Design Public

I was just perusing our Anti-Depressive Living group on flickr today and came across this wonderful photo from one of my flickr faves, ninainvorm.  I’ve been amassing some favorite photos for another art arrangement post, but who knows if I’ll ever get it organized.  For today, we can all be inspired by ninainvorm!

Hi All!

After outing my myself and my messy dining room/kitchen nook last week, I was totally motivated to dive into a project. I’ve been working on my friends’ loft for so long that it has sucked up all my weekend D.I.Y. energy for six months. Now it’s time for my own house.

I have this funky sun porch. It was formerly a screened-in porch but now it is winterized. I always fantasized that it would be my studio, but so far the only one who’s made anything in there is my cat, as the litter box has been the main feature of the room for a long time, or as they say all too often on HGTV, it was the “focal point.” The room is long and very narrow, so it’s a bit awkward, and I haven’t known what to do with it. Here’s the start:

Inspired by the “nature study” look I’ve been admiring lately, as well as Victoria’s advice for art arrangement, I got to work all day Saturday. With a little help from a friend, I finally had a sconce bought months ago at Ballard’s Backroom installed where the wires had been hanging out of the wall for two years. I painted an old green bench from my grandparents’ garden black, and rearranged a few pieces that had been haphazardly thrown in there because they had nowhere else to go. I finally hung some of my thrift store art, charcoals I did in Venice that had something to do with “Campo Circulation,” whatever the heck that means, and some photographs of friends on my second-favorite bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge.

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That used to be my dining room.  I’m even violating my own biggest neurotic rule, which is no liquids near the laptop.  There are three different ones there.  Below, this used to be my kitchen nook:

For all of my stupid “get organized!” resolutions, especially the ones I made regarding fiscal year 2007 at this time last year, this is what’s happened to my home at tax time.  If you’ve got a cluttered mess going on, I hope me outing myself makes you feel better!

I could not help but pick up yet another vintage issue of H&G from Victory Vintage last weekend. This image jumped right off the page at me. I don’t know what else to say about it except that I find it to be a rather artful way of staying organized and I wanted to share it with you:

images scanned from House & Garden magazine, July 1966 issue.

A couple of years ago, a friend told me about a Shabby Chic show where Rachel put tealights in mason jars and hung them from trees.  She wanted to do this at her party, and I said no problem, I knew where to find a bunch of them for a buck each, so I brought them up to the party.  It worked out pretty well, but then I had about 30 mason jars left and didn’t know what to do with them.  Now they are all full of all kinds of things, from wine corks and matchbooks to fancy soaps, from q-tips to tulips.  I even keep one full of shells in my medicine cabinet just so that when I open it I see something pretty.  My dad loves to freeze them and then drink Coronas out of them.  Do you use mason jars for anything? Please share with us!

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Well, I was very bummed to learn today that the current January/February issue of Blueprint magazine will be its last. There was some idiotic idea to fold Blueprint into Martha Stewart Weddings, which may be reconsidered, and they are going to keep up the Bluelines blog, but I’m bummed. This magazine was a little thin on content, but what was there was near perfection. I think I’d rather have a few very well written articles, beautifully photographed features and great recommendations than a whole bunch of mediocre ones.

Anyway, as New Year’s Day looms, I was thinking about getting organized like I do every year (and then I go on to fail miserably at it), and Sarah Humphreys, the Editor In Chief of Blueprint put it so well in her letter from the editor that I just had to share it with you in full. She really nails exactly how I am feeling about New Years resolutions and organizing and features about organizing. Here’s her letter:

When the subject of organizing first came up at a story meeting, I groaned. Or did I yawn? Probably both. because every January, the Conquer Your Clutter! pieces are as inevitable as new gym memberships. I’ve read them. I’ve written them. They have been done.

But still, this pesky organizing problem persists. In fact, we spent the rest of that meeting (more…)

Thank you Nicole (you may know her from pinklovesbrown and Making it Lovely) for tipping me off about Organization is for Squares. This is a flickr group that inspires me to clean out cabinets and attempt to display all of everything with more style. The group is public; if you are interested in joining, here’s the skinny:

Squares, cubes, and grids keep things tidy (and looking good).

“Wanna see how other people use their IKEA Expedits? How shoe cubbies can organize a craft room? How divided drawers can neatly store and showcase accessories? You’re in the right place. ” You can join up right here.

I added a few, but I think I was a little loose with the term “grid” - more like a Mondrian grid than a true grid - I hope I didn’t ruin it!

Thanks Nicole!

My favorite organization guru John Trosko gave me a head’s up about The Los Angeles Organizing Awards, which will take place on February 1, 2008, presented by the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO-LA). This is the biggest awards show to hit L.A. since The Schmemmys (sorry, I was up late watching Kathy Griffin last night and I couldn’t help myself). Here are a few examples of the 15 categories up for glory:

• Best Home Organizing Product
• Best Office Organizing Product
• Most Helpful Organizing Technology
• Best National Organizing Show

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Those who know me know that I am not much of a techie, but sometimes a little gadget comes along and rocks my world, and I wanted to share it with you.  I don’t usually stray away from Apple products. but I recently picked up this little Encore MP3 charger from Music Power.  It has two USB ports, so you can use it to charge your iPod and your iPhone at the same time (or your Zune and your Blackberry, if that’s your bag), and it’s smaller than the charger that came with my iPod.  The plug folds up into the device, and the very best part about it is that it has a built-in rechargeable battery.  When your MP3 player runs out, this has the power to keep you going for double the time without a plug.  No more searching for random outlets in the airport - you can fit this baby right in your pocket and charge away.

Alright, summer is officially over, and it’s time to get organized! If you need guidance, support, and comrades, start on September 5 with the rest of the gang over at Apartment Therapy. To get started, order Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan’s book, Apartment Therapy: The Eight Step Home Cure and start at the beginning. You only have to get through the first step to be ready to go on the 5th. For more information, click here. If September isn’t good for you, start reading now anyway. I promise it is an easy and pleasant read that will inspire you to start making your home healthier!

photo from apartmenttherapy.com