Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Got Stuff?

Let me preface this post with an apology. For all of you who think I might have it all together, with everything in it's place and all of it beautifully organized...I am so sorry to burst your bubble.
I'm a mess.
Exhibit A : my cabinet of treasures.
Does anyone else have a closet similar to this?



Or a drawer like this?





Or this?



And perhaps, a beautiful un-accessorized piece of furniture like this?




I love this armoire. But for the last 6 months or so it has been empty and boring. Why? Because I thought I didn't have the "right" things to go up there. And I certainly didn't have extra money laying around for new accessories. So I did nothing. I let it sit...and be boring...and it bugged me. Until the other night when it hit me...BAM, like a ton of bricks. You have ALL the "right" things to go up there. Why do I collect things? Why do I have closets and drawers full of treasures and hand me downs? Because those "things" actually mean something to me. Many of them have been gifts from sweet friends, or passed down to me from grandparents, or given to me by my own parents. So, why then would I hide them and not proudly display them? So I went on a search of things that were special to me, and this is what I came up with. Exactly the "right" things in exactly the right place...of prominence.




A hand painted tile from a dear friend, some old books from my Dad, and my Grandmother's copper firewood bucket.
Perfection!




Do you have an area of your house that has gone without attention? Maybe because you thought you didn't have the right things or enough money to buy those things? Think about what you already have, about what you love, and what really matters most to you. I bet you will come up with something beautiful and unexpected and absolutely better than anything you could have bought at the store.


30 comments:

Melissa Miller said...

You are so right! Everything we need to decorate with is always right under our noses.

I love how it turned out!
A beautifully finished look with meaning and charm to boot.

Well done Amanda! :)

Kristina P. said...

I have a lot of stuff that I could totally redo!!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

My whole kitchen is full of drawers like that - lol! I am hopeless at keeping drawers and closets clean!


XOXO
Jen

Jess said...

Thanks SO much for keepin' it real! Yes, most of my closets and drawers look like that! Just not with treasures, mines mostly junk I need to put IN a yard sale. We have been in our house about 18 months and I still haven't started decorating. I am so ready to get started!

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Good grief - your junk drawer is neat...see you are perfect. :) hee hee

A Southern Rose said...

My junk drawer looks WAY messier than yours. Yours actually looks 'neat' to me. I have so many areas that need attention! LOL Thats why I love showing pictures on my posts. I can show the very few areas that are fixed and hide the others! LOL One day I will have it all together. One can dream...

Hugs,
Lee Laurie

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

YES! It is called "my bedroom." ;) Seriously, though. I am in there when I go to bed at night and when I get dressed in the morning after breakfast. :) It needs work!!!

I love the way you accessorized the armoire, which is lovely, by the way. And my downstairs bathroom closet looks just like your cabinet. :)

Unknown said...

I don't have a drawer like that! I have a room like that! :)

OOh, I finally did dye my hair- pictures tonight.

Pam said...

Never fear...I think we all have at least one of those kinds of spots! Me, I tell people that my house may be clean but be careful if you open in cabinets, closets or drawers! Thanks for sharing.
Pam

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

Amanda...thanks for stopping by my blog, and leaving a comment. I've only been blogging a short while. I have been reading blogs for a long time, and never realized how important it is to leave a comment!
stuff? I have a garage and a shed full, and a carport that is trying to keep up!
nice blog, I'll be back!
gail

Unknown said...

Amanda,
Wow, seeing your pics was like looking in my own junk drawers! My biggest problem is I have too much stuff and need to get rid of a lot of it. They are mainly antiques and I'm going to see about selling them. Then, maybe I can accessorize my home properly so it doesn't look too messy.

Nancy

knittingknirvana said...

You are so right! And, girl, we are in the same frame of mind!!

I recently scored an armoire on Craig's List for our Living Room. We had to figure out a new temporary solution when my little one became mobile and after a year I finally found the armoire I wanted at a price I wanted. So, the next question--how do I accessorize it? I shopped my house until I found the right combination. Somehow we ended up with 2 matching old-fashioned black metal bikes with sweet wooden seats. One belonged to my husband's aunt who died of breast cancer in 2000. The other belonged to my mother-in-law who has Alzheimer's and recently suffered a stroke. Every time I look at the bicycles I think of them. And, of course, I added a splash of color with candles and candle holders. It is beautiful in every way. Perfect!!!! :)

Unknown said...

Love the special things you put on top of your armoire looks great. I think you might of helped me with a post too....... tbc.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pam Walter said...

I have a closet full of decorative items that I "might want to use someday." I have recently gotten into the habit of looking through what I already have instead of going out to buy more. www.satisfiedsole.com

Anonymous said...

I have bins and drawers full of treasures that I haven't gotten around to using yet. It is sooo hard for me to decide what to use where. But I am making slow progress.

I love how you decorated the top of your armoire with the stuff you already had. Turned out beautiful!!!

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

I have many 'spots' like that around my house... you just never know when and where you can use a little something! ;)

Elaine's Semi-Homemade Life said...

I have a couple closets that look like this! And what is even worse, I think... I have TONS of ideas, scattered around the house (and in my head!!) that are either 1/2 done or never started.... Maybe I'll blog about this and let you know!

Unknown said...

Hi There!
I love your blog! I just started a new design blog, featuring all my favorite before & afters. C'mon over if you get a chance!

http://www.betterafter.blogspot.com

SPEAKING FROM THE CRIB said...

great post! you visited my blog SPEAKING FROM THE CRIB from Sandy Toes ... and no, she would never say freakin'. i could follow it up by something else REALLY funny, but she might be offended. thanks for checking me out! stop back soon!

Debbie at the Shabby Bungalow said...

I love how you dressed your armoire

If you want to see some of my mess take a look here :)

http://theshabbybungalow.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-do-you-hide-your-mess.html

Angie said...

You are so right! I really should never go out shopping for accessories because I have tons here at my house just waiting to be used!

Nichole said...

Not sure how I didn't discover your blog sooner but so glad I've found it now! :o)

I have a few randoms places that I stick stuff too, but then forget I have it!

I love your arrangment. And you need to get that blue plate out of the drawer and displayed somewhere! It's so pretty!! :o)

Unknown said...

Well said, my friend. Your "vignette" looks fabulous!

Stacey said...

I don't think I have enough fingers and toes to start counting all the things I need to do!! You are right though...just need to think them through! Love your armoire!

Mandi Shandi said...

Love, love, love it! You and I are both alike in that we are sentimental. The display looks great, but those items are bound to make your heart smile when you look at them.

Richella Parham said...

You are right, sister! Of course we all have things that are dear to us or significant to us--we just need to pull them out and use them. Good call!

BTW--What's the story on your armoire? Maybe you've written about it before and I've just missed it. Is it a special piece?

Its So Very Cheri said...

Thanks for coming by I look forward to getting to know you.

Cheri

Made In The South said...

Girl it looks great!! I don't have just a drawer with a few things, I have a room piled high! I am going to blog about it, but it is taking me MONTHS to get it staight. The before pics. are shocking. I love how you used your grandmothers copper bucket with the pinecones. I try to use peices that have family history.

Anonymous said...

Thanks SO much for keepin' it real!!!!Now your junk drawer is neat...see you are perfect...great idea..
--
Reenee
Are you scared to be alone at home need security

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