To Do: An Update

Last year, I posted a list of household To Do items. Let's see how I've been doing... or not doing.

LIVING ROOM
paint walls and ceiling
replace trim
recover couch
recover loveseat
recover chair
paint wood stove "hearth"
paint wood stove
new front door

DINING ROOM
paint walls and ceiling
replace trim
install wood floor
paint closet
purchase two parsons chairs
rearrange artwork

KITCHEN & HALL
paint walls 
new counter
paint cupboards
new drawer pulls
install wood floor (instead I painted the floor)
new banquette cushions
fix side door
light fixtures

SITTING ROOM
paint walls and trim
new door
new flooring
new rug (rip out old wall-to-wall carpet)
make couch cushions
sort-out desk situation
fix electric plate

BATHROOM
paint walls and ceiling
new window, fix trim
new closet door, new side door
install glass shelf
install shower curtain rod
fix marble threshold

STAIRS
paint walls
paint black trim
install trim on bottom step

BEDROOM
paint walls
install new trim
new window
new floor
paint closet
new closet doors
make curtain

GUEST ROOM
paint walls
install new trim
new window
new floor
paint closet
make curtain

Hmmm... there is some room for improvement. But not as bad as I thought.

Please

Dear Non-Existent Spouse,

Please consider the following when purchasing gifts for me in the near future:

Michael Good Earrings
My love affair with these gorgeous, gorgeous earrings has lasted for 18 years. Yes, yes, I should have bought them when I first moved to Maine, but the then price of $300 was to ridiculous to consider... Fast forward to 2014. Oops.

Liberty Shirt

An updated and adorable version of the Brooks Brothers Fun Shirt, that I just HAD TO HAVE in the 80's. (Ahh, the 80's. Preppies gone WiLd!). But seriously, let's justify this purchase by agreeing that it could be worn to work OR the beach. Right? Exactly!

Ten Yards of Fabric 

Let's please recover the living room love seat. It's time, right? Khaki with red piping. Oh, in addition to the fabric, a blank check made out to Pistol Pete's for the reupholstering... Don't ask how much, you don't want to know.

Sea Bag Tote Bag

One or twice a year, I have to ask my delightful cousin, The Bird, to tell me that $180 is WAY TOO MUCH MONEY to spend on a tote bag. No matter HOW GLORIOUS it is. Especially since we are preppy girls and already own 93,810,174.4 tote bags each. And after The Bird talks me down, I patiently explain exactly how spectacular the particular tote bag is, and then she says, "Ohhh, tempting." 

Basically I need to fire her ass from this job. So if someone was to give me a tote bag, then I wouldn't have to be upset at my cousin. Do you see the logic? Good.

Socks Rolled Down Tumblers by Marimekko (in red)
Hubba, hubba!

A Handsome Gentleman to come over and fill those tumblers with a Gin & Tonics every day after work goes without saying.

Signed,

The Very Grateful Chick in Cape 18

Less is More... But how much less?

This morning I found myself watching a series of TED Talka about Happiness. One in particular "Less stuff, more  happiness" by Graham Hill particularly appealed to me.

Naturally, after watching the video, I had to find out everything I could about the presenter's tiny apartment.... Hey, that's how we roll.

Graham Hill lives (lived?) in a ruthlessly edited and very specifically designed apartment, there is a place for everything, and the home includes everything he needs and nothing that he doesn't. Meanwhile, he is able to have house guests, large dinner parties, watch movies on a big screen, have private phone conversations, etc., etc. 

The apartment is amazing.

www.lifeedited.com

And, much the way the possibility of winning the Power Ball gets me dreaming about all things that I would do WHEN I win, this LifeEdited home caused me to spend 30 minutes dreaming about how lovely my home and life could be if I got rid of the snowdrifts of crap lurking in most of the corners in my house.

Of course, being fickle I spent the next 30 minutes mentally redecorating the LifeEdited living space, by adding... more stuff! A big abstract painting behind the bed,  a squishy pillow and a cozy blanket and on the couch. Basically, I love you just the way you are... Now change. Don't judge.

Prudence Horne

furbish.com

furbish.com

What would you add? Or could you be strict enough to live with so little?