garage decluttered

i finally found the courage to tackle our tiny garage.  you are not going to believe how much of a mess it was before.  i simply ignored it for months and months because our helpmate did not want to cooperate.  i'm not really sure why she held on to these much stuff.  as soon as she was gone, i unapologetically got rid of all the eyesores.  most of it went to my favorite recycler and the rest to our community garbage collector.  this experience was extremely freeing, not to mention i got some extra fund for my grocery that day.

here's our garage before.

after a massive cleanup.

and then, after a coat of white paint.  i couldn't be any happier with the final result.

even cinderella and her litter of five kittens agreed.

matte black kitchen

i decided to transform our orange kitchen to matte black because it looked out of place with the new living and dining space.  it may sound a bit frivolous because i just had this area redid approximately 6 months ago.   however, paint is pretty inexpensive and you can change it anytime without much guilt.

i also removed the doors in the bottom cabinet to create a deconstructed look.  the large upcycled waste container from old rubber tires holds our recyclables.  i simply adore it.

matte black paint looks especially wonderful with wood, glass, and silver.

i stopped hoarding kitchen accoutrements and pantry goods, which resulted to a lot of empty storage space.  empty doesn't bother me anymore.

we still have the single induction cooktop because it is (so far) one of the most sustainable forms of cooking out there.  moreover, to keep our carbon footprint and electric bills low, we do not have any other appliances that many people find as a necessity.

the before shots.

shops to inspire: the living cube furniture

i had been decluttering my inspiration folders, and once again, was struck by these awe-inspiring pictures of urban cube by swiss designer till könneker when i saw it.  the urban cube is not just any ordinary multifunctional furniture because it includes an adult-sized lofted bed, closet area, shelving units, drop-down desk, and tons of hidden storage space for the less-appealing stuff.  i especially adored the handcrafted black wood material, clean lines, and minimalist appeal.  the company also sells living wall furniture (wall storage system) with the same brilliant concept.

photo credit: the living cube furniture
website: http://livingcube.furniture/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingCube/

hallway makeover (sold)

the yellow walls with heart-shaped chalkboard paint in our hallway before was pretty cute.  for a more cohesive look, however, i decided to paint it a warm and inviting hue of orange.  besides, the yellow paint was quite difficult to maintain because it showed a lot of fingerprints and dirt marks.

i used three ikea hyllis to serve as a display-slash-storage rack for my online merchandise.  ikea hyllis is one of my favorite products from the brand.  it is quite affordable and very easy to put together even without any help.  just a side note though, please attach it to the wall when you have kids to avoid any unnecessary accidents from happening.  there are pre-drilled holes where you can secure the unit to the wall with screws.

these handcrafted woven mat bags are still waiting for their right owner.  if you want them, please email me so i could put them on hold for you.

hello, plants!

here's the customary before shot.

lessons learned from decluttering my bedroom

this is my walk-in closet before i transformed it into a small bedroom.  i simply couldn't remember when or where i wore these much clothes.  one thing's for sure though, buying them at the time made me a little less lonely.  however, the "high" i got from shopping was rather short-lived.  i realized now that accumulation of nonsensical things is just a temporary solution to problems, like a band-aid to a deep wound.

thankfully, i happened upon the book by marie kondo titled, the life-changing magic of tidying up: the japanese art of decluttering and organizing.  it changed my life forever.  all i really needed was a gentle nudge from the goddess of organization.  letting go of sentimental things wasn't so bad after all.

my life became simpler and easier.  i even wore the same black t-shirt and grey jeans for more than a month.  no one cared, no one noticed.  people are too busy looking at their phone nowadays.

more decluttering led to more self-discovery.

my current space gives credence to that old adage, "the state of your room reflects the state of your mind."  it is now filled with carefully selected items that speak to my heart.  i became more mindful about all the things i surround myself with.  nothing too fancy or extravagant, but mostly with history or character.  if only i could furnish my bedroom with all second-hand goods, i certainly would.

please take a moment to look around your house.  what does it say about you?  knowing your authentic self is the beginning of all wisdom.

more bedroom makeover here:
http://brandylovesvintage.blogspot.com/2015/06/diy-650-pesos-closet-to-multi.html

http://brandylovesvintage.blogspot.com/2015/11/new-bed-frame-and-new-bedroom-layout.html

http://brandylovesvintage.blogspot.com/2015/10/bedroom-four-months-post-konmari.html

http://brandylovesvintage.blogspot.com/2016/04/no-bed-bedroom.html

bed-free bedroom?

hi, welcome to my room.

the first thing you will notice on the right side is my collection of vintage frames.

matte black walls and ceiling.  it makes the colorful stained-glass windows and area rug pop.

makeshift shoe storage system with the help of ikea hyllis and wooden crates.

paisley area rug demarcates my lounging and sleeping area.  yes, i sleep on the floor now.

sweet little blog spot.

going out clothes, thanks to the wonder of s-hooks and diy garment rack.

my vedasto leather bags found a new spot at my room's entrance door for easy access.