KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

greenbee

My last house was built in the 1950s, and at one point had a similar set up, with the coal bunker next to the larder. Most people ripped them out and extended the kitchen into them - when I redid the floor it was obvious where they had been.

It would make a great pantry/larder. You could stick the freezer and maybe even the fridge in there too. Easy to access for unloading shopping too. Alternatively, if it has water it could be a utility/laundry room.

I hope you've told your parents that if they don't want the space you'll have it? Not sure how you'd transport it back to Shoebox Towers but I'm sure you'd make good use of it!

I suspect the trick will be to migrate much of the stuff to it's natural homes elsewhere in the house.

Guess I should get back to furniture moving. I'm all snotty and horrible - a combination of dust and paint fumes

Laundry is done - even the dust sheets are clean ready for duty in the morning. (although I may well be ignoring the handwashing still)

GreyQueen

If it was my place, I'd have the short wall dividing The Off Room from the kitchen proper taken out (it's only about 2 ft wide) and integrate the Off Room into the kitchen proper and have a kitchen fitted to it.

My parents are change-adverse and I still treasure the experience I had when visiting about 25 years ago when a tele-sales lady from a kitchen company rang them up and got Dad.

Far too polite to interrupt a young lady, he gravely listened to her pitch with growing puzzlement before saying But we have a fitted kitchen, dear, it came with the house.

I was killing myself laughing. Dad's idea of a fitted kitchen at the time was one which fitted into the house. It's essentially unchanged since that time.One small blessing is that it's no longer painted in tangerine gloss (on the walls). It was very trying being a tasteful child in the 1970s when subjected to such things.:rotfl:

ETA; the kitchen walls are now trafalgar blue gloss. Paintwork is white, tho. And the 1930s sideboard is where the coal-bunker used to be and there is a radiator on the opposite wall (under the coat-hooks with bags) to complicate matters. It is carpetted, in a nice K0sset sculpted pile number, which will save wear and tear on my knees as I crawl around there and try to put a quart of misc into a pint pot.

greent

My nan lives in a house with a coal bunk attached (built in 1952 - which is when she moved into it) - it's still called the coal bunk even though it hasn't had coal for at least 40+ years. God alone knows how much of the stuff you could have fitted in there - as her's is a decent full sized room, though - it used to house 2 full height double freezers (my nan's a hoarder of food - I don't think she ever stopped buying for her 6 children once they flew the nest - she still has a double full height freezer in there packed with food and it's just her), 1 motorbike and a moped (the beauty of vinyl tiled flooring) and toolboxes and tack for my aunt's pony! It's just wasted space now - I'd probably set it up as a utility room with a downstairs loo off it if I was there. My late m-I-l lived in a similar house when I was a teenager but her coal bunk was much smaller and ended up being used almost as a shed (in fact it was called the shed )


2 pieces of furniture failed to go on freegle so have been dismantled and OH will take them to tip (recycling area) tomorrow. Have offered them 3 times and no takers , so off they go (CS not interested in them) - I want the space!!


x

ScotinLondon

Evening all! I hope that all have been well, happy & productive (if required).

Not been posting for a while but I have been keeping with everyone's adventures.

GQ, I like many other enjoy your escapades at your parental home. I would love to do something with my own parental home, which is not hoarded clutters like you see on TV but just filled with lots of stuff from a previous life that they don't need now as they have both retired.

Not much kondoing going on here. RL here there and everywhere foe me at the moment.
DH's hospital appointment came through at the last minute, but with what he had done to him, it was safer and better for him to recuperate at his own parental home.

So, I am living in two places at the moment with work being (and I hate to say it) a welcome distraction.

I spoke with my mum today and all my indian outfits will be taken to the indian charity near me. They are not going to India for a while and I just want them out of my house now. Think I will also do my showy handbags at the same time too.

I also sold one set of my ACCA books. Just 7 more sets to go. More ads on gu**ree and streetlife I think.

Also got another charity bag started in our bedroom. Still lots to do and we will get there, steadily and slowly.

One thing about this process is that it has made us think about our life and quality of life down here in the big smoke. We are now thinking about moving northwards, once I get qualified etc. The thinking process has started....I guess only time and the will to do it will tell.

Have a good evening all and a good week too.
SIL

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all
Hope everyone is well
A few bits going into school with me today, and hoping to get some knitting ordered toninght. Also going to have final viewing of the rather joyful garden bench with view to placing an order.
Water butt has been adjusted in the hope it no longer overflows but we need rain to test that theory.
Busy all day today so will be back to check in later.

Have a good one kondoers.

greenbee

Hall has just been cleared. And they're now taking the staircase out... It's going to be a noisy and messy day, so I think I might find a cafe to work in for a few hours!

silvasava

Be thinking of you Greenbee & hope all goes well with not too much mess!!

greenbee

I have no stairs now... and a LOT more light.

VJsmum

Just out a ladder back in, Greenbee :rotfl:

I think my house must be similarly built to your parents, GQ. Ours originally had a "shed" a short pace from the back door. Previous owners incorporated it into the house and it is now a "kind of" utility room. It houses washing machine, freezer, tumble drier (rarely used and may not be replaced if it breaks), and a shelf unit with 'stuff' on (wellies and walking boots, washing powders, some gardening kit, The recycling box - shelf unit was gng to be kondoed from the office but in a woo moment, I realised it could be repurposed there).

On my way to dad's who is fed up with the state of his house. I am thinking of offering my kondo services for a few days in the summer - but only on the condition that stuff leaves the house. My brother and his girlfriend live there. too, but neither has a bliddy clue how to sort and throw things. Mo than anything I want to do it as much for my (deceased) mum, who would weep at the state of her house and that dad has to live in it.

My wedding dress has finally gone to cherished gowns, who are going to turn it into burial clothes for still borns. Sad that such a service is required, but thrilled that it is going to do some good. I have always hated that it was just sat in a box in the loft. I feel like I have set it free. I put it on last night for its last hoorah . It nearly did up :rotfl:

DD put the picture on Facebook and it has got over 40 likes already... :eek: I think I just look like an old bird in a white frock.....

greenbee

My 1950s semi had the shed (possibly a wash house) about 2ft from the back door. The flat roof was attached to the house, but originally the passageway was open at both ends. It had doors on when I bought it (internal ones...). I initially painted it and put electrics in to use as a utility. Eventually I waterproofed, insulated and lined it, and levelled the floor, then ikea units and made it into a more useful utility room not long before I sold.