Category Archives: Organize

Homework Friendly Space

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Homework is no joke these days! At a recent Back-To-School-Night, my son’s chemistry teacher said the kids should expect an hour of homework every night. I’m sorry…say what? That’s one class out of 7 and some kids are in sports or clubs with practice and activities every day. I remember a similar night for one of my kid’s teachers in elementary school where a parent was asking why they didn’t have homework. Um…because they’re in first grade. Duh! Once the homework years roll in, there’s a lot of it and it’s best to get in some good habits early.

Finding or creating the perfect spot to do homework is easy but keeping that space clutter free can be the challenge. By easy I mean people have natural places they go to that’s comfortable or inviting, where they can be productive. For some it’s in the hub of the household – a kitchen table or the central island. For others (like myself) it’s a bright but quiet desk area.

Having bins or drawers or shelves near a favorite site for studying helps keep tools, papers and books handy. Being able to put everything away neatly and easily helps keep people like me sane. This article in Houzz has some fantastic ideas. My favorite is the sneaky shelf hidden under the kitchen island top. So clever!

If you have any great study spots, share them with us. We always like to see and learn new ideas.

I Want That

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I love everything about this kitchen…literally everything! Look at the “before photo” and see where this room started. The transformation is beautiful and inspiring which all design should be (in my humble opinion).

Houzz does such a great job of exposing us to excellent design and ideas from around the world.

These homeowners in Atlanta, GA re-purposed some space to add concentrated storage areas and more windows. The vintage vibe of the tile mixed with the rustic woods adds warmth to the room. The lighting is a special surprise – swing-arm sconces in a kitchen? What? The custom hood pulls everything together on the focal wall.

This kitchen is a lovely gathering space for family and friends!

Let’s Clean Up the Laundry Room

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The laundry room in my last house almost caused a divorce. Well…maybe that’s a little dramatic, but it was one of the top reasons we moved. Maybe if I’d read this article sooner and had more than 36 sq. feet to work with we would still live there. In my defense the laundry room was also the room between our garage and the kitchen, so you can imagine the shoes and coats and bags and sports gear and laundry all piled up to be tripped over constantly. Like I said…that was our last house!

I love good Before and After photos and this article has plenty. One thing I always suggest to clients is that they make the laundry bright and inviting. You’re going in there to take care of  a mundane task so the space should be pleasant. Make sure it’s functional and organized and there’s a place to store everything – out of site if possible.

Check out the Before picture on the 3rd example. I’ll be curious to know if you shake your head too!

 

Dorm Room Contests

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Wait…is this really a thing??? Had I known there was potentially prize money and bragging rights, I would have pushed my daughter to take her dorm room design to the next level!

Some of the ideas in this article are very creative and inspiring. While other ideas make no sense to me. Why would I put astro-turf on the wall next to my bed? Ouch! Some of the rooms had me wondering whether or not these people had a roommate to blend their style with.

While sharing a small room with another person is challenging, you also need to make sure there’s a place for all of your stuff. Then an even bigger challenge is having appropriate storage that keeps all functional items out of sight. This becomes essential when you have a student trying to create a calm, relaxing, zen-like space. Clutter becomes chaos pretty quickly especially in a dorm room that functions as your bedroom, living room, dining room, study room and closet all-in-one!

While there’s a lot of hoopla surrounding decked out dorm rooms, the most important factor is that your student feels comfortable. I tried to steer my daughter away from an all white comforter, but that was the crisp, clean vibe she was going for. The good news is that she knows how to use a laundry machine.

Cheers to a great school year! Go Dukes!

 

Transformation of the Week

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Now this is how you transform a bathroom!

If you have a good bathroom layout, then one of the most cost-effective tricks is to not move any of the plumbing. The new cabinetry around the toilet is a great use of space adding tons of extra storage. The large frameless walk-in shower expands the visual size of the room dramatically.

This bathroom gets an A+.

 

Kitchen Renovating

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A kitchen is the most used room in your house. It gets the most traffic, gathers the most people and sets the tone for your lifestyle. The kitchen is also the #1 interior item that sells a home.

Here’s a great article of things to consider before you plan a kitchen renovation:

 

Turn Your Closet Into A Boutique

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Now that you’ve been inspired to turn your bedroom into a sanctuary, let’s move on to your closet!  Going into a dim, disorganized, over-crowded closet on a daily basis can make selecting an outfit stressful and exhausting.  It’s time to purge what you don’t need or wear and re-establish your style.  As you organize your clothes and accessories, put like things together.  Have sections for business attire, weekend-wear, fitness, jackets, etc.  Think about how you can best “shop” for the perfect outfit in your very own closet!

207306389067198838_IEYrNvHX_cSelecting clothes should be an effortless and even enjoyable experience.  For Monday’s work meeting you will be able to pull together an outfit quickly from one section of your closet.  The next step is to choose shoes, a handbag and accessories.  The best way to make these selections with ease is to see all of your choices.  Shoes should be displayed like a store, so you can “shop” for the perfect pair.  Set out handbags on a shelf, scarves and belts on hooks and jewelry can be laid out in drawers.

Excellent lighting, a full-length mirror and a spot to sit will complete the space.  A closet that is designed like a boutique will make getting dressed a joy every day!  Now who’s ready to go shop?

I found this picture on houzz.com.  A great resource for all home design inspiration.