ORGANIZING DIFFERENT SPACES AROUND YOUR HOME
The next few projects highlight some tasks that I completed for a big move from the DFW area of Texas. This was a 3 week project where I packed up a large home for a cross country move.
This was just one portion of the toiletries.
Heavy coats take up much less space if they are folded well. This way they are accessible and easy to store or hang up at their new home.
The last items in the closet came out and were condensed and packed.
Back in Boston…
Do you have the dreaded kitchen or bathroom cabinet? Perhaps more than one. We can fix it together.
When I first saw this bedroom in NYC it had piles of things all over, especially the big pile all the way to the left. The treadmill was blocking the closet, and the dressers and closet were not being utilized well.
On the second day, I started to redesign the closet once I got to sort through most of the contents of the room. There was lots of folding, and categorizing of items to get to later on.
We gained a lot more floor space from moving the tall dresser into the closet, and removing all the trash and donation items from the room. So now there is a designated space for the treadmill. This is day 3, where I did lots of micro-sorting of small items as you can see on the window sill.
I look forward to finishing this project once my client goes through the rest of the small contents.
This closet/mudroom is right next to the back door of a charming condo in Cambridge, MA. With a few adjustments to the storage system and use of space, the shoes, scarves, and coats are now more accessible.
This is phase 1 of 3 for this project in Boston, MA. This bedroom has become a storage space for many items over the years. This client was amazing to work with, and we spent hours sorting through, condensing, and clearing out any items that will not live in the space once it’s transformation is complete. Out of the many goals for this room, the long term is to have it be a flex space for home office/guest room.
Now you can see how we’ve completed phase 2, which was to sort through, condense, and pack up all items that will be moved to the basement of the home. A short term goal for this room was that this client was having guests from out of town, and they were so delighted that the room and closet were at least usable and accessible for the guests. I look forward to posting another video for phase 3 which is the makeover for the room.
Phase 3 of this project went so well! Now this client can set up the space how they want to, after we figure out what will be taken out of the closet, and also a good system for the linens.
These closets in Brookline, MA had items from over 30 years ago stuffed into both sides. There were items just thrown into bins and crates, with no system for organizing them. My client had trouble accessing and finding items.
This room is a flex space and serves as a home office, work out space, and guest room. After condensing down. The paperwork and clearing out the closets, my client and I managed to fill 10 trash bags and a bin for donation! I then put everything back in the closets which are now categorized. There is now room to fit all the office supplies and workout equipment so the room looks less cluttered. This was such a fun day!
This small guest room in Colts Neck, NJ also doubles as a dressing room for my client, whose main closet is rather small. The bed was covered in clothes and just became a holder of too many things.
Now the clothes live in the closet, and all the storage items went under the bed. Instant guest room again!
I added the bench to make it easier to get dressed. Now the room is complete.
This apartment in Philadelphia, PA has amazing closet space, which became overwhelming for my client when they moved in a few months ago. The long closets also have some awkward spaces on the sides.
After we decided on what kind of organizers to get, I tried to fill the space a few different ways.
It's all about the system, but equally, it's about maintaining the system. These closets came together so nicely.
This area of a basement in Brooklyn, NY was intended to be used for accessible items for moving them incrementally to my client's other home. It got slightly unruly.
After some condensing and categorizing and packing of items, they can now get to these items with ease.
Sad linen closet…
Happy linen closet!
Finding a good system for your kitchen is very important, especially if you’re just moving in.
I do the cooking test with my clients, to make sure that items are placed properly for best everyday use.
And then there is the basic meal, or coffee, or simple use of the kitchen that is important to play around with for placement of items.
All set. Love this kitchen in Salem, MA.
This is a loft space in Philadelphia, PA for my client which is accessible by a ladder. We do not know yet what this space will be for. Step one was to make sense of what was up there.
Sorting and categorizing these items made it much easier to go through the piles together. I look forward to posting the next phase of this project!
This wardrobe in Philadelphia houses a few dozen sweaters, all of which were rather inaccessible.
This is a much more practical solution for these sweaters. For items that you don't wear all the time, or ones that you keep aside and rotate into your regular wardrobe, I prefer to use these sweater bags. You can pull them out individually and look for the item you want with minimal fuss and mess, and return them to their place. I use a rolling system to maximize how many items fit in each bag.
As an organizer, I only prefer to use plastic dividers for items that can be rolled and stacked in a shallow space with less height, and are used frequently.
Another good system if you have the space, or perhaps at the bottom of your closet, is to roll the items and stick them vertically into a storage bin. This creates easy access for frequently used items.
This room in Philadelphia, PA started off as just a study, but with some organizing and rearranging, I created a flex space for my client’s use, and also for staging their home.
I cleared the floor to make more space partly by utilizing the bookcases to fit more books.
The closet was condensed down to become storage for all of my client’s office items, as well as their small exercise equipment. So much more fit after rearranging the set up and maximizing the shelfing.
Now the room is truly a flex space.
This project started off as a pile of crafting items. I sorted like with like.
I then put all the different groups of items into plastic bags based on size.
The whole table of items all fit into one storage bin!
This client has many items for gift wrapping. This is only the ribbons, which started off in somewhat of an entangled disaster.
All of the individual ribbons not on spools were rolled or folded and put into tiny baggies to keep them from ever being tangled again.
The last step of this project was to put all like items together into baggies to be stored in a bin with the wrapping and tissue paper.
Winter items for the children of this family started off in 2 storage bins.
I folded and condensed these items. After all, 1 bin is better than 2.
I carefully packed stacks of framed photos of all different sizes for my client in Philadelphia, so these precious items make it to their destination safely to Salem, MA.
So many photos fit into easy-to-carry boxes
Taking a trip, or packing to move long distance?
I can make piles of cloths, including coats and heavy items fit into a suitcase. Folding is an art.
This client had dozens of nice sheet sets that they wanted to sell at a yard sale
I folded each set down and then put them in baggies to keep them clean and fresh. Properly folding your linens is also great for storing them at home. Making them accessible is very important.
As a home organizer, this has been one of my most challenging and rewarding projects.
My client lives in a multi-unit apartment building in Philadelphia, PA, and she occupies the first floor. The vestibule and main hall were blocked off, so I had to find a method to clear the way. The added obstacle is that she is a collector of many things, both useful and unnecessary, and until she is ready to part with these items I had to find a home for them.
The staircase was also full of items, and there wasn’t a place to put them.
I had to design develop a new system for storage. With the help of the client’s contractor, this magnificent structure came to life. I designed this storage unit to create a port for her motorized scooter as well. Now my client can once again rent out her upper level apartments, and have tenants access through the vestibule. I look forward to clearing out the extra items when she's ready.
The beautiful staircase is now visible!