Home Ideas - Modern Home Design: Design tip

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKegyZKm-Z8oifq6jFySbV3Ym5iXT9peo4rNGl5PYfSbvDqIfRCdLnMVejDn1zMtXXP-RhF4I6chlaDmmxqGFp_Yeot0eNvrkibwdO8HQVItjoSCfG_7w6xEhR0yGXFge1EtYTFVqvfMs/s1600/resolutions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKegyZKm-Z8oifq6jFySbV3Ym5iXT9peo4rNGl5PYfSbvDqIfRCdLnMVejDn1zMtXXP-RhF4I6chlaDmmxqGFp_Yeot0eNvrkibwdO8HQVItjoSCfG_7w6xEhR0yGXFge1EtYTFVqvfMs/s800/resolutions.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Six days into the new year and I finally made it to the gym. Surprisingly, it was not crowded. It felt good to walk the treadmill, read a magazine (okay, wasn’t going to over exert myself on day one) listen to some tunes and watch some TV in a pretty setting <a href="http://pumpsfit.com/">(seriously, the gym is pink).</a> We actually have a treadmill at home but it is surrounded by so many boxes of stuff and items “worth saving” that it is impossible for me to go in there to exercise and clear my mind when I can not block out all the clutter – visual and emotional. This year I am focusing on getting to the bottom of the clutter. I tend to save way too much and hold onto anything of perceived value, and after over a decade of raising children I now have not only my childhood objects of affection but all of theirs as well. It is too much. Clothes, books, toys, furnishings. I know I should have been getting rid of more of it as the years went by, but with four of the same gender it wasn’t unusual to hold onto a winter coat for a decade because it was going to be worn again. And again. And again. But that is just the big stuff. Along with all of that there is the day to day stuff that just tends to pile up. Especially when we always have at least one room in the house that is under construction. We are constantly shifting items from their intended space to a temporary space. Not everything ends up back where it should be. But this year I am going to tackle all those small but hugely unorganized areas. I say year because it could take that long. It is that overwhelming.  I have found a method to start dealing with the chaos though. Professional organizer and regular on the OWN network, <a href="http://www.oprah.com/own-extreme-clutter-peter-walsh/Peter-Walsh-Bio-OWN-TV">Peter Walsh</a> is hosting a #31Days2GetOrganized challenge on both <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PeterWalsh?fref=ts">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterWalsh">on Twitter.</a> Each day for the entire month of January he is offering up one small 10 minute task designed to chip away at the type of clutter that most of us are hiding behind closed doors. I’ve found that once I start in on the specific task assigned, I usually keep going. It feels good to over achieve when I only have to get past 10 minutes to complete the first goal. Hopefully by the end of the month I will be well on my way to getting this place back to how it was when my boys were little, I was able to spend more time at home, and hadn’t resigned myself to the fact that I am living in a virtual frat house. Wish me luck!  It’s not too late to start getting organized – if you start today, you only have about an hour’s worth of organizing assignments to get caught up on!

Ship Shape

Six days into the new year and I finally made it to the gym. Surprisingly, it was not crowded. It felt good to walk the treadmill, read a ma...

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iRuFUeQT1L9yoF6_GOGtjSJlH13j-2ti9g15YQUxLvsjm_HpYNcLnmE-kxzRr-ouLolOBc22uot0HtB2s_vfuQcyipIjAoT3xnKqoA2UtsCVb9zjB_7p8RP4ENg0v8xxUOmc4eTvnx8/s1600-h/orchidonbookcase.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425290599010990050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iRuFUeQT1L9yoF6_GOGtjSJlH13j-2ti9g15YQUxLvsjm_HpYNcLnmE-kxzRr-ouLolOBc22uot0HtB2s_vfuQcyipIjAoT3xnKqoA2UtsCVb9zjB_7p8RP4ENg0v8xxUOmc4eTvnx8/s400/orchidonbookcase.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a>A deep cranberry colored shawl warms up a bookcase in the corner of our dining room. Now that the holidays are a distant memory, I figured it was time to freshen up my interiors with a new indoor plant. I’ve <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/10/inspired-by-barclay-butera.html">mentioned before</a> how much I appreciate the orchid as a quick design statement. They’re simple and elegant, the perfect antidote to the decorating over-indulgences of the past few months. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NemZ7VPKGPIjkCmP5k_CaNyEaYUE_WZ7-88GBB0LUz104NmyB-A9gB-wHnA67JXyXpWk2X4KRnLmg1I7gQn_8LNarvYEBxPcazgSSXtcVUSQi6_fUK_laCgF4nyt_c_T7MMHrMtUcNQ/s1600-h/brazillianteak.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425311238686245698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NemZ7VPKGPIjkCmP5k_CaNyEaYUE_WZ7-88GBB0LUz104NmyB-A9gB-wHnA67JXyXpWk2X4KRnLmg1I7gQn_8LNarvYEBxPcazgSSXtcVUSQi6_fUK_laCgF4nyt_c_T7MMHrMtUcNQ/s320/brazillianteak.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 315px; height: 320px;" /></a>Brazilian Teak <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmFM2VQyKMrattmcVG60_8CVUO-xh2sgp8qYMaQwA21hli9xdEx06ZOQ_8L3aE5oIlFXqzNjZY1MEVqMcJOEz_Y5OYemECRBYH7TOH9QLpE96VCZPtrbE9zHONGHZ-V0pOBgHYdd4VG8/s1600-h/orchidokeefelike.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425290527433254322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmFM2VQyKMrattmcVG60_8CVUO-xh2sgp8qYMaQwA21hli9xdEx06ZOQ_8L3aE5oIlFXqzNjZY1MEVqMcJOEz_Y5OYemECRBYH7TOH9QLpE96VCZPtrbE9zHONGHZ-V0pOBgHYdd4VG8/s400/orchidokeefelike.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a>A <a href="http://www.georgiaokeefe.com/art.shtml">Georgia O’Keefe</a>-inspired close-up</div> My husband and I made a trip to our local home improvement store on Friday night after a nice dinner out with friends. We were in search of some pre-finished flooring options for the new bedroom. I brought home a sample of Brazilian Teak – which is not so dark that it will show every speck of dust, but still deep enough in tone to offset what will be creamy white walls. I also picked up this lovely orchid for a mere $15 (they often go for around $40). It was sold in a 4-inch clay pot which I then popped into my blue urn that most recently held <a href="http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2009/12/deck-halls-preview.html">a large spray of evergreens</a>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXN2CQXCAeYXWcGXVxYj-wu6KcbmKv6oRrh0CxK58ibWvMxQCMuic3xJ9ntytqjNCgIZk7VeQblME-gDJvWQF8YMk_eD3XlaywXew9v9Ugq1ddEwCUhVKWUELArpl-NoBslOyZuLghoc/s1600-h/mossinorchidpot.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425290519308123794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXN2CQXCAeYXWcGXVxYj-wu6KcbmKv6oRrh0CxK58ibWvMxQCMuic3xJ9ntytqjNCgIZk7VeQblME-gDJvWQF8YMk_eD3XlaywXew9v9Ugq1ddEwCUhVKWUELArpl-NoBslOyZuLghoc/s400/mossinorchidpot.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a> I had to build up the bottom of the urn with some crumpled tinfoil to set the smaller pot at the right height. Then I used moss around the base of the orchid to hide the gap between the small 4-inch pot and the larger width of the urn. I happened to have still-very-green moss that I had transplanted to pots from my backyard in mid-October to use for visual merchandising at <a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/Home_Page.html">Beth’s shop</a>. When dried, it forms a soft and natural carpet that is easy to move. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tEOkT2uBn2yBO5VDC4oJbCiuI3aq0YiWyneXNxRjJgkpca7MnXg8tqNSsFuNxYmM8amflMSwF86PYV5Rru8WMm4f1uIkV2ADxtRAyCC6-gxFm1GGA0UQ-q1xU7zC74nUKQV0D6YqUdM/s1600-h/nestart.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425306581820005186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_tEOkT2uBn2yBO5VDC4oJbCiuI3aq0YiWyneXNxRjJgkpca7MnXg8tqNSsFuNxYmM8amflMSwF86PYV5Rru8WMm4f1uIkV2ADxtRAyCC6-gxFm1GGA0UQ-q1xU7zC74nUKQV0D6YqUdM/s400/nestart.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a>Art by <a href="http://www.bethhylan.com/Home_Page.html">Beth Hylan</a> I love how moss hides the dirt that is usually exposed with indoor gardening. If you would like to achieve the same results and do not have access to live moss, most garden supply stores sell bags of spagnum moss that will easily take care of several pots. I have even used <a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?pageName=search&flag=true&PRODID=prd3057">fake moss</a> that comes in sheets at craft stores. The real deal, however, is by far my favorite. Just topping off your existing houseplants with moss (or your outdoor container gardens, if you are in a warm climate) adds designer polish in an instant. Give it a try! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrQTDWlcf8CqMoRXIcn0QjoYQMJzSuZdtEYPseuHO3CsnmHm5Fmqk35GjxGH8Ff5s6IvXtOEavR7Kj0a2OujSh66J6jH70NLFzbxc6nY6wW0Ok2ZCkQT6i8B95shePrL9Cx8gcV-XkBU/s1600-h/butterflyclip.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425290976799056930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrQTDWlcf8CqMoRXIcn0QjoYQMJzSuZdtEYPseuHO3CsnmHm5Fmqk35GjxGH8Ff5s6IvXtOEavR7Kj0a2OujSh66J6jH70NLFzbxc6nY6wW0Ok2ZCkQT6i8B95shePrL9Cx8gcV-XkBU/s200/butterflyclip.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 187px;" /></a>I thought this butterfly clip used to secure the stem of the new orchid was very clever. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqe6Hed1fQxsTTxqCBKuuaFdKiDKDZITOXE64P-n3HPXfOi5HMwL96SPdpJzZDNYcDWXGyvNeS5MRkSgt914eRSQu8FQELkqnUzzJkiMHPe3HOmG2WoSGTLPAf0oXZ54O6eA9PO-t4Lk/s1600-h/kimbouquetnotitle2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425292318070533026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqe6Hed1fQxsTTxqCBKuuaFdKiDKDZITOXE64P-n3HPXfOi5HMwL96SPdpJzZDNYcDWXGyvNeS5MRkSgt914eRSQu8FQELkqnUzzJkiMHPe3HOmG2WoSGTLPAf0oXZ54O6eA9PO-t4Lk/s320/kimbouquetnotitle2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 320px;" /></a> Endnote: Congratulations to my friend, Kim Smith, who eloquently wrote and joyfully illustrated <a href="http://kimsmithdesigns.com/book.php">Notes From a Gloucester Garden,</a> which was recently listed by Carol Stocker of the <a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/house/articles/2010/01/07/best_garden_books_of_2009/">Boston Globe</a> as one of the best gardening books of 2009. You can almost see my personal copy in the first photo of today’s post (it is to the right of the blue photo album). Now is a great time, especially for New Englander’s like myself, to start researching garden design plans for spring. Kim offers many tips on choosing plants based on scent, color, texture and even desired ambiance. Her stories about creating her garden are a pleasure to read, and the watercolor illustrations make me want to get out a paintbrush! Gardening, whether inside or out, honors the beauty of nature and provides visual joy with little effort (how many things can you stick in the dirt and expect it to get better with time?) If you struggle with a “I-kill-anything-green” attitude, remember, you can always start with moss (no watering required!) </div>

Design tip ... orchid

A deep cranberry colored shawl warms up a bookcase in the corner of our dining room. Now that the holidays are a distant memory, I figured i...

Home Ideas - Modern Home Design

Ship Shape

Design tip ... orchid

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