Plans, Part I: Upper Half

I had originally started this post complaining about our ineptness at handiwork.  Then it morphed into what I hope to do to the house.  I think it is better to post as much in a good way as I truly hate this house sometimes.  So, here, though I cannot say it will be a very easy read.  A much lighter (and longer) post than intended, but it sure does make me feel much more hopeful.  I'll do a walkthrough of the home as I order my boards on pinterest (which also holds many ideas that I hope to do).  All of the rooms need decorating and/or painting, so I won't even bother listing those unless there is something specific I want to do.

Attic

Currently, the attic is unfinished.  It covers the entire house but does have sloped ceilings.  There are three smallish windows on each side but the east.  I hope to turn the attic into two more bedrooms for Simon and Gabriel--one on the north and one on the south.  I believe I would like the TV up in the east side instead of the library.  The stairs come up on the west side.  Short.  Sweet.  A lot of work.

Kids' Bedrooms/Playrooms

Ideally, I would like to have a playroom.  I can be almost positive that will never happen.  However, I will not need a playroom if I can give each child his/her own room.  They will have enough space.  They do not necessarily need the space (especially because it will be that much harder to keep clean), but I did like the space I had throughout my childhood.  I am lucky to potentially be able to do the same for my children.

Aislynn

I want to paint her closet blue and paint some zebra stripes on the wall.  Her ceiling in the room and closet need to be repaired after water damage.  She has a decent-sized closet with some built in cabinets.  They need a little fixing.  Knobs would do wonders. 

Boys' Room

They currently have a pirate or ship theme.  I need to re-stain the crown moulding and re-install it.  Though the linoleum fits the theme (it looks like planks) I want in their room, they need some hardwood.  The west window needs to be put back together.  I also have issues with their tiny closet; it is so very awkward.  It may not be as much of an issue could I get just one child per room.  I think I want this one to turn into Roland's room. 

Littles' Room

Their bedroom is all white (primed white-not painted).  It is located in the turret.  It was the master as I did not want them to break the windows, but it was completely awkward for a master room.  It works as a one child room (or one little girl and one toddler).  It needs new flooring and a fixed radiator.  Oh the cute things I want to put in it.  However, most of it is SO girly.  Roland will not care, but I have other ideas for him. 

Master Room

This is the living-room-turned bedroom with no doors.  The flooring needs to be fixed or patched.  It has a nice arched entry into the once-kitchenette-turned-closet-turned-office-turned laundry/closet. 

Laundry Room/Jenn's Closet

Yay!  The sink did actually make its way out of this room.  I liked it, but it just was not practical.  Since plumbing was already there and a laundry in a closet is a genius idea, we moved the appliances upstairs.  However, the plumbing is in the way and needs to be moved.  I would like to turn the window into a door out to the little roof.  I have created a laundry line up there (with hopes to improve it), and it would be nice to have easier access to it.  Eventually, I would like a new washer/dryer with in front controls.  Then, I could make a folding table on top of them and have them on the same side.  Or I may like two sets of stacking appliances (though I hope to get our clothes situation under control by decluttering rather than constantly washing).  My mangle and sewing machine could go on the south side.  The cabinets need replacing or updating but work for now.  Everything in here is really dependent on where the plumbing is located.

Upstairs (Jenn's) Bathroom

I claim the bathroom because of the clawfoot tub.  The popcorn needs to come off.  The subway and flooring tiles need replacing (and I thankfully found some in the attic).  The big cabinet needs fixing or repairing.  I do not know what I want at the moment.  The old sink should go back in.  The old plumbing in the cabinet needs to be taken out.  The tub/plumbing again needs to be fixed.  The window needs repairing.  The door needs to be able to close.  I just found a doorknob in the basement yesterday, so we are getting closer with that find.  I wonder if maybe we could not put an elevated cistern toilet in here at some point.   

Sunroom (School/Jenn's Office)

Currently, this room holds my desk, crafts, and the homework room.  I would like to be able to grow plants here during the winter months.  I also want my office moved.  The door to the roof needs a good latch on it.  The windows need to be repaired, so they can more easily open.  I would move the kids' desks to where mine is to make things easier.   

Hallway/Stairs

The staircase is the original from the main entry (moved when the addition of the old laundry room was put in).  The railing is not as anchored as it once was.  It is unfortunate as it used to be one of the most solid features in the house.  Eric fell down the stairs one day and broke it.  I am glad that it was not him but sad that it was that, of all the house things excluding the windows, that got hurt.  The windows need fixing.  Crown moulding needs to be replaced in the hallway upstairs.  Unfortunately, the roof leaked before we bought it, and Aislynn's room and the hallway were the biggest casualties. 

That takes us through the upper half of the house.  Stay tuned for the the second installment of this episode.

A Push in Organizing the House

[Originally published 3/4/13--what started it all]
Another kid, another house, another city, another hobby, another job, another club/activity, more things taking our time.  Time sure keeps moving.  I wish I was able to write decently like He does, but alas, I fail miserably.  We moved to a town for the house.  It is a big house but awkward and does not completely fit us as I'd like.  It's been miserable often.  We were supposed to be able to work on it slowly before moving in, and then move in "right."  Didn't happen.  Best laid plans and all.  So, I've been struggling with organization in this house since before Day One.  We had no heat for months, moved out once, I broke my arm, and the list goes on.  For Lent, I gave up my pride and have now been diagnosed with responsive depression.  No real surprise.  I cannot seem to get out of this.

My biggest problem is the clutter, I believe.  If I could just organize it, then I could handle everything else.  The amount of clutter just seems to sap all the energy I have, so I cannot clear the clutter.  It's a horribly vicious cycle.  One wouldn't know to look at my house or my work area, but I am rather anal in my own way.  If I cannot clean and/or organize something the exact way that I want it the first go round, why bother--well, really, I just can't handle it.  Something done "wrong" is worse than the clutter.  I cannot function that way.  I could, at least, semi-function with clutter--until recently. 

SO, I have joined

I posted my before pictures so the world could see the crap in which I'm making my family live.  I will slowly post my progress.  Actually, I'm doing three rooms, but this post will talk about the Littles' Room.  This room is the most critical with the 13.5-month-old.  However, it cannot be done without the hall first being mostly done.  One runs into that problem more and more I find.  Uff da!

The Littles' Room used to be a living/sitting room with an attached kitchen.  A schoolteacher lived here as a boarder for years I'm told.  It has no doors, and for that reason, was chosen as the two littlest children's room as they need no privacy at the moment.  I can see many other uses for the area with respects to a Master Bedroom, but, for now and it's the Littles' Room.

View to north from door

Little little (big) sister's side

view to west

little little little brother's side

view to the east

old kitchen/closet

old kitchen/closet

This is actually not too bad, sadly.  These were taken 1 March.  I had gathered most of the toys off the floor the last day of February, but they're all still sitting in that black tote.  Well, all but those that have now been taken out.

My goal in life at this moment, other than to raise good children, is to be a '50s-like housewife.  My husband deserves that.  My children deserve some of that (I do believe they should do some things themselves).  I do apologize to my family for allowing it to get this bad.  It makes me sick daily. 

So this challenge came along, and I felt good enough yesterday to jump on it.  I had linked up my Pinterest boards but have decided I should blog about it.  For accountability's sake, and so that He could easily understand what I'm trying to do.  The good man has been picking up most of my slack, but cannot keep up with the clutter as well.  So, with some help, I will get this room finished.  Not only organized, but I will also finish the majority of decorating/remodeling that was to happen.  I will not finish the ceiling, nor get all the paint off the moulding, nor fix the windows, but the majority of the stuff that I am able to do will get finished.

The kitchen will become a closet.  The tree that I want up will be up.  Shelves and pictures will be hung.  Unless something comes up and we cannot afford it, a rug will be purchased.  However, mostly and more importantly, it will be organized.  I will sort, keeping only mostly appropriately aged toys in the area.  I will once again have the children decide which stuffed animals they keep.  It will not be able to be this ridiculous mess that it usually is.  I hope.

I have a hard time letting go, so wish me well.