Sunday 7 February 2010

A Tidy Up



We have a little sun room off our bedroom which, since we have been living here, I have used as a dressing room. Although I try to keep this room tidy, it always ends up looking like a bomb has hit it by the end of the week.

I was prompted to have a big clean up recently when Harry came into my dressing room one morning as I was getting ready for work and just shook his head in disbelief at the mess I had got myself into. I had shoes, bags, clothes and jewellery sprawled across the entire room. It started to occur to me that when a 7 year old boy thinks it's bad, then it must be bad!

After a few intense hours of tidying and sorting, it was so nice to see the top of the built-in drawers again. To celebrate my clean-up I purchased some fresh flowers, arranged them in an old crystal vase my grandmother gave me and placed them on the drawers with some magazines and other little bits. I also decided to bring home an Antique still life oil painting which has been in the shop for well over 6 months. Nobody else wanted it and I loved it from the moment I found it, so home it came. It really is amazing how great a tidy up can make you feel. Hopefully I will be able to keep it this way...well at least until next weekend.
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29 comments:

  1. Yvonne Blacker8 February 2010 at 09:50

    Thanks for sharing your confession! I am glad I am not the only one with not-too-pretty secrets behind closed doors!! When I am in "creative mode" you can always tell by what I leave in my wake :)

    PS I mentioned your blog recently on my blog. I really enjoy following your posts.

    http://designvignettes.blogspot.com/2010/02/fresh-paint-fresh-flowers.html

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  2. Rachel {little bits of lovely}8 February 2010 at 09:59

    Oh your dressing room is so pretty! Flowers always brighten up any room.

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  3. Kelly Green8 February 2010 at 10:30

    I love a good tidy up - makes you feel much more at one with the world! KG

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  4. The Caffeinated Librarian8 February 2010 at 10:41

    Looks wonderful! I need to do this sort of clean-up in our home office. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  5. Karena8 February 2010 at 11:20

    Anna,
    Stargazer lilies are so beautiful....a favorite of mine. Lovely painting as well.
    Karena

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  6. RP8 February 2010 at 11:21

    What a lovely knook! I am always amazed at how beautiful your flower arrangements are Anna. Mine never look right in the vase. Harry makes me giggle!
    MrsP
    x

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  7. carla rothberg8 February 2010 at 13:06

    i am so with you on how a space being orderly can change the way you feel about your whole day - your whole life even.

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  8. Von8 February 2010 at 13:08

    Lovely painting, no wonder you feel in love.
    I have a firm belief in Feng shui so life goes better for not getting in a mess!

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  9. Miss Jane8 February 2010 at 14:49

    I did something very similar this weekend, and felt great for doing it afterwards!

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  10. Destination Inspiration8 February 2010 at 19:36

    gorgeous flowers, doesn't it feel great after you do a big clean out

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  11. Amanda8 February 2010 at 21:53

    I always loved that painting! I remember it from when it hung above your ikat chair.

    I've been in Spring cleaning mode too, it's a great feeling!

    x Amanda

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  12. Kristine8 February 2010 at 22:07

    I've been doing the same in my house all week. It feels so good once it's done, you wonder why you don't keep everything that clean all the time. I treated myself to some tuberoses, which have been sending their beautiful scent around our entire house.

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  13. Erin @ SYL: Slipcover Your Life9 February 2010 at 01:39

    Such a cute little corner (and yes, it's bad when your 7 year old shakes his head at you!)

    I did a major early spring clean this weekend too!

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  14. m9 February 2010 at 02:01

    Hi - just stumbled across your blog - it's gorgeous!! I've been tidying up too - I've been doing the trash bag tango ... I'll post about it later on my blog :o) I LOVE your painting on the wall it's gorgeous. Hope to be back soon x

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  15. cynthia - thedailybasics.com9 February 2010 at 02:20

    Your 'before' dressing room sounds normal to me! I know how you feel about tackling a big clean up job. I have kids rooms like that and I have found the perfect solution. I close the door!
    Instant relief!

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  16. cynthia - thedailybasics.com9 February 2010 at 02:21

    Your 'before' dressing room sounds normal to me! I know how you feel about tackling a big clean up job. I have kids rooms like that and I have found the perfect solution. I close the door!
    Instant relief!

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  17. myletterstoemily9 February 2010 at 04:58

    brilliant! i am going to straighten my dressing
    room, too...tomorrow!

    ps. do you remember 'mother pie', one of the
    first woman bloggers?

    she recommended yours to me, and i love it.

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  18. Dweller-Carly9 February 2010 at 06:21

    I spent my Sunday afternoon tidying up too. Sometimes I just need a complete clean/freshen-up in my room!

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  19. Noshii9 February 2010 at 06:41

    what an inspiring blog you have!!!

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  20. Samantha Dollar9 February 2010 at 07:11

    children- they are so wonderfully honest. I always ask my 7 year old how I look because I know he loves me more than anything and he will be honest with lots of love. The other day he told me my new top made my stomach look fat. I wish I took him with me shopping!

    Even sadder though, he "warned" his friend upon driving up to the house for a playdate that, "our house is really ugly on the outside , but once you get in it is beautiful. Mom and Dad are working really hard on making the outside look pretty. It is going to take a while."

    I didn't know if I should laugh or cry about the remark...

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  21. Natasha @ Northern Light Design9 February 2010 at 07:43

    Good for you! Cleaning up is such a pain, but the finishing touch always makes it worth it! Your flowers are - as alwasy - beautiful, I am sure you will enjoy your dressing room even more now that it looks so great!!!

    I, too, have a mention of you and your inspiring blog, on my VERY FIRST entry. Thank you for always keeping me wanting more!

    http://so-much-more-than-nl.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-new-year.html

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  22. La Dolfina9 February 2010 at 10:07

    Looks lovely... great job!

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  23. Anonymous9 February 2010 at 10:07

    I love your fan painting that your brought back with you from France...
    Lou
    xx

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  24. Splendid Market10 February 2010 at 02:43

    So true, a tidy-up does wonders for the spirit. I'm always surprized at how quickly it is completed, once I set me mind to the idea. Nice job!

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  25. The Rotary10 February 2010 at 09:18

    It looks so light and airy! Love the flowers.

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  26. Jen of MadeByGirl10 February 2010 at 12:36

    I also need to tidy up...unfortunately it's going to have to wait till the office re-do is done. There is stuff all over the place. I honestly hate working this way... Good luck with the cleaning up. I'm sure it probably gets messier the busier you seem to be...



    Jen Ramos
    www.madebygirl.com
    madebygirl.blogspot.com

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  27. Haddock11 February 2010 at 00:39

    Nothing like the sun filtering into the room.

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  28. Kathysue11 February 2010 at 01:00

    Thank you for keeping it real, I always find it amazing how an area can be so neat one day and then you look arouond and it feels as if someone else has been living in your home. Maybe we all have that messy little alter-ego hanging around. Love you painting and flowers make any area look wonderful, I always enjoy your touch of natural arrangements,Kathysue

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  29. Marija18 February 2010 at 04:44

    So inspiring! I always see such beautiful things and ideas here but this one is actually motivating to get off my bum and get to work! I have no excuses for the disorganized shelves in my closet! Marija

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