At this point in the process, Max says it's natural to lose a little momentum - my room is already nicer than it's ever been, nobody really cares that the stuff in my outbox is still piled in the corner of our hallway, and also, life seems full of much more important things that I really should be giving my attention to.
But Max encourages me to press on, and since I knew you would be waiting with bated breath to find out what would happen next, I decided to enlist my gracious roommates for a little shake-up project - rearranging my furniture to see if I could get some more breath into the room.
I moved my desk to the window, because a) I've always wanted to have a desk in a window, and b) I never once used it in the dark corner where it was before. I rotated my bed at Max's suggestion, so that you can get out on either side, and also because it's more symmetrical, which is more soothing and also apparently how God would have done it (I guess you can ask the Greeks about that one?). I thought having my bed that way would crowd the open space in the middle of my room, which I loved, but what it actually did was open up a whole new flow for the room, and also an unexpected nook for my rocking chair.
At JG's suggestion I moved the bookshelf, because there really wasn't a reason for it to be where it was; in fact, it was covering the heat vent (and yes, believe it or not, that actually makes a difference... !). The moral of the story: because I didn't settle with a random arrangement of furniture I was for some reason attached to, I am now much toastier, have a place to write, and have the luxury of deciding which side of the bed I'll get out on. All this, at the price of just a few batted eyelashes for enlisting the help of my roommates to lift things (and believe me, it took some real swooshing to tear them away from our brand-new vacuum).
On the flip side, moving the furniture uncovered a few things that need fixing - an electrical outlet that's falling out of the wall, a section of trim that was never painted, a few piles of things that had already started nesting in forgotten corners. Ha! Clutter: though you sneak, you will never take over my life again! I am ON to YOU!
Next week: project color swatch. Stay tuned. Believe me, there will be pictures. And, if you're lucky, yet another chance to cast your ballot for the public good.
Best, Rebecca "the winsome clutterer" Bea
Check back weekly for updates on Rebecca's Progress...
>> Go To - Rebecca's Cure: Week Four - Color?
>> Go To - Rebecca's Cure: Week Three
>> Go To - Week Two - Weekend
>> Go To - Week Two
>> Go To - Week One
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Very cozy studio. Well done!
view recon1's profile
beautiful--but I think you need a headboard--upholstering a piece of plywood is super easy (staple gun, batting, fabric, plywood)..there was that crazy electrical tape thingy (I don't think it quite fits your idea board)...
or you could just hang something attention grabbing above your bed...
view goonie's profile
Good for you! This has been inspiring. I picked up the AT book from the bookmobile last week and plan on starting the therapy this week. First step, getting my condo management to redo my floor tiles; thank goodness they're still under warranty. STRESS! Your results are one of the things spurring me on, though!
view OneWallKitchen's profile
Is there a way to use tape or some sort of mad skillz to fake a fireplace in your exposed brick and heat vent area? It's already creating heat and you already have some mantle action there. Maybe just a fireplace screen in front of the brick? It'd be funny if your bed faced a cozy (fake) fire.
There's no real reason you should do that - but when I first saw the room, my eyes scanned quickly and saw a fireplace, even though there wasn't one.
view cakekick's profile
Awesome idea cakekick!
Awesome room Becca. Just get a head board. You could find a romantic or funky tapastry and hang up where the headboard would be.
view Sleek's profile
I love the location of the desk. I can easily imagine a summer day with the windows open and a comfortable breeze flowing through. Of course, we don't know the view from the window, but I choose to imagine leafy trees, songbirds, and the occasional squirrel. A great setting for working, paying bills, or just cruising the net.
You've done a wonderful job of converting your cluttered room into a real retreat.
view Aldyth's profile
I think the wall and trim colors work as well. I love the new furniture placement. And a screen (like an Indian wood carved folding screen) would look gorgeous as a headboard.
view eveb1123's profile