Sanity for Spring?

My secret to sanity this Spring is to declutter and gain peace of mind.  This idea is huge for me, since I love to stay active and keep samples and items with character, then find time to refurbish.  I also keep things that I can transform into something else...DIY projects  are great.  My garage and office/guest room became cluttered to the point where I felt stressed. Can't have an extra guest room with containers of"keep it" stuff piled there.  So I embarked on a journey that not only gave me space, but peace of mind at having recycled, donated and provided useful materials that will help those in need.  Goodwill & Dell have a fabulous program for E-waste and I donated home improvement supplies to agencies that provide homes and apartments locally.  Even my clothes went to help someone who needs a work wardrobe. My top 5 tips that I hope help you:

1. Unworn clothes

If you’re like me, you're holding onto stuff in case it comes back in style one day.  Shoulder pad jackets that I loved for the fabric now begin to haunt me.  "I'll get them tailored" was my mantra.....for 5 years. If you haven’t worn something in the past 12 to 18 months, you likely never will. Donate or try selling it  online. Spring is a good time  to analyze your cold-weather wardrobe. If you haven't worn it during the last season chances are you won't wear it again.  There are women's shelters that need supplies and organizations that collect business attire to help women dress for success.

2. Office supplies

If your desk is filled with dried-out pens and White-Out bottles, you should acknowledge that those things are never ever coming back from the dead. For me, it was colored pencils and markers from design school.  Yep, they still work, but haven't used them in ten years,  Hook up with a local art teacher since they often buy supplies for their kids with their own funds.  The random boxes of paper clips, extra stationary and other goodies went to the animal shelter resale shop to raise money to save lives.

3. Expired kitchen items

This was a bit funny.  I divide and store pantry staples and things like pasta, rice and oatmeal since I buy in bulk and save, right?  Not if they go bad.  I found things in the pantry and even the freezer from 2008.  Not worth eating. Spices get clumpy and smell "off" and I actually found 2 of a few since they got 'lost' in the back cabinets and I bought duplicates.    I have a compost pile - albeit small - so quite a bit went there.  The rest I had to toss.  Lesson learned...don't buy too much or it's wasteful.  

4. Books

If you’ve made the swap and now do your reading on a Kindle or tablet, you may have tons of books you’d never even consider opening. Ironically my Kindle is now defunct since I use my iPad.   But even if you don't have a device, consider donating books you've already read. Sort through your favorite books then give the rest to your local library, charity or shelter.  I'll keep my Sue Grafton series for now, but the chance that I'll read those books again is slim.  All the others are likely to give someone else the pleasure of a good read. 

5. Garage clutter. 

From paints that I won't reuse to finish products that are older and toxic, to fertilizer or insect sprays that I've found safer alternatives for, my garage cabinets were purged for my health and the health if the environment.  There are safe ways to dispose of all of those things.  In San Diego - http://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/miramar/hhwtransfac.shtml  I've watched neighbors pour that stuff in the sewer. Don't.  Local paint stores are now required to accept old paint. They also charge a recycling fee when you buy new paint so take advantage and purge what you won't use again. After a few years that paint won't even look good when you try to touch up. Unless you do a lot of faux finishing it's just going to take up space and get old. Tools and yard equipment that I either upgraded  or don't use - love my new Dewalt cordless nail gun -  went to shelter resale shops and Goodwill. Someone will love my Craftsman corded power tools and have a blast doing DIY projects! Open paints and wood scraps did go to Refurbish San Diego.  Habitat for Humanity is great for hardware, nails and screws and building supplies. 

Lynn Morris, IIDA, Allied ASID, NKBA, USGBC

Past Director of Communications ASID

Design Principal | Touch of Tradition- Home

7313 Carroll Road | Suite D

San Diego | CA | 92121

619-669-8871 mobile

760-633-4474 studio

www.tot-home.com

Maximize your small kitchen!

You have a small kitchen. What are the design elements that you can use to maximize the space?   Try one of these 5 for a big impact.

1) Light. If you have windows, then don't dress them up!  Keep window coverings simple so there is no blocking of light.  Without windows, you'll need to rely on fixtures. Choose LED under and in-cabinet lighting for clean, white light. Be sure that your fixture globes and shades are clean, light in color, and the bulb wattage is correct. Switching to compact florescent bulbs, which are lower wattage use, often means a brighter light.

2) Color. When there's little difference between the colors of the walls, the counters, the cabinetry, and the woodwork, your eye glides over the surfaces looking for a place to rest, and that movement tricks you into thinking the space is larger than it really is. Light colors are great in a small kitchen. They reflects light, which enhances the sense of space and makes the walls seem to recede. White is the most popular color and is traditional and right for many design styles.

3) Organize. Small kitchens can have storage challenges. Counters often become storage areas, but eliminating clutter can help any space feel larger. Clear off the counters, the windowsill, and the cabinet tops, and stash as much as you can behind closed doors.

4) Use Glass.  Making a small kitchen feel larger is a matter of fooling the eye and tricking the brain into thinking the space is bigger. One way to do that is to remove some cabinet doors or replace the solid fronts with glass.  Adding in-cabinet lighting showcases the depth and also adds a sense of space.

5) Carve Out Storage Space.  Shelves flush with the walls and recessed into space between the studs add storage without consuming valuable space in a small kitchen.  If you don't have space within your kitchen, instead look for a spot near your kitchen, such as a breakfast nook or passageway, to implement recessed shelves.