Archive for the 'Redecorating Without Chaos' Category

Tackle it Tuesday: The Basement Storage Room   

March 25, 2008 | 12 Comments

As I noted in the Nursery project kick-off post, before I can clear out the art/computer room to make room for the nursery, we have to clear all the boxes out of the basement storage room so we can turn that room in to the new art room. So that mammoth project is today’s Tackle!

Here’s what the basement storage room looked like before we started:Actually, what you’re not seeing in this photo is the load of boxes and stuff that my husband had already cleared out. I staggered out of bed at 7:30 am only to realize he had been up and working for a couple of hours already!Here’s what the basement storage room looks like now.

It’s not quite finished, but we’ve made a huge dent in the project. We’ll keep working on it this week so that by next weekend we can clear out the nursery, just in time to get started on some of the great projects Shauntelle has dreamed up!

Nursery for a Princess - goals for this week   

March 11, 2008 | 6 Comments

Since we officially launched the nursery blogging project, Shauntelle and I have been hard at work planning this project. Well, I’ve been hard at work. I’m pretty sure Shauntelle has been having way too much fun to call it work!

Anyhow - here’s how this thing is gonna happen. I’m breaking it into two phases. Phase I is happening in March and involves all the projects that have to happen before I can even get into the room to start decorating. Don’t believe me? Check out these Before photos - warning, not for the faint of heart!

This is what happens when you encourage the kids to work independently . . .

Art is messy sometimes . . .

No kidding - this crazy room full of chaos and artwork is going to turn into a peaceful oasis for our little Princess. But not without a whole lot of work…All that stuff has to go somewhere. Currently, we’re using the room as an art room and computer room for the boys.

The plan is to clear out the unfinished side of the basement and convert that into the new art room. That will give them a lot more space, plus the concrete floor is easier to clean than carpet!

To move the art room downstairs, we have to move all the boxes we’re currently storing in that room into the larger storage unit we rented this weekend.

So to recap, this month’s projects are to clear out the room. This week, we’ll move the boxes out of the basement into the storage unit. Next week, we’ll move the art supplies into the totally reorganized art area in the basement. We’ll be setting up shelves and a drying area for their supplies and finished projects. Then we’ll move the computer desk out and clean the room from top to bottom.

Check back to see how we’re doing!

It’s always exciting to start a new project!   

March 6, 2008 | 4 Comments

I’ll be honest with you - my home has never been what you’d call “decorated.” It’s more a collection of spaces that we use for the daily business of living, but I’ve never really understood how to make it beautiful without spending a small fortune and more time than I have recreating something out of a magazine.

Well that’s all gonna change!

Sometime in May, we will welcome a baby girl into our family, and I’m finally in a position to create a real nursery (as opposed to just setting up the crib in a corner of our bedroom). Since I have absolutely NO design experience and I’m definitely on a budget, I’ve enlisted the help of my good friend Shauntelle of A Beautiful Abode. Join us as we work together across 700 miles to create a special place for the new baby and blog about the process.

Here at Living at the Speed of Life, you’ll get the behind the scenes planning, budgeting, and organization work that will go into this project. I hope it will help you manage your next project!

At A Beautiful Abode, we’ll get to drool over the gorgeous designs and ideas that Shauntelle is dreaming up for this girly oasis in a house full of boys. I for one can’t wait to see what she comes up with!

We’ll both be writing about the DIY projects that will go into this project, so there will be plenty of great info and inspiration to go around. We’ll be hosting contests, so be sure to check back for the details.  Join us as we prove that anyone can create a beautiful, organized home - one room at a time.