As the weather starts to break and the sunshine highlights the dust bunnies and dirty windows, it is time for a really good cleaning frenzy.

Do you need some help? encouragement? a plan?

Check out this website: http://www.totallytogetherjournal.com/

The same blogger that did crockpot cooking everyday for a whole year (2008) has some great advice with a dash of humor to help you get your house organized, clean and meals planned. Sounds good, right?!

I like this website and blog because it makes the tasks not seem so overwhelming.
 

I particularly like her post on the huge task of SPRING CLEANING

http://www.totallytogetherjournal.com/super-simple-spring-cleaning

Julie

Just like many people, January finds me cleaning, sorting and organizing this time of the year. One closet of mine is just overflowing with books I have read. Thinking I could use the closet for other stuff, I found the best thing to do with all these books.

The website is called Paperback swap (but they take hardcovers and audio books too.) You list books you are willing to swap and list books you want. I LOVE it!!!

I save money by not buying new books and I clean out clutter. Yeah! I highly recommend this site. (you can click on the blue box above to take you right there)

One of the most difficult parts of my job is to gently tell people that their homes smell. As the saying goes "if you can smell it you can’t sell it".

This time of the year it is easy to open all the windows and let the fresh air in. The winter months when the house is closed tight and even in the summer months when the house it closed because of air conditioning, smells can be a problem.

One of my favorite products is Febreze. I know most of you have heard of it and use it. The makers of the miracle product have two other products that I think are marvelous.

Febreze candles:

The core of the candle is the febreze product. As the candle burns, odors are eliminated. I use it and love it!

Febreze Pet odor eliminator:

This is great for dog and cat smells. Helps to eliminate that wet fur smell. I use it and love it!

BTW – I am not compensated for these endorsements – i just love the products and want to share.

One of the concepts I always educate my decorating clients about is that your house should reflect you and your passions/interests.

The tricky aspect of that is to add collectibles and small treasures but not add clutter.

One solution for this decorating dilemma is a clear glass lamp in which you can add your own content.

Here is an example:

In this lamp I would put a collection of:

wine corks – if you like wine
theatre ticket stubs – if you love Broadway shows
seashells - if you love the beach
vintage buttons – if you love to sew

Use your imagination and your interests to liven up the room.

(The above lamp is from Pottery Barn but I have seem examples in different stores and different price points)

I usually guide other people with decorating their houses but the week I had the joy of actually working on my own home! My boys (ages 11 and have had this beautiful toy room/ playroom for years. It is a spare bedroom on the first floor and it has the largest brightest windows. I designed the toy room for a great place for them to play.

Well… that is one of the design lessons/mistakes I learned from personal experience. The kids never play in the play room. They have always pulled the toys to the room we are in. Toys end up in the TV room or the dining room. Lately toys are in the hallway – the best place to zoom the cars or play dodge ball. My home office space was the former laundry room. (We moved the washer/dryer to the basement years ago). It is a fairly small room with one tiny window.

All this to say that this last week we began the big switch-a- roo. I will get the big bright corner room. The toy storage room – because that is really what it is – will be the smaller room closer to the action (aka TV room) .

The first step was moving the toys out and stripping the wallpaper. Now the toys are piled in the living room so I have to chant to myself everyday “It is only temporary”.

One of the design lessons I want to pass on is to not be afraid to switch rooms and make the house function to meet your family needs. You don’t have to use the rooms as they are labeled in the original house plans. Have you made any changes to how your rooms function or are “labeled”? Has it made a difference? I would love to hear about it.