Anyone up for trying TheJanuary Cure

[spiderbabymum]

I've no idea what this involves ....other than lots of hard graft that is ....but as far as I know it results in a tidy home by the end of the month ....and it's Monday to Friday .

starts today

Who's in ?

[spiderbabymum]

www.apartmenttherapy.com/its-back-join-us-get-organized-in-2014-the-january-cure-198346

[betterwhenthesunshines]

I've signed up, party as I'm interested to see what they send! I'm fairly organised as I did a lot of clearing and sorting last year, but there are specific areas I still need to get round to. Paperwork is my biggest problem - I have files for bills etc which I'm good at filing straightaway now it's become a habit. But I still tend to keep stuff out that isn't finished yet eg school notes, home repair info, ie I need a better working system for 'current' projects. My desk has drawers, but once things go in a drawer stack they tend to never come out again so it just builds up... until I need another mammoth clearout. Out of sight out of mind with me, and that makes any system trciky to maintain!

[delasi]

I've been doing a lot of paring down over the last year, still got a little to do but nearly there, but I'm curious as to what this will contain so I've signed up now (thanks for link!).

Let's see how this goes then...

[betterwhenthesunshines]

I found an old copy of the apartment therapy book on eBay a while ago. It has an 8 week home cure in it. I like their thinking - it appeals to my design background of assess, review, try out and gives you a good blueprint of how to do a 'makeover' when you don't know where to begin.

But as with all these things the American slant means it isn't always as useful to us in the UK. I've spent too long today browsing their website and looking on Houzz and it's slightly galling to see people 'paring down' their make-up collection that fills an entire 'vanity' table in their en-suite that is bigger than my bedroom!

I'm interested in helping people work out their homes as I find it very satisfying to resolve everyday frustrations through design and planning. Is anyone in London and want to come on a trial workshop / meet-up group? Or would you be interested in this via email support??? A bit like a coach for your home? I know when I've been stuck in the middle of big house renovation projects sometimes it's useful having a sounding board to bounce ideas off, or a deadline to help motivate you.

I don't want to be a de-clutterer as this has too many negative connotations and some clutter can actually be the soul of your home - if it is well curated! I also don't want to follow a traditional interior design approach as I feel people should be more involved in designing their own homes - not have someone else impose their ideas. I started a blog in November //www.playprojecthome.wordpress.com about our homes and how we use them, if anyone is interested at all I'd love it if you would have a look and give me some feedback.

[StarsAbove]

Thanks for this. Has anyone had an email other than the subscribe one yet?

[daisydee43]

Had already done something similar by myself but have signed up in curiosity

[betterwhenthesunshines]

Yes - had an email with a link to instructions to go around the house and write yourself a mammoth task list!

[SlatternismyChristmasname]

Just joined up, not sure how it will go but it's worth a try.

[lucysmam]

This sounds good for me, will give it a whirl! We moved house the Saturday before Christmas & the garage is full of boxes and things to be sorted through

[delasi]

No email yet other than the intro They've got 10mins left!

[daisydee43]

Got my first email today re: buying flowers and cleaning the floors - have 'borrowed mil steam cleaner'. Also started off my new year by having 2 new windows fitted (feel so proud of my home now)

[lucysmam]

I got email number two on my way home from town so instructed dp he is to buy me nice flowers tomorrow and will crack on with the floors in the morning after my shopping comes.

I think downstairs tomorrow, upstairs Sunday.

Have read up on task 1 as well so will get out my notebook and a shiny new pen at some point tomorrow to do my list (I may be some time at that one )

[betterwhenthesunshines]

Flowers do make a difference in bringing some life to a room - if you find a good picture of an interior with a flowers in it, try covering up the flower display and you'll see it makes the room seem a bit more sterile.

[daisydee43]

Just swept and steamed the non-carpet floors but dd asleep so don't want to put Hoover round. Have also sorted my cleaning products out (think was on previous email) - will get flowers when car gets out of garage

[betterwhenthesunshines]

Monday's assignment: I do this all the time. Sometimes it can be just a small thing that needs changing and leads to a big improvement. It's good to help you focus your attention and put your energies into one spot rather than being overwhelmed with the whole picture.

[daisydee43]

Today's assignment bit of the same as the first task - just want a functional look to all rooms

[lucysmam]

hmm, I organised the soft toys in the girls' bedroom after reading todays email - they've been jumbled around underfoot for two weeks since we moved in & are now (possibly temporarily) watching the world from atop the wardrobe. Means the floor is now clear for me to complete the weekends task in full though

There are some other bits to be done too, they NEED the bookshelf bringing in from the garage even if that's only placed temporarily too & their telly needs putting up so dp can have his bedside cabinet back (will get dp to drill tomorrow and find the bookshelf).

*I also emptied three boxes out of the garage of stuff we need in the house, will try and sort through another three tomorrow.

[betterwhenthesunshines]

If anyone wants to do some framing at bespoke sizes I would recommend eframe. I used them for framing things for an exhibition and the turnaround is good and at much better prices than highstreet framers for made-to-order sizes. This is on my to-do list so will now be at the top :-)