January 2010

On the last day of the first month, I completed the first of 12 projects - my room on the 3rd floor. Ok, there are some tiny, tiny things left to finish, but the main project is done, and I am very happy. The remaining tiny, tiny things - put a latch on my closet door, wire management for my computer, hang/find some art, and buy a stool for the drawing table - these will roll over into February when Chris' room is on the slate. There is not much to do for his room, so I feel okay adding these things to the list.

The main thing I wanted to do in my room was hang the new worksurface and tackboards. The surface was a panel bought at Lowes that I painted white to match the trim and the drawing table. It sits on two large brackets that I screwed into studs. My stud finder was broken, so I had to use the old timey method of starting at the corner and measuring every 16". Surprisingly, it worked perfectly. Chalk it up to construction standards from 120 years ago.

The tackboards I trash-picked from a job site, and covered them with the curtains that were in this room when I bought the house. I love being able to use this stuff that I salvaged nine years ago. Bones of the house, if you will. I knew I would never be able to hang the tackboards straight if I tried to attach some hanging device to the back, so I bought large screws and washers and screwed the boards to the studs from the front. I got the idea from a friend who told me she did something similar, and it looks very cool. And was very easy.

On this last day of the first month of my projects goal, I am very pleased with myself. And I am feeling very motivated to continue.

Next up for February - Chris' room. Nothing major on the docket - just some organization, hanging art, and patching a big spot in the ceiling where the plaster peeled off when we got some leakage from the rain. And whatever else he may decide he fancies in the next week or so.

Inspiration & Ideas

Some things that inspire me, past and present:

JunkMarket Style (www.junkmarketstyle.com) - Sue Whitney's web site devoted to transforming junk into eclectic, fun stuff. "Reduce, reuse, recycle, and repurpose."

Auctions, flea markets, trash-picking - Anyplace where things can be found cheap and loaded with potential.

HOBNOB Design (www.hobnob-design.com) - My friend Angela's company that began with making one-of-a-kind handbags from vintage materials, and has grown to a full-service design business. She has inspired me in many ways over the years, and I admit I have copied a lot of things I've seen in her home into my own home. Her sense of color and style is impeccable.

Robert Redford's Sundance Catalog (www.sundancecatalog.com) - I love everything - the clothes, the jewelry and the home stuff. It's pricey, but very cool.

Uncommon Goods (www.uncommongoods.com) - Unique items made from artisans and crafters, much of it recycled and repurposed.

Catskill Farms (www.thecatskillfarms.com) - My brother's company that builds homes in the Catskills. He started his company from the ground up, and he continues to grow and expand each year. His designs are simple with a clean aesthetic, and strict attention to detail. My dream is to live in one of his homes, but I have to convince my husband to move to the Catskills first. I'm really proud of him. He's an amazing visionary and artist.

Herman Miller Classics (www.hermanmiller.com/Collections/Modern-Classics) - These pieces work no matter where you put them. Yes, I work for Herman Miller, but I love the Classics on their own.

3rd Floor - My Room

January's goal is my room on the 3rd floor. The room houses my artsy stuff and my computer. For some time, I have wanted to mount a standing-height worksurface to the wall beside the drawing table, and make a new tackboard. I've used this picture from Pottery Barn Bedrooms (2003) as inspiration.

The worksurface is a solid pine panel from Lowes, which I painted last weekend. The tackboards are old modular office furniture tackboards that I re-covered with the curtains hanging in this room when I bought the house. All will be ready for installation this weekend.

Home Improvement Plans for 2010

This year, I am making a concerted and ambitious effort to make some changes and improvements in our home. Almost all of these projects are relatively small and things I can do myself. Not many will require hiring professionals, but then again, you never know. I have a huge book full of ideas and pictures from magazines, as well as a notebook with lists of things that need to be done. Some are decorative, some are necessary maintenance, some are both. I love working on our house, but I have a little problem with follow-through. The last 5% is the hardest for me to finish, no matter how big or small the project.

Our house is about 120 years old, and in the middle of a row of four in Phoenixville, PA. It is 1600 square feet, 3 floors, 4 bedrooms, one bath, a basement, and a nice backyard. I bought the house in 2001, and it was a complete fixer-upper. Three years later, Chris moved in, and we have been there ever since.

In 2010, I am starting from the top, and completing each room before I move on to the next.

12 areas of the house in 12 months. Yikes!