William Morris- at my house
I started reading Pancakes and French Fries last year shortly before she started her (now yearly) William Morris Project. You can read all about it here. The concept is simple, to live a purposeful life surrounded by things are either useful or beautiful. Jules has used this as a platform to purge her home of the non-essentials.
Seeing as we are FIVE people living in 1200sqf, I decided to participate this year (in a lackadaisical way, because heaven help me I don’t make big commitments like that!). I decided it was high time I reorganize what we refer to as “the old pantry”, the original to the house pantry which pales in comparison to the closet sized pantry the previous owner added to the kitchen. It was a mess. Things were shoved in the back, I was the only one who knew the exact correct placement of each bowl. It was time.
Things were stacked dangerously high on the top shelf and the bowls were never easy to get to. I pulled everything out and filled the kitchen counters (I should have photographed that). I sorted through the things I simply don’t use, um who needs 3 spring-form pans?! I found party hats from when my now almost eleven year old son turned three. Double sized loaf pans I bought at a garage sale in COLLEGE.
This basket will be making it’s way to Goodwill today, hopefully to make a better home for someone else. I placed everything else back in the pantry with purpose and space. I was even able to grab things from other parts of the kitchen to place in the pantry(!!!)
When my husband got home he said he couldn’t tell a difference (sigh). I didn’t change anything about the kids art shelf- as I had cleaned it up the day before (it was to the point we could barely close the door). Even if Aaron didn’t notice too big of a difference, I do. Nothing is stacked precariously (well, maybe my vintage pyrex bowls), everything is easy to reach and see. I have things ordered in the frequency I use them. Casseroles and cake pans/tart plates are all at the bottom as I rarely use them.
Not pictured, I also cleaned out a drawer in our chest to create a “homework drawer” for my daughter. Her weekly homework packet and a supply of pencils now sits in there instead of stuck haphazardly on the side of my fridge.
I’m going to continue this project…I don’t think I will ever be done. I think to have 5 people in our small house this has to be a constant thing. We must be conscious of the new items we bring in and we must be deliberate as purge to make room for the new.
October 9th, 2012 at 9:56 am
Ooh! OOH! I would totally take one of your extra spring form pans, I was just telling derek I needed one. That is if you didn’t already take them to goodwill! good for you and purging… that is probably something I should do
October 9th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
So, now add homeschooling to that and you have my house. This sounds great. I might jump on board.
October 9th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
I definitely notice a difference, Heather.
(My husband doesn’t notice some of the things I do, either. My only consolation is that may mean he didn’t notice the disaster before, either.)
Thanks for mentioning me!
October 9th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
I know my mom did regular trips to DI (still does just not as often) to help with the stuff verses space problem. I am working on this too. I find that making the time to do it is harder than me actually getting rid of stuff. Good luck