So now that the joy of Christmas is over falalalala, like a good American I am jumping right ahead to new year’s resolutions. Trust me, I think big, so my “official” list will be very hearty. But, at the top, for sure, is gonna be: Cleaning out and better organizing my home office — aka “the computer cave” — to accommodate my solidified real life as blogger and freelance writer. Oh, that also means figuring out what I am going to do about all the lovely and delightful treaures that I Must Rescue from the basements, nooks and crannies of Pittsfield estate sales. I must admit, I publish this photo with great trepidation. It showcases my hoarding gene. But, I think most of you Retro Renovators will understand. My love for It All is a blessing – and a curse. Now that I have gone public with my office nightmare, the pressure is on to clean it up and get it beautifully organized so that you may take my advice on how to create a beautiful retro home at least halfway seriously. I am filing this one under “Mid Mod Madness/Happiness” because, yes, Happiness is a Clean House.
Gretchen S. says
I feel your pain. Thanks for helping me feel I am not alone! I hide important things from myself all the time. Sigh. The big work begins when the kids return to school!
e.j. says
As a baseball fan from the Bay Area, I was instantly drawn to the poster prints of Willie Mays and Juan Marichal on your wall… vintage ’60’s photos, to boot.
What a year for the San Francisco Giants. I say keep those images hanging somewhere in the house. Anything else would be bad karma.
And I thought you were cool chick before this posting…
denised says
Hey Pam, since we’re all making a pact for 2011, what about a ‘show us your clutter’ post like you do with thrifty finds…then at the end of the year a ‘show us your DE-clutter”? we can see who stayed on task…and by no means judge those who haven’t because we all understand.
This just might get some motivation going! it’s like having a purpose, proof to others that it can be done, rather than arguing with yourself about it whenever you see a pile of goodies. My friends will think someone took over my body and mind! LOL
this makes me nervous just talking about it! OK, I’m starting to plan for the BIG tag sale now.
pam kueber says
sounds like a great idea, denised… i also a post by synthesis-joe regarding this subject and will plan on sharing it soon.
Marc says
Wow, this is totally on topic for me. I just spent Christmas eve cleaning up my guest room which was hopelessly clogged with thrift store finds and “projects”. I have a big pile ‘o stuff to take to the ladies at my favorite thrift shop when they re-open on the third.
Nina462 says
Me too! I have an office/craft room that is in serious need of reorganizing. I call it my “prize closet” as that’s also where I store gifts I buy throughout the year (yes, I’m one of those people who Christmas shop all year long!) My niece was nice enough to help me get all the old stuff off of my hard drive & now I just have a laptop. That’s one step! Lucky me, my office has a built in desk/shelves – original to the house – imagine that!
I do however still have piles of retro stuff from my uncles house cleanout of this past summer! He had loads of great retro stuff – so I’m keeping that and getting rid of my stuff from my 20’s-30’s…now that I’ve found my retro style!
Good news – Santa brought me a dinner service for 10 (Golden Wheat pattern) – so today I’m getting rid of my Corel & putting up the new service! Yeah!
Pam – I’m glad to see your office & I noticed the dog bed right away! So sweet –
Traci says
I am loving your blog…just discovered it via facebook. One of my 2010 goals was to do my office/studio and I finally got it finished. I didn’t meet all my 2010 goals, but at least 1/2 of them were met…..I will make my goal list again for 2011. Good luck with your office and know that it CAN be done. You can look at mine and get some motivation…..I swear mine was a hoarders paradise. http://livingthegoodlife5.blogspot.com/search/label/15%20MINUTES
Happy New Year!!! ~Traci
Jeff says
I couldn’t agree more with the majority of posts regarding clutter and the catharsis of getting rid of it!
The nature of my business (and perhaps my own nature!) for years has been to hold onto scraps and packrat anything that even showed the slightest chance at being useful- to be saved, catalogued and referenced when needed.
Problem is, not much has been referenced for “future use” and needs to be exorcised!
I’ll be breaking up my last surviving parent’s 3000 sq ft. “downsized” home in the near future, and will take little if anything.
Minimal is the operative word going forward, I think, keep the best, forget the rest!
Gavin Hastings says
Observation:
In 1965- if I went to a friends house on a rainy day, we would ride bikes or rollerskate in the EMPTY basement -or explore the EMPTY attic…. What happened?
Jeff says
LOL!!!
I can relate. I know my parents and grandparents weren’t collectors of anything really, but ended up with cast offs from relatives and deceased parents, so fast forward fifty years and they have the same stuff, and what they also purchased along the way, and never tossed anything.
My folks weathered the depression as conscious adolescents, and remember that getting by on less was not only necessary, but considered a virtue. Conspicuous consumption was thought of as “tacky” and imprudent.
I admit to having been guilty of imprudence in purchasing, but with the economic collapse of late, have changed my tune!
Staci says
Ahhh, yes, the home office. Always a scary mess around here. I not only have the hoarding gene, but the collecting bug of strange objects, AND I own a consignment/vintage store so I can’t get rid of it because I can SELL it. SIGH I have a huge storage room at the store as well. It’s on the To Do list this week. Good luck, my fellow keepers of all things cool. 🙂
denised says
oh, the, “I can sell it gene” goes very well with the “hoarding gene” and I am infected with both, too.
pam kueber says
oh yes, the “i can sell it” gene. “it’s worth A LOT!” that is exactly why i bought that pile of stuff in my office. in november 2009.
denised says
well of course it’s worth a lot, why else would we buy it?? um, oh yeah, because it’s good eye candy, because it’s the thrill of the chase, but I think most of all? we feel the need to ‘save’ it….from being thrown out, not appreciated as it should be, disregarded.
pam kueber says
yup — just like you rescue all those lovely doggies 🙂
denised says
oh, the, “I can sell it gene” goes very well with the “hoarding gene” and I am infected with both, too. Darn! as someone mentioned “the I’ll use it in an art project…or for something” I can add that to the list, too.
Carol B. says
Every year after Christmas everyone is at the store buying more “Tuppers”, or big plastic containers for stuff. Get rid of the stuff! People on House Hunters buy larger houses because they have “too much stuff.”
As much as I love your baseball prints, I would put up floor to ceiling shelves and try to organize the clutter.
I’m the worst, by the way. If I had a desk, I’d have piles of papers. I always do.
My friends and I are of the Baby Boom age group and we are getting rid of stuff by the bucketful. Oh, and my husband has a rule: If one thing comes in, something has to go out!
Carol B.