Friday report

[adair]

Well, I still have not actually removed much from my house, but plans are afoot. I ordered and received a wood file cabinet - one file drawer and two more shallow drawers above. This is the first step on a kitchen semi-remodel.

How is that, you may ask. Well, I have a 4-drawer metal filing cabinet in said kitchen, right at the door. This partly covers a space about 6 ft. or so which acts as an airway between the kitchen and living room. This airway is constructed with 1 by 6 boards set vertically, but slanted. Needless to say this house was built in 1943 as an experimental design. Anyway, we needed wall space, so things are set against these slanted board in both rooms.

A principal goal of the semi-remodel is to gain some cabinet space and a little counter space. this slanty wall needs to be used for that, so the filing cabinet has to do. It will be moved to the garage for archival storage, and selected files that need to be used regularly will be put in the new one-drawer file. Now where this smaller file will live has not yet been determined. It is currently in the corner where two bookcases join, where I used to keep a box to collect books for Books to Prisoners. That's been shoved aside and is getting in the way.

But the first step has been taken. Tomorrow I will start working through the two file drawers that have various household files, and make decisions about what stays in the house.

Comments

[fred_mouse]

Exciting plans, by the sound of it. I hope today's tasks went well.

I don't think I've managed to rehome anything of mine, and have in fact brought things home from helping a friend take things to the op-shop.

[tanaqui]

Some weeks are just like that with things coming in. As long as the overall trend is towards less clutter, it's okay! (Also, well done for helping your friend reduce their clutter by helping them take things to the op shop.)

[fred_mouse]

All true! And yes, it was good to catch up with the friend -- they've had a bit of a time in the last few years, so them having the energy to go through stuff was really reassuring.

[adair]

Sometimes that happens. I bought the new file cabinet because it will force action; we have nattered about redoing the kitchen for years, bought new appliances, but never took a step that required anything other than shopping.

[fred_mouse]

I hear you on the needing to force action. There is a fabric shop that sells a wide range of lovely stuff, and has a single sale each year. The first sale after we moved house (in 2004) we bought fabric for curtains -- this is still sitting waiting for Decisions To Be Made about other aspects of furnishing those rooms and replacement curtain rails to go up.

[tanaqui]

Sounds like an excellent first step to an improved environment! Good luck with figuring out the files, figuring where to put the new filing cabinet and with the eventual remodelling.

I didn't really get anything out of the house this week, because I was working on the garden. But I did realize I was starting to accumulate numerous piles, because I was procrastinating on the things that needed to be done with them. So I focused my time this week on getting those tasks done and clearing those surfaces. Much more restful now!

[adair]

Thanks. I am sorting some files today; not a lot to toss yet, but I know there will be some.

Ah, yes, the piles. I have about 4 surfaces where things accumulate. I am trying to get in the habit of clearing at least one a week, but I have to keep reminding myself to do that. And Spring adds more needed activities. Breath deeply, and give yourself a little time to enjoy your results.

[msilverstar]

we may remodel the whole damn kitchen just for more storage space

oh and because it was done by amateurs 40 years ago

[adair]

Ah, yes,the work of amateurs. I am really trying to get B to not do too much of the work. He knows some things, and his brother is a pro, but Jeff won't come down to help, so I like the idea of experienced people to give advice and do a lot of the work. My kitchen was designed and built in 1943 as a University experiment about using the crawl space as furnace plenum. That has changed, but there really is not a lot of counterspace or cabinetry. Possible it was less needed than it is now, and the utility room and path to the back door could be used as a pantry and storage area, which I now do as well. We have a lot more appliances that need to plug in, and sit on counters.
Good luck on designing your new storage; I am looking over cabinet catalogs - those tall cabinets with pull-out trays look good.

[msilverstar]

I lust for those pull-out shelves

[fred_mouse]

me too. If I could work out how to replace* our pantry (bricked, one standard door wide and 40cm deep) with pull out drawers, I wouldn't be able to pull out my wallet fast enough.

* I don't want to remove the walls, as they are probably structural

[redsixwing]

That sounds like exciting plans.

I took a break last week, and got some other house things done, but I did use up some outdoor supplies. Those which I bought to do a project, I promptly used, and will hopefully finish said project tonight.