Lately I have been feeling like I have too much stuff in my life. Literal stuff. I have a small house and 13 years of accumulations scattered about in my bohemian laid-back style. I have been collecting things since before I was even out of high school. I have gotten rid of a lot of items over the years but I have also taken in several more. It's a constant cycle of furniture and nicknacks revolving through my doors. I'll get rid of that but Ooh I'll take this. I have to cleanse!!!
I have a tendency to take on other people's things. I am notorious for telling people in my family, "I love this piece. If you ever decide to get rid of it, I want it. So remember me." You know what? They always remember. "Stacee wanted this." Then I get the call and I become the new owner of giant overstuffed black couches, great-grandpa's antique chest, grandpa's rocking chair and my best friend's grandmother's exquisite buffet table. I mean this thing is good.
That is only the beginning. I love to repurpose and reuse. I can see the potential in almost anything. My house for instance took a lot of imagination and so far 8 years of constant transformation to become what it is today. She was built in 1961. I know that is only 50 years old but houses weren't built that well 50 years ago. Funny how century year old castles have more staying power than my tiny bungalow style pad.
Anyhow, the stuff. It is easy for me to let people give me their stuff when they are done with it because I love having items that have a history and I don't like to turn things away. Especially if It came from family. Also, I have always had a fondness of picking out items in people's trash cans that I know for a fact are not trash. They just need a little TLC and touching up. As you can see I provide the perfect environment for furniture and various items to accumulate.
All this accumulation of stuff has left me feeling weighed down and cluttered. I feel the need to cleanse and purge. I don't get this feeling to often. So I am going with it. As I have been going through my house and picking out the pieces that I simply don't use and really don't need, I make a pile for a future garage sale. I am doing pretty good with getting rid of tons of the tiny things like extra clutter in the kitchen and bathrooms. During this process of change and transformation, I have decided that some of the old things I have decided to keep need a transformation of their own. So I have started to take these items and give them a fresh coat of paint or new look all together. I still have a lot of items to make over but I have started with these and I am pretty happy about it.
I really wish I would have gotten a picture of this chair before I started painting it but I was quick with the can and before I remember I was almost already done. I found this chair in someones garbage about a year ago and besides having a hideous paint job, it was in great condition. These are the good solid Adirondack chairs. They are sturdy and last. I just used a can of Rustoleum Painter's Touch 2X ultra cover paint and primer spray paint in satin colored Lagoon. I got a great color and coat and only had to use one can. I am really happy with the color and I don't think my camera even captured the full rich and penetrating blue that is this color. It certainly makes me happy.
I also have this long wooden table in my bathroom that is just....plain! I absolutely love the look of a darker wood with a beautiful bright blue or turquoise. It reminds me of island living and the rich colors you find in a lot of island cultures. It feels like home.
‘Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation." — Elizabeth Gilbert
To decluttering and transformation
Blessings to all
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