This Thanksgiving, I asked my Mother if she had any thick colored paper, a hole punch, and a red Sharpie pen. This is what she said: “The colored heavy stock is in the large closet, right-hand side, 3rd shelf down on the left side. It’s labeled – you’ll see it. And the Sharpie pen is … Continue reading How to Make Labeling Your Things Easy and Doable
When we interior designers begin our careers, we’re encouraged to create ‘portfolio-worthy’ projects. In retrospect, it’s easy to see that these projects are more about the design firm than the client. As a well-seasoned designer, I’ve come to realize it’s much more fun to create spaces for other people. Gratitude and happy faces motivate me. … Continue reading 5 Things I Won’t Do as Your Interior Designer
I wrote recently about the habits I have that keep me organized, but getting organized in the first place feels impossible if you fall into in any of these common organizing traps. Here are a few blunders and how to avoid them. Organizing before you declutter. Oh no! You just spent time and energy … Continue reading 5 Blunders That Keep You Disorganized
I got a great email from Patricia De Fonte the other day and was thrilled when she said I could share it with you. (Patricia is a Principal and Estate Planning Attorney at De Fonte Law. She handled my estate planning and I can’t recommend her enough!) Her email has nothing to do with law … Continue reading What I Told My Friend About Her Son’s Stuffed Animals
You know a move manager would help, but it’s an expense and you’re not sure if it’s justified. After all, you’ve moved before and survived, right? After managing hundreds of moves, I’ve found 5 indicators that a move manager will be an investment that pays you back in time, energy, and sanity: You get panicked … Continue reading 5 Signs You’re Ready for a Move Manager
How full is your closet with linens you don’t use? Maybe you have a soft blanket but it’s stained, or a high-quality percale sheet that’s fraying. You think you should keep it, and suddenly your storage is stuffed. Here’s my professional organizer’s tip for what to do with old linens: donate them to Animal Rescue … Continue reading Organizer Tip: Where to Donate Your Old Linens
If you’ve read my bio, you know I learned how to organize from my mother and grandmother. I’m going to give these two, lovely women credit for teaching me the importance of these “secrets.” As a child, I thought everyone did these things. Boy, was I surprised to find out our family habits weren’t … Continue reading How I Keep My House So Organized
It’s amazing what treasures get unearthed when you begin to downsize: travel souvenirs, heirloom quilts, and yes, wedding dresses! Suddenly you’re face to face with things you haven’t seen in years and they (hopefully) bring back all kinds of wonderful memories. This is one of my favorite stories about bringing meaningful things out from storage … Continue reading Downsizing Dilemma: What to Do with Your Wedding Dress
Ever flip through a home design magazine and wonder what it is about those rooms that make them look so ‘designed?’ Of course, there’s no clutter and everything is perfectly placed, but it’s more than that. There are four ‘secrets’ that interior designers rely on to create beautiful spaces. Applying them can be a challenge, … Continue reading How to Design Like a Pro: My Top 4 Secrets
Telling people who are downsizing into smaller homes that their adult children don’t want their stuff is one of the hardest parts of my job. Many people have a dream of passing along their china and antiques to their children and grandchildren. The reality is that the next generation wants to create a home that … Continue reading Downsizing When Your Children Don’t Want Your Stuff