Sunday, January 3, 2016

HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE?

Was it just six years ago we bought this Kihei Cottage?  How on earth did so much stuff get accumulated???  And thrown hither and yon?

I enjoy neat and organized as much as the next person.  So as part of my dream, plan, accomplish motto ... I'm tackling things that are important to me.  The garage is next on my list.  Recently I did my pantry and fridge.  Now I smile when I open either!  It just adds another level of serenity to my wonderful little island life.

When we first put in storage for the garage, I designated one side the "man" side and one side the "woman" side.  Several friends who have stayed at Chez Lockhart since Mr. Ralph died, have started to organize the man side.  I'm saving that for last.  Much more organizing to do over there ... first of all, simply understanding what some of those things are!  There are parts for the irrigation system.  Parts for the outdoor lighting.  Car stuff. Bike stuff. Power tools.  Gardening tools.  It will take some thinking to get it together.

The woman side has had some space open up ... I had many appliances stored out there but now I have shelving in the guest closet for my kitchen things.  So I will have more room to put things out of sight.  I ordered some 30 gallon storage containers from Amazon.  While I freed up some space, now I have seasonal decor to put in containers and store up high since they only get used once a year.

Here are the before photos.  I'm not promising AFTER photos by a certain date ... but they will come!


For some reason, laundry facilities are either in a garage ... or outside over here!  Every time I pull the car in, this is what I face.  Messy, messy, messy.  All things I use but surely I can do better than this.


This is looking from my kitchen door into the garage.  



The man side with my bike in front (because I rarely use these things!)



My side looking towards that kitchen door from the big garage door.

I'm thinking there may be my first trip to the landfill in my near future ....


9 comments:

  1. Don't you have a Salvation Army or Goodwill Store on the island? Your stuff looks too good for the landfill. Here, they pick up, too.

    Your storage tubs will make a huge difference in your garage. I would hate having my washer and dryer outside. What an odd place for people to put them! Well, odd for those of us who don't have good weather 365 days a year. Can't wait for the after photos. I wish I had taken before shots of my redecorating project.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, anything with any potential use will go to Salvation Army.

      Washer/Dryer get dirty out there also. As does everything. Wish we had known that before we bought all WHITE storage cabinets!!!

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  2. How I identify! Trick is removing everything but the things that support our lives and bring joy. Looks like you have no dark corners or black holes in there.

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    Replies
    1. There is "stuff" that isn't necessary any more. I want to keep on top of things. Yes ... a few dark places there! Next is my bathroom area!

      Delete
  3. I think that is why I love to come to our rental condo in Florida because there is no 'stuff' here. It is all back in my garage and basement in Canada! For 5 months we do without all the 'stuff' and when we get back we rarely need any of it. Right now I think I can just go home in April and clear it all out, but once I am home it becomes too big of a job, so nothing is done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was overwhelmed in Portland also So I mostly avoided it. Too busy enjoying the family and friends. To make it work, I just have to tell myself I'm going to spend TWO HOURS. Then I can stop ... or if I have momentum and want to keep going, I can.

      Same plan here!

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  4. I love de-cluttering. Well, maybe not the act of, but the afterwards. I am an organizational freak!!! Six years ago, I gave Wal-Mart it's biggest sales margin when I started buying 3 plastic 30 gallon store bins every time I went through their doors. They stack so well and always look so neat and no mouse nor rust do corrupt!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. We have issues with geckos ... so plastic bins with air tight lids? Great thing!!!

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    2. Some are air tight, others aren't. You have to be careful picking out the style. Mice can get in some styles.

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