Cleaning house

It's coming up to the end of summer which marks the beginning of a new school year and the start of fall. For me, it also means organizing and preparing for this fresh start. My to-do list includes (but is not limited to):

• steam-cleaning all carpets and mopping all floors
• cleaning out my filing cabinet, tossing old bills and finish recording all receipts in my ledger
• clearing and cleaning out the fridge
• dusting those hard to get to places, like blinds
• organizing the pantry and bathroom cupboards (ie. throwing out expired contents)
• organizing all closets and dressers, donating outgrown clothes
• washing pillows and duvets

I'm sure most people do some or all of these things on a regular basis, but for me it's particularly important since I work full-time and don't have a housekeeper. And once school begins, I'm thrown into a perpetual whirlwind of extra-curricular activities, homework, work, and housework. Starting the school year organized and clean clears my mind and prepares me for the chaos ahead. And decor is so much more beautiful in a clean house.

 

Using pretty boxes makes organizing fun

 

Picture Perfect

Photographs personalize a home by giving it a cozy feel. However, I believe it should be done with restraint and aesthetic. So often have I seen people haphazardly place any and all pictures in a variety of frames that clash. In my opinion, photos should be displayed if they (not necessarily in order) 1) Look great 2) Have a sentimental and particular importance to the homeowner.

That being said, although photographs should be interesting or beautiful, I don't think you should have to spend a fortune on professionally-done photographs. A  few years ago, we splurged and had photographs done of our kids at our home by a wonderful photographer. But since doing this annually is financially out of the question, and not being fans of big box store portraits, we decided to get a decent camera and do it ourselves, using the photographer's tricks.

Simply put, we look for decent lighting and try to catch the kids in their natural state. I do not care for the fake smiles that often occur, so we make them laugh with antics and jokes and then click away. Of course, with every amazing shot, twenty are deleted but in this day and age of digital photography, it's worth it! (Just make sure to get a great matte and frame!)

Flowers, a personal luxury

I love flowers. They make me happy. Flowers are a necessary luxury in my life. I buy inexpensive bunches from my local grocery store to liven up my neutral decor. I try to buy fresh flowers every other week but during the summer I pick flowers from my garden which unfortunately lacks a wide and large variety.

I favour single-colour cluster arrangements without too much greenery.  Greens look better bunched together in a separate arrangement. I am pretty picky when it comes to flowers much to my husband's dismay. Although, all flowers are beautiful I particularly love the graceful and unfussy look of tulips, peonies, and hydrangeas - often in white and purple.

From my backyard

A pop of colour looks lovely against white

I love purple flowers!

Budget-friendly decor

I am not rich and can't afford to shop at high-end stores. Instead, I have to be a little more creative and do some "research" before decorating my own place. Research means flipping through magazines and browsing through furniture and home decor stores. Then I hunt through Craigslist, and budget-friendly stores like Walmart and Target to achieve a similar effect. (In addition, buying used stuff is environmentally friendly, which is high on my list). I'm also a fan of floor models and clearance items. Of course, if I really love an item and it's a classic piece that'll last for a long time, then I'm willing to splurge a bit.

But I am non-committal when it comes to decor, and much to the chagrin of my husband, nothing is forever. That means that my picture gallery is sure to change sometime in the near future, and furniture will likely be repurposed and changed. The only thing constant is my love of white and simple design.

Designer spotlight: Geoffrey Bradfield

I love designer Geoffrey Bradfield. His designs are elegant and whimsical, and I like how he incorporates lucite furniture into his rooms.

A hint of colour

I'm not a huge colour person and everytime I use colour, ie. wall paint, cushions, I end up reverting back to white or a more neutral tone. However, I do like to experiment from time to time to make things more interesting. I just painted my bookcase backing a light blue to spice up my otherwise, black and white office. We're still in the midst of renovating and decorating so stay tuned for an decor update.

Home office

The chair above was a Craigslist find. I'm always scouring Craigslist for cheap and great pieces. I have found many good pieces of furniture on Craigs and by the street in front of peoples homes. I like to get the pieces reupholstered and paint the pieces to get a new look. I purchased the above chair for $15 off of Craigs. I spraypainted it gold but the upholstery is the original fabric, possibly from the 50s. I'd like to redo it a light gray one day.