Dear Lee,

Our remodeling project has taught us many things. Our painter warned us that steel wool can be flammable. If linseed oil is on steel wool that’s accidentally rubbed across an electrical outlet, you get a flash fire.

When you take pictures off a wall because carpenters are hammering on the other side of the wall, be sure to photograph or diagram the placement of the pictures. Even if the hooks stay in place, it may be difficult to remember where each picture goes. If your antique brass bed is to be taken apart, polished, then put back in the bedroom, be sure you take pictures and make notes about how the pieces go together.

When you dust your shelves after all the painting and sawing is done, take a new look at your collectibles. Rearrange, edit, and leave space for better pieces. Sell or give away the “mistakes.” This might be a good time to make an inventory list for your insurance company. Think about rearranging the furniture, too. Collectors need houses that change.

Sorting through the contents of drawers and cupboards made us realize that we have way too much “stuff.” But almost all of it inspired memories. We could remember the store where we discovered our first pocket sundial, the woman who sold us the Meissen figure on our honeymoon, the booth that had the bargain piece of Arts and Crafts jewelry, and the joke iron ashtray that was a gift from the kids when they were under 10 years old. Collectibles are memories of our lives. We are glad we are not minimalists with empty rooms. We are contented “maximalists” with lots of stuff to dust.