I may not make it back out for a few hours… at least. This is item #12 on my 30 Before Thirty list: organize the catch-all closet in my office. Don’t you love how you can’t even see the floor? Wish me luck.
Notable contents:
- giant styrofoam ball
- argyle dog sweater vest
- every issue of Domino and Blueprint
- IKEA catalogs dating back to 2002
- five rolls of vintage wallpaper
- acoustic guitar
- my wedding dress
- empty boxes to be recycled
- embroidered Serge Gainsbourg pillow
- vintage 50s fur coat that was given to me over a decade ago but that I have never, ever worn and probably never will because I feel weird in it
68 comments
Holyoke Home
Whoa. I’m feeling a little better about the precarious pile of clothes I leave on any surface upstairs. Don’t throw away the Dominos or Blueprints!!!!
Lauren
This reminds me of Monica’s ‘secret closet’ on Friends! How much worse did it have to get before it got better? Well done!
Rorie
I will totally take that serge pillow off your hands. Name your price, girl! ;-)
Béa
feeling less alone and ashamed all of a sudden :-)
Bonnie
It’s no competition–my closet is far, far messier than yours. Not only can you not see the floor, you can’t see the walls or the ceiling!! I’m hacking away at it.
Best,
Bonnie
Condo Blues
I got a relative’s vintage fur. I wore it once as part of my Mommy Dearest Halloween costume and caught all sorts of trouble for wearing fur. I haven’t worn it since.
Christine
My mom had some old furs of my grandmothers. She had someone turn them into teddy bears. They are decorative. You may want to think about reusing your old furs that way.
alana
i PINE for that pillow. please tell me you’re going to clean out your closet and put it on ebay?
Sabrina
I, too, have saved all of my Domino and Blueprint magazines. I didn’t have every issue as you do, though. *sigh* Its so sad they both went under! If you’re anything like me, you’ll hold onto them so you can flip through them whenever you have “magazine sorrow”.
http://brinaland.blogspot.com/2010/06/magazine-sorrow.html
Robin
I wish I had known there was a market for Domino and Blueprint, I gave all mine to Goodwill in a fit of spring cleaning. :-(
Lisa
Oh my God, I am so happy to see that you do have spaces in your home like this. Gives me hope!
Grace
oooooo! Organizing closets is my favorite household chore. I am moving back to my hometown this month and I am planning on re-organizing two of my moms closets. I can’t wait. I look forward to seeing the after photos. That coat sounds awesome!
Debra
Nicole you’re so funny! I hope you eventually emerged! I am sure when next we see your “catch all” it will be beautifully arranged as is every other part of your home. Those catch-all beasts need taming or they can get so out of hand. I know!
adrienne
Sigh, Domino and Blueprint, how I miss you both! :(
Clair
Good Luck! Tackling that project will feel so good!
Alicia
Can’t wait to see after pics!!I’m sure if will be gorgeous! ;)
Sarah A.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that holds onto my old Dominos for dear life! My husband thinks I’m crazy. Have fun organizing!
pianka
Show us your wedding dress! :)
caroline
Wow! I have complete faith that it will turn out lovely. Good luck!
Hopeless Chest
If you would like to get rid of any of your Domino issues, PLEASE let me know. Pretty pretty please! I only found Domino about two issues before they closed it down. I was devastated.
Good luck with your closet project. I had one just like that, full of housewares I had been collecting before I moved. I found some burried treasures.
Brandie
I’ll buy that Serge pillow off of you if you’re looking to lighten the load! ;)
I’ve been lusting after it for years, ever since I first saw it on your sofa.
Katherine
I wish you would post your wedding pictures! You’ve mentioned your wedding or your dress in a few posts now and I’m so curious to see how it looked!
Courtney
I am so excited that I am not the only person with a closet that looks like that. However, if you have any suggestions on how to clean it up, let me know! Are you gonna paint?
cristina
it will you expect a horrible job, do you want see mine?
here: http://pentapata.blogspot.com/2010/07/ogni-cosa-ha-un-posto-e-ogni-cosa-al.html
organizing, decluttering in Italy is “un lavoro di merda”
buona fortuna
cristina
Tracey
Great cupboard! Can’t wait to see what it looks like soon.
yvonne v
you’re so brave :) can’t wait to see the pics.
Christine
Good luck! My office closet is similar right now. Dreading cleaning it, but at the same time, looking forward to finding some hidden treasures!
rachel lc
oh thank you so much for have one showing that you,my organisation role model, also have a crazy junk closet!
(although i have a crazy junk room!)
deanna
Wow! But, you know most everybody has a space like that …
Regarding your wedding dress, consider this:
http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/
Valentina
Good Luck! Organizing is such a difficult thing to me. I have a very small room in my apartment (it’s almost like a closet, ’cause I can’t even put a bed in there) full with things that can be usefull some day (yeah, right). I should do my own 30 before 30 list…
sunny
You can DO IT!! Good luck!!!
(Thought at first you had a photo of my bedroom closet. It looks pretty similar. If you can post the photo, so an I. Maybe.)
molly
I’m sure the after will be spectacular.
As for the argyle dog vest… perhaps it will make it into a fall style post?
tammy
Thank you, because this post just made my day. So good to be reminded that I’m not the only one harboring weird junk!
Amy K
Yeah you clean that closet!!! Good luck. I’m tackling my bedroom (aka everything I own since I am a student) one tiny section at a time.
Also, don’t get rid of those magazines! They are just too good.
Two Lovely Spaces
I am about to do the same. Clean the closets! Thanks for the motivation. I almost cried when you mentioned Blueprint and Domino. Do you think that magazines as lovely as those can be stored on bookshelves? My old Dominos are also hidden and I’d like them to live on our family room bookshelves. Hmmm…
Zauna
I had a vintage fur coat as well. When I was expecting, my mom had it made into the most adorable teddy bears. (I had given her permission to give it away)
One of my favorite baby presents!
Erika
Good luck! The process won’t be fun, but the results will be worth it!
Carly
I’m currently doing the exact same thing!!
http://honeyandthemoondesign.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-have-confession.html
Good luck! x
Elaine
Is it mean that I’m happy to see that you have a crazy, disorganized spot in your lovely home?
Michele
My mom uses vintage fur coats to upholster vintage ottomans. Looks luxurious and cozy when finished.
Ludmila {creamylife.com}
Good luck, Nicole. there will a lot of work for you!
Momnivore
Take baby steps and lots of breaks. Java before…
I just did this to the walk-in in my bedroom. What a hot mess.
Kate @ Twenty-Six To Life
Good luck! I’ve been meaning to do this myself but keep putting it off – I know it’s so worth it though in the end.
Licia
Oh! Good luck. I hope you will post your “after” picture so it will inspire and motivate me to tackle my garage.
Katie
You are going to feel sooo much better once it’s all finished! And I also think it’s nice to know that someone else shoves miscellaneous items in closets so they don’t have to be dealt with lol ;-) Good luck!
Sara
I can not wait to see the finished product! Seriously, I love organizing & I have to do my closet soon. I might steal, uh hum, borrow, some ideas.
Jessica
best of luck to the closet organization! can’t wait to see how it turns out. how many issues of blueprint were there?
juco
Yeah – I hear ya. I cleaned out our catch-all spare bedroom last weekend. Good luck with your closet!
live a colorful life
I love organizing closets, like Jessibee above. My husband and I did this to our pantry and master closet–it was my Mother’s Day gift (really. How lame is that?) Anyway, it was (a) more work than I thought it would be and (b) totally worthwhile because every time I open the door I can actually breathe. so nice…
AbraCat
Wow, that’s rather impressive! I have a closet like that, but I have no ambitions to do anything about it. Good luck!
Amanda
I was also given a lovely vintage fur coat a few years back but never wore it because it just felt weird. After sitting in my tiny apartment closet for a few years I finally donated it to Coats for Cubs through the Humane society! I highly reccomend it. It’s tax deductible, you get to help out some tiny orphaned animals and you’re left with more closet space :)
http://www.hsus.org/furfree/campaigns/c4c/
Valerie
Do they still make blueprint?
I’m from canada so I never know if something’s discontinued everywhere or just here! :(
cindy at jtlt
Good luck! I haven’t figured out what to do with old magazine issues as well – but those are a keeper!
Danielle
Don’t forget your pick axe and minors helmet with strobe light! I hate organizing closets! How can such a small space contain so much?!?!
Michele
Good luck! Can’t wait to see how it turns out! I have a closet like that and I would love to steal some organizational tips:)
Rebecca
Good luck! I’m off to the basement to sort and bag through piles of clothing to give to good will. It sucks to get started, but once you do it’ll be good to get it done!
Jessibee
Good Luck! I cannot wait to see what it looks like! I get very excited about closet organization! I hope thats not disturbingly strange…perhaps I should pursue it professionally and make it more respectable.
alison
just did this myself – good luck, hope you make it out in time for dinner…i didn’t :)
Ana
I’ll take you’re copies of Domino if you want to unload those!
lori
it’s actually nice to see that every single spot in your house isn’t perfect! ;)
elisabeth
I second that!
Design Milk
THIRD!
Cindy
Oh my… Good luck organizing the closet!
alecia
Any interest in unloading your copies of Blueprint? I’d be very interested! PS: You’re an inspiration. I should take a picture of my under-the-stairs closet and post it. It makes yours look totally organized!
Sarah S
Good luck! If the dog sweater vest is an XS and by any chance needs a new home, let me know!
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