The KonMarie method

GreyQueen

I find the cliche minimalistic decor pretty pleasing, but then, I am a fan of traditional Japanese styles, too.

Not that this is what I have in my own home, this place is too small and with too little storage for everything to be behind closed doors. And my walls are a soft, warm yellow.

I was vastly amused to read about the home of minimalist architect John Pawson. He and his family were away on holiday and his neighbour had the key and was keeping an eye on the place (hard to imagine that photo'd and storied interiors have such prosaic arrangement with neighbours, isn't it?). They came back from a trip to find the neighbour distraught because they'd had a burglary and 'they'd taken everything'.

Pawson found that the visible part of the home was as spartan as they'd left it, and the burglars hadn't worked out that some of the walls were actually exquisitely-fitted floor to ceiling cupboards, with no visible handles, and they hadn't even noticed them, much less opened them and lifted the family's belongings.:rotfl:

mrs-moneypenny

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

There's been reference to minimalism above, now I am not sure what that means but to me it always suggests lots of white, very few ornaments and everything hidden in cupboards.

That's absolutely not my style - what I am hoping for is a home where the china, ornaments and objects that I like are displayed without being surrounded by clutter; where the floors are all clear (making it easy to clean), where the kitchen worktops are mostly clear (my beloved Kenwood will still live there) and where if someone knocks on the door I don't have to apologise before asking them in! I will get there ... I will.

That's what I'm aiming for as well polly.....one day.

mrs-moneypenny

Just done some paperwork, I've now got a rather satisfying pile of stuff to shred and a recycling bags worth of stuff to put out.
Taking the [STRIKE]tat[/STRIKE] bric-à-brac to school with me at lunchtime, and got a bag of paired socks DD3 bought round for the clothes bank so a good kondoing day here.

Just had to throw away an almost full box of Fimo clays I'd bought at a carboot sale a few years ago. I was saving it until I decided what to make and had the time to do it. It's now all rock hard and has died in storage. Another lesson learned.

cpt574

Just popping in to say hi! Keeping going very slowly, have done my cross stitch stuff today. I had been putting it off for ages so feel pleased I tackled it. Have kept all my dmc threads and some fabric, and about 3 kits which are new. Have put 3 bundles on eBay and donated some new kits to the charity shop. Have managed to throw out some Ufos which was good, but have some pictures which are complete but unframed, not sure what to do with them, feel I will regret getting rid and wouldn't know where to take them, I know the joy was in the doing, and I don't want to display them, but unlike clothes etc you can't replace something like that. Do feel that this situation makes the category feel unfinished like some others, makes me feel not quite right... Probably will revisit, think I have said that about most categories! And to think, I actually thought I was really good at de cluttering and found it easy to throw things out! Can't believe how emotional it all is, think it's more to do with trying to decide who I want to be in the future, will keep on keeping on:)

maria3104

Am doing MK at work. We went paperless 2 years ago and we are shredding like maniacs to clear the old stuff. It will take weeks, but is so worth it. We are planning how many filing cabinets we can get rid of and all feeling lighter. 200 shredded bags gone and about another 50 left. We are on a roll.
When completed will get back to it at home.
Feeling lighter and more focused daily. Actually at the moment just feel totally exhausted and all shredded out. Need to pace myself!

mrs-moneypenny

Just did my cookery books, 7 have been kondoed to go to the school fete.

Need to ask at school about goes paperwork, I've got 2 shopping bags full of policies and minutes, I'd love to take them back to school for them to shred.

cpt574

Been on a roll this afternoon, cleaned places I didn't know existed! Sorted my car out, so now have a reusable fabric shopper with bottles of water, umbrella, first aid kit etc, that's one bag found a new life, think the rest are breeding when I am not looking! Sorted the medicine drawer in the bathroom, filled a bag with random stuff I have found while cleaning ready for the charity shop, and baked a cake! I know!!

GreyQueen

Just come off the jellybone with my Mum who's stressing it a bit as they're readying their house for a whole week of heating work - new CH system going in - from this coming Monday.

To cut to the kondo chase, a small table which I own but which has been sitting on her landing for the past 10 years, is to be taken tomorrow to a furniture chazzer. I felt emotionally invested in this item, as I'd refurbished and painted it, but there wasn't room for when I moved from my last flat to this one, so I parked it at their house because I couldn't bear to part with it. It's not something of great value, but it's attractive and, I hope, joyful to whomever choses to take it into their life. I swithered about it every time I saw it, but have come to accept that it's unlikely I will have room for it - ever.

I do have a couple of nice photos of it, if I ever want to revisit the memory, and it's going tomorrow - I am decluttering by remote control across the width of the county, not as impressive as VJsMum decluttering from the Far East, but I'm getting there.

Otherwise, it's just little bits and pieces leaving through usage.

DawnW

Just a thought GQ, but would it be possible to swap the table for something in your flat that is less joyful (eg the thing your computer sits on or whatever)?

GreyQueen

DawnW wrote: »

Just a thought GQ, but would it be possible to swap the table for something in your flat that is less joyful (eg the thing your computer sits on or whatever)?

Thanks for your thoughts but it wouldn't work out. It's a small semi-circular table with 3 legs, designed to be ornamental and hold perhaps a vase in a hallway, rather than a stonking big desktop PC, a printer and my stereo and CD folder and various other bits and pieces.

I've spent a lot of time and mental energy trying to work out how to have this table in my life, and come to the conclusion that there is no place. I've emotionally detached from it now. It's been nagging at me whenever I visit the family home; I feel guilty about having my stuff in the homestead when they have little enough room for their stuff (read Mum's hoard, lol).

Nope, this pretty thing will be in the chazzer tomorrow, and some money will go to a good cause and someone can enjoy it. It was rescued from a trash pile outside someone's house (I did ask), repaired, refinished and given a custom paint finish which is rather excellent, if I say so myself. But I do know how I did it, and what mateials I used, so I could always replicate the effect on something else in the future, if I really want to.