Monday, February 1, 2016

LET THE DECLUTTERING BEGIN

Well, I've started going through all the hoarding storage moving mess that was taken out to the farm when we moved from the house in town to the apartment.  It's definitely going to be a multi-weekend process.  2nd Man stays in town because stuff like this stresses him out...plus he's the type to say "why do we have this?" or "what are we going to do with that?".  I understand that someday when we're out there full time, they are things we'll need.

Since we always promised to share the good AND the bad, below is the bad...the only "before" photo I could find of the living room (imagine a photo the other direction and the love seat looks the same).  Currently, every horizontal surface in the house is being used to put the things we brought out.  They all have a spot, it's just a matter of getting them INTO the spot...

Living room before
We had a homemade coffee table (that will be repurposed elsewhere and I'll put a post up about its creation) and an old rug that was just a bit too formal fussy for the farm.  It was also a bit big for the small living room space.  The couches were filled up as well.  Fortunately, because of all the open house showings we had in town while it was on the market, the realtor has us buy a few things.  Some colorful pillows, a rug for the TV room and a couple for the kitchen, things like that.  When we bought those items, we bought them with the knowledge of moving them to the farm once all was said and done with the sale.  We also have some furniture, in this case a coffee table and matching end table, that wouldn't go to the apartment so they were destined for the farm as well.  

Living room rug and coffee table
The first thing I did was get all the junk off the old coffee table and rug and remove both from the room.  Then I put the new rug down along with the new "used" coffee table from in town and a few items on the table.

End table
Then I replaced the previous end table, which was one of those round particle board tripod tables that you put a tablecloth over, with the new "old" end table, also from in town.  

Farmhouse living room
I put the yellow pillows on the couches for color and that was it.  Living room is done.  I also started on the foyer desk area but didn't get pics of it because it's not finished.  The plan is that soon, I'll go out and spend the night (once one of the beds is cleared off, ha) and take a whole weekend to get it all knocked out.  We've just had a few cold and wet weekends lately so for now, it's easier to do it as one project/room at a time.  

Nothing like Spring cleaning in the Winter!



33 comments:

  1. Looks wonderful!! You certainly have a good eye for visual space and balance -- and the colors are bright and fresh! Well done indeed! Hoping to see more Before-and-Afters!

    Jan at Rosemary Cottage

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    1. Well gosh, that's very nice. 2nd Man sort of leaves most of it up to me but I just get what I think might look right. There will be more!!

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  2. it looks wonderful, very cosy,, I love the art too! The pillows are beautiful,, that is a great coffee table,, very nice!! good luck with the decluttering, I believe its addictive,, watch out, lol,,,,

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    1. Thanks, we found those at a great store here in town a few years ago. I wish they were real paintings but they look pretty nice in person. And YES it is addictive. I actually ran out of time to do more, so I could have kept on going, ha.

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  3. Replies
    1. LOL, when I finish this, let me know, haha!!!

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  4. Lovely room!

    I so understand the issue of moving things from one place to another. Whenever the lake place becomes our permanent home I will need to move a lot of our "real house" things there. It is going to be daunting and I am not looking forward to it. I keep telling TheHub we are going to have to add on before we move there permanently because I am not willing to give up my piano. We really need to downsize before we make the move there just to pare down our furnishings and belongings.

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    1. Yep, that's exactly what I had to, ahem, 'fight for' with stuff at the farm. 2nd Man would say "we don't need this at the apt". Well yeah, but we could use it at the farm someday. He would say "well lets just buy it when we need it". Um no, we already have it, ha. We pared down a LOT but we did keep important stuff for future use too.

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  5. That room looks very inviting. May I come with a cup of tea and my book and plop myself down?

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  6. Replies
    1. Cool! (I think? LOL!) We got this 2012, maybe yours found it's way over here, ha.

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  7. Timely post. I'm in the same process, and you're after shot gives me hope. Also, I love your pictures! Some far off day when I've extra time, I hope to make something similar.

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    1. It's work, but remember to just don't over do, pick the small battles first that give you an instant sense of relief and then you'll get to doing more and more.

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  8. That looks so cozy and inviting! I love the pops of color. Well done!

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  9. Everything looks lovely together.

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    1. It's got a bit more to go (I'll have to get a pic from the other side). Thanks!!

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  11. LOL, I think you guys needed to buy a bigger barn!! We were amazed how our 'big' shed filled so quickly with all those things we loved but just couldn't find room for. I love what you have done to the room. It's simple beautiful.

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    1. Yep, I haven't started moving stuff out there...YET, ha. .Thanks for the sweet words!!

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  12. Wow.
    And your mess is v minor. Trust me.

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    1. Ha, thanks, that gives me hope for the rest of the house, LOL.

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  13. Looks wonderful! I love befores and afters - they not only provide good ideas, but also inspire me to get going on overdue projects.

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    1. There will be more! And yes, it's always nice to get some inspiration from others huh? Thanks!!

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  14. And we are in the packing up and no looking back phase here!! About to start the huge gut-remodel of kitchen, (will about double in size), make laundry more usable, switch breakfast room into my office, move bathroom door around the corner, etc etc etc ... the packing up is easier I think than the unpacking will be when his highness will be home and helping place things!!! Yikes!!!

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    1. Oh, I don't envy what you're about to go through, ha. Yes, in all my years of moving as I was growing up, it seems the packing is easier (once you've sorted through it all) than the unpacking because unpacking involved figuring out where it's going. When you pack, you know where it's going, "IN A BOX", ha!!!! Good luck, don't kill each other! ;-)

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  15. 1st Man,

    I would love to trade you our mess from the estate home for yours....please pretty please :-) I do love how you set things up, ever thought about becoming and interior decorator??

    I'm so happy for the both of your getting closer to your dreams, the farm.

    We gave the keys tot he Realtor for the estate, it should be on the MLS soon. Can't wait to get this place sold and move on with our lives.
    Hugs,
    Sandy

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    1. I KNOW going through an entire house and deciding what to keep what not to keep, and deal with the memories is NOT easy. Hang in there!

      And thank you for the sweet words, I'd probably be good decorating my own stuff but probably not someone else's, ha. You are very kind!

      Fingers crossed for you!!!

      Hugs back!

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