Young House Love

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Aren’t Mother-In-Laws The Best?

When Sherry’s mom was here a couple of weekends ago for Clara’s birthday party she clocked more than her fair share of hours helping us clean the house in preparation. Perhaps her most miraculous accomplish was in the future playroom / second kids bedroom (aka: current junkroom) which looked like this when she arrived (no kidding):

Playroom Messy Before

Since our junk basically screamed “I Will Topple Over On Your Baby!” we were just planning to close and lock the door during the party to keep all of the littler guests away from certain death. That plan went to pot when we realized that we couldn’t physically close the door anymore (mainly due to the poorly timed delivery of a large box full of replacement parts for our recalled outdoor grill, which came the day before the party).

So before one might consider us candidates for an episode of Hoarders, my mother-in-law took it upon herself to get things organized. Ahhhhh……

Playroom Clear After

Now the door closes, which was definitely necessary for the party (let me paint you a picture: kids everywhere). Surprisingly, Diana didn’t actually throw that much away – except maybe a few boxes that we had been hanging on to (like the one for Sherry’s sewing machine in case she and Oh Brother didn’t survive their first few rocky weeks together). So this really is just a result of sorting and putting things in some semblance of order (pillows with pillows, baskets nested inside of each other or stacked, etc).

Playroom Table Chair

Now it’s almost like this entire room is our mega “decor store” from which to pull frames, accessories and pillows when we need ’em elsewhere in the house. At least that’s what we tell ourselves when we feel super slothy for having a room full of not-sure-where-it’ll-land-yet stuff after five months of living here.

Playroom Pillow Bed

Oh, and notice that vintage kids chair? That was a birthday gift from Sherry’s mom. It’s the actual chair that she and her six siblings used when they were growing up to eat meals. Cool, right? I mean, in that totally-not-up-to-current-safety-standards way. But nonetheless, it’s fun to have in our possession (imagining my mother-in-law as a baby eating mushed up bananas is always a trip). We’ve got big plans for it as Clara’s big girl chair after she’s past her highchair days. In fact Sherry’s already googling around to make sure we can safely fix it up (making sure there aren’t any lead/formaldehyde issues since those were used in old furnishings). That’s my slightly neurotic girl.

Playroom High Chair

As happy as it made us to have the room walkable again, it’s obviously still miles away from being a usable playroom. Luckily there’s no rush to get started (since the living room, office, sunroom, nursery, and kitchen are all playrooms for the bean these days). But Clara and I did take a few moments to enjoy the fact that we could actually see the floor again. The fact that all 6 feet of me can now lay down in there is nothing short of a miracle.

Playroom Playing With C

Thanks Nonna! We promise to (do our best not to) mess it up again.

Comments

  2. Jeanette says

    Hey Guys,

    I love your blog and you guys have so many cool things, it would be wonderful if you had a blog sale and sold some of the items that you won’t be using in your new house anymore! I’ll just have my paypal account ready if you ever do..:-)

    Reply

  3. Lonely Wife Project says

    Calling on Nona to rescue my garage stat! I’m a master of stacking things inside each other to achieve the appearance of “organization.” I need some real organizing in my life.

    Reply

  4. Jami says

    Oh I know that pain all too well! I semi feel good to see your house isn’t 100% perfect, just some. :) We have two rooms that are bad one also doesn’t close due to an almost hoarders-esk atmosphere, unfortunately I’ll have to swallow my pride and clean them soon (though my mom has offered to help, I refuse to accept it)! Thanks for the inspirations!!

    Reply

  5. hayley says

    I might be wrong, but I think you’d say ‘Mothers-in-law’ since it’s a compound plural. Like, attorneys-general or gins and tonic. It’s the first word that’s plural (more than one mother, attorney or gin) rather than the in-law bit.

    Reply

  6. Kali says

    This post is great for the OCD soul… love a before and organized after. Bless all family that helps to that degree! Woman of my own heart that mom-in-law… 

    Reply

  9. jenn says

    I have the same high chair. My 3 year old started using it when he was 2 and it is the best! Love your blog.

    Reply

  10. JB says

    OHHHHHH I used to call my italian grandma Nona too! Brings back memories..Now that my daughter has a dutch grandpa (opa) a filipino grandma (lola) and an italian grandpa (nono) things are bound to become a little scrambled or multilingual if we get lucky…Three cheers for grandparents!!!

    Reply

  12. Beth@Just{Heart}It says

    So that begs the question…how long DO you normally hold onto boxes for? I mean, boxes that things come in, like the sewing machine. I think we’ve had some in the attic for years.

    Necessary?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, we’re minimalists so as soon as I know I’m not returning something (like the sewing machine after a few weeks of use) out went the box. I guess keeping boxes that you use (to store wreaths when they’re not hung for the holidays) makes sense, but for stuff that’s not stored in them anymore, it’s probably not necessary unless you’re moving soon and want the boxes for that. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  15. DawnSC says

    I second the title! I know I lucked out that I can rave about the great in-laws I have. On a side note, my mother-in-law just threw a baby shower for me for their side of the family this past Sunday. Over lunch, it came up that she likes Nona (husband’s family is also Italian), which immediately made me think of Sherry’s Mom! I didn’t realize how frequently I mention YHL to my husband until he said he already knew that when I brought it up – guess I’ve converted him to reading your blog! :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, I love it! John is tickled by each and every male reader. All ten of them. Just kidding. We actually did a poll a while back and learned that we had a lot more male readers than we thought. Guy power! I guess they just like to lay low for the most part.

      xo,
      s

    • Amanda says

      Sherry, speaking of a past poll … plan to do another one? I loved the polls you’ve done! They’re so fun to see the results, plus your readers have grown! :)

      Also, I think a question & answer video is due. I believe the last one was the day you knew you were pregnant, but couldn’t say anything at the time.

      I’m not stalking you or anything. :P I’ve just been reading for a while. Love you two!

  16. Candice says

    I am a sentimental sort of person so I got a little verklempt when I saw your vintage chair. It is identical to the chairs that my twin sister and I sat in when we were small way back in the early 60’s. My mom referred to them as youth chairs!

    Reply

  17. Keri says

    I would (and have) happily organize a friends space. It’s good girl time plus I usually get some of the cast offs. I have my eye on your Clara rug, BTW :p

    Reply

  18. Erin says

    That chair is really adorable. Would you ever just leave it alone and not “fix it up”? I know that’s your thing, fixing stuff up but I think it would be a really nice juxtaposition with all your other crisp decor. And besides, some things have more character and history if they are left alone. Especially when I think another little child sat in it just the way it is.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s splattered with what we all assume to be lead paint so we could always “restore it” with stain and some weathering techniques. The funny thing is that when mom gave it to us she said “it’s so ugly I can’t imagine you’d want it” and we thought it was so cute. She couldn’t believe that we “found potential” in something she was so sure was destined for the dumpster. So glad we got to rescue it! Who knows if we’ll give it a totally new look or just bring it back to its original glory…

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We actually had one right before we moved (and a few years before that) and blogged all about those adventures. Since we do eventually plan to use a lot of the stuff in that room (when it becomes Clara’s big girl room and her future sibling moves into the nursery (which will also be tweaked eventually) we’re happy to hold onto things for a little while to see what we need/want (and what just sits there unused). Then it’s yard sale time for sure (along with donating, craigslisting, etc).

      xo,
      s

  20. Annie says

    Can’t say this enough… I so do love your blog and all its updates about your progress. If I pretend hard enough, I can imagine it’s me that’s being productive! Blog on YHL!

    Reply

  21. Mollie says

    Oh my gosh that makes me feel sooooo much better about our spare room. :-) It’s like you guys had some big, scary secret and you just went on Oprah and exposed it!

    I never would have expected you guys to have a junk room. Makes me love you even more! :-) Your mom-in-law did a fabulous job fixing it up, too.

    Reply

  22. Adriana says

    My mom has that highchair. And we’ve used it! It’s at my mom’s and we would use it when visiting. We got a belt and would just tie it around dd and through the chair bars in the back. Then put the chair right to the table. We never left her alone in the chair, and as soon as she was done out of the chair she’d go. Worked great from ages 1-2.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yup! I’m just weird and I think that sounds wrong (even though it’s totally right). Haha. You’re the third one to remind me though!

      xo,
      s

  26. Katrina says

    The last two posts have made me feel so much better and more hopeful about my progress as we have recently moved into a new home also. I currently have 3 rooms that look like your “catch all room” and am whittling down the mess and slowly placing items where they best suit. I am trying to take my time and decorate slowly as time allows me instead of stuffing and throwing things where they don’t really fit. Thanks for the honesty to show people like me that even great decorators and bloggers like you guys take time to get things right. Your home is looking great by the way!

    Reply

  27. Marla says

    My mother-in-law has worked her magic on jumbled areas in our home in like seconds flat – areas we just couldn’t to (from moving, having a baby, etc). And she totally pulls it off somehow with not being pushy. Is it an Italian thing? Idk, but I love it :) I lucked out in this area!

    Reply

  29. K says

    My kitchen has been primed but not painted for 1.5 months now. I found out I was pregnant just a couple days after priming and my energy level has seriously plummeted. Did you paint while pregnant?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I actually didn’t paint at all unless I was using no-VOC paint while prego (and wore a mask and did it outside because I’m a crazy person). Maybe ask your doctor or read the can to see what it says (I think most say not to use them while pregnant except for non toxic no-VOC stuff)? Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  30. Brittany says

    You should use Clara’s fabrics and make her a fabric high chair. That way you can use that chair sooner rather than later and it will be safer, well she won’t be able to fall out. You’ll still have to look into the bad chemical stuff. Here is a picture of my daughter in a fabric high chair:
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1571552249300&set=a.1722840391409.2098028.1250310007&type=1

    It’s kind of hard to see but it goes in-between the rails in the chair and comes around her. I’ll find the pattern and link it to Pinterest. :)

    Reply

  32. april says

    I can totally sympathize about putting off a project. I hung up templates for a photo collage like 2 months ago and FINALLY finished it this weekend. No idea why I put it off so long…it was totally easy after I got started. And I used your suggestions with nailing right through the template and then pulling the paper off. Made it SO easy! Thanks!

    Reply

  33. Angela says

    I’m terribly slow with projects too, but they eventually get finished. Glad to know there are others like me.

    Reply

  38. Cristina says

    ehm.. as italian follower of yours I feel I have to correct a little mistake: grandmother is “nonna” (with two “n”) ;-)

    (“Nona” means ninth)

    Anyway your nonna is super!
    :-)

    Reply

  39. Emma says

    Oh goodness — we’ve been in our house for a year and a half, and we still have an “everything” room. Granted it’s a spare room that isn’t used for any purpose, so that’s why it keeps getting full of “stuff” – but it’s been totally organized several times and it just keeps going to seed. So good for you guys (or rather, your MIL!) for taming the beast!

    Reply

  40. Georgia Rowe says

    I think you two are secretly holding out to make the ‘playroom’ into a nursery when the two year waits up…

    I kinda like the ‘playroom’ as it is..i like rooms where i can go in to have a rummage.. haha

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, it might be true! We have a ton of areas where Clara plays, so there’s definitely no rush. Maybe when she’s 2 and has a bunch of big toys (like a play kitchen, etc) we’ll make that room usable…

      xo,
      s

  41. Kim says

    You could paint the chair the apple green you wanted and it could be Clara’s dining room chair, and her highchair could be for the kitchen.

    Reply

  44. Lee says

    I can’t believe I’m going to play the role of annoying grammar police commenter here, but I just cannot help myself. The title should really be “…Mothers-in-Law…” and not “…Mother-in-Laws…”.

    And, yes, I agree with the title! Mine is great, too.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Lee! You’re definitely not the first to correct us. I know that’s the right way but for some reason it sounds so crazy and formal to me. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  45. Sheena says

    Isn’t it great when parents and parents-in-law pitch in to help. My dad always organizes stuff for me when on a visit. I feel guilty that I let him do all the hard work, but he enjoys and it something for him to do when bored. Well, that’s my way of justifying my laziness :-)

    Reply

  47. gina says

    Random question: Do you have a rule of thumb for how long you keep big appliance boxes after you buy them? I tend to err on the side of caution in case I need to return something, but I don’t know when to throw them out, so I’m probably bordering on hoarding, haha.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I keep them only long enough to know that I’ll keep said item (I used my sewing machine for a bunch of projects already so I didn’t need it anymore). Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  48. Renee says

    That chair actually looks very safe for use at a table! The arms probably tuck right against the table to prevent spills, and the base looks very broad and sturdy. Our 2 year old climbs into his chair by himself (a booster attached to a regular kitchen chair), and since he is only in it at meals or to do art projects while completely supervised, we’ve really had little concern that he would fall out (even without the buckle). … just to share a personal experience “rebelling” against the “infant safety” norms… not to mention it was probably safety tested while your mom and her siblings were using it. :) Sweet gift!

    Reply

  49. Allegra says

    Hi, Guys…. longtime lurker, no-time commenter. Love your blog. I just *had* to comment on the chair — I have a table and 2 chairs from my childhood which match the “high chair” you guys have. I wish I had a high one like that! Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply

  50. Julie says

    I think that isn’t a high chair. My parents have something similar from my childhood and call it a youth chair. I think it’s for about age 2-4 when kids don’t need a seat belt and can safely get in and out but enjoy being up a bit higher. I hadn’t seen one for a while and then we saw one at IKEA this weekend so I guess youth chairs are back. So it may not have any problem with current safety standards.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks for the tip! We’re just worried about the lead paint that appears to be spattered on it from decades ago. Gotta seal it or refinish it somehow! Can’t wait.

      xo,
      s

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