Tidying/Spring Cleaning/House Tour

Yesterday I convinced J. that it was time to part with our massive lodgepole pine bed frame.

We bought it when we lived in Wyoming from a man who made furniture and cabinetry for private homes and public places.  It suited the upscale log homes we were building.

Set up in the bedroom of our Kentucky cottage the bed has loomed, dominating the space.

J. did some muttering and thwacking before he got all the components apart and lugged out to the carport.

With the mattress and box spring on a simple metal frame we have gained a full two feet of clearance between the foot of the bed and the wall.

The cats crept in after the bed was remade--some of them with obvious misgivings.

Several of the younger cats have enjoyed the balancing act of walking along the footboard and then using the corner post as a launching pad to reach the dresser.

I'm liking the lighter roomier look of the bedroom.

When we moved in--four years ago this week--this space housed a washer/dryer stack--in 'harvest gold', no less. The units held no more than a change of clothes for two people.

We installed a large new washer and dryer in the basement and J. converted this area with shelving.  This short passage leads to the bath.

The stacks of linens have a tendency to become muddled.

Teasel-cat likes to insert herself into a layer of towels or throws for a quiet little thinking time. 

The bathroom is adequate but not much wall space for a towel rack, so we installed a double bar in the passageway

Hallway with bedrooms to either side.

The cherry buffet and cabinets were in the house when we bought it.

We renovated the kitchen area buying top quality cabinetry and replaced the antiquated appliances.

Its a small space--room for a table and three chairs.

The sliding door at the left opens to the backyard--and to the fenced in place where the cats are allowed to experience the outdoors.

The three boy cats, Nellie, Bobby and Edward, as well as Charlie, Willow and Willis all clamber over the fence.  The other cats sit dociley within the confines of the little yard.

The cabinetry is Kraftmade's Shaker style in maple.

I love the classic simplicity.

The cabinet interiors are cleverly fitted.

This one is an interesting construction.  The 2 tiered shelf unit pulls out so that 

two bins can be rolled out from the deep corner.

This is the corner over the pull-out bins.

Lazy Susan unit in the right angle by the range.

Pull out cabinet for pots and pans with a ledge above for lids.

If only I could keep things this tidy and decluttered.

In this small house it seems we continually move 'stuff' from one space to another--if one area is neat it means items have been stashed somewhere else--never quite enough room!

By late afternoon I was running out of steam and thinking that it would have been lovely to spend more of the day outside.

There is much still to be done in the living room--the shelves and mantle are endlessly dusty from the fireplace.

J.'s desk opposite the loveseat is a muddle.

My own desk is unmentionable.

Whatever I do--indoors or outside--I am assisted by various felines.