I hope you all had a wonderful relaxing and productive weekend. Does that sounds like a contradiction to most of you? Strangely, for me the two go hand in hand. It started with sorting my magazines and ripping out the pages I wanted to keep, moved on to cleaning the garage, and snowballed from there into me going from room to room and deciding that I don't need, want or use a fair amount of what I have. It was, well exhilarating. Seriously. You should try it. 
Nothing is safe from me right now. Nothing is sacred. The rest of the family has been warned to hide from me, anything they value. I'm looking forward to a clean slate. So you would clearly think that I am all about paring down and having less stuff right now. And I am. But then, not so much. Even as I minimize the clutter, I am drawn to wall arrangements with lots of interest. A bundle of contradictions, that's what I am.
I totally get it. I love a lot of stuff on the walls, but not so much of the little trinkets everywhere. I get overwhelmed if I have too much to dust. And, somehow I can only handle a few little vignettes in my house, mostly I gag when I see them because they seem so forced. I guess that is part of becoming eh, hem, "older" and more practical. Real and authentic is more appealing to me than having so much that looks "decorated."
ReplyDeleteI hear you, though. I just told my mom last week that I'd like to throw my whole house in the garbage. :-) What I meant was, I get sick of maintaining it all and I'd love to start over with a clean slate.
Happy spring cleaning!
Oh I wanted to be motivated like that! I am 20 days away from my due date for my first baby and I just look around and want to do all of the things you mentioned! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only lunatic (in a nice way of course) out there who rips pages out of magazines!
ReplyDeleteI so feel your pain! I'm a minimalist at heart, but then....not so much. LOL WHAT are we gunna do with us?!
ReplyDeleteHello Jenn,
ReplyDeleteThat last photo, with that gorgeous black and creme rug, your hallway..I love it! One other thing...
I want you to go and get your camera, walk into that bathroom and take some photos for me. I am in heaven with that green and black tile- and that toile wallpaper? Sister, please..let us peek at your loo..cmon..pleeeeeeze!
It looks soooo cute!
Lisa
coastal nest
Your such a tease..But I still love ya..
ReplyDeleteYou go, girl! Clean, sort, sift, be free of clutter so you can enjoy those decorated walls.
ReplyDeleteAnd when you are done....hop on over to my little cottage and help me do the same. We are drowning in books....I wonder who's fault that is????
I love your walls. I do really, really like what you do with pictures/photos/paintings. It's such a daunting thing for me to think about doing.....but I really, really want to........ :-) Rosie
ReplyDeleteIt's that time...spring cleaning in all aspects! I think we all feel it. And if we didn't our "cottages" would be filled from top to bottom!
ReplyDeleteM
I came here searching for shop around the corner. Love your blog. I am book marking yours to come back.
ReplyDeleteAre those your walls? Absolutely amazing....love the built ins.
ReplyDeleteI totally get you. I don't like a lot of clutter. It makes me crazy when I look around and see surfaces covered with lots of "things."
However, as I sit here typing and look around my craft room you would never know it....way too much stuff!!!
Happy de-cluttering. It feels so liberating, doesn't it?
I love the first photo Jen - could never be a minimalist ... just love too much STUFF :-}
ReplyDeleteWhen you're done decluttering your house, can you please come do mine?
ReplyDeleteI love the first photo you posted of the little nook. It has such great details and love all the pillows on the bench. I'll take those two red toile pillows. They would go great in my home.
Have a great day!
Jen,
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking I may need to hit your garage sale...Would you mind sharing what neighborhood you are in? cardinalacre AT yahoo DOT com.
Marianna
Be careful as you pare down though.. I understand how you feel, but my family trashed some things that were very sentimental to me when they moved. I would have taken them off their hands if I had only known.
ReplyDeleteBTW - your wall arrangements are exqusite!
Those windows in the fist picture are so great! I love the entire window seat area.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I have been doing the same lately.
ReplyDeleteWe can't keep everything.
Have a great day!
Rosemary
I love the pictures and your blog! Wishing you a Happy spring!
ReplyDeleteStephanie
Oh yes,I can totally relate! *sigh* I have paired down quite a bit in the last six months but probably have more junk than most!!! LOL...
ReplyDelete~Des
I so know what you mean when you say relaxing and productive. I get a real buzz from sorting something out that it makes me feel great.
ReplyDeleteYour house is beautiful.
I have just discovered your blog and would love to list you on my blog,I have just had a major clean out too only to feel satisfied to go out and start collecting again!
ReplyDeleteOooo. I've been CRAVING a wall like one of those in my house, but I just can't find the art that I want.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever do it, you've GOT to take photos :)
xoxox,
martha
Hi, Jen, I'm definitely not a minimalist, as much as I'd like to be some days. I do change things out and move thing around, when the mood strikes, but still do enjoy my stuff around. Love those wall displays too, just as you do. I'm trying to keep the small tiny things out and stick to larger pieces, that seems to work better for me these days.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've got bird fever too (along with the ever-present bunny fever) and have added quite a few birds to my nest too. I don't think you have too much at all, but that's coming from me, the accessory lover.
Good luck on your yardsale, if I was close by I'd be there!
Rhoda
I know what you mean about being on a rampage...look out world! I LOVE your picture arrangements in your home...very nice! Quite tasteful!!
ReplyDeleteoh me too! When I want to "clean", I want to "clean. Everyone better hide their belongings under their pillows and in the their drawers...cause I'm headed for your room next!!!!!
ReplyDeleteToo funny!
Sarah
http://vintagelily.typepad.com/my_weblog/
I need to get on with doing this as well, our house just seems to be full of stuff. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI used to be a clutter addict but lately I feel so overwhelmed with the twinnie aspect of my life that I need the rest of my home to be tidy and organized. Just this past weekend I collected a set of beautiful fenton art glass figurines and placed them inside a china cabinet instead of on display ontop of it... such a little change, but looking up at the noncluttered surface of the display case made it the most rewarding little task for a visual as I walk through the house... might not make sense to anyone else, but I think you understand!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen :)
ReplyDeleteYour house is so beautiful. Take stuff out or put stuff in, doesn't matter, cuz I love it :)
rue
Are all of those pictures from your house?! I LOVE them! And suddenly feel way too cluttery myself haha! :) Just popped in to see your blog and love it!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to be a new "creative and brilliant" friend...I don't know if I'm up to the title, but I do so want to try! I so get it! I've been frantic with cleaning, arranging, painting, renewing, I am like this every spring and every fall--without fail--to my family's horror and somewhat pride.
ReplyDeleteContradictions? Yup. I want a clean slate and yet I want all knew fresh interesting things to look at. I painted over my deep brooding red family room, to a crisp grey/taupe--everything sparkles. Course, that prompted some new accessorizing...I nearly can't sleep when I have a fresh project. I'm never done and I used to beat myself up for that and now I've come to embrace it. When the seasons change I don't so much think of wardrobe opportunites I think of changing up the decor, keeping it fresh. I can't help it, I am not fickle with my husband or kids, but I love re-inventing the stage on which we play out our lives! So nice to meet you, I love your style! I'm Lori from Buffalo!
I, too, love LOTS on my walls and I have to go thru and thin out things on my tables and etc. My question...what do YOU do with the things you weed out? Get rid of them? Store them...and if so, WHERE? I have a "decorating closet" where all my "I'm tired of this for now" things go but I can barely close the door on it now....
ReplyDelete