Carpet Cleaning

This gives you the idea! I put two photos together so you can see what the room looks like now! This room has been TRANSFORMED! This room will be used by the kids for lots of play! We still have a ways to go because we tossed things on the table and on top of the bookcases, but with the carpet clean and room tidy it feels fantastic!

Here's a BEFORE pic of the playroom that is also pieced together...we put two 8' counters against the fireplace. These counters split the room in half. We thought the kids would use these flat surfaces for playing, but they just ended up collecting stuff. We put them back in the garage right before painting.
and here they are together:

Final Playroom (Corner)-Before and After

I just can't even believe I'm posting this! The FINAL playroom pics! John was the wind beneath my wings for the last push. We had the carpets cleaned yesterday so that deadline really motivated us to get everything off the floor!

Living Room DONE!

Well, the Christmas tree is put away and the decorations tucked away for next year and we have a tidy living room! Not perfect...there are a few things to refine the area but we can function and walk in the room safely! We want to replace the googly lamp in the corner and in the spring when we can turn off the heaters, we'll move the green chair back to the right of the tv. The sofa is still squished next to the bookshelf (to make room for the tree) and along with centering it under the windows again, we need a couple lamps and end tables. I LOVE the new mantel art and I like that it has little glass cups to hold the tealights. These are easy to take out and clean.

Though much of the mess got dealt with properly, in a way, I cheated on the living room because some of the stuff got tossed into the sunroom/playroom area (which is a no-no). But due to Christmas, it was necessary to clear out the room. Those things WILL get dealt with soon as we are already working in the sunroom now.

Official before and after photos coming soon. :)

Kitchen - AFTER

Wow. I'm in shock. Honestly, these photos don't do it justice! If you were interviewing me and asked, "So, how does it feel"?

I'd respond with, "I feel FREE"!

I really pushed myself today, finishing up all the counters. (Floor and cupboards and frig to come later). It's so weird to say this, but...it wasn't "hard". In the past, I would have scurried about trying to clear a path, but this was really different. I've taken my time (leaving us to live in a heap for awhile) but that has been good because I've had to do some problem solving and identifying how I really use the space. I've come to understand how vital this is to my process for each room.

I let my family know about the different areas/zones and what is expected of them...1) the kitchen is NOT for putting stuff down...put it away where it belongs, don't dump it on the kitchen counter and 2) the only area they should really ever need is Counter A and E to put dirty dishes.

How magnificent it was to COOK in my kitchen tonight! I had an entire counter open to cut up the chicken, which I cleaned up as I went (I like that)! I decided I would "treat" myself to a fresh hand towel everyday while fixing dinner...I can use the towel to clean up afterwards! Yay! After dinner, almost everything fit in the dishwasher and it is all STILL CLEAN! (how I started cooking for my family, see my other blog http://my-cooking-journal.blogspot.com/

Not only do I feel "free", but I also have a sense of...cautious concern. I know what it took to get me here and I have yet to prove I can maintenance this area. So I tread lightly as I move forward, very aware of the work yet to come...

Kitchen "Before" Photos Are Here

Entry - AFTER

Cleaning the entry took less than an hour. Now that the porch is done, too, we can walk from the outside, to the porch, through the front door, through the entry and into the dining room SAFELY! The flow is amazing! We now get to maintain these areas daily. The entry shoe shelf needs a little help, but we're starting with the floors, mission accomplished!

Front Door/Porch - AFTER

Wow. What a difference all this makes! I used a Magic Eraser by Mr Clean to spiff up the front door. Got out the broom and whisked away all my spider friends. Put the camp chairs, scooters and helmets in the garage. Tossed the garbage, gave away too-small boots, we burned all the sticks when we went camping, tossed the dead flower pots, cleaned and swept the whole porch.

The area by the pink table and firewood can use another visitation, it isn't perfectly like I want it. But with the time I had today, I think we reached maximum impact, don't you think?

Immediately I got a revelation about plants! I LOOOOOVE plants and have thought about a fern on the front porch. Now I have a plan...more on that later!