New Montessori Inspired Home

I've been working on the house recently.  We've bought new shelves, we're REALLY thinning out.  I think every time I walk through a room I leave with something else that can go either to Goodwill, 1/2 Price Books, or our friend Jason for his new little boy.

I've the bookshelves all up...and I've taken a few more loads of stuff to Goodwill & Ben's dropped about a trunk load off to Jason.  I think we've got them covered up until their little boy turns 5! 

But, as I go through the house making it more simple, easier to manage, enabling a better environment for the kids to succeed and grow in I find I'm going between two opposites.

Suddenly, I can't do anything & I just keep moving stuff around for a good hour...or like today...I only got the office supplies organized, binned up in plastic shoe boxes and all of the different supplies were placed into 1 bin.  I actually had 40 boxes of 1000 paper clips.  WHO DOES THIS?!? And...apparently...I've used some of the pack 'cause it's like a bulk pack from Staples.  When did I use paper clips?!?

I found pens, pencils, glue and tape...and they're all organized neatly but...that was what I did today...& it was done in only what 30 minutes?  But, going through stuff, materials, etc.  I've been at a standstill and I am stuck trying to figure out how to put all this into a usable format for my family.

In addition to organizing everything I also have to make it...Open House friendly 'cause we're selling our house.  I tossed all the wall shelves & brackets, the bookshelves tall & short & other 'storage holders' to family & goodwill.  (I KNOW we're going to be audited this year...but seriously...11 years of junk while neatly organized & stored is still 11 years of junk....and it'll hopefully help us avoid paying taxes.  That'll be a nice chunk o'change to pay off the van....hopefully!)

So...I thought I'd seek out images of homes with Montessori beliefs...Montessori homeschoolers especially because Waldorf folk don't have all the materials like Montessori does & in this town...well I'm still asked on a regular basis if Vegan has something to do with over throwing the government or stockpiling weapons so I could really use some help here...some images (I'm a visual learner) and some great notes about how & why stuff should be placed.

I've 3 Besta double shelves, 2 single Besta's, TV unit...yep we bought a tv unit..but it looks nice.  Apparently in Middletown, worshipping the TV is a regular occurrence & as such has a place of prominence & isn't hid behind doors like what we had off in a back room. :)  But, it's looking nice & we're going to purchase 2-3 more units over the next few weeks to finish putting all my books up unless they've made it to the 1/2 Price pile. 

I've spray painted all my colorful target fabric baskets black and bought some more so I've a unified look.  I miss my Montessori colors...but a friend is creating some tags for me God Bless Her! and I'm excited about them.  So the baskets will look nice now but won't scream HOMESCHOOLER!!!!!

But...I'd really like to see some images of how you do your home....classroom...both...   Email me or share a link to the best or worse (sometimes how not to do it can help more than how TO do it! ;) ) & what you wish you did or could do.  I'll post some pics after I get the living room sorda settled 'cause it's just a big mess still!  (I'm a dump & organize kind a gal...it appeals to the whole "Conqueror of Chaos" cleaning personality I have.

It's 12:31am...Ben's calling, so nighty!

Honey