December’s almost upon us. Shopping, decorating and entertaining! We knock ourselves out every holiday season trying to make it perfect, and then often feel empty and unfulfilled when it’s all over. What’s that all about? Well before it all starts again this year, ask yourself, “What is it that I want from this time of … Read more
I was able to tag along on a trip to the world’s largest furniture market. In three and a half days, we visited thirty showrooms, and that was less than ten percent of the total. Yes, indeed, that is a lot of home décor! It was certainly a quality experience in many ways. Twice a … Read more
When people find out I’m a Professional Organizer, they often ask me, “So, do you work with hoarders?” First of all, the correct term is hoarding disorder. (We don’t label people). I believe it’s very important for all of us to understand that hoarding disorder is a mental health issue. In fact, collecting, shopping and … Read more
I attended an excellent presentation at the Nova Scotia Interior Decorators Association. As part of our Annual General Meeting and Professional Development Day, our guest speaker was Andrea Smith, Executive Director of Teichert Gallery in Halifax. Andrea shared her knowledge of how to introduce original art into our lives, general rules for hanging and lighting … Read more
Over a few weeks, I worked with a family on a downsizing project. It made me reflect on the importance of focus. In this situation, four siblings cleared out the family home their parents lived in for 50 years. Recently, one parent passed away, and the other can no longer live alone. The family home … Read more
I absolutely love furnishing tiny spaces to maximize storage and function. However, finding furniture pieces to fit is often a challenge. I’ve been hunting for a 12-inch-wide bedside table with a drawer and shelf on the bottom for several weeks. It’s amazing how much time a person can spend looking for the right piece, especially … Read more
I watched a video of a girl who felt she was too messy to be a minimalist, then she “Tried Minimalism for a Week.” She interviewed Ryan and Josh, The Minimalists, to better understand what a minimalist lifestyle means. Next, she packed up everything she owned except a few essentials and set off on her … Read more
A client I worked with a couple of years ago still inspires me. I want to share with you some of the things we absolutely love and can’t part with, even though we understand that owning less stuff is the foundational principle of getting organized. Sometimes you have items you must keep in larger quantities … Read more
Organizing all the little things in your home is so important yet we don’t do it. Even I feel overwhelmed sometimes when I’m working with someone and we take care of organizing all the big things first and then we look at the little things and we both say to ourselves, “now what?” Of course, … Read more
Over the years, I’ve worked on many big organizing jobs and designed and renovated some significant spaces. But sometimes, small, satisfying projects have the most impact – especially a client is super excited about a new closet. Who would have thought that a six-foot closet makeover could change someone’s day-to-day life? Well, you use your … Read more
If you have never been to the Saltscapes East Coast Expo, you might want to put it in your calendar for April 2019. I spent a good portion of the April 22ndweekend there at the Nova Scotia Interior Decorators booth. This is my third time participating with my Interior Decorating peeps, and I love it. … Read more
I’ve helped several of my long-term clients move into their first homes, their dream homes, and their down-sized homes. Some jobs took several months to complete, others only a few weeks. Whether we move frequently or only once, the process is always full of anxiety. To reduce stress, create an action plan for moving about … Read more
Aaah, books, let me count the ways I love books. I love to read books, touch books, look at books, and I really love to organize books. There is nothing more satisfying than spending a few hours removing the books from a bookshelf with a client, sorting them, giving away the ones that are no … Read more
It’s been an interesting couple of weeks, to say the least. I have helped two clients move in a two-week period and I have to say that I feel like I have been run over by a very large truck! Moving, as we all know, is one of those major life events. Major life events … Read more
Everything in life seems to come back to deciding what matters most. As long as your home and office are organized ‘enough’ so that you can function effectively and enjoy your space, forget about what others may think and go with what works for you.