Organized Palooza

Hey-Oh!
You have reached the Gaudett/MacDonalds residence. We are currently away from our extra organized home enjoying a few days of family time at the cottage.
But have no fear, there is material to be read and ideas to be found after the past 10 Days of Organization Palooza! 
So come on in. Kick off your shoes. And take a tour of our revamped and totally functional home. And when you are done, make sure you leave a message after the beep!
Day 1: Refrigerator  Day 2: Main Living Area Day 3: Laundry Room Day 4: Spice Cabinet Day 5: Garage {Part 1} Day 6: Garage {Part 2} Day 7: Recipe Box Day 8: Spare Room Closet Day 9: Supplies Closet Day 10: Master Closet
BEEP! I linked up at A Bowl Full of Lemons Organize it! Party

Organization Palooza Day 9: Supplies Closet

I can see the finish line! Just a couple spaces in need of organizing left to go.

{Enter Happy Dance Here}

Today's project was on the basic side of the spectrum. Though not terribly disastrous, the small built-in supplies closet in the main floor bath needed some direction. 

This is what I started with:

The contents of this closet are not overly exciting. There are no darling towels or sweet smelling soaps in sight. But alas, every home needs a less than glamorous place to stash the run of the mill household items: cleaning supplies, medications, spare toilet paper, paper towels, and the like. Mine just happens to be in the main floor bathroom.

We learned a trillion plus one lessons when building our house. There are decisions you are bound to question and reevaluate with your first home after living in it a little while. A supplies closet was one of ours. With all the closet space, we never dreamed that there would not be a practical spot to stash the broom and vacuum. But with a little creative thinking we were able to convert a small linen closet into a  multifaceted supplies closet.

It just needed to be taken from creative to easily functional.

Here are the few simple changes that I made to help do just that.

With a few shelf alterations, some bin reconfiguring, and a bit of label making this closet is ready for anything!

The top shelf remained stocked with spare paper products. Just tidied. 

The sole overflowing medication bin was sorted and divided into four separate, more serviceable, clear and labeled bins. 

Based on our medication needs we went with the following groupings:

1. Pain
2. Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat
3. First Aid
4. Kids

Speaking of labelling - my most favouritest organization solution. Each shelf now has a very basic label  as well, identifying its contents. That way Common-Law has no excuse for replacing things in the wrong spot. *I point the finger at Robert, but really it is helpful for everyone.

I went with the following just as a reference:

1. Paper
2. Medications
3. Cleaning Supplies

The cleaning supplies are just below eye level on this shelf. Which makes it easier, I have found anyway, to quickly find what you are looking for. Yet, they are high enough to be out of reach of small children. *Another great feature of this cabinet is that the knob is mid way up the door and, like the cabinets throughout the remainder of the house, the doors are flush with the trim. So little fingers cant even get the doors open.

To help speed the cleaning process along, the white bin holds all of the products I use to do the bathrooms. That way there is no fussing when I have a few spare minutes. I just have to grab and go.

The bottom shelf holds the body of the vacuum. With the shelf readjustment it now lays flat with the hose in the bottom drawer with the other attachments.  

This may seem strange to you, it was for me at first as well, but we just have no other place that makes sense to store it that it isn't in the way. And if I am being completely honest, as I tend to be to a fault these days, I quite like it. The breaking down and building back up only takes a second and it ensures that I check the hose and nozzle for hair and build up. Two birds, one stone.

And that is that. A few simple changes go a long long way. 

Elementary yet Essential. 

Happy Organizing!

Chat soon.

Summer House Tour

Raise your hand if your home is well lived in!

I see those hands! Wow...that looks like most of you. And Im right there next to you in the crowd. Yeah thats me. The one in the filthy slippers. I forgot to switch them on my way out the door. C'est la vie!

This house of mine is not quite two years old and yet if the walls could speak I would be frightened of the tales. The combination of turbo dog, kids running and crawling a muck, and a bossy do-it-yourselfer results in a go-ahead, come-back type of situation. As soon as one project is done three more are added to the list. Then a jar of coffee gets dropped and cracks a tile. Tack that one on as well.

It quite literally will never end. Which is why I have decided to take this time and embrace the few spaces in my home that are on their way to decorating success. Do, however, keep in mind they all have a ways to go yet.

Main Entryway

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Pantry

Laundry Room

Main Floor Bath

Finley's Room

I hope you enjoyed the tour! And if you ever want to do it again, and again, it will be easily located at the Our Home tab. *Do check back for updates! I for one love walking through my house online. It is much cleaner than the real thing. A lot less dog hair!

And if you are a regular around these parts you may have noticed a few changes we have made. Check back this week when I share those successful DIY projects.

Looking forward to a chat real soon.


Im sharing this at
The Shabby Creek Cottage Link Party

Upgraded Bathroom Frames

We made it to Friday! Yippee!

Just wanted to stop by for a quick sec while all the boys are down for their nap to share a frame upgrade that I did yesterday. I seem to have a real thing for frames these days eh?

It is an easy solution that made all the difference in my mind.


So this what they looked like originally. Common-law and I bought them years back because we loved the colours in the art but I never did like the frame. The black trim just wasnt for me. I've been meaning to do something about that ever since.

*Finley helped with this project as you can see - less the spray painting of course. Ill have him doing his own projects soon enough!


Yesterday was that day. First I stripped down the back. It was quite a get-up back there.


After getting through the tape and zillion staples I was left with just the frames. They got an all over light sanding.


Then I applied numerous light coats of spray paint. The key is to do a little at a time in order to achieve an even smooth finish.

Once the final coat has dried completely go ahead and reassemble. Make sure your glass is clean! It is a lot of unnecessary work to get everything back in there and done up only to realize there are noticeable specs. Been there, done that.

Now all thats left is hanging. The fun part! For me at least. Robert, Sarah, and Finley may not have enjoyed having me boss them to move the frames back and forth, up and down before settling on a spot. All while hanging out in the bathroom. *Well, Finley didn't mind I don't think. He seemed to think it was silly!


These frames used to live on a wall in our master bedroom but they were too small for the space. So I decided to relocate them to the main floor bath. In there they are oversized and I absolutely love that look in a small space, stacked above one another. The bathroom needs more love that is for sure and these frames a great start.



The silver trim matches the chrome finishes in the bathroom. And because there is no window the reflective finish and light colours add a brightness to the space. The blues tie into my Calvin Klein splurge towels as well.

What simple DIY projects do you have on the go right now? Anything to get done right away this weekend?

If this quick facelift wasn't quite enough to motivate you to get started on your own projects, head on over to Roadkill Rescue where Beckie shares projects made from curbside finds, free stuff, hand-me-downs and recycled products to get your motor running. If you stop by tomorrow you will see my Record Stand turned Night Stand as a feature! What what!

Chat soon.