10/21/2019 0 Comments For all the shorties in the house...fully Both of these cabinets are above shoulder height in the kitchen of an average-sized women. Do you see how she placed only a few items on the edge of the top shelves because that's all she can reach? The shelves are about 19 inches deep, so that's a lot of wasted square footage!
I recommend these (or similar) deep bins by the Container Store. Now the client's food is can be organized by category, and easily reached. Also, we added a tiered rack for her spices, making them fully visible. Nearly every square inch of her beautiful cabinets is taken up by things she wants, needs, and can clearly see. So simple, so easy, so effective!
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Here is the client's pantry before tidying: Not too bad, right? Nice use of baskets, and everything is mostly in groups, such as cleaning supplies and food. There was room in the client's kitchen for food, however, so why not move it in there and save her some trips? Removing the food would also clear up space for her extensive collection of beautiful dishes which are currently hiding in cabinets and sparking joy for nobody. Here is the same pantry after tidying: Ahhh, now things have some room to breathe! Her beautiful (and lesser used) glassware collection is highlighted on the top shelf, and now there is room for her gift wrap supplies! The client's cleaning supplies are now hidden behind the freezer and no longer remind her of chores as she passes the pantry. She also now has a special section for picnic supplies, including a grab and go backpack for dining outside with her grandchildren!
5/21/2019 0 Comments A jewel of an ideaRight after we pulled this client's jewelry out of her drawers, closet, and boxes, she told me that she had owned her jewelry box since she was a little girl (impressive!) and it was time to let it go. This left us with nowhere to place her treasured items after we had tidied them. I suggested finding something that could stand in as a temporary jewelry tree, at least until she found something she really liked. We searched the house and found a tarnished tea service buried in her pantry. We both got really excited - she loved this tea service but didn't use it anymore, and after it was polished it would showcase her jewelry perfectly! Behold, the finished result. Now that the client can see her accessories every time she walks into her room, she says she wears and enjoys them far more often. Beloved tea service on display + unearthed jewelry = a big boost in joy!
A family of four asked me to help them create a home that "functioned more like a spacecraft," meaning streamlined and efficient with attractive details. Together we reduced their items to only those that give them joy, and transformed this home into a friendly place that highlights their interests without sacrificing function. We did not break the bank in the process: the only new item that you see below is the red couch. Everything else, including the storage solutions, were already among their possessions. |