Cleaning Out the Closet

So the remodel (phase one, at least), is coming to a close. Which means I have no more excuses to be living out of boxes. Time to go through those boxes and edit, edit, edit … and that's where you come in. I've got stuff going straight to charity … and then I've got stuff that I like too well to give to just anyone — and a few items, even, that I'm only going to let go to the right buyer.

Here goes:

Hollywood bed frame. Adjustable for twin and full box springs. Free for the taking. TAKEN

Custom bed frame for full mattress. Steel, powder-coated construction. Finish color is "root beer". Not the best picture.

Mid-20th-century ceramic pillow form. Japanese. Purchased @$75. Make an offer.

16 FLOR brand cocoa-colored coir carpet tiles. Purchased @ $400. Make an offer. TAKEN

Mid-20th-century shoji game board. Japanese. Solid wood — I believe it's alder. Purchased @ $60. Make an offer.

Pétanque set (like bocce or lawn bowling) — includes rules. Purchased @ $60. Make an offer.

Two wreathes with faux red berries. TAKEN

Two kissing balls with faux red berries. TAKEN

Mirrored picture frame. TAKEN

Wooden picture frame. TAKEN

Double picture frame in marquetry. TAKEN

Leatherbound picture frame. TAKEN

Leatherbound picture frame. TAKEN

Leatherbound picture frame. TAKEN

Good Morning World!

I love how light reflects off its myriad planes … and how the passing of the day brings such a panoply of variation.

For Sale … For the Taking

Last week I did a little editing, and have some items for sale and for the taking. And since I'd much rather my stuff go to good homes, I'm offering them to friends and family before I put them up on Craigslist or on Freecycle.

Dibbed (but not taken) — Mac Mini + External HDs with Wireless Keyboard and Mouse — $350





My Mac Mini served me well — with a total of 700 GBs of storage — and it'll serve you well, too.

Hardware:

Processor: 1.42 GHz Power PC G4
Memory: 1 GB DDR SDRAM
HD: 80 GB Original Internal, 500 GB + 120 GB LaCie Externals
Video: ATI Radeon 9200
Networking: Airport & Bluetooth

Software:

Up-to-date OS (Leopard + Software Updates)
Latest iWork Suite
Latest iLife Suite

For the Taking

TAKEN — Brown Microfiber ("Suede") Throw Pillow



TAKEN — Woven Grass Basket (I turned it upside down and used it as a bedside table)



TAKEN — Twin Bed — Mattress, Box Spring, Hollywood Roller Frame



The stuff on top of the bed is staying with me (at least for now).

Lemme know if you're interested!

Of Good Report, 5 | Flowers

Flowers. I meant to run over to Roots today, but got distracted. I'll have to stop in tomorrow, after Farmers Market.

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for flowers… my childhood home had flower beds galore, and my (extremely) sensitive nose continues to find respite in their heady, organic scents. So I take the time to have cut flowers in my home. When I'm on a roll, I'll have fresh arrangements every other week (less frequently when I can pull long-lasting blooms from a wilting arrangement and repurpose them)… when I'm off my game, it's every other month. And it's worth the effort. The small bundles of beauty moderate my moods and bring sparkle to my home life… well worth the "pizza money" I'm foregoing.

I guess it's a matter of priorities. I spend money on things that are important to me: flowers, a maid, long-lasting shoes, books, my friends, and philanthropy. And I'm unapologetic. I've heard it said that one of the best tools for teaching our children what they should value is by our example in the management of our discretionary funds. If I had children, I'd be proud to let have them walk with me across the park to the little brick flower shop… they'd get a handful of Skittles from the candy jar on the counter while we waited for Rachel or one of her gals to work a little magic. Then we'd bounce back across the street with a fresh arrangement for our home.

* sigh *

Yeah… I'm definitely getting some flowers tomorrow.

Flowers are definitely something of good report.

This post is part of a week-long series focusing on the good and praiseworthy in my life… please consider reading all seven: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Of Good Report, 4 | Downtown Living

I love living downtown. I love that my grocer, my baker, my florist, the fish monger, and the guys at the deli all know my name. That they notice when I've been away. I've said it before: living downtown in more like living in a small town than living in the wastelands of suburbia ever could be. And it's not just my neighbors that I love … I love my home (photos). All 576 square feet of it. It's mine — every inch. Sure, it would easily fit in many of y'alls living rooms. But it's all the space I need. I won't lie: I've thought about buying the unit next door, and combining the two (1100 square feet! woot!) … but the thought seldom lasts. What would I do with all that space? No… I think I'll keep it right where it is.

Living small is where it's at. It forces you to edit … to focus on what delivers, on what's worth the effort — the room! It fosters creativity. Necessity being the mother of invention, and all.

Anyway, that's today's good report: living small is where it's at!

This post is part of a week-long series focusing on the good and praiseworthy in my life… please consider reading all seven: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Race Against Dallas

So, it looks like my buddy (and neighbor) Dallas is going to redecorate his condo. And he's on-track to starting and finishing the project before Christmas.

We'll see how that goes…

But it's lit a fire under me.

You see, I've lived here for two years, slowly (glacially, really) getting my place to a point where I could have an open house. My big hang-up right now is finding someone who can build a small wall (know anyone that fits the bill? let me know!). I'm in a race, now. I'm aiming to have my open house the same time Dallas has his re-open house.

Anyway… I wanted to — in the spirit of friendly competition — let everyone know that Dallas is having a garage sale. Online.

Renting, Buying, & Bull(pucky)

I haven't been a renter for eight years.

I purchased my first home (a condo), in Provo Utah and subsidized my mortgage with income from renting out my spare bedrooms to BYU students. It was a good purchase and I value what I learned from the experience about paying bills on-time and fiscal health in general… when I sold it, I made paper profit — it sold for more than I bought it for — but lost on the back-end until I factored-in the off-sets from rental income. I was stunned. I had paid more on my mortgage than I had gained in appreciation. Somewhere along the line, I made the common error of thinking that paper profit was the end goal… and believing the myth that buying is always better than renting.

If you're in the market to buy, or if you're in the mood for a reality check, you'll enjoy this amazing calculator from The New York Times, which lets you compare the true costs of renting versus buying. You may be surprised.

As much as I love owning my home, I am a firm opponent of the idea that renters are "just throwing their money away". It's false on its face for the many buyers without the credit to get a good interest rate and those who plan on selling within a few years... but worse, it ignores the value that housing — regardless of whether it's in a rental or not — offers. There's value in having a roof over your head, just ask a homeless person. And unless you own your home outright, you pay for that privilege.

So why the kerfuffle? Three reasons, really: mortgages are big money, home ownership is part (and parcel?) of the American Dream™, and home-buyers are seen as better citizens by all levels of government.

UPDATE: Another article on the problem with the idea that buying is absolutely the best idea for everyone… this time from Get Rich Slowly.

A History of House Valuations

Oh. This does not look good at all.

Lazy Web: Do you know any handy men?

Hey, everyone: as you know, I've just purchased a great place downtown (SLC), and I'm trying to do a little fix-up before moving in. We've painted the walls and refinished the floor... now I'm looking for what I assume will be three different contractors: I need an electrician (lighting, and moving some outlets around), a carpenter (for building an interior wall with a window), and a finishing carpenter (for crafting some modest built-in book shelves).

Do you know anyone that you'd recommend? They're three very small jobs... and I'd prefer to have everything done before moving in — though that isn't absolutely necessary.

Let me know!

A New Nest for Silus

Well, it's been remarkably quiet here... and mostly because I've been so focused on my biggest shiny thing to date: a new condo.

I've sold my condo in Provo, and closed last night on a nice new pad in downtown Salt Lake City. It wasn't a smooth ride by any stretch of the imagination... but every step of the way Heavenly Father was there, clearing the way. I've said it before, and it bears repeating: I live a charmed life. I am truly blessed.

I'd like to thank all my friends who kept me in their thoughts and prayers... It was very much appreciated.

Pictures and details to follow.

: )

Someone fixed the electrical outlet.

And it's about time!

: )

The folks at 360Electrical have a dandy little device that I'm mentioning here, so as to not for get about it when I'm remodeling.