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.

29 comments:

Yvonne Blacker said...

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

Rachel {little bits of lovely} said...

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

Kelly Green said...

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

The Caffeinated Librarian said...

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

Karena said...

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

RP said...

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

carla rothberg said...

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.

Von said...

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!

Miss Jane said...

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

Destination Inspiration said...

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

Amanda said...

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

Kristine said...

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.

Erin @ SYL: Slipcover Your Life said...

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!

m said...

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

cynthia - thedailybasics.com said...

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!

cynthia - thedailybasics.com said...

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!

myletterstoemily said...

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.

Dweller-Carly said...

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

Noshii said...

what an inspiring blog you have!!!

Samantha Dollar said...

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...

Natasha @ Northern Light Design said...

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

La Dolfina said...

Looks lovely... great job!

Anonymous said...

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

Splendid Market said...

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!

The Rotary said...

It looks so light and airy! Love the flowers.

Jen of MadeByGirl said...

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

Haddock said...

Nothing like the sun filtering into the room.

Kathysue said...

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

Marija said...

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