Thank you, thank you, thank you! I knew they were both either late 90's or early 2000's, and I wanted to make sure they got in the right bed. I used Google for a few others that I was missing the intro year for, but for some reason Google didn't help me on these 2. Probably I could've searched some more and found it, but my internet access at the new house here is still not great, and the nighttime temps have started letting me know that I am OUT of time to get these planted! As to where I've been, I've been moving - AGAIN! 2.5 times (the .5 was in/out of a temporary apt. in Ohio) in as many years. ARRRGGHH! DH's company up and relocated their whole corporate office on us. But on a positive note, I'm getting pretty good at moving irises! And I've got a nicer spot for the irises at this new place than either of the 2 previous places. Lots of room, lots of sun, good drainage, decent soil... What was I complaining about again? ;-) Thanks again! Diana

Sheesharee, my DH and I are just getting ready to finish the built-in storage in our two closets, which are about the same dimensions as yours. We are doing L-shaped storage, that is, along two walls, so there's enough room to comfortably stand/dress in there. We're doing built-in stacks of shoe/sweater shelves, with double hanging bars on one wall and singles on the other. The empty wall will have hooks for robes, belts, etc. Each closet will also have a rolling laundry hamper we can easily roll down the hall to the washer/dryer area. I carefully planned it all out depending on the measurements of what we each need to store. It will probably end up costing us about $250 in materials by the time we're done. I'll try to post some photos once the main component are installed, and then later (hopefully by next weekend!) when it's all painted and has clothes in it :) We have been living out of piles and remote closets and basement boxes for over a year now since we had to gut this part of the house due to a mold problem and bathroom renovation. It's been so frustrating not knowing where stuff is. I am sooooooooooo looking forward to having nice, organized closets!

The room will basically be a closet + office (we're in a tiny place with 2 11'x11' bedrooms). So it'll have these 3 pieces plus a desk (right now a black folding table; may change later). Room and trim color will stay the same for now, and are as shown in the photos (tan walls, white trim). I am open to changing the wall color, as it's what came with the house, just haven't gotten that far in the decorating plan (still remodeling the kitchen). You can see the golden pine hardwood floors peeking out from among the clutter. It's a 1920's worker's cottage, so traditional style, can't be too modern. I'm thinking no brown paint, as I agree that looks like I tried to fake wood. White comes to mind, and it's "safe." But is it too bland, or too stark a contrast with the EA piece? I think black would be too modern for the house. I do like some of the 2-toned paint jobs in nosoccermom's link. And the trim they added. I could do that on both the non-EAs to make them match. Thoughts on the fabric-panel-on-the-drawers idea? It looks simple enough to execute, but does that make it too hard to change down the road? I'm off to sand the tall chest and prime it right this evening. Keep the ideas (or opinions) coming on the shade or shades to paint.

Frankie, I have just written 2 posts and deleted them, because I am so full of what I've just learnt. Originally, I came on here to respond to your post, and give some advice about de-cluttering, then I learnt something as I wrote, and deleted that post. So I wrote another one, and learnt something else, and whew... I have had a major "aha" moment. I was going to tell you I didn't exactly know what you meant by "churning", that organizing is simply a matter of keeping only what you love and use, and getting the rest out of your home. But even while I was typing I realised that I do know exactly what churning is. I even use the term a lot, because that is how I worry. I churn in my mind. I churn over my thougts. I'm a stressor and a worrier to the point that if I haven't got anything to worry about I'll worry about someone else's worries for them! LOL. DH is not a worrier, thankfully for my sake, and often tells me to "Stop worrying!", So last week I sat up in bed and said, "Ok I want to, but HOW do I do it". His answer, "Just stop thinking about it.". So I gave a sigh and said, "But HOW? No one says HOW to stop the thoughts." "You just do it, don't think of them anymore, put them out" he says. Right! And then as I wrote to you, it clicked with me. I have successfully de-cluttered and organized our home, and it's a peaceful calm haven that we love to come home to. I no longer churn when it comes to the house, so I DO know how to stop churning my thoughts. Exactly the same principle. I've read Flyladies "De-clutter your body", and even then it didn't actually click. I understood the principle, but didn't know how to "do" it. Just the same as when I read of people who have trouble getting rid of stuff from their homes, I think "Huh? it's obvious isn't it, you just take it away somewhere else or you trash it, what's the problem". Well, I see now why people get stuck, because I get stuck with my own thoughts. Well, I'm trying not to write such long posts, so I'll just say that I'm going to give my mind the same treatment I gave my house. Ask each thought, Do I love you, do I need you? Are you still there because someone gave you to me? Am I hanging onto you because you might fit in the future? Am I hanging onto you because you fit me in the past? Oh, I could go on and on with this. Now tell me, where do you trash junky thoughts to? I recognize all the "stuff" now, but I have to take the steps in getting them out of my mind. Frankie, thank you for your post. It helped it all to finally "click" for me.