd like I can send a pics. It is paintable, obtainable (at Menard's or Home Depot), and very discrete when tucked into a corner.

Thanks Eric, sounds like the ideal solution. Great that it's paintable, as we're going to be painting the livingroom something other than white soon and I was afraid the cable would stand out even more. Now I just need to determine whether a single coaxial cable will fit inside the Cordmate, or if I'd need the larger Cordmate II instead. I'll drop an email to Wiremold, see what they say.

Jen, I think that's good advice. You can tie in decluttering with cable management. I unhooked my VCR and forgot I had it. Ended up giving it away. I sold my speakers because I found myself listening to headphones more often: no more big boxes in my studio apartment and no more speaker cables. I reduced my number of audio formats from four to two, so the stereo components and their related cables went (my goal is to get down to one format, but I'm still feeling very attached to my records). I've considered putting my computer printer on the bottom shelf of my TV cart (which I keep in a closet) because I don't use it very often. I could just wheel it out and plug it in when I need to use it. I still suffer from an outlet shortage--just two outlets in the main room, it's an old apartment--but cable management isn't much of an issue for me.

I thought about getting a printer when I moved into my new place a couple of years ago (having given up the printer in the "divorce.") I finally have decided not to get one at all since I can print pretty much everything I need at work. There is the occasional time when I want instant printing, but not having an extra box, with all its attendant cables and stuff, is worth it. The other box I have decided not to get is a shredder. I shred at work and cut up addresses off of junk mail as it comes in. Further, I do everything I can to reduce junk mail and return the unsolicited stuff without opening it when I can.

I'm still considering a scanner. I want to scan a lot of stuff and get rid of the paper. Once I get this organized (hopefully during this week of the Cure), I might be able to scan a lot of non-sensitive stuff at work, then reassess what's sensitive and see whether I really need to get that box.

I am fighting on two fronts: the campaign against paper and the campaign against more electronic boxes.

I have a combination printer, fax, copier, scanner. One box, four functions. Bundled equipment saves space and reduces wires. I find a shredder necessary since that way I can shred as a go and not get a stack of things to be shredded.

As for wires, I've come to the conclusion that at night they are fruitful and multiply since I have no other explanation for why there are so many and so entangled.

I wish I could shred things at work. Instead I have a little black box by the door. My million dollar idea is a mailbox with a built-in a shredder that could direct all the crap to the shredder and keep only the things likely to be useful.

I definitely love the combination devices. I have a monitor with built-in speakers which frees up desk space and a plug. I also have a wireless printer that can be stashed anywhere.

Pixie, HP makes a scanner that is powered through the USB cable. That's what I have and it's great because there's just one cable to hook up when I want to use it.

I just use double sided velcro for my cords. I bought a spool of it a few years ago and love the stuff. It's easy to undo if you just need to grab one cord out of the mess.

Pixie -- I also have a scanner that runs just on USB. It's one less cable to keep track of... I keep it out on my desk since I use it often, but you could leave it in a drawer and hook it up when you need it. They also make a scanner that will scan vertically or horizontally. In one of the reviews over on amazon, someone stored pictures in it and used it as a frame...

Ooof. I haven't been good at ALL this week. I was out of town for 5 days, and now I'm packing for a 2 month trip - so things are multiplying everywhere.

I did manage to keep my kitchen clean, however, and buy fresh flowers. I think my cure is stalling, though...or more precisely, on hold, until I get back in August. Then I'll be unemployed and have all sorts of free time to cure my house.

Just wanted to share today's CL frustration. I listed luggage that i've been hanging onto and never use. It's been in my "outbox" for a few weeks. Anyway, I get a response and though I was really really specific about all details in my ad, I had to answer each of these questions again on the phone. And, though I was probably underpriced on these things, just to get rid of them, it was still too high for this buyer. I'm talking giving them away...it's like "do you want me to pay YOU?" I'd be better off donating and getting at least a fuzzy feeling for 2 seconds...and possibility of a tax write-off.

Thanks for listening...did some good organizing today, though...

thanks for scanner info. yes, I've also thought about a combo printer/scanner/fax, but I'm an over-researcher and my mind boggles everytime I start researching it. So, I think I just want a scanner for now, if anything. They tend to be pretty small too.

Jen, your mailbox idea is genius.

I'm doing pretty well on my Cure, however imperfectly.

I had a friend over today, so I had to hide all the junk - stuff pertinent to Week 5, no less--under the bed to make things presentable. It must not start living there again! I'm going to go make a dent in that right now.

Did some cleaning and things are looking good. I got peonies at the farmers' market - white/palest pink in one vase, and a single burgundy one in another. I still have the top of an orchid stem with about 3 blooms left on it that I got 2 or 3 weeks ago for maybe $3.50. Every single bud bloomed.

Saw this at container store today...it looks like a good landing strip solution for me, possibly...and other ones on the site too.

http://www.threebythree.com/html/magazinepocket.html

http://www.threebythree.com/html/hookupstrip.html

Rachel, just by coincidence I quit my job around the time the "Apartment Therapy" book came out, so the Cure has been keeping me occupied. It's helpful that the Cure is broken down into steps and the book has a schedule, but I'm finding that some steps are taking a lot of time. Buying furniture, for example, takes forever: finding what you want, ordering it, waiting for delivery. And I'm lucky that I started decluttering months ago. That can take ages. I really admire people who can do the Cure while working full time. I don't think I could.

Oops just posted this on the old cure post, so I'll put it here instead.

I think I may have found THE rug for my living room:

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod30720102&parentId=cat10790735&masterId=cat3520733&index=19&cmCat=cat000000cat000553cat3520732cat3520733cat10790735

To go in the furniture grouping on the left:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ambernussbaum/142711359

I was planning on teal/ocean blue translucent curtains and I think this would tie them in nicely, besides that I have little spurts of yellow throughout the room already. What do you guys think?

So a GORGEOUS day on Saturday (when they predicted rain) meant I spent more time on the building's terrace than on Mission: Paper, but I did get considerable use out of a borrowed Dyson, got one package out in the mail that had been sitting around, got a TON of watches back from the jeweler's with new batteries (thanks, Mike, aka Sitegeek!!) got back shirts I had had taken in, corraled all my magazines and catalogs, took out recycling, cleaned the bathroom and Glass Plussed all the glass surfaces in the place.

The beauty of a small place that had been somewhat "cured" last year? These MINOR things have made a BIG impact...

No shredder yet, but I'm getting there.

My reward will be picking up my framing, hooking up my TiVO (thanks agian sitegeek!!) (MAYBE to a new TV!!) AND a flower arrangement from Bloom or Jane Packer.

Patrick (other), I got a great cheap shredder at Staples--reg. price was $30, but they had a $15 rebate (this was a month ago at tax time but I'm sure they come up often). It's their house brand, and basic--but does the trick. It's even crosscut. I keep it by my kitchen counter and shred any mail that comes in that's clearly a credit card app or some other unwanted mail.

I made some great steps in organizing this weekend as I was getting over a cold. I wasn't in desperate need of a cure either, but this weekend, I went through some old receipts and filed some things. My paper monster is by no means tamed yet. I got these great underbed bags at Container store. I was going to get an underbed box, but these were cheaper and fit more stuff. I actually managed to get a bunch of blankets I normally use for guests out of my hall closet and under the bed, as well as out of season clothes. Better than a box, too, because when I'm actually using the sweaters, I can fold up the bag. Sad that this thrills me so! I also got several of the cord yoyos featured in the blog for my ipod cords. Very nice and neat.

Amber, great rug! Love it.

Did you get your rebate? The few times I've mailed to Staples for rebates the envelope comes back RETURN TO SENDER.

Yeah, really nice rug, Amber!

I'm still cleaning up all the crap that went from my office (which still looks nice) into my bedroom. And I've sort of torn apart the living room so it looks much, much worse than it did. Yay.

Joan--
I can really, really empathize with you... but just keep repeating "It will get worse before it gets better."

IT WILL.

But the interim upheaval is extremely disheartening. (the smaller the space, the worse the perception of the upheaval, too) Been there!!!

Hang in!

Thanks, P(too)! I'll try to post disheartening pictures this evening, just to bring everyone else down. (Really, my strategy has been to hang out in my office space and calm down.)

we provisionally tackled one cord octopus this week:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22555946@N00/146984463/

it's still not perfect, but at least we're taking up less than 6 sqare feet now!

i bought those velcro strips from the container store but left wondering whether any of the cable turtles or XL cable organizers I saw could possibly handle that huge, stiff cable modem cord. i'd like to get a shorter cord, but I believe this one comes in from outside our apartment. any ideas for biggies like this one?

we also killed two birds avec one stone - flowers and nice food, by purchasing an organic nasturtium plant from the greenmarket:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22555946@N00/146984465/

it'll go on the fire escape, of course, because it needs full sun. but we'll still be able to see it from inside!

Jess, I have yet to tackle my cords, so congratulations.

As promised, here is the disheartening picture of my leftover office which has invaded by bedroom:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/auie/147239136/in/set-72057594121071311/

And I've added new pictures to the Living Room to Be Cured, where I demonstrate that the middle of the cure is more awful than the beginning, and I'm hanging in, encouraged by Patrick (the other one):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/auie/sets/72057594102291282/

Yeah, I meant to write "my bedroom." I don't have a cold.

Joan--
I think you are doing awesome(ly?)

The other thing that always helped me was an immediate "sort" of "like" things, even if I didn't have a plan or next step for them. (for example, all the shoes in that one picture... start a "shoe pile" which then lets you see, more easily, what remains.

Sometimes I ended up with a significant pile of things that then were weeded through, sometimes they were just a few items whihc then actually just disappeared into areas I already had set aside for that kind of thing.

Thanks, Patrick. Now I'm really embarrassed. Of all the things in that pic, the shoes actually have a place to go. (I didn't even notice them.) I've been mostly dealing with paper, which gets sorted and then either filed or messed around by the cats, and then re-sorted... Your strategy is absolutely the way to go. Now I'm really motivated to post pictures of progress.

Joan--
No worries! The shoes were just an easy example. Was certainly not pointing fingers!!! :)

But yes, deargod, paper is the constant enemy!

Whoops! Didn't mean to include that link.. left over from another post...

Amber, I posted the response to your rug in the older thread.

p(too) -- I got a Tivo as part of the cure too! I rarely watch TV and I always miss the shows I've worked on. It's nice to just have a pile of interesting things to see whenever I do have time to watch TV. My list is mostly Clean Sweep and Dwell. I've actually been using HBO now that I can grab all those movies and play them whenever I want...