In and Out Boxes Mail

I certainly strive to be more organized.  It's a full-time job and the more I take on and do the harder it is to achieve.  So, I am by no means ultra organized or perfect.  But, I believe that I might have a solution for keeping the stacks of incoming mail that I have presorted through to attend to from being here there and everywhere in piles.

Granted, this idea hasn't been put into play, as of yet, as the basement library project is still in process.  I do already have the materials though; which consist of Pottery Barn office rail system with a couple of the white hanging containers (for desk area).  Plus, I have one red, Swedish metal post box and one very similar embossed white, Swedish metal post box.

My idea is to place the Swedish post boxes at the top of the basement stairwell as my paperwork and mail in and out boxes.  Neat appearance, sealed by a hinged cover and color coded for in or out.

Any thoughts or opinions, such as a better method or what works well for you?

Note:  If interested in purchasing - I did not purchase the mail boxes from the business I am providing the hyperlink to and when I purchased my items, I paid considerably less.  The red box, shown above that they sell is exactly the same, but was purchased locally some time back.  The white box is from Restoration Hardware and is no longer available from their store.

Paint Rebate Until 30 May 2011 @ Home Depot

Home Depot is offering rebates on a variety of their paints up until 30 May 2011.  From $5. off per gallon container up to $20. per 5-gallon pail.

To make it easier, they even have automated the process where all information is entered on-line, as opposed to having to clip UPCs from labels, filling out paper forms, including original receipt and mailing an envelope:  http://www.homedepotrebates.com .

Super deal if you are in the process of renovation project(s) or are looking for a quick decorating change for a room.  I ended up with interior trim and wall paints, as well as porch and floor paint. 

When it comes time to decide upon colors for the walls, I will bring the cans of base paint back to the store and have them add the appropriate tints and shake the paint can(s).

Once again, in terms of project inventory, I am planning ahead and happy to save $5. per gallon.  Yes, every bit helps with the bottom line.

Hallway Chandelier Replacement Project

Current, builder's original, single lamp hall chandelier

Replacement, multi-lamp chandelier

Another story of me not getting out of Re-Build "
alive". 

The original, builder's chandelier in the entryway is the only overhead light in the living area and with one lamp barely provides much in terms of illumination.  Plus, it is dull and pretty chintzy in appearance and construction, as is the dining chandelier.

The Re-Build Representatives response to my inquiry as to the cost of the heavy, large colonial glass chandelier  price was "Would you be taking it with you now or coming back for it later?"

It cost me $40 to take it with me Friday PM, along with my load of slate patio pavers. 

Though the chandelier road shot gun in the cab protected with a heavy packing blanket to provide safe passage home.

This is a future project and will require some additional length of brass chain, clear electrical wiring and copper ground wire prior to installation.

What is...In The Area That I Like To Use My Laptop

Indulge the author, as she is posting photos mainly for family members that have not visited O'Dea-O'Dea.  Above is a photo of the area that I like to sit when using the laptop and blogging.  Perhaps unconventional, but I prefer to work where there is plenty of natural light, comfortable and a lack of clutter around me.

I have always cringed when I have walked into someones work space or office and find that they sit in the dark like a mushroom.  A dark room just makes my eyelids heavy with sleep! 

Stare into the light my children.  Or at least work in an environment that is well lit and conducive to work.

Yes, I have space dedicated as an office.  But... for all intensive purposes it is under construction and in dire need of major unpacking and organization.

Items in the area where I like to use my laptop include:

• Comfortable high back chair with a pillow to help support the lumbar area.
• Ottoman/foot stool to hold various items at arms reach.
• An old hospital bed tray that has survived all of these decades to come into another setting and be useful a la Restoration Hardware's newest collection of industrial furnishings and products having a second more glamorous life in the home with a new purpose .  The tray has a wrought iron pipe stand with knobs for adjustment (up/down for height and tilt of the tray) and the top is made of oak with an approximately 1/2" lip around the entire edge.  (It is nice to have the adjustments of tray in that I can tilt the tray when using the laptop.)

• West Elm large, square, off-white vase that I keep handy for paper recycling (area where I often open the mail).
• IKEA office organizer box assortment.  Large gray cardboard organizer box with lid and handle cut outs is big enough to hold papers and open mail that needs to be tended to.  The smaller black office organizers on the floor are a more recent purchase.  (They actually collapse flat when not in use - nice!  Then to use them there is a zipper in the center of each base that is zipped to hold the box square.  They also have clear plastic pockets on one corner for insertion of labels.)  The boxes hold note books; mail that needs to be attended to and coupons and sales that might be of future interest.
• BlackBerry Bold wireless device.
• Digital camera and USB cable.

• An onyx and brass very large older ashtray that sits on an Italian 100% wool throw.  You might see an old ashtray.  I on the other hand see it as an interesting and solid piece that I can rest my beverage in while I am seated in the chair.   

That my children, is what is in the area that I like to use my laptop with the lesson to have some original thought and ideas as to how to see, use or re-use items for unconventional purposes.

What is...The Most Uncomfortable Seat In The House

On with the series of "What is..." 

This readers is the most uncomfortable seat in the house. 

Do not be fooled by the custom slipcovers, silk pillows or needlepoint piece over the back.  This is actually two upholstered chairs with a single arm per chair that I determined looked more suitable pushed together.

Another fine example of re-use, as well as a future reupholstering project. 

I would venture to say that these chairs are circa 1940's or 1950's due to the style - curved lower backside, light maple or similar wood simple square legs and original upholstery that lies hiding under the slip covers.  Sides and back are upholstered in a gold jacquard fabric and the front has a military, dark olive green fabric with what might be small bunches of feather plumes scattered about.

Of late, I have been purging and I seriously considered retaining at least one of the very comfortable camel back love seats and putting it in this spot of the living room.  But, I could not force myself to do it, as the arms of the camel back love seats were approximately 2.5" wide each.

Personal preference, as I do not care for large, over stuffed furniture in most rooms.  If you have a large room that can handle that scale of furniture, more power to you to carry that style off.

So, off went the wonderfully comfortable love seats to a men's half-way house, as a charitable donation and here sits my future project staring me in the face. 

I confess, the seats are as hard as a solid park bench.  But, at least it looks decent.

On a positive note, my heart skipped a beat, when I recently found the beautiful wool needlepoint and blue velvet backed piece.  (This is what I have draped over the back of the two chairs.)  It does wonders for tying the two chairs together into a unified seating area, as well as complimenting the Chinese Oriental carpet.

If any of you readers has a handle and knowledge of Asian symbols and can identify those on the needlepoint center and/or the carpet, please, please educate me.

Looking at situations in a different light.  One of my hints for home goods scouting is before Christmas, if you like the color palettes associated with the holidays.  Then follow-up immediately after Christmas with shopping, when the stores want to quickly move so called holiday items out of inventory.

The off-white, genuine silk pillows with center rhinestone accent, are a good example of the holiday decor that stores sell that can be interlaced with your year round home decor. 

I found these pillows at Target, a handful of years ago, after Christmas, as well as another set in violet that I purchased for an accent in a mostly bright green decorated bedroom.

The dusty blue wool throw that is draped over one of the arms is from Pottery Barn.  It has a subtle off-white or light tan paisley design woven into the fabric.  A nice throw to have on a cold night in this room that has a cathedral ceiling that opens up to a second floor bedroom.

Tibet

Tibet came to me in the late autumn of 2009.  He had been a stray kitten on the streets of Tampa that had been taken to a shelter dehydrated, emaciated, upper respiratory infection, and infected with worms and other parasites.

My niece, who volunteers for a cat rescue organization in Tampa ended up nursing the approximately six month old "Coco" back to health and fostering him until he could be placed at the local PetsMart for adoption.

How did he end up here....  I will have to come back and edit the story later.

Here is a slightly older photo from this past winter of Tibet that shows the fur on his body before changing from Siamese kitten off-white to seal point chocolate brown.

Georgia O'Keeffe, Poppy 1928

The living and dining room have an Asian theme with burst of reds and red/orange pillows, silk poppies and other bright accessories dotting the spaces.  I also found this Georgia O'Keeffe framed print last Friday PM and need to determine the perfect spot for it.

Master Bedroom

The pallet of colors has changed since early summer in the master bedroom of O'Day-O'Day.  From a cool aqua to earthy golds and shades of tan.

Nicole Miller bedding with a quilted chrysanthemum floral pattern.  Some contrasting, as well as complimentary colors in the throw pillows that include a touch of red and blue. 

The lead crystal lamps are from HomeGoods and were manufactured by Illumination Factory.  Shades are square in a slate gray woven silk material and a crystal finale.

Bedroom furniture chests and end tables are manufactured by Baronet of Canada.  The set is a mixture of two of their collections:  Victoria and Moorea.  Wood is a light maple and hardware is a finely brushed steel/metal.

The wooden platform bed was a special order from a local Alexandria furniture store and was manufactured in Maine. 

The con is that bed skirts do not fit the bed properly.  Pro is that the bed was also ordered with four wood storage drawers that fit under the sides of the bed (just right for extra bedding storage).

Friday PM, I was at a thrift store perusing their books at 50% off (one can never have enough reference and how-to books) and found a few more items.  Such as the large painting that I have hung over the bed.

In the store it looked huge and I was unable to fit it into a shopping cart and had to gather up my books and check-out once I found it.

Alone on the wall behind the bed, the scale isn't as large as I thought it would be.  Colors are right on the mark. 

Though, I could have gone with a much larger piece. 

Perhaps another adventure and treasure awaits in my immediate future.