We have a new friend hanging out in our kitchen. I found this guy at Hobby Lobby during one of their all-the-time 50% off sales for $12. You know me and faux animals. Faux sho they’re mine.
Then he sat in our playroom for a while (a while = 6+ months) and I recently walked in there and had this moment where I said to myself “Self: you have got to stop hoarding things in this room. Use them or lose them.” Which led to an initiative I like to call “Dude, Get On That Already.” The dude being me. Naturally. So I’ll probably revisit this initiative over the next few weeks and months (at least I hope I will) as I systematically pare down the hoarded playroom clutter and decide whether I’m going to keep things and actually use/hang/enjoy them or craigslist/donate/yard sale ’em. A lot of things end up in there for one of two reasons:
- I’m not quite sure where to hang them (so I stick them there and say “I’ll get to it later” and later turns into never)
- I plan to somehow alter things by painting or staining them (so I stick them there and say “I’ll get to it later” and later turns into never)
Well not anymore, folks. I dug in and grabbed my horny little friend and marched his antlers all around the house, trying to find a spot to hang him up and actually enjoy him instead of hiding him away in The Room Of Chaos (yes, that’s its formal name these days, so it gets capital letters and everything). Anyway, after walking around for a while I decided it’d be fun in the kitchen next to the fridge, but the original black color (although very cool in its own right) wasn’t working there. So I dragged my buns outside with a piece of cardboard and some leftover white primer + spray paint.
You know my “thin thin thin and even coats” catchphrase when it comes to spray paint, so I snapped these three in-progress spraying shots to show you how each coat is a nice thin mist. You definitely don’t get full coverage with one thin coat of spray paint – which is a good thing. You’re doing it right if it takes about three of them to slowly accumulate. And always keep your hand moving and hold it 8-10″ away. No thank you drippies. Not on my watch.
Speaking of spray painting tips, this guy’s antlers were still looking dark on the underside, which I knew would be seen when we hung him up, so I waited a full day for his front to cure and then flipped him over to give him a nice deep tissue massage with spray paint on the back.
John and I actually considered a few crazier colors (plum, navy, yellow) but thought that the white would look nice on our grellow walls- especially with the gold mirror in the laundry room so close by (it’s on the other side of the doorway, so we didn’t want it to have to fight for attention). But I have big plans for some of the other things lurking in the playroom. Oh yes, plum, navy, and beyond…
Don’t mind the paint touch ups we have been meaning to do for over a month. I’ll get to it sometime. Unless I’m too busy spray painting various faux animals.
Work it, antlers. Work it.
As for how I hung it on our paneled walls, anchors are a gal’s best friend.
Here’s the box we’ve had… oh… maybe a year?
They seem to last, which is nice because it’s so annoying to run to the store for little hanging stuff. Boo to that. Anyway, for those who might not know how they work, this might sound like “health class” in 5th grade, but the anchor is the white thing and the screw is the silver thing you know what a screw looks like. So you drill a tiny pilot hole into the wall, hammer (or push) the anchor into the hole, and then screw the screw into the anchor.
A into B, baby. Oh but just leave a little bit of the screw sticking out for hanging whatever it is you’re hanging on it (the anchor should be flush with the wall, but the screw might stick out half an inch). Das it.
I gotta tell ya, it took less than an hour of actual time (drying time doesn’t count because you don’t have to stand there and watch it). And that not only includes my little spraying trips in and out for those thin coats but also the whole hanging shebang after he was fully dry. So I have high hopes for my little “Dude, Get On That Already” project. I might just keep this up! And if I ever want to pop it off the wall for a fabulous royal wedding, it makes for a great fascinator.
So are you guys with me on this weird little self-imposed challenge? Any items (or an entire room full of stuff) that you’ve been putting off? Wanna tackle it with me as I go? I’d love to get to at least one thing a week but with kitchen/kid/book stuff I’m not sure if I can stick to that, but it’s definitely the goal! Oh and what should I name this guy? Or is naming white faux animals weird when they don’t have faces? Malcolm? I keep getting Malcolm.
And speaking of projects… surprise!
My apologies for the crazy lighting (oh yeah and the ladders and the dropcloths) but we’re in the midst of getting new lighting! Hah. So there’s just one floor lamp illuminating the back corner of our windowless interior room. Which explains why it looks like a glowing Katy Perry alien is hiding back there or something. But as crazy as it looks… wahoo, it’s progress! More details about the whole process as soon as it’s a wrap (and it’s all cleaned up, photographed, and written out) on Monday!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
Love this challenge! I could do it with our guest bedroom closet, but we’re moving so whatev. Instead it will be the “Dude, dont even start a crap pile in here” challenge next month after we move in. ;)
Leah says
My dumping grounds are the closets in my house (in all three bedrooms, plus the large linen closet). They are all full of random things that I never unpacked when I moved in as well as other things I have accumulated in the past 1.5 years. I am completely on board with your challenge.
Leah says
Love the fascinator face, $herdog ;)
Shannon says
You could totally hang aprons from those antlers! Or reusable grocery bags. So cute!
Lani says
TOTALLY one step ahead of you. Literally just wrote this post this week because I started getting the crazies about how many unfinished projects are around my house!
http://www.diapersanddivas.com/2012/01/12-plus-12-plus-12-equals.html
So yeah…I’m totally with you, Sherry! Let’s get ’em DONE! :) And you’re totally excused because you clearly have had a ton going on around your house. I have no excuse…I’m just lazy!
Erika says
Love the idea about the apron! haha
My back bedroom has become a catch-all for yard sale items; you’ve inspired to get that room under control!
Can’t wait to see the new lighting!
heather says
Name Vote:
Male: Ralph or Winston
Female: Elaine – who has the nice rack. Bahaha. I’m so dumb.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah. Elaine. Never thought he could be a she…
xo,
s
heather says
Bahaha I don’t think it could be biologically, but it makes for such a good pun.
heather says
I take back the biological comment. It could be a female if it was a reindeer/elk/caribou (and I’m sure a few other species too). I say female that thing up!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha.
xo,
s
alex says
Am I the only on who thinks you need to procure a white ceramic rifle and DIY a fun gunrack to go along with your antler collection (cause you totally have another animal head somewhere)…*crickets* no? Just me. Shucks.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahahaha. I did see a ceramic gun vase once and it was surprisingly badass.
xo,
s
Jamie@WrightHouseAffairs says
AHHH! SO excited to see the lighting on Monday. As you have worked your way through the kitchen remodel, the lighting has become more of an eyesore (Since everything else is so new and pretty). Recessed lighting will look AMAZING in there! Holllerrrr!
Courtney Rutledge says
Sorry to say I am that person asking a bajillion questions that have nothing to do with the current post. I am trying to find the name of your home depot light that you used in your guest bathroom — the technically outdoor one. I have searched your site and cannot find, thanks!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We probably couldn’t find the link online so it might be in store only? I’m sure if you go there you’ll be able to match it up. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jen says
Is this it? I think its called Hampton Bay 1-Light Outdoor Cottage Lantern
http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Outdoor-Lighting-Outdoor-Wall-Lighting-Outdoor-Wall-Mount/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbvniZ1z10h80/R-202022733/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&superSkuId=202576733
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, that’s it!
xo,
s
MichelleL says
Sherry, I may join you in your challenge! We have an entire small bedroom just like yours that also has a name- “The Closet of Death” (a carryover from our apartment where we had a closet of similar clutter). It’s just where everything gets thrown, but it does really make you evualuate whether you actually need any of that stuff. I need to start going through and doing something about it like you! Thanks for the inspiration!
YoungHouseLove says
Hah, I like the COD. Has a nice ring to it.
xo,
s
Jane in STL says
Does fabric count? ’cause I have some and maybe I’ll actually make a pillow or an ottoman cover.
Or what about baskets? picture frames? I do have a few of those, too.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha – it all counts!
xo,
s
Davida says
I love the idea of a “Dude, Get On That Already!” effort. I can think of several things that are going on that list immediately… er…. when I get home from work, I mean. Lunch hour isn’t long enough…
Lynn says
I bought the same antlers over the summer and sprayed them white too!
Rachel says
Laughing at your ‘Room of Chaos’. When our study was full of all of our rubbish, we termed it ‘the Room of Requirement’. As in Harry Potter: everything you might ever need was in it. The question was figuring out exactly WHERE….!
Courtney S. says
Looks great (both the antlers and the new lighting)! Just had to tell you that I was at Target last night and saw a decent sized white horse head for sale for $24.99 and instantly thought of you and your love for white ceramic animals. I almost picked it up for myself, but with a baby coming in less than 4 weeks, I got stopped by my conscience :(
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that horse is hilarious to me because his mouth is open. Like he’s talking!
xo,
s
Amanda K says
We had a room just like your playroom in our old house. We started off calling it “the third bedroom” and soon enough we just called it what it was: the junk room.
In our new house (and with our new baby) we don’t have a spare room. It’s annoying because I’d LOVE to have a place to stash stuff out of sight (for example, we have a rug rolled up in the corner of our living room waiting to be craigslisted or put in a new home…) BUT it’s also good, it’s kept me from hoarding and keeping things we don’t need.
Good luck with your challenge!
Kelly says
I’m with you on the (hopefully) project a week. I need to get my butt in gear on the avalanche of projects in my new apt. I finally finished adding (thin, thin) coats of non-toxic poly to my nightstand. Tonight is the full 72 hours and then I can start to use it finally. I stained and painted it way before Christmas, but have been hesitant to finish it since it was my first poly attempt ever. So, me=nightstand. You=Malcolm.
Look. At. Us. Go.
Tallyho!
:-)
Sam @ Leave the Nest Up to Me says
I’m right there with you — I think of all the things I want to do and get overwhelmed instead of going through the list one by one. You have inspired me to tackle a vase-to-lamp project I keep putting off!
Emily says
First off, I love the name! Malcolm is actually my five month old’s name so maybe I’m a teensy bit biased, maybe. Now that I’m staying home with my little guy I notice more and more things that need to get done: a real bed frame and new side tables for the bedroom, new throw pillows for the living room, new lighting all around and a spruced up kitchen. Whew…I’m tired already.
Lauren says
My fingers were crossed that you would make a pun out of “horny little friend”… but, alas, no.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that was the pun. He’s horny. Har-har.
xo,
s
Amanda @ Heart Tree Home says
Hilarious! I just hung my Christmas gift Zgallerie deer head yesterday, and I used the tried and true anchor and screw method as well. I’m on board with your challenge, considering it took me two weeks to hang my deer head :-)
Tiff says
This is weird, I was at hobby lobby last night and saw some stuff and thought to myself Sherry would love that. I think it is crazy that I know what you like. I am going to go buy a can of spray paint to spray something now.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it. Sorry I wormed my way into your mind while shopping!
xo,
s
Megan says
L-O-V-E it! I would love to have found that for my home. Isn’t it obnoxiously rewarding when little projects like this get done? I’m a total geek about it. Bonus – room of chaos getting attacked.
Speaking of “ROOM OF CHAOS” (said in thunderous voice), my friend has a similar hoarding situation except she calls it “The Island of Misfit Decorations”. You know, like “The Island of Misfit Toys” in Rudolph. It has so much decorating eye candy in it. I can’t wait for her to finish her renovation and to see your kitchen reno progress!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha. I love it. And the thunderous voice.
xo,
s
Janelle D says
I know you’re probably like “let it rest already”! But your paint color is like a CHAMELEON. I’ve never seen it look so yellow as it does in this post. I’ll never know what it’s like. You know, unless you throw a big YHL party in your new kitchen… Haha.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- it’s definitely really yellow here. We took these pics really early this morning (we usually take them in the afternoon or evening) so maybe the morning light does something?
xo,
s
Cathryn says
What a nice touch. I love it when a decorative touch is added to a small, usually ignored space.
I’ve never commented before, but I wanted to say that your blog has really inspired me to take some risks and have fun with my home. I’ve been on a designing/decorating spree for the past few weeks solely because of the ideas I’ve seen here. My home is starting to look great and I owe it to you guys!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw that’s so sweet Cathryn! We’re so glad!
xo,
s
Whitney Dupuis says
Oh boy, do I have a room (and a garage) like this. I keep going thrifting or clearance shopping and finding things that we don’t have room for in this house. I buy them, though, because I am certain I will never come across something quite as wonderful again (?!) and my next house will be able to house it all (again, ?!). Yeah, it is a sickness.
My goal this year, though, is to clean and organize my house. This house. I am on board with your challenge. I will go through all of my stuff and use what I love and get rid of what I don’t. Thanks for the boost!
allie says
i have been looking for faux taxidermy for forever to spray paint white! i’m so jealous you found this at hobby lobby and absolutely love it!!
Elena says
Hey guys! Love the antlers, but I have a question: Where can I find the post on removing kitchen cabinets? I looked through the projects tab but I think I’m missing it. Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
Here ya go: https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/11/our-cabinets-are-like-chumbawumba/
xo,
s
Sabrina says
So funny! I was looking at our craigslist and someone has 1000 ceramic molds for free to anyone who wants them. I thought of you!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it. I’ll just add those to the playroom chaos.
xo,
s
robyns says
so when you said “Room of Chaos” I totally got a picture in my head of that room in Harry Potter where students would stash all the illegal stuff! It has to be better than that was! And it must also be awesome to see someone else working on the kitchen instead of slaving away in there yourselves.
ashlie says
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who buy random antler things and then spray paints and names them! This is Darrell. http://madamclerk.blogspot.com/2012/01/meet-darrell.html
YoungHouseLove says
I. Love. Darrell.
xo,
s
Alicia says
Your kitchen is looking great!! It’s the highlight of my lunch break checking out what you guys have done. Is that a pendant light over the bar? I’m on the mad hunt for pendant lights for my kitchen. Do you mind sharing where you got it?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s the pendant that has always been in the kitchen (although now its placement makes no sense)! Haha. So I wish I knew where it was from but have no idea!
xo,
s
Emily says
Ohh yeah, my office is where projects go to die :( I’ll try this challenge!
White Malcolm looks perfect over White Trash Can!
Jessica @ Decor Adventures says
You are in a sassy mood today – I like it :-)
And that is definitely a unique faux animal, I’ve never seen those at HB, will have to look.
The screw in the anchor is all I use on our 112 year old plaster walls, they are a lifesaver!
aynorth says
Ya’lls kitchen wall continues to change colors. Is this color similar to how it looks in real life? It looks more like a rich baby yellow in the photos to me (which I love).
YoungHouseLove says
It’s quite the cameleon! I’d describe it best as a soft golden green. Literally the color of a sliced avocado.
xo,
s
Monika says
I am dying to find out which lights you picked out as your pendants. It’s probably slightly unhealthy to be so curious ;) We finally decided on our pendants (still to be installed), here are these beauties: http://www.westelm.com/products/globe-pendant-a563/?pkey=cpendant-lighting
YoungHouseLove says
Gorgeous!
xo,
s
Amy @ this DIY life says
Love it! I have one (or five) of those rooms too! I actually joined a little party at Lovely Crafty Home for those of us who need to get our crap together. I think if you see my craft room, you will feel better about The Room of Chaos in your house :) http://thisdiylife.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/simplify-my-creative-space/
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- looks just like mine!
xo,
s
Crystal says
Definitely not strange! We bought a double chaise lounge cushion on major discount from Pottery Barn but we haven’t built the double chaise lounge for it to sit on yet! Hopefully we’ll get to this year just in time for summer!
Mann says
i have a hoarding problem called – my husband. he likes to keep stuff, i like to ditch it. and so it is that i’m constantly and quietly weaseling things away, while he is constantly and as quietly weaseling things into the house, and then i get rid of it and then he brings in more and… you get the point.
sometimes it’s really funny, it is really is. and sometimes – and thank goodness it isn’t too often – it just makes me want to cry.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I have a hoarding problem called my husband. Hilarious.
xo,
s
heather says
We had two couches once and this big chair and it drove me nuts. My husband kept telling me not to toss them but I kept saying I would. Then he finally conceded and said if I could get them to the curb I could toss them.
Bad decision.
Him and my BIL went to Home Depot one day and came home to see the couch (rolled out a door, rolled down the driveway and at the side of the road) with a free sign on it. A few days later the chair followed.
To this day if we’re all still on the one couch, including the two dogs and our laptops, he reminds me of that time I got rid of all of the furniture. Or jokes around and like to say, “remember that time we had enough furniture?”
I’m still proud of it. Ultimate decluttering success.
Ruthy T. says
i’ve been seeing antlers every where…i think i need to go get me some! and i’m so excited to see the kitchen progress!! you guys are amazing :)
Cindy W. says
An antler fascinator. HAHAHAHA
Regarding this worthy challenge: I need advice from you/commenters, please. I work full time, I’m married and have kids, I have a new side business (crafts, sewing, Ana White inspirations, etc.), and I’m involved with my church. HOW do I choose where to start on my clutter/bare walls? I know I can’t do it all, all the time, but I’m so overwhelmed that I do nothing about it because I’m paralyzed. HELP.
xo
YoungHouseLove says
I always say to break things into small doable chunks. So start with whatever sounds fun. If you feel like sorting a small corner, do that. Or hang frames if that sounds fun. it took us months to get our house sorted out, so just take your time. No pressure!
xo,
s
Cindy W. says
Self-imposed “Pressure” is my middle name. Or maybe Guilt is my middle name. ;)
Penny says
As fabulous as Malcolm is, I hope the Santa balloon doesn’t make friends with him. He’s very pointy.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, poor Santa! He’s very droopy these days.
xo,
s
Kate says
So I’ve been following along (more like stalking) with the kitchen renovation and feeling rather bleh about my own kitchen, which is fine as a space but completely dysfunctional in terms of layout. And I had resigned myself to the fact that the only way things could change would be if we blew out the entire back wall of our house to make the room bigger. And THEN my amazing carpenter father-in-law came over, took a quick look at things and measured a few others and BAM! we have a plan that will keep all our walls in tact AND give us a dishwasher. A dishwasher! I’m downright giddy. All of this to say the kitchen changes are that much more interesting (and no longer depressing) to me and I can’t wait to see what you do with the lighting. Sorry for the roundabout path to get to that point.
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoooo! I’m so happy for you! A dishwasher changed our life in our first house (which was dishwasherless when we got it). Congrats!
xo,
s
Sheela says
You guys are making such great progress! As for “Dude, get on that!”, it’s a great plan and I certainly have my moments where I have many “get on that” times and others where stuff does sit for months on end.
Here’s a way I sometimes challenge myself to get stuff done: if I’m cooking and the timer is set (for example, 10 minutes until the rice is done), then I’ll challenge myself to see how much clutter I can get off the desk in that time, or if I can paint a quick coat onto a small woodworking project I may be doing, etc. It’s amazing how much you really can accomplish in small spurts of time. I think sometimes we all get overwhelmed in thinking that we have to have a huge chunk of time to do something, but I find that I’m sometimes most productive when I’m working things in during smaller chunks of time.
YoungHouseLove says
So smart.
xo,
s
Vicki S says
Now you have something else to hang ornaments from next year! I can just see them dangling down next December…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Yesss! I want to hang a tiny banner from horn to horn for birthdays.
xo,
s
Courtney says
So I totally saw those antlers in my Hobby Lobby here in IL, and thought to myself “Sherry Petersik would love those if they were spray painted white!”. But, I did not purchase them, and they were only $6 or $8…maybe I’ll go look again…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- that’s awesome.
xo,
s
Kaitlyn says
Great challenge! I’ve just moved into my first place and I’ve been challenged to make all the little bits and bobbles I collected over the years functional in a new space! I was wondering, with those anchors do you have to put them in a stud or not? I’ve heard mixed opinions and (since I’m renting) I’m deathly afraid of drilling into walls… haha, I’ll have to get over that…
Maggie Rose says
OMG Sherry you have no idea the massive number of projects that are half started or ruminating. Instead of a room of project shame though I just have my whole freaking apartment. Oy. Ok, I’ll get on it – we’re currently snowed in but then I am OFF to the store for the last supplies for my drapes, pillows, bookshelf makeover, art DIY… look at what you’ve started! ;)
LaVerna DuBois says
Malcom ROCKS!! I got 1/2 the real macoy, but it is so gianormous I currently have it laying down on the top of a cabinet. Tip to end touches floor to ceiling. I told you it was gianormous!! I love it but I’m afraid it’s staying put until I figure out what to do with the darn thing. Maybe I should charge it Rent?