Monday, January 3, 2011

Cathartic (and a little help please!)

It is always somewhat bittersweet to take all of the Christmas decorations down and yet there is that point at which it becomes a cathartic experience. You know what I mean?

Cleared off tables and mantels.
Dusting in places that have been unreachable (or so I tell myself!) for the past couple of months.

And this


Becomes this



And eventually this.


You try out new placements of things and see if you like it.
So far, I think I do!

Everything looks a little more sparse, but you also are able to recognize any spaces that to be filled.
Remember my TJ's find from last week? The one you all said I could send your way if I didn't find a home for it?


Well, as my sweet hubby lugged it all around the house (literally!) he finally set it down to rest in the hallway just beyond our foyer and leading out to the laundry room. He then said half-jokingly, "What about right here?"
It turns out, that was the perfect spot! I was further convinced when he took the painting away and it made me realize just how bare that wall really was.

Here it is in it's new home!

In this enclosed space it was hard to capture the right lighting but you can see how it picks up all of the other colors just perfectly.
The tones of the slate and the soft, pale green of my doors tie in so well with the subtle shades of the painting.


I didn't edit this photo because I wanted you to get an idea from the last picture to this one of what the changing light does to this space throughout the day. I'm grateful for that streaming in sunshine even if it is very cold out still.

And, as I mentioned in my last post, I made up my mind to just ease into the New Year's projects.
I seriously cannot believe that I am showing you this space because it is very rarely seen by any outsiders.
Because it is yucky.
And, I HATE cleaning it. Loathe it, dread it, put it off at all costs. 
It's the Master Bathroom shower.
I would have loved this year to just rip it all out and continue the tile on into the shower area but, we are going to buy a new Water Heater instead. And my car was towed to the shop this morning. That would be the 2nd time in the last month that it has had repairs done. Yippee!
So, I did a little quick fix that is the next best thing in my book.

And I would show it to you, but apparently I just ran out of space to download photos!!! ARGHHHH!!!
Ok, folks, what do I do now?
I know some of you have also had this problem.
What is the best solution?

Help!
Consider this "To be continued"!

*Update...well, I paid the $5 and I'm now just waiting for it to process so I can start uploading again. I'm feeling that this is a little bit of a scam. Anyone with me?*

Linking to
Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesday's Treasures

36 comments:

Infatuated with Homes and Gardens said...

Hello Vanessa, You have inspired me ,I must take down the Chrosy decorations, now!
I love the picture on the wall ,I was surprised at how big it actually is what a great pickup.
~Sharon~

Honey at 2805 said...

Love the spot your hubby found for the new picture. Alas, it was not in the box you sent me. But, I did receive your gift on Saturday. Again, thank you!

I am still running behind so unfortunately my house still looks more like your second picture. :) I really love your pale creamy yellow walls. I was thinking just this morning about how happy yellow makes me.

Karen said...

Vanessa, love the print ~ and perfect spot. But, love the view into the foyer! I've put away mine, but kept out my snowmen & snowflakes... Happy New Year!

Traci said...

You're right, it is the perfect spot! At least it looks that way from here. I didn't realize how big it was. I guess that's why you said the hubby was lugging it around. I love your floors too!

Sheri @ www.careergirlinterrupted.com said...

You can buy more space from google (or so i'm told - i haven't hit that mark yet) How did you find out you were over the limit - error msg? Oh, and that's the perfect spot for that picture. awesome blossom :)

michelle said...

Hi darling! Happy New Year!! I love that painting, very soft and soothing! All my Christmas things are put away and things are put back to "normal" I had to rearrange things too only because I couldn't remember where they went! :) I hear ya about the shower...icky! I wish we had tile too but it is some weird stuff that doesn't clean very well! Good luck! :)

As far as space I think you have to purchase more but not sure.

Love your header by the way!!

Green Door Girl said...

love the picture in the new spot - it really is big - I had no idea from the original picture. Doesn't the house feel so much bigger after all the decor is down? Mine does! :)

Vintage Gal said...

Vanessa ~ I love where this print ended up. Very nice spot. Didn't realize how big it was...
I know all about car repairs, we spent $1,000.00 on my daughter's just before Christmas -Yay..

Becca Bertotti said...

Happy New Year, friend! I love the new vignette on your mantel. And, your rooster print looks perfect in its new home! (Kudos to your hubs for suggesting the spot.) And, please, I'm sure your master bath shower isn't as bad as your describing. Although, I can't wait to see what you've got planned for it. Happy day !! xo

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

You have to pay $5.00 to the picture gods and then you can download all you want. It is really easy, cuz I did it!! Love where you put the new painting!!

Debbiedoos said...

OK Picasa has been scamming us bloggers all day. You are the second friend this happened to today. I already paid my 5.00 weeks ago. Well anyhow, I love love love that picture, it is so large too.

Susan deGeneres said...

Hi Vanessa,

My decorations are coming down slowly, although they went up that way too so I guess it averages out. Mostly I decorated with fresh flowers and as they fade, I throw them away. The tree and greens will be dealt with this week so things will be back to normal soon.

I love the placement of your TJM find. It looks just perfect hanging in its new home.


Happy New Year dear friend,
Susan

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Saying goodbye to Christmas decor is always a little sad for me.
But I would be cheered if I had that gorgeous picture to hang up! I love it's new home. That wall does it justice. AND I LOVE the color of your walls!
Happy New Year.
Yvonne

Unknown said...

I had such a hard time this year putting away all the decorations...I think because I found so much joy seeing other's in blog land and finding so much inspiration, I really liked what I did this year! New Year's day was spent (literally-7hours worth!) cleaning, consolidating, etc. We also had to finish "moving in" our eldest from college-it was spread out all over the garage!
I used all of my photo space as well and had to buy more through Google (5 dollars)
Oh! The picture is PERFECT where you have it...aren't our husbands clever??
xo
lynn

CJ Foss said...

Stunning home! Picture works perfectly in that location, especially since it captures the changing light. I also love the catharsis of taking down the decorations. I usually decide to keep the decor simple, at least for a few months! I reflect over each tabletop piece - Does this still mean something to me and is it worth dusting? Thanks for posting. CJ

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

everything is looking good....thanks for the visit....i appreciate all of the good wishes i can get now while i am trying to heal...
hugs,
penny

Melanie said...

Your hubby sounds like mine. He has lived with me long enough (20 yrs) that he can actually see when things look good or don't.

I haven't been reading any blogs for the last few days and I missed this great find of yours:)

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

That looks like the perfect spot for your new picture - I love how it picks up all the colours.

It's too funny, but I hit my max photo load last week as well. I just paid the $5 to Google for 10,000 more photos. I guess it seemed like a good deal given that blogger is free.

NanaDiana said...

Hey Vanessa- I am de-Christmasing too. What a job- and it looks like you have a good start on it. I think your picture is perfect there and I love your entrance hall. Isn't it funny how something just "fits" a space and then you can't imagine it anywhere else?

Hugs- and can't wait to see your bathroom pictures. Hugs- Diana

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Vanessa, your home looks great and I love where you put your new picture! It's perfect!
Regarding the photos not being able to upload...I used to upload from blogger straight to a new post, but now it only brings me to dashboard. So, what I am doing now is editing in Picasa, then I save it on my computer. Then I start a blog post, click on the picture icon and load each photo. It doesn't take anymore time to do it this way. I haven't seen anywhere where either Picasa or Google says I'm out of space or asks for money, so I don't know if I am having the same trouble.

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

Somehow it always seems so much less of an effort putting up all the Christmas decorations as it is putting them all up.
Your picture looks great and I also love your tile floor.

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Hi Vanessa, Your found the perfect place for your new print! Your foyer is beautiful..love the large window and the tile.
Hugs,
Sherry

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Don't you just love it when husbands get into what we're doing and come up with the perfect idea? He did great! Your new art looks like you bought it with that spot in mind!
I had to read the comments to find out what you meant by the $5. I had no idea. I'm still a little confused. I think I upload like Pam, so I may not encounter this problem.
Vanessa, thank you for all the sweet things you wrote about my daughter. I so appreciate it!

Pamela said...

Out of space already??? I guess maybe I am old school and am not using whatever it is that everybody is using. I just load my pics up straight to blogger from Iphoto. I have not had any issues thus far so I am knocking on wood. Hope it stays fixed for ya!
As for the perfect spot the answer would be yes girl that is the perfect spot!! The perfect place for me to sneak in one afternoon and casually take it down and run out the front door! Ha!:) It is the perfect spot! Looks like it was ment for there! I went to HG today and no suck piece there. I was sad.
I feel your pain on the car thing as well! My check engine light keep coming on and off. The Honda guy said no worries unless it stays on and then flashes. Hmmmm. It was on all day till he got in the van and then nothing. It came back on two days later then off again that afternoon. Put some fuel injector cleaner in . Staid off for three weeks if not more and just came back on when we were leaving Target. The Hubster says she is a lil peeved cause I have been day dreaming over the new Explorers.
Anyways, hope your Mon was a good one!

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Hi Vanessa~Oh just loving where you put that fabulous find! It looks perfect there- give that hubby a hug! :) I don't know about the pictures... I haven't gotten the error message yet... I load from iphoto to blogger like Pamela... I don't know if it's the same thing or different or if blogger will ask for $5.00 at any moment... aye... glad you got it figured out . Love that floor and your entry, absolutely gorgeous! Hugs, Courtney

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Your mantel looks awesome and that is definitely the perfect spot for your new pic! I just love your foyer, it looks so open and welcoming! Hope you have a blessed day!

Debbie said...

I haven't read the other comments yet about the picture thing. I KNOW this is coming and want to take care of mine proactively. If it means spending a few bucks, I'll do it.

Shocked, aren't you?

Love where you put your TJ treasure. It looks great there.

And oh dear Vanessa... I am with you totally on the master shower. I'd like to rip ours out too. And that whirlpool that I never use is sort of a very attractive waste of space. I would kind of like a big old shower with multiple heads.

I like dreaming...

Unknown said...

I saw that at TJ MAXX and was going to buy it but i had no space. Looks great in your home. What a deal...

An Oasis in the Desert said...

That seems like the perfect spot for the art piece. Your foyer, by-the-way, is just lovely. Don't think I've ever seen it before, or at least not from this angle. Good luck on the car challenge.
CAS

Janine Claire Robinson said...

Your home looks stunning! I love the mantel. It looks so crisp and fresh and uncluttered. Really elegant. Congrats on your new find. That is the perfect spot for your lovely find!

~Kristin~ said...

It feels so good to clean up doesn't it? Great spot for your new picture!

The Inspired Nest said...

I love your find! It looks great! I have been trying to email you for your address to send you your packages??? Let me know if you don't want them. They look all lonely in my garage!
Lacy

Kim said...

Be still my heart! That painting is divine! I must make a trip to my TJ's. Happy New Year Vanessa!!
xoxo,
Kim

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