Keeping The Entryway Organized

Do you find it difficult keeping the entryway/foyer clean and organized? This is the first space people see when they enter your home. It creates an immediate impression and usually reflects the state of the rest of the house.

If one has an entryway/foyer table, this could be where the mail can get dumped and where keys are thrown.


I had shared this space with you in my first post last year. I had purchased the bench online from Target. It was initially for the outdoors but I brought it into the house. I love the tiles on it and the spindles beneath the arms lend character.

I have repurposed the bench. It serves as an entryway table and a good size one, too.

I would like to show you how I keep this area of the house clean and organized for everyone.

I purchased this unique vintage English brass magazine holder from Phat Dog on Etsy last year. I had initally thought I would use it as an accent piece in the living room and I had it there for a few months. It has two compartments.

Although it has some discoloration and a few minor dings, it has some beautiful repoussé* work of an outdoor pub scene and I have chosen to leave it as is. It has more character untouched.

* repoussé - malleable metal decorated or embossed by hammering from the reverse side.

I also found this adorable woven basket from simply objekts, also on Etsy.

It is just 9 1/4" high (with handles) and 8" wide.

I have both items on the bench as tools for keeping mail and keys organized as they are brought in the front door.

The basket has ample room for all keys  - house and car. And I also keep my spare mini measuring tape to grab-and-go for when I am shopping for items that require measuring. A small one is lighter, naturally, and adds little weight to my already heavy bag.

The mail is placed in the magazine holder. Magazines and catalogs in the back compartment and everything else in the front.

From here I can easily discard/recycle junk mail. On occasion this has got quite full on days when we have received more than the usual amount of mail but I am getting to be more diligent with clearing the magazine holder. These two items have been worth every penny.

This is an easy way to stay organized in the entryway before these important items - mail and keys - get lost and/or add clutter to any space. The basket saves time looking for keys and the magazine holder enables some initial organization of mail before it is moved to the next location.

I love this system. As you can see, the bench has room for flowers and when I am running in-and-out of the house through the day I do leave my bag on it, too.

We have a coat closet as well as a mudroom (or mud "nook", as I sometimes refer to it) for coats and backpacks and shoes.

Staying organized saves time and of course, conserves energy.

Do you have an organized system in place for your mail and keys? I would love to hear about it.

Sharing on

Wow Us Wednesdays

A Stroll Thru Life

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Basement Reorganizing Under Way

A few weeks ago I started reorganizing our basement. It has been the kids' playroom for almost thirteen years and has undergone a couple of changes of the years - after construction and again after a flood.

My kids are now fourteen and almost-eleven. They have outgrown a lot of the toys they accumulated over the years.

Now they are more into Band Hero and the Wii and playing loud music to listen to with their friends, watch television. The enjoy playing 'restaurant' and they still play 'school', use their tents and occasional play 'dress-up' for fun.

We had bought shelving from The Container Store many years ago. It is a free standing piece; quite large.

This was the shelves a few weeks ago when I had not organized or cleaned it up in weeks.

Wonderful!

There are items here that we decided to keep - arts and crafts miscellaneous, the more complicated puzzles, advanced board games, a domino set and so on.

A lot of crayons sent home at the end of each school year.

They need to be contained in this organizer, purchased at Lakeshore Learning Store.

We have outgrown Barbie and to some degree, Sponge Bob.

I gave them each some pink post-its to place on items they were quite sure they did not play with any longer. These would be handed-down to cousins, donated or thrown (if broken or missing pieces). It is tough to donate kids' items these days as most organizations do not accept them.

Much progress.

(The doll was purchased for me when I was very little by my father on one of his trips to Singapore).

Love Pictionary!

The keep pile grows but is manageable.

The shelves are finally empty! This piece has served us really well for many years. It will be moved into the adjoining garage for storage of other household items, like paint cans.

Now we can enjoy the striped walls I had painted some years ago. I will keep you updated on further progress.

I love reorganizing. It can be hard work but is therapeutic and so very rewarding.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Organizing Tip On Living Savvy

Today, you will find me on Living Savvy contributing an organizing tip to an amazing  month-long series hosted by Tiffany.



Please do stop by and leave a comment.

It's raining in NY, hope it is sunny where you are!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

New Color For The Jewelry Organizer And Weekend Project

Well, the blue flannel fabric was more than enough for me to make another attempt at framing the jewelry organizer. I also added two different strands of chain links to jazz it up. I need help cutting one of the strands so I can finish this up and I know this will all be accomplished by tomorrow. I used my glue gun and many hot glue burns later here is a glimpse.

I actually prefer the gold against the blue rather than the red flannel fabric I showed you in my previous post. 

You might see strands of glue on the fabric if you look closely. I have to clean up the piece once I am done. This is what I need help with, hopefully this evening.

 

I cannot wait to get it done and to start using it. My jewelry awaits.

 

I picked up the paint for the dining room - Deep Space it is! I have started emptying the breakfront and plan to begin prepping the walls, taping and so on this weekend and hopefully get some paint on, too.

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Hardware Decor And Update On My Project

Have you visited your local hardware store recently? When you do, have you spent time browsing the shelves? There is so much available that can be used for different projects, large and small, at reasonable prices. Your local hardware store is a wonderful resource for items that can be transformed into something beautiful that will enhance any space.

Here are some perfect examples of chic and decorative creations using such mostly functional items. The first two are courtesy of Martha Stewart Living.

Hardware Sconce via 

A novel idea!

Modern Wine Rack via

Yes, one would need a hacksaw for this one.

Here are some ideas I have pinned on Pinterest. The following three are highlighted in the book by Stephen Antonson and Kathleen Hackett (authors) entitled 'Home From The Hardware Store: Transform Everyday Materials Into Fabulous Home Furnishings.' Photography by Lesley Unruh.

  

These could be painted or not.

Machine-Age Candlesticks via

Something fun for storage in a kids' space or mudroom.

Chic Wall Storage via

Space-Age Table and Periscope Lamp via

I have been plugging away at my jewelry organizing/display piece which I posted about here and here.

Besides the hardware cloth and garden stakes, I also picked up some shower curtain rings, pin-on hooks and slip-in drapery hooks. I found some pretty metal chains which I knew I had to include in the design. These are typically sold by the foot for anywhere from 99 cents and up. I picked up 3 different designs in different gold finishes (matte, polished, embossed) and paid $2.14 per foot for the priciest chain.

Besides the paint and protective finish, these have been my purchases so far.

I have also sprayed the grid with a protective finish, Rust-Oleum's clear top coat.

And used Krylon Short Cuts metallic paint in Gold Leaf for the hardware. I love combining silver and gold to create a modern look and this is a perfect opportunity to do just that - gold hardware on a silver grid.

I wanted to soften the look of the piece - so much metal - and also cover the sharp edges. I looked through my fabric scraps and found some red flannel left over from a patchwork stadium blanket my kids had sewn for their father a couple of years ago. I cut strips of fabric and used Liquid Nails - my first time using this product -  to glue the fabric around the edges.

Then I proceeded to glue the chain (with the smallest links) to the inside of the frame. This is what part of it looked like.

It started to look good but not for long. Perhaps it was the wrong combination of materials but it would not adhere properly and started to look messy. I could not control the quantity of glue for each application. 

I was not happy so I have ripped the fabric off and the chain, too. I might make another attempt with some cobalt blue flannel I have, if I have enough, or else it is on to Plan B. It is worth another try and would save me having to  make another purchase.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or sclick here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are solely mine and are based on my experience with the products.

Progress On The Jewelry Organizer

My last post highlighted a dire need for some jewelry organizing and from the responses I received I am relieved yet not surprised that there are others in need of the same. This is what I accomplished last week.

I had purchased some hardware cloth. I opened it up and tried to straighten it a little. I placed it beneath two dining room chairs.

Not an easy task.

Meanwhile, I bought some Krylon fusion spray paint for plastic with which to spray the two garden stakes.

That took the stakes from this....

...to this. You can see the textured shimmer. I propped each stake in some wet soil in a pot. It was windy when I did this and I had to rush through this part. Sorry, no pictures. When it was dry I inverted it and did the same for the other end. I did a couple of layers of spray paint.

I searched True Value for something strong with which to tie the stakes to the hardware cloth. I was thinking metallic wire but realized that would be difficult to maneuver through the grid. I came upon some twine - 188ft for $3.29. As the label reads it is twisted nylon and multi-purpose and good for boating, building, crafts. In other words - strong.

Once the stakes were dry I laid out the fencing on an old sheet on the floor in the family room.

 

I began by knotting the twine at one corner.

I did a couple of basic very tight knots to hold the stake in place. A few specks of the textured shimmer paint began to come off a little due to the abrasion but as I had sprayed a couple of layers of paint on the stakes this turned out to be fine. I will add a protective finish when I am done.

Working my way down the hardware cloth I did what is a basic blanket stitch. Attending convent school at one point in my life I had to do a sewing class and was probably taught this stitch then. I forgot what it was called and had to look it up. This seemed the obvious way (to me) to tie the stake to the grid.

Details on the stitch..

Loop the twine over (away from you) and under the part you want to attach it to.

 

When it is under, pull it towards you in the middle like you want to create a knot.

Keep pulling to tighten.

 

 Tighten as you pull in the direction you want to work on next.

And repeat.

One side down. On to the other side.

 

I took the hardware cloth outside and laid it on some newspaper. I wanted to spray it with the same textured shimmer spray by Krylon.

All sprayed.

 

 

I browsed the shelves of the hardware store and found these pieces.

 

More on that in the next post. Stay tuned!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa