Tricia Rose says:

So now you have your to-do list Becky, and all of us rooting for you! Way to go!

Can I point out that if you compost, and rinse containers, garbage isn't smelly? COMPOST is smelly, but that's another issue!

scarbowcow says:

I'm starting my list:

1. Find this Clark guy - he sounds really useful (note: check under 'Kent' in the phone book)
2. Ask Clark what to do next.
3. Find out if Clark is married.

Becky Harris says:

Whoops Tricia, composting should be on my list. I know it's good but I can never warm up to that gross thing full of gross stuff. I'm a bad person. Those worm ones have always intrigued me though.

Scarbowcow, Clark is my brother ;) He's married but he's available for hire - he's a general contractor. In fact, I set up a Houzz and Twitter account for him in exchange for the last round of improvements he made to my house:

http://www.houzz.com/pro/innovativeatlanta/innovative-construction

newmouse says:

Thanks, this is great. I have just been adding photos to one giant idea book. Now I am inspired to organize those photos into specialized idea books by room/project. Yes, I know this doesn't really mean anything will be accomplished but it may help me focus.
Your DIY dresser looks great. I like the lucite (?) pull on the upper left.
I had the same thoughts as Scarbowcow about Clark. Wish I lived in your area.

Lily Gahagan says:

I've never considered using an ideabook this way... but I will now! Thanks for sharing, Becky.

Becky Harris says:

OMG newmouse, thanks! The glass handles are killing me - I love them but they are really badly designed so it's stopped the entire project. The handles/pulls are always the thing that stick it to me in the end, whether it's putting together a file cabinet from Target or a situation like this!

Karen Heffernan says:

GREAT idea book - love it! I'm steeling the idea!

ds design studio says:

Thanks for sharing your list with us. I need to make one too! I kinda like the drawer pulls you have on the chest. The darker bronze goes with the cabinet frame. I have a similarly painted dresser in one my idea books for my daughter. And I have been nuts about that Annie Selke print...Good luck with your projects.

hifalutin says:

very inspiring , and Im proud of you Becky for your beautiful dresser result! I absolutely will use the idea of ideabook as to-do list, as I have 18 similar paper lists bunched up in various places in my house. I will have to edit my ideabooks as
I have over 50, lol.
There is also an iPhone/iPad app you might like called "Things" as an adjunct. It lets you type in your to-dos by category, schedule them, and best of all, check them off and store them, so you can see all of your accomplishments!

Sandra Howie says:

So much fun to read how what you have to do and love the idea.
I love the dresser and you could always spray the dark handles with a lighter metal spray to make them look more like the inspiration picture.
Good job though! Love to hear your trials and tribulations on it.

Sandra

domsmom3 says:

Newmouse, you might simply take the black drawer pulls and spray them to make them look like silver or bronze or whatever. It looks like the pricey dresser has nickel pulls.

willsmom97 says:

Becky, feel like we were talking at my kitchen table! Thanks for guiding me into productivity.
The lucite handles fade away too much in my opinion, which is worth about $0.50!

immaggiemae says:

What an awesome idea -- I foresee spending way too much time on Houzz in the coming weeks :-) -- but no paper clutter

fabfinish says:

Becky, you can definitely spray paint those handles a shiny silver or nickle color. I do it all the time on my refinihsed furniture. I kind of like the lucite too! I love that black and white and added to my list of furniture "to do" ideas.

mcamian says:

I agree the lucite handles don't offer enough contrast. Existing handles look great.

catwhit says:

Becky: IKEA has those trash/recycle bin systems (including lids if you wish) very economically priced, available online at www.Ikea.com.

nassaumary says:

We've just bought a new home in another country and have to trust our contractor. I've divided out my idea books and created the binder of pictures and ideas (divided out by room/project) so that he knows exactly what I want. Thank God for idea books!!!!

sherrybr says:

I have a sliding drawer bin for vegetable peelings etc that has a built in lid. It gently slides off the top of the bin when you pull the drawer system out, and slips back on automatically when you push the sliding drawer back in. Unfortunately I cannot tell you the make or model as I've had it for 8 years now (in Europe), but it does exist. Ask your fitted kitchen people where to get it.

djweller says:

First of all, I love Houzz (and especially your fun and practical Idea Books, Becky). I used Houzz extensively in a recent whole-house renovation, and 5 months post-mess, I still love to peruse the ideas. During our project I used Idea Books and also a terrific online organizational tool, Evernote, to keep track of projects. Evernote syncs to all your devices, so check-lists, shopping lists, measurements, photos, etc. are available and searchable anywhere.

Kathryn Peltier says:

Great ideas, Becky! I just wanted to add one thing: you wrote that you went to local stores to check out the sofas but then ordered it online. I know you probably saved money, but that's because the online stores don't have to provide the real thing for you to see, nor real fabric samples to check out. I'm not trying to be sanctimonious - I have done it myself - but I think we all need to patronize our local businesses and understand that if we don't use brick-and-mortar businesses, in time they won't be there!

Casart Coverings says:

Way to go, Becky! Onward into unchartered territory! Couple of comments... I like the black handles for contrast. I ALWAYS shop Ace before big box because: 1)franchised by locals 2) more American made products 3)friendly, personalized service by people who know you and you know 4) rarely a line for check out 5) easy, close parking. I have the FP dish drawers and love them. They do an excellent job of cleaning. Tip-mount on either side of sink, not one on top of other and run hot water in sink first before turning on to start with max. temperature! Finally, I'm exhausted reading your ambitious list!

ginnylee says:

I also have a Renovation Idea binder that I made, I thought I would share it here. I purchased a binder that is 4 inches thick that has a zipper that goes all the way around ( you can usually find them easily in the school supplies ). I then purchased tab dividers, enough for every room in the house, don't forget the outside, deck and patio ideas or garden tips. Next I found (in the business section of the Office supply store) business card holders, floppy disk holders ( I think they were called media storage) these were the perfect size for tile samples, carpet samples, paint chips etc. then I found double sided pouches that were great for pictures, brouchers, and ideas. Next I typed headings with space under each to fill in as I made choices. Your headings should be Flooring, Wall Paint, Trim Paint, Lighting, Window sizes etc. and leave a space for notes. I also put a sheet of graph paper for each room with the floor measurements. I know it sounds like a bit extreme but I enjoy having everything in one place and trust me I worked on it for awhile to get all my clippings organized. Enjoy !!!!!!!!

Tabitha Marx says:

Two things : not fair to use a local salesperson's time and expertise and then not pay them by buying online, and my husband who is a salesperson says that dishwasher has a high rate of service needs. THAT'S why you buy from a salesperson, they KNOW which brand of dishwasher is good. Most appliances & furniture salespeople work only on comission, if you use them but don't buy, you stole their time.

Becky Harris says:

Kathryn and Tabitha, you are putting words into my mouth/ideabook. I bought the sofa IN PERSON AT CRATE AND BARREL at The Derby Shops in Hingham MA; I'm not sure why you are saying I bought it online; I did the opposite; researched online using Houzz, then bought from a salesperson in a store. The salesman worked with me for a very long time and was very helpful. I would never put anyone through that wringer and then go home and order it online.

wendyc0603 says:

Becky This is an awesome idea!! My husband and I just bought our first house in Nov and we have so many things we want to do in the spring but I seem to loose track of them OR forget what they were in the store! I think this is great, making my ideabook here on Houzz and then printing out pages when I am ready to go to the store!

dixiep says:

Forget Clark....You can convert an existing cabinet door into a drawer front with a pull out for garbage abd recycling with a $75 system from Rev-a-Shelf (available online or at Lowe's). Heck, a decent stainless steel garbage can costs that anyway! It's absolutely the bestto keep that stuff out of sight and not taking up any floorspace. IKEA does have a somewhat cheaper option ($25 I think), but the bins are smaller and you have to open the door and then pull out the rolling bins. The Rev-a-Shelf attaches to your door making it a big drawer front, so it's a one-hand, one-motion thing.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=272635-1214-RV-12PB&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3098621&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
Or
www.rev-a-shelf.com

Patti says:

I agree with djdweller. Evernote is one of the best organizational tools out there. Have a look. It's so great that it syncs to all devices ...PC, Mac, Iphone .....

annahj says:

I was looking at your cabinet hardware note, and I found the best source for bin pulls and matching knobs - it's Kennedy Hardware online. Here's the link to the bin pull page. The prices are amazingly low, and the quality is great. I was afraid that at that price, the pulls would have burrs or feel cheap, but they don't ...they are just good, solid pulls.

http://www.kennedyhardware.com/cast-iron-bin_pulls/

I think also, that your online system is great. As a person with multiple notebooks (unorganized, but with hundreds of photos from magazines...) that it makes more sense to organize just how you deal with your world. digital works!

arrieana says:

I loved reading your process Becky and all funny and practice comments. Finally I feel supported as I've been trying to get started on my remodel. Now I am starting with these many good ideas. Here is an idea, start a Clark's List (Angie's) in every city. A lot of us are looking for A Clark.

Ellen T. says:

I too LOVE your to-do list and the idea of breaking up my one enormous Houzz Ideabook into several ideabooks for various projects (why didn't I think of that?).
On another note, compost isn't smelly unless overly wet and/or deprived of oxygen. I keep a bucket with a lid under my sink and all organic trash goes in there until it's full and then out to my outdoor compost bins. So easy, and makes great mulch and soil amendment.
Lastly, I really like your dresser and plan to steal that idea. My preference is for the more ornate pulls, but painted silver so they're more like a spot of jewelry on the drawers as in the original picture. The lucite pull is neat, but it's shape doesn't show at all since it's clear.

Thanks for the fun and original post!

Cindy Ceballos says:

Becky... you sound like my twin! I have idea books, folders, pinterest, stumbledupon, bins, baskets etc. of ideas.
The insomnia list writing sounds just like me as well. My husband is contemplating a job change and last night around 2am I got back up and worked on our budget in Excel for a couple hours. Nightime thinking when the house is quiet, the dog snoring in her bed next to me in the home office is my favorite time.

One last note. My husband made a tilt out kitchen trash idea when we pulled out our old dishwasher years ago. Floor space in the kitchen couldn't accomodate a kitchen trash can so this "temporary" idea has worked for us (um... for 4 years). The problem is that the family does not always get the trash INTO the trash can and therefore, constant and diligent cleaning is needed behind the tilt out. I just don't think this works... but for now it's what we have to deal with until we can afford to remodel the kitchen.

Carolyn says:

I use a programme called Microsoft OneNote. I can add categories and write the details in and also add photos. It's a great little package that can be used for heaps of purposes.

Valerie Kilpatrick says:

Excellent excellent! this was like having you read my mind, except you clairifed how I need to approach the to-do list. Thanks!
:)
Valerie

cybercanary says:

Every new year I sit down and write a list of the things I would like to accomplish this year on the house. I was able to complete approx 80% of my list last year.

Tammy Saitta says:

You rock! I loved reading your post. Thank you for your wonderful ideas.

Susan Galdones says:

tnx for sharing, im getting ideas for my new house

artsy2 says:

I use folders so I can quickly change out ideas. I change my mind a lot. I organize it into projects, then folders labeled: kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, landscape. I place the folders into sterlite type containers, that are ~ 4" x 12"x 9". I have them clearly labeled and stacked in my studio/ craft room. When I want to work on a particular project or area, I just pull out that box and go to town. It' large enough to accommodate tile & wood samples as well as files within. I use a home binder for all my contact numbers/business cards. This also has information about my house(s). I note when changes were made, such as paint color on walls. I include a paint chip along with before and after pix. I also keep receipts for future reference. It's amazing how much I use it. I have a binder for each house. My rental, purr get-away cabin and purr primary home. When we go to the cabin, I take our beach house binder, so I have numbers at hand should anything happen while we are away. I also have the business card pages scanned into my computer for reference.
I LOVE organization an I'm constantly searching for new ideas. Hope my ideas help someone out there!

(just noticed that my iPad changed the text above from "our" to "purr " and I can't get back to change it! Oops!

susansnell says:

Your sun mirror is the prettiest I've seen and it looks like the right size for my mantle, can you tell me who makes it or how can I find it? Thank you very much.

sadiesommers says:

Can you tell me what company makes the bird wallpaper in the laundry room photo you posted. I LOVE it!!!

Becky Harris says:

Hey Sadie, It's called "A-Twitter" by Schumacher. Click on the picture and then click on the green tag on it, it will lead you to more info.