Spring Cleaning Fully Swinging...

   Hello friends! I hope that everyone is enjoying your day... I know I am! 
I am just going to dive in this morning because the boys are off to school and it's quiet....
    I have kicked into extreme organizational mode at the "Casa Rivera". I am finding so much joy in revamping my hidden spaces.

    This week I did the biggest one yet, our master closet. Whew... I did not realize what a job that would be when I began or how much stuff we had crammed in that small space. It took me 12 hours of hard work on this baby. I had to attack it like this... once I commit to labor, I can't stop till I have my baby!!! HAHA.. I know comparing closet organization to childbirth is a bit different in the rewards, but you catch my drift. The rewards of our labor far out way the time we spend accomplishing them.
       Before my mission commenced...

        Now you can see why it needed an overhaul. Keep in mind it does not always look like this. I had been sick for 2 weeks. Plus, I was in pull out mode for a consignment sale. Nuff said, you get the picture.

        This closet, as I have mentioned before, is one of those spaces that can get out of control in a heartbeat if I neglect it. I mean have you ever simply thought about how much dust collects in your closet? GROSS! I used an entire box of Swiffers and I exhausted my vacuuming arm. I cleaned every hanger, piece of clothing, shelf, basket, shoe box and baseboard... I mean everything got a good clean including the walls, ceiling and floor. I got quite a workout on this job and I have the soreness to prove it.

       The whole master space got so crazy that my hubby had to move into the guest room for 2 days until the dust storm and mounds of clothing had been cleared ;-( ... Thank you HONEY!  You see, if I set my mind to do something it is going to be done and done right... well into the morning hours if necessary.

      Here are some pics of the tear out piles each which had to be swiffered and vacuumed ....

I must admit that as I began to take everything out of the closet, it was a bit overwhelming. I was tempted to frantically start chucking it all into "give away bags" just so I would not have to deal with it.

     When everything was out and the space thoroughly cleaned I began to paint and wonder if I should leave the closet empty ;-). I chose a pretty camel color. It took me 7 hours to paint the walls, ceiling, shelves and brackets. 
I used muscles I did not know that I had ;-).

  
                   Before painting...

After painting, the tape is still on.... 

Now for the load in and color coding. Oh and shoe box labeling.

               Mission accomplished...

Of course, it looks 100% better in person!

     The space is waiting on a mini chandelier and special baskets to add a little more cozy. I will post pics when they arrive and are installed.

    I am finding that when a space is properly organized it is easily maintained with little effort each day ...
{organized ~ meaning everything has a home and it's home  is appealing to the eye }... cozy.

     I have dreams for my closet one day, but until that day comes I am totally content and thankful with my matching hangers, matching/labeled shoe boxes, baskets and fresh paint! These pictures inspired my organization...

   
   Here is a window into my dreams. My closet would look something like these...

   
   Hey a girl can dream can't she? Besides I believe my dreams are what God dreamed for me first! 
     I hope that this inspires you to find everything a home in your home (most of all yourself) and make your hidden spaces feel more custom cozy.

     I mean what more fulfilling activity can you do while stuck inside with a spring allergen hangover? I am beginning to think that allergies played a huge role in generations of women choosing to do the major household cleaning in the spring....hehe. That and the intense desire for the change that the freshness of spring brings. 

        I don't know about you, but I am always ready to burst out of winter. So here is my design tip of the week...

      Bring  your seasons indoors. There is nothing like adding a little decorative lighting to seasonal decor to bring on the cozy factor and my kids love it! Just like christmas lighting.

       Here are a few pics of the spring cozy I have added in my home so far...

 
            My spring foyer..

at night...

 A little kitchen sprinkle...

         

 Dining room touch..

So there you have it... Lord, bring on spring in our lives in every way!

Many blessings on your day!

Behind Closed Doors.... A Spring Revolution!

 Happy March everyone!! 
    I can't believe that it is already March and we are well on our way into spring.
   God has been so good to bring our family back to health! Now that I have energy, I have been starting my "behind closed doors spring revolution". What some might call spring cleaning... I am going to take to the next level. Maybe by giving it this new name it will light a fire under my ____ priorities ;-).
   After completing my laundry room redo, I inspired myself. I now have a list of make-overs that I will tackle this month and beyond. 
    I was just telling my honey that starting this blog is the best thing I could have ever done for our home ;-)... and my family is certainly enjoying my little transformations. I am so enjoying getting e-mails from all of you who are being inspired to tackle your own spaces. Please send me pictures of them! I want to see. Inspiration is contagious and I am always ready to catch it.

    This week I decided to tackle my pantry. It used to be so organized, but after having loads of company (which means extra food) and then being sick... it had gotten out of control. Here is a picture to prove the disgrace....

    As you can plainly see, it needs TLC.... Tender Loving COZY...

   When I painted my laundry room in color it made such a difference, so I decided that all of my closed off spaces deserved a color make-over. 

Here is the torn out pic. One of my lil' men was home from school so he helped me clean and prep the space for painting. It was sweet bonding time.

Now for some paint! I went shopping in my paint stash and found this color and painted out the pantry. The pictures make it look MUCH brighter and neon than it actually is. It is the base coat color of my textured/tuscan kitchen walls.

While I was waiting for the paint to dry, I cleaned all of my canisters and brought all of our food up to date ;-). I am sure my garbage company was happy with all the extra trash. 

I then decided to go out for more canisters and I found chalk~board labels (thanks for making these Martha Stewart!). I love them!

When I returned the space was ready for coziness.

 As you can see I labeled all of our canisters and baskets.

and organized our can storage (on top)... You can purchase these can organizers at Bed Bath and Beyond for around $10 a piece. 

This is a very enjoyable transformation! We can't stop looking at it. It makes me want to ask my guests... "could you grab the blue chips out of the pantry"... just so I can show it off ;-).

Here is a picture of the before and after side by side courtesy of my friend Caitlin.

 This job took me a total of 7 hours with all of the cleaning, painting and organization. What a rewarding days work!

That was my Cleaning/Organizational Challenge of the week. 

This challenge only cost me around $67 because I re~purposed a Potterybarn basket/shelf that was no longer being used for toys and used paint that we already had. I also had about 12 of the large canisters, the "lazy susans" and the can organizers. So if I had started from scratch it would have cost a lot more... The money was spent on canisters (a set of 8 @ Costco for $47) and the labels I got @ Staples in the Martha Stewart section for around $20. 

Of course you can bring order without spending a dime, but I had been wanting to give this space some more love for a while now. After all, a pantry is a space you look at and use everyday. Looking into order evokes such a euphoric feeling! It's like breathing a breath of fresh air. 

 So I guess my design tip of the week would be...

Add a paint color to your mundane spaces and invest in matching canisters and decorative baskets. It is amazing how order and decorative accents bring on the "cozy". It's pretty much a one time investment as they last a LONG time and what a difference they make!

Here are some of the pictures that inspired me while I was on my sick bed. As you can see there are so many different ways to organize. Also, there are so many types of storage and labeling technics. I hope you find one that you like!

I will be on the lookout this week for some "finds". My main watering hole has been closed for inventory. I hope to find something cool this week.

    As I have been writing this I keep hearing ..."First in the natural then in the Spirit"... I long for my home to have no locked doors or drawers. Where I can be confident that all who open them will find order and beauty. 

   

 It has long been my desire to have all the areas in my life reflect the order of heaven! Where I can fling open all the doors of my heart and fearlessly say "Come in Lord and be cozy with me! I have allowed You to fill and clean all my hidden spaces and You have brought me peace and made my JOY overflow!"... 

     
It is wonderful how every natural journey is dual~purposed when we walk with God as our companion.

    Many blessings on your week! I hope this gives you an organizational impartation..hehe.
   
 ~Kimberly Joy