Not sure if any of you noticed, but last week’s Goal of The Week turned into a no show. (Does that make it “Goal of The Fortnight?!) Anyway, here’s a reminder:
I’m afraid that there is no after yet, as I realized that I need to buy a nice tray for the top of the piano to corral all the stuff that has valid squatting rights. (Current receipts, this-that and whatnot.) However, I have not been able to find a suitable tray during any of my thrifting forays yet, so this goal has hit the pause button.
(Sports plus TV metaphor? You betcha!)
But that doesn’t mean that I can’t set a new Goal of The Week, which is to paint HGTV Star inspired stripes on my 15-year-old son’s wall. (Is anyone else watching this season? I am extremely impressed with Brooks, whose design aesthetic is creative and very non-conformist. Now, if only he could work on his camera challenges for a chance to win.)
Here’s what I’m talking about:
I like how the stripes get subtly bigger, and especially how they end with a bold graphic punch.
This is a project that will serve to brighten up my son’s cave-like room, yet wouldn’t require anything that I don’t already own. (My basement is a cornucopia of paint choices, and I’m not above mixing paints to get exactly what I want.) Also, I just picked up a new Ikea duvet cover at Goodwill for $4.99 that’s already helping to make his room a smidge less juvenile.
Old duvet cover:
New duvet cover:
I will also rehome the soccer posters to an opposite wall next to the gnarly skateboard shelves.
Are you participating in The Non-Consumer Advocate’s Goal of The Week? And if so, how’s it going? Please share your thoughts and stories in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the new duvet cover. Very much. My son is rather fond of his duvet cover he has had since he was 3….I have to say its been pretty hard wearing but looking rather faded now….suggestions?
You could over-dye it, or maybe even figure out the brand and style and keep an eye out on eBay.
Katy
If there is enough or any that is still in good shape you could cut it up and use the fabric to trim a new one.
or maybe make throw pillows.
We just rearranged our house on Sunday to get Ds’s bed out of the lounge and into the closet/second bedroom. Already, the house looks great for it.
Remaining on my list are:
1. build an upper shelf on the closet side of the room;
2. make curtains for that side of the room;
3. declutter and reorganize the closet to make room for DS’s toys;
4. find some nice, used bedding to make the bed much warmer (no one has ever used it as a bed, as DS still sleeps with us, so it has only basic bedding and needs some wool blankets and such).
I’m working on #3 each night this week (we’ve already finished and reorganized several baskets of files/papers/stuff); we are borrowing tools from a friend to do #1; when my friend gets back from Sweden in 2 weeks, she’s going to help me with 2; and #4 is on-going. I just found (and put a bid on) a $1 reserve down comforter for that room. With luck, it’ll be very inexpensive!
Once that room is done, then my goal is to get shelves up in the kitchen (there are no upper cabinets).
That duvet cover was a nice find! I look forward to the after photos of the wall.
I love these goals of the week! I accomplished last week’s goal (open a college 529 account for our daughter) and am working on this week’s goal today (getting her baby book caught up). Thanks for these posts, Katy. Between them (and the fast-approaching due date for kid #2) I’m getting all kinds of things accomplished this month!
Hey! I have a list of 7 smaller goals that I am working on this week. They are listed at the following: http://notafraidofthesnow.blogspot.com/2013/06/goals-week-of-june-24th.html
I did get outside to soak up some sun while I pulled weeds today. One down, six more to go!
Stripes are way more fun than decluttering, I reckon! I love the Ikea doona cover too!
I tried to drop off stuff to my local thrift store, but he closed early on Sunday (probably due to horrendously bad weather) and isn’t open Monday. I must also freecycle some stuff.
As to ‘in trays’ – we have a place in Sydney called reverse garbage, and I’ve bought some there before (they are second hand). Not sure what you might have that’s similar.
I have no goal! If the rain would stop, I would have lots. Husband says dress for it!!!
Well, I don’t like to get wet, yes I know I live in the pacific northwest, but It’s a cold rain.
Okay enough whining.
I will go out between downpours to pick whatever strawberries haven’t been devoured by slugs, I’m making shortcake,
I finally finished my task from the first goal of the week post. This week I’m going to work on organizing my kitchen – a little each day.
Love Brooks. I agree about his camera challenge, hopefully he will transfer his teaching skills to the camera. He is a master at interesting design.
I noticed that there was no GOAL o’ the week post last week!
I noticed because I was anxious to share that not only did I finish sewing the pair of shorts that had been my original goal but while I was in sewing mode I completed two other projects.
Upcycled a t-shirt into a bolster and altered a 99 cent St.Vincent de Paul blouse to fit me better.
I would approach the piano clutter by adding a small cabinet or amour type piece to that part of the room. I think by adding something simple rather than creating things to put the stuff in will make it appear simple. You could also place the cabinet diagonally in a corner to give it a different look.
Just my two cents’ worth, but I think a piano top deserves the same type of treatment as a mantel from a design perspective. I would try to really showcase the piano and place nothing on it that wasn’t beautiful. Paperwork, receipts, etc. can go somewhere else.
I agree. I think the top of the piano should have a beautiful vase or something like that. I would find another place for receipts. Maybe a nice basket near the front door to catch mail or near wherever you pay your bills.
Ha, goal of the fornight indeed. I also failed at achieving my goal of the week – to get my picture taken for my new drivers licence. I am *totally* going to get it done this Saturday though.
I do take some solace in the fact that I have been making significant progress in a project upon which I have been procrastinating for a loooonnnng time. I’m renovating my bathroom (plastic bag covering hole in tiles for over a year now, you can tell I am a black belt at procrastinating sometimes). However, I have got a plan, got two quotations from builders, had them both back to revise the quote, have picked out tiles (shopped around multiple stores for these), bough a light fixture and finally think I can soon lock in a date for execution!
My son has that exact duvet cover, we got it a few years back. But we bought it new; you got a good deal on it at Goodwill—you win. 😉
Tee-hee.
I win? And here all this time I didn’t even know I was in a contest.
Katy
The colors are perfect for my son’s room. I’m going to keep an eye out for another one, as his bed is actually a trundle bed.
Katy
My son has the sham for the Euro pillow as well as the fleece blanket that match that duvet. If he ever gets uppity about them (and I give in and change up what he has) I’ll see if you’re interested. I’ll tell you, though, your Goodwill kicks butt over our thrift stores. Marimekko? Rejuvenation? Cool midcentury furniture? I don’t think so!
Most of the time I walk out empty handed.
Katy
Maybe, but it seems your cool finds are still way cooler than anything I’ve ever seen. I used to live in Portland and I can tell you it’s a much hipper place than many other cities–thrift store merchandise included. I’m just going to keep on living vicariously through your Marimekko and Rejuvenation finds!
The thrift stores around here generally carry junk, too. It can be discouraging at times.
My goal for the week is small. My filing container is full, and I want to reduce it down by at least half. Have to cross my fingers that there will be enough unfiltered sunlight to do it.
The concept of a ‘goal of the week’ is appealing to me. I get bored easily and can put some things off. But the idea that its a ‘get done in one week and tick it off’ is getting my brain a whirring. There are jobs that I’d like to do around the home. So I may well be participating very soon!
Even though there was no Goal of the Week last week I gave myself the goal of going through DS#2″s clothing and purging all that were too small. His growth spurt had rendered a large portion of his wardrobe unwearable so out it with it! 4 bags later we can see what he needs. All 12& 14s went to one family and all 16s went to another. Yes, it had been awhile since we had gone through his clothes.
Over the weekend we found 3 pairs of shorts and an Aeropostale t-shirt at 2 different thrifts so he now has some clothes to wear! Though I must say the prices at my favorite thrift have really gone up! $6.95 for a pair of young men’s shorts.
My goal for this week is to get 50 listings up on Amazon. Got 10 done this morning. I also took a bag of books to the used book store yesterday and 3 last week. All that they didn’t want are being donated this week.
There was a small wicker basket next to your son’s bed. Would that work on top of the piano for receipts and such…..? That was my first thought when I looked at that picture. Go figure. Just a thought.
Keep the inspiration coming!
That basket would be too tall for the top of the piano. Plus my son uses it as a bedside table of sorts.
I think I should clarify why there’s so much crap on top of the piano. We rebuilt the wood trim surround for our built-in buffet, but haven’t put a finish on yet. This means that the stuff that normally lives there has taken up residence on top of the piano, which had formerly been a clutter-free zone. Also, it’s currently much much better than the photo.
Katy
My goal of the week is to finally complete the first week’s goal–to get all my vegetable and herb starts planted. I’ve modified it a little bit. I want to build planter boxes, but can’t yet. Instead, I’m going to try to grow my entire garden in containers (which is interesting since I’m moving toward more edible landscaping anyway). I’ve added another twist: I have a bad habit of buying packets of seeds and then not planting them. Most seed is supposed to stay viable for a number of years, so I’m giving it a go. So far, I’ve had nasturtiums from 2009 sprout, dill from 2008, heirloom morning glory from 2010, and cucumbers from last year. No luck yet on the zinnia and snapdragon seed from 2003!
Oh my just thought of a really terrifying goal of the week for myself! Just off to bed. Hoping it doesn’t give me nightmares…