Marigoldmind’s Apartment Therapy Cure

Fall Cure

I’ve been doing the Fall Cure incognito. I’m following along the Flickr photo pools (both the Green and the NY one), and I’m taking steps myself. I’m more hesitant than in the Spring Cure - probably as a function of the flame-out that I had toward the end.

Week One is mostly about cleaning the floors and assessing the work to be done. Since I run the Roomba almost daily, I didn’t get a sense of Beginning from that step. I had the best of intentions to mop, but life and work interrupted. I did make a list of repairs that I will post separately.

Week Two is focused on the kitchen. I have been trudging through the pile of dirty dishes that cling like a fungus to all nooks and crannies of my kitchenette. I did take some in-progress pictures so I hope to post them once I have some respectable after pictures. Besides general cleaning in the kitchen, I have 3 major (for me) projects.

clean and reverse the door on the one cupboard
reverse the doors on the refrigerator (new since the Spring cure because that one didn’t have a functioning freezer AND the door wasn’t reversible)
make the under-sink cabinet more functional

The cleaning is really what I hope to accomplish by the end of this week. I may purge some unused dishes to help open up some space.

Add comment September 20th, 2007

Signs of progress

Bathroom Before:

Bathroom After:

Bedroom Before:

Bedroom After:

Bedroom Before-Before:

Bedroom Before:

Bedroom After:

Add comment April 15th, 2007

The challenges

The Cure hasn’t been going as well for me as I would have liked. Rather than flagellate in private, I’m going to lay out the challenges that are holding up my progress.

The apartment itself -

Exposed brick walls are lovely but prove challenging in terms of decor and storage
Speaking of storage, the apartment has almost none. One closet.
1890s renovated = very few wall outlets

My job -

My “department” went from 2 people supporting a staff of 100 to just me on the day before the Cure started
My hours were never predictable and are even worse now
They are promoting me to manager, presumably to make up for this past year, so there is no end in sight

The fluffies -

Isn’t he cute? Yes, very cute - just cute enough to make you forget that he is a powerful force of DESTRUCTION. He climbs everything, and doesn’t seem to mind if he falls down a lot. He looks before leaping, knocks over anything in his path, and races around the tiny apartment at a full gallop.

Since the entire apartment has ceramic tile floors, I have to be very careful about what can be knocked over in his fits of crazy. My aunt is a potter, so much of my art is in the form of beautiful but fragile pottery.

Sweet Stormy may not be as evil as Kitten, but she causes her own trouble. She’s prone to hairballs and other digestive woes, so any and all fabrics must be washable. She also leaves clumps of gray fur everywhere.

Lastly, there is Mz Bunn, cord chewer extraordinaire and kitty litter box emptier. She is in her pen for the day when I’m at work, but I’m trying to sort the apartment so that she can run loose. All cables, wires, etc. must be covered in chew-proof shielding lest she electrocute her bunny self.

Add comment March 29th, 2007

Week 2 summary

At the end of week 2 of the cure, I’ve not made as much progress as I would have liked but I am trudging onward.

getting rid of belongings that I don’t use (listed on craigslist and freecycle)
cleaned out some science experiments from the refrigerator
scrubbed off the gummy label residue from empty jars to use for storage
moved my internet connection from the bedroom to the living room
unclogged my tub drain
attempted to create floorplan on icovia.com until my lame laptop claimed exhaustion and waved the white flag
cooked many meals at home but that shouldn’t count since I do that anyway
measured under kitchen sink for pull-out storage
talked to landlord about cost-sharing on new appliances and a mantle
about 75% through with federal taxes (refund to pay for above)
bought a mop but haven’t used it yet
bought flowers last week and plant this week
put up ceiling hook and planter to hold new plant

Add comment March 18th, 2007

Repair List, Updated

I added some new repair items (bolded) and have emailed my landlord about a few items. I am hoping that I can negotiate for some changes in my lease to allow me to paint and to update some appliances. My landlord is very reasonable and quite helpful, so I don’t think there should be too many problems. I have been a good tenant, and I am getting ready to sign my lease for the second year here.

In other Week 1 progress, I picked up a mop today. I equivocated on this for longer than I care to admit, but I finally chose the Casabella Terri Mop. I had a $5 off coupon for Bed, Bath & Beyond, so I got for $15. All of my floors are tile, so it is crazy that I have lived without a mop for this long. My roomba is my savior, but cleaning the floors with a spray bottle and a washcloth is just too dang much.

Now, I’m off to Whole Foods for food and flowers.

~~Unclog drain in tub~~ (I actually did this right before the cure started but it was nasty business so I am taking credit for it here!)
Switch direction refrigerator door opens
Improve insulation around doors
Fix harp on lamp
Contact landlord about sharing cost of replacing kitchen appliances
Ask landlord about dryer exhaust
Kitten-proof security door
Kitten-proof back of dresser
Move internet connection out to living room
Buy and install new sockets for 2 lamps
Attach electrical socket plate to wall with drywall anchors