Many of us try to jazz up our holiday let-down with New Years resolutions and planning for spring.
I had a fabulous Christmas season enjoying my little lake cottage with family, including two of my children, my teen grandson and friends. Too busy to blog through the last part of December, although I had good intentions.
Now, I, too, am making New Years resolutions that will make my life better in 2012. I aspire to better organization this year.
At my age it may be too much to hope for me to become a totally organized person, : ( but it is a fine goal and for me, any movement toward that goal will improve my life. I spend a lot of time "looking for things." Currently I've misplaced an important check; often each month I spend a lot of time around the 15th looking for my postcard water bill. Oh, how I wish for a system where I put things in their proper spot. Maybe, soon, I will be able to do that.
Cottages often do not have enough storage, and that is true for mine. As homes go in my neighborhood, mine is considered small by neighbors. So often, when asked where I live and I tell them, they reply, "Oh, the little house." Because it has soaring ceilings, I do not think of it as small, but it actually is.
I started planning late last year to improve my life by creating a mudroom area in my house. I envy the mudrooms seen in home improvement books or new home design books that show lockers for each family member to store outside gear, shoes, etc. I thought of what my greatest needs are and realized I don't really need a traditional mudroom. We seldom have a need for cold weather boots, lots of gloves, and down coats in my area of Texas. If I used those items, I would surely want a place to stash them.
My storage needs include a place to stash pet supplies and a place for my two cats to sleep and eat. They have been garage kitties at night, but they enjoyed sleeping on the top of my van so much they created long scratches on the hood, and after it was recently painted, I decided I had to find a better place for them to sleep. For three months, the car has been in the driveway and the kitties have slept in the garage.
The January-February 2012 issue of This Old House magazine offers some great storage tips. Immediately I was drawn to the cover which says: "Same house, more space, and lots less clutter!" This perfectly states my resolution for 2012.
One suggestion in this issue, page 106, is a "mini-mudroom" (see below).
I imagine most homes, even small condos and apartments can create a "mini-mudroom" if that is something the owner desires. A mini-mudroom also may be located in a converted bookshelf, armoire, coat closet or cabinet near the entry door. Doors or a curtain will hide the clutter.
I have a very small laundry room and I have stored cleaning supplies, the sweeper, brooms, and mops there.
My double car garage is extra-wide, and I decided that a mudroom in the corner of the garage would meet my needs nicely. My son, bless him, built me an 8 by 8 room over New Years weekend. I will use this for my cat sisters' bedroom, as well as for storing my cleaning items that now clutter my laundry room.
Although not yet finished, my kitties and I have moved in. Haven't decided wall colors yet, but have picked up some Martha Stewart paint samples from Home Depot.
Here is a photo of one of my kitties, Ellie, happy in her new home. (The rug is an indoor-outdoor one from Home Depot.)
Her sister, Annie, (below) likes to eat and sleep on the computer desk I placed in the room for the cats to eat on so that my family dog can't easily eat too much cat food. My cats enjoy eating up high, and the old yellow bathroom rug I placed on the table makes a comfortable bed, although they also have a heated electric puppy pad on the floor.
When the room has been painted I will post more photos. The walls are wooden unfinished beadboard 4 by 8 panels. Organized life, I'm on my way!
Happy Cottage Dreaming! Phebe
No comments:
Post a Comment