Studio Storage Closet Progress (And A Couple Of Treasures Found)
I got so much done yesterday on the studio storage closet! My goal was to have the closet cleared out enough by the end of the day so that I could roll the tall shelving unit into the closet. It seemed like a lofty goal, but I actually managed to get it done!
Here’s a reminder of what the storage closet looked like at the beginning of the day…
It was piled full of boxes and things that I hadn’t gone through in years.
But I needed to get it cleared out because these things have been in my way in the studio, and they all need to go into the closet. I can’t move forward and finish the trim on that wall until those things are out of my way.
And I actually did it! At the end of the day, all of that stuff had been cleared out, and this is what the closet looked like…
I still have that other shelving unit that I need to put together. It will go on this wall.
Nothing is actually organized on those shelves yet. In fact, I have a feeling that there are a lot of things on those shelves that will actually end up in the cabinets in the studio. But for now, I’m just glad to get those shelves out of my way.
I haven’t moved the door yet. That is a very heavy MDF and glass door, and I only want to move it once. So I’ll just leave it there until the storage closet floor, walls, and ceiling is painted, and the other things that need to be done are finished. Then I’ll move it in there where it will stay until it’s needed for our future bedroom. When I remodeled the bathroom, I wanted to purchase both bathroom doors together to be sure they’d match, so for now, I just have to store it. But just getting that shelving unit out of here made such a huge difference!
Now don’t get me wrong. Not everything that I pulled out of that closet has been dealt with. I still have a big box of random papers that I’ll have to go through. I also consolidated a ton of Matt’s gaming stuff into one huge box, so now I have to figure out what to do with that. And then there are two box of random tools and products spanning every category from building to sewing to crafting. I’ll need to go through those items one at a time and figure out where to put them, but that’s part of the larger studio organization project that I will soon have to tackle.
One thing I need to decide is where I’m going to put my tools and building supplies. I generally keep these things in the sunroom, which is where I have my big tool chest. But I actually need to be working on moving things out of that room, not storing things in there. So I need to find a new home for my big tool chest and all of the supplies I use on a regular basis, like sandpaper, wood filler, nails, screws, etc.
It’s likely that the item that are currently on that shelving unit that is now in the storage closet will actually end up in the studio cabinets, so that means that all of the stuff that I generally store in the sunroom (which I started gathering up and putting on my desk as I was sorting things yesterday) will probably find a home on those shelves in the storage closet. I hate to take all of this stuff into the sunroom just to turn around and bring it right back.
Anyway, it was actually kind of fun going through those boxes and seeing things I hadn’t seen in quite a while. For some of it, it had been years. I actually found my wedding dress wrapped in that blue plastic from the dry cleaners and stuffed into a box inside another much bigger box. I haven’t seen this in over 20 years! I loved this dress so much. It was such a simple two-piece design with lots of beads and sequins.
The skirt is also very simple with this bead and sequin border around the bottom and the train.
I shared this in my Instagram stories yesterday, and I had a few requests for a picture of me wearing the dress. This is the only one I could find on my computer. (Remember how I lost all of my pictures last year?) I do have an actual wedding album with a ton of pictures in it, but I didn’t have time to scan any more. So this will have to do for now. 🙂
I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do with the dress. People had several good suggestions, like making a pillow out of the sequined and beaded top, or making a handbag out of it. Others suggested framing the top. And then my bonus sister Cathi told me about this program that uses wedding dresses to make custom gowns for families who lose babies. That is an amazing and beautiful service.
So I don’t know what I’m going to do with mine. For now, it’ stuffed back in its little box for safe keeping.
Another thing that I found buried in that closet was this oak cross.
This is very special to me because my maternal grandfather made this for me over three decades ago. He was an amazing woodworker, and he had quite an influence on me. When I was little, I would go into his workshop and look around in awe at all of his tools and projects. I was amazed that he could actually take pieces of plain wood and turn them into beautiful things using all of those tools. He was definitely a huge part of planting that love of tools and woodworking in me. So I’ve held onto this cross that he made me all of these years because if I ever do get to have my own workshop, this is going on one of the walls in there so that his memory and the memory of his workshop and his amazing talent can always be with me as I work.
And finally, there was this funny find.
I wonder how much of a late fee we owe on this. 😀 I guess they won’t be needing that back now.
So I made some great progress in a day, and things are feeling “lighter” in the studio this morning. It’s amazing how getting rid of clutter can change the whole feel of a room. I can’t wait to start getting things organized and put away in here. I’m going to use a “mapping” system that someone told me about in a comment a few posts back. I’m so excited about getting started on that, and I’ll share the process as I make progress.
By the way, if you like videos, you may want to follow my YouTube channel. I’m starting to make more videos, so you can subscribe if you don’t want to miss any. Here’s my latest…
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Great progress on the closet! I donated my wedding dress to the Angel Gown Program years ago and it was so humbling. Families who lose babies pre-term don’t have options for clothing that actually fits since even preemie clothes are too big. I felt like I participated in providing dignity to families in their time of sorrow.
Look at the two of you, babies and so beautiful! The dress suits whi I think you are so well!
Great job so quickly on the storage room.
You were a beautiful bride and Matt is so handsome. I am sure you will make the best decision for your gown.
I love the Cross!
I knew you would have that under control fast! Love the wedding pic!
Beautiful wedding photo! Hang your cross up in the studio.
You were a beautiful couple on your wedding day and a beautiful couple now! You and Matt inspire me every day!
You have one less thing to worry about — last year when Netflix stopped mailing DVDs, they announced that people could just keep the ones they had out and never return them. So you’ve done nothing wrong and owe no penalties!
Have you thought about renting a Conex box? You could have it placed in the backyard for all of your tools and sunroom stuff. Possibly even put your washer & dryer in it. It’s grey water from the washer, so could be drained out to the yard. Temp electricity would also provide lighting.
I loved this video.
Wow what a beautiful wedding picture of you and Matt. You are beautiful and Matt is handsome. Both of you are beautiful. Your dress is very pretty too. I hope you end up following your heart about what to do with your wedding dress.
Oh I do love your cross and story behind it. I think mounting it on your future work shop wall will be a wonderful tribute to your Grandfather.
Looks like your closet clearing was a great success. You did good.
So glad you are making YouTube videos again. Everyone needs to subscribe and really grow your channel!
Ahhh, such a beautiful couple! Love your wedding dress, it’s a perfect compliment to your gorgeous dark hair. The shimmering sparkles are only surpassed by the radiance and joy from the smiles are your faces.
That wedding photo should be on a wall in your house. Y’all are just beautiful. I would want to be reminded of that love in those eyes everyday. So special. and you could use a small portion of the dress for the matting around it. Then donate the rest to the Angels program.
Have you filled all of the cabinets and drawers in the studio yet? Maybe you could use a bin system for just sewing stuff under one of your rolling tables and then the other rolling table, stuff you use the most on that one. Probably until you get all of your stuff in the drawers and cabinets you really won’t know where you want a permanent home for the rest of the items. The big tool box could go in the hall of the studio near the back doors until you build your workshop. You really need that workshop for these bigger tools. You haven’t mentioned when the big build will start, but the workshop could be built first while you wait. my two cents, worth nothing nowadays.
Beautiful dress
Beautiful couple.
That wasn’t such a momentous job after all. As usual the first step is the hardest. I was so pleased to see that your workbench looks just like mine. I thought you were so organized I was embarrassed that I don’t have any room to work without moving so much stuff.
What a lovely wedding picture. I think that is the first picture I have have seen where Matt is featured. What a handsome man and beautiful bride. That Angel idea is fabulous. What a wonderful use for those special gowns languishing in closets and attics.
Now that you cleared out the closet, it looks THREE TIMES BIGGER – wow! I had no idea how big it actually was. What great progress!!
I laughed out loud at the old Netlix disc!! 😂😂😂😂
Amazing how much bigger spaces get when you organize them. Could you explain ‘mapping’, or direct me to the post with the comment, please? I have a ton of crafting supplies, but as I get older I can’t remember so well where different items are. I’m sure I’m not the only one of your followers who has this issue. Help us, Kristi!
Real progress. Keep up the good work.
Glad you got through that closet! I need to do this in my basement. We’ve lived in this house for 8 years, and still have things on shelving that have not been touched since moving in. I have a few totes full of home decor fabric that I bought to make drapes and such for our PREVIOUS house, but never used!!! My husband has at least one box of clothing he wore in the ’90’s, that he will never wear, but didn’t want to part with them! WHY??? And as for Wedding gowns, mine is in the cedar chest since 1975. My oldest daughter did not want her gown, so when she was pregnant with her first boy, I made him a Christening romper from her gown. Almost as good use as the Angel Project! She had a second boy quite a few years later and he wore it too.