The Current State Of The Carport (My Shifting Piles Of Junk And Mess)
The other day, someone left a comment on a post (I can’t remember which one) saying something like, “You’re the messiest DIYer I know…” 😀 Ummm…YEP! It wasn’t a mean comment. She was actually quite complimentary. But that first part of her comment made me laugh because I know it’s true.
I used to be embarrassed about it, but over the years, I’ve just embraced it. I’m getting to that age where I’m a whole lot less concerned about what people think about me than I used to be. You know how it is. When we’re younger, we’re almost consumed with others’ perceptions of us. As we get older, that becomes less important. Not that I don’t want people to think well of me, but I’m a lot less likely to try to hide the embarrassing parts of myself and my personality these days. I’m a messy person, and when I work on projects, I’m like a tornado leaving a path of destruction behind me. But it always works out in the end.
After all, not too long ago, my studio looked like this…
But today, I’m sitting at my desk in a studio that looks like this…
It always works out in the end. And that brings me to the current state of our carport. I’ve been using this as my workshop for years now. It’s where I use my big power tools (miter saw, table saw, planer, etc.). It’s where I paint cabinet doors and drawer fronts. It’s where I build some things. I just leave my big power tools out there, and I’m surprised they’ve never been stolen. In fact, I’ve never had anything stolen from our property.
But I’m not the best at cleaning up after my projects. So I have big piles of sawdust, a huge pile of scrap lumber, random pieces of scrap plywood leaning against random items. This has been my very messy method for years now. Now that I have a workshop, I need to build a cart for scraps so that I can keep those clean, dry, and organized.
My carport is also the landing place for items that people give me because they think I can do something interesting with them, like that big mirror in the photo below. It really is a unique mirror, but I didn’t have anywhere to put it, so into the carport it went.
I’ve got paint left over from the workshop, and chairs that used to be in the breakfast room, and then were stored in the sunroom, and then were moved out here…for some reason that I can’t really explain. 😀
I’ve got a small chest freezer that I bought in a panic when our upright freezer in the pantry stopped working. I don’t really want to get rid of it just in case I need it again, but I’ve never had a place to store it, so into the carport it went also.
And of course, I always have a junk pile somewhere in the back yard — a place where I can toss all of the construction scraps while I’m working on a room. Once the pile gets big enough during or after a project, I either hire someone to haul it away or rent a dumpster. I’ve never been concerned about the pile looking awful because, quite frankly, my back yard has never looked nice anyway. But now that things are happening in the back yard, and I’m on my way to having a cute workshop, and the driveway is finished, and the carport is actually finished (and looks nice when it’s clean), I’d like to stop having a junk pile so visible. As long as there are projects happening in our house, I will have a junk pile, but maybe I can find a less conspicuous place for it.
Also, right now, the cardboard boxes are taking over. I’m saving them because my mom and I are going to turn them into landscaping stones and boulders. For now, they can be stored in the workshop and I can get them out of the carport.
But really, it’s just a bunch of tools and mess left over from projects.
It looks like it’s verging on becoming a junk yard, so this is the next project on the list.
Now that our driveway is done, I’m very excited about being able to park in the carport. So today, my mom and I are going to tackle this cleaning project, and I’m hoping we can get the whole thing done today.
If we can get it done today, I’ll share our finished driveway with you tomorrow! I’m so incredibly excited about how it turned out. It really changed the look of our house like I didn’t really expect.
UPDATE: If you’re wondering about our plans for the cardboard boxes, you can check out this post for more info: Faux DIY Rocks & Boulders? Yes, Please!
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.
OH, I’m sure you will feel SO much better about everything just tackling this area. It is really less than you think…it just is disorganized, and you can definitely make it look better. Even if you need to save some things for a while yet. I’m excited to see the driveway and area. It truly will make a much tidier looking entrance, and so much more comfortable for you access.
I don’t know if it is the same where you live, but when we are down in Florida people put out all kinds of wood and metal scrap pieces and it always seems to just disappear. Guys are always looking for scrap wood and other guys take metal to recycle.
Can’t wait to see the next post. Cleaning up my junk areas is my greatest joy 😊
I’m just here to say you can do it! Curious of your opinion on the Hero bread.
It’s AMAZING!! I get the bundle with seeded bread, tortillas, and Hawaiian rolls. All are very good. I make the most amazing sandwiches with the seeded bread. Mayo, meat, cheese (I like jalapeño Turkey and jalapeño Monterrey Jack). Then butter the outside of each piece of bread and stick the sandwich in the air fryer until it’s toasty brown. I do a few minutes, turn it over, and cook for a couple more minutes. It’s so good!!
I am intrigued, stones and boulders?
Haha! It’s an idea my mom came across on YouTube. There are several methods for making fake stones and boulders, it out favorite method uses cardboard boxes as the base for the stone/boulder form.
I remember that video and you and your Mom were going to try it in the future. Looking forward to that project
Oddly the stuff that’ll likely live in the workshop on wheels I’d just roll it into the workshop. But nothing without wheels in there, like the chairs and the mirror. Make a quick lumber cart you can revise more, wheel it in. What doesn’t fit gets tossed. Sort the cardboard … Compostable (minimal tape not glossy/finishes) or not. Compostable can be free weed barrier on any beds. Just go ahead and lay that out to kill everything in a few places you can get bulk mulch and lay on top to weigh it down. I did this with the cardboard over winter and spread things on it to weigh it down until I got a big load in spring top it off with mulch. It still looks neat and had manageable weeds over spring. Make a few boxes of *good* cardboard to store for thd fake rocks. Limit the quantities of project supplies. It adds up on the mental stress, you are hoping for that some day. If it doesn’t fit, it gets tossed. You got this. Oh I got good news this week – I passed my licencing exam, so will be a licensed engineer soon.
Cardboard is how I establish new garden beds too. Lay down a layer and top with bulk compost or mulch. I still have edge a trench to keep the grass from invading, but that’s waaaaaay more manageable than sod removal!
I just got to the end of your comment!! Congratulations! That’s wonderful news for you.
Excellent news!! Congratulations!! 🎉🙌
Bravo Sewducky!!!! Congrats!
As always, your comments are practical and upbeat. Thanks for taking the time to think things through.
Oh, and congratulations on achieving your personal goal. I’m sure won’t mind me adding that here.
i.e. Kristi won’t mind.
Great ideas for the cardboard. Since you will be putting rock around the base of the workshop, put the cardboard down now to kill the grass/weeds, then just dump the rock on top of the cardboard! I would buy a big trash can on wheels (or make a dolly for one without wheels) and put the lumber scraps in there. Small pieces can be burned in that BBQ I saw in one of the pics! (cardboard too!) You could spread the sawdust in your back forty (unused property) to act as food for insects if you spread it fine enough. I would hesitate to load up the workshop until you drywall, or whatever you do to finish the interior. You’ll just have to move stuff again and again. Make or buy a flat cart to haul stuff around (like the carts they have at HD or Lowes to move big items.)Make yourself a big sign that says “Work smarter, not harder!” and hang it in the shop!!!
Your mom is a blessing. You two will have that stuff organized in your workshop, I hope. I hope you don’t just throw it in there and plan to organize another day. Things are really beginning to look complete. That excites me so I know it excites you. It just feels so good to have the Studio FINISHED. It is so beautiful. I’m anxious to see the first project you complete in your finished Studio.
I have to admit my ocd brain does twitch with some of your pictures but I know how lovely you make it turn out in the end. My husband is exactly like you and he does amazing work, so I say however you make the final product look is all that matters.
You have project piles just like me! Ha Ha! I love it. I was raised in Temple so it is good to see all your beautiful inspiring projects being done in my beloved old neighborhood in Texas. Keep up the good work.
Your fan,
Deborah
I HIGHLY doubt you are the messiest DIYer, there are tons of others out there who can beat you!
Haha! I’m sure you’re right. There are probably plenty of messy DIYers who could give me a run for my money. 😀
Oh you’ll get there, I’ve no doubt! You always do, and it looks so fabulous when you’re done. No worries here. 😁
Kristie, your studio is not done because the light switch beside the door still isn’t there 😉 In the name of all that is holy, please put that switch plate on so my OCD brain won’t explode
Haha! I can’t believe I overlooked that! I think I’m so used to looking at it that my mind didn’t even recognize it as unfinished. But don’t worry. I have that switch plate on my list of things to buy on my next trip to Home Depot. 😀
Ummm … Kristi … you can’t throw out this sentence “the cardboard boxes are taking over. I’m saving them because my mom and I are going to turn them into landscaping stones and boulders” and leave us hanging. You have certainly piked my curiosity. I wish I lived near you. I’m a master at cleaning out and organizing stuff and I love doing it; immediate gratification is my mantra. I hope y’all were able to get it all put where you want it. I’m excited to see the driveway and functional carport.
Ha! I wrote a post about it several months ago. My mom came across several methods of making fake landscape boulders and stones on YouTube, and the method we liked the most used cardboard boxes as the base form for the fake stones. You use a hammer to form them into the rough form, and the waterproof them, and then coat them with concrete. It’s really pretty amazing! Ever since we watched those, we’ve been saving our cardboard boxes because she wants some boulders for her yard, and I have an acre of land to landscape. 😀 If you search something like “fake boulders” on my blog, you can probably find that post, or you can search on YouTube. Be prepared to lose at least an hour of time!
I remember those videos! Yep, I lost quite a bit of time on the subject! (I’m a “rabbit hole junky” for odd videos!) Ultimately I decided it was interesting, but not something I would ever complete. It would be another unfinished thing I started and I’m trying really hard to eliminate that aspect of my life! (And the clothes I can no longer wear!)
Kristi,
I love this idea of using boxes in the making of rocks and boulders for your Mom’s yard….and yours too. I have to say your Mom has the most beautiful Saint Augustine grass in her yard. Makes me want to get out there and help her plant those plants and make those rocks and boulders and place them around those plants. I hope you get into this because I want to watch and see how your creative genius takes over.
Kristi…forgot to mention your carport cleanup project. I think most genuises are like you by not keeping the working area tidy. You’re correct in thinking it all turns out wonderful in the end. Glad you don’t worry about what people think anymore.
Your carport will look so nice after you and your Mom get it all spiffed up. Your car will look good parked there too.
wait, how do you make boulders out of cardboard?
Check out this post: https://www.addicted2decorating.com/faux-rocks-boulders-yes-please.html
But, Kristi, of course you would have shifting piles of mess as long as your home hasn’t been yet finished! It’s been, what, 13 years and you’ve just got your workshop last month and it’s still a way before it’s usable. You made do with what you had! And that’s admirable!