new project - the boy's closet

I had a moment last week.

I've always, and I mean always, hated wire shelving.  And ps, hate is a super strong word for me.  I tell my kids it's a bad word; it ranks right up there with any other four letter word which is saying something for the overall disdain I have towards wire shelving.  I realize it's a little over-dramatic.  Anyhow, while I was putting clothes away and tidying things up in my son's closet last week I randomly decided that I was done with the ding dang wire shelving in the closet and busted out the power drill to remove. it. all.  Good riddance!

If you follow me on instagram you already know this.  It was a very Mommie Dearest type of moment, so it was probably a good thing my kids were at school when it happened.  ;)

I organized my boy's closet a few years ago and it still looked pretty good, but I was ready to ditch the wire shelving all together and just start from scratch.

The truth is he's older now, and his clothes take up more space.  I mean he wears the same size shoe as I do!  I think a new closet system will really help to maximize his storage space. 

I got started over the weekend by wallpapering the walls with my favorite beadboard wallpaper!  I also moved in an old bookcase and have big plans for it.  More on that coming soon.

Sorry for the poor quality phone pics.  When you're knee deep in a project like this, busting out the good camera just seems like a waste of time.  ;)

I've obviously got a long way to go, but here are a few super inspiring organized boy's closets that have been keeping me motivated!

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via

I'm loving the look of built-in cubbies, shelving and pull out drawers!  Organization is total bliss for me so I'm really pumped to be giving this closet an overhaul.  Are you a wire shelving hater too? 

my best diy design tip

I don't often give design advice.  I hardly feel I'm qualified.  I'm no designer.  I'm just a girl who likes to decorate and feather her nest.  I'm certainly no expert.  However, today I am going to share a little advice.  I'm going to share my best diy design tip.  It's something I myself just did this past fall.  And ever since I did I've been wondering why on earth I didn't do it sooner.  It's made decorating my home such a breeze.  It's kind of like my own personal design secret weapon.    

Are you ready for it?!   This is going to blow your mind!  My best diy design tip is to: Create Your Own "My Home" Design Notebook. 

Okay, okay, "blow your mind" was an overexaggeration, but I can't help the excitement.  I really really love this little notebook! 

This tiny notebook fits in the palm of my hand and is always, always carried with me in my handbag.  Always.  I'm not even kidding when I say I never leave home without it.  It has all the vital info about my home that I would need to access like say if I just so happen to stumble upon some amazing piece of furniture at a thrift store that I might want to use in the guest room.  I can easily reference measurements, paint colors, fabric swatches so I can see if something will fit or mesh well or whatever.  

I busted out my Zink hAppy to create tabs for each room of my home.  

I keep paint swatches as well as the paint formulas in this book.  Do you have any idea how handy it is to have not only have the swatches but the formulas in my handbag at. all. times?!  

As you can see I also keep fabric swatches in this book as well.  In times when it's impossible to have a swatch of a fabric I'm using in a space, I take a picture of the fabric.  

This notebook has made decorating such a breeze.  As I'm working on the kids' bathroom right now it has definitely been nice to have a reference on hand as I've been out shopping for decorative details.  I'm easily able to see how the wall color and shower curtain will play with items before I bring them home. 

I only ever write notes in pencil, so if I change my mind, as I often do, it's easy to just erase. 

I've even got a place to keep paint samples for possible future projects as well as coupons. 

It's all here in this one little notebook, and I use it all. the. time!  It has made the decorating process that much more enjoyable.  I only wish I had made a notebook like this sooner.  Do you have your own home design notebook?  Know what else I like to carry in my handbag?  A tape measure.  You know you're a diy'er when you carry ___________ in your handbag?  

Y'all fill that blank in!   

using old window frames

An alternate title for this post could be "what snow days are good for".  

Yesterday we had our 550th snow day.  Okay, not really, but kind of.  And guess what?  Today is 551.  Yep, my kids are home from school...........again.  Seriously, this has been the longest winter ever, like in the history of ever.  I'm doing my best to see the bright side and really enjoy these lazy-stuck-in-the-house days, but deep down the California girl in me has a bad case of cabin fever.  

What keeps me sane?  Wine.  I'm kidding. kind of.  But in all seriousness, what is truly holding me together is that I'm finally completing all of those little projects that have been on my to-do list for what feels like an eternity.  You know those projects that will maybe take you all of 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and yet somehow never get done because you can't ever find the time?  Please tell me I'm not alone on this.  Please tell me you have a list of things that you want to get done, and that will probably not take too much time to do, that you for some odd reason just can't seem to ever get done. 

Well, for all my mom friends that live in snow filled states, guess what?  Snow days are really good for forcing you to finally get "those" projects done.  So at least there's that, right?  

Yesterday, I took 20 minutes to frame the Kauai map I brought home as a souvenir from our vacation.  I used an old window.  I know, you're like, who hasn't used an old window to frame something?  This is nothing new, but I do love the look.  I'm also pretty thrilled to cross this off the to-do list because it's been on my list since we got back from our vacation..............which was last summer.   

I found the window at Restore for $5.  I kind of fell in love with the chippiness and then there's the hardware.  It's totally normal to love a pusher upper thingy right, what on earth do you call this thing?!  

Literally, it was love at first sight.  I'm aware of how weird that sounds, but the truth is what the truth is.  

So, I had to cut the map to make it flush.  I used clear packing tape to attach it to the back of the window.  Then I added a couple of screw eyes and wire for hanging.  

I put that bad boy up on the wall above the towel hooks in the kid's bathroom.  I added a couple of command strips at the bottom to keep it from sliding around.  

You really can't beat this look for $5?  I'd never be able to find a frame large enough for less than that price.  Even though I'm done with winter, I'm glad to be making the most of being stuck inside. 

 

Do you have any little projects on your to-do list?  What is it about the little ones that seem to take forever to finally get crossed off the list?!