Original Art vs Mass Produced

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

The Importance of Focus

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

Furnishing Tiny Spaces

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

Too Messy to be a Minimalist?

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

Collections We Can’t Part With

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

The Tiny House Movement

Every once in a while, I discover a new obsession when it comes to buying, keeping, and organizing stuff. If you are a regular reader, you will know that I discovered The Minimalists a couple of years ago and have been a faithful follower of the movement ever since. I continue to embrace minimalism in … Read more

Small Satisfying Projects

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

Finding the Right Motivation

Yes, I know that you know that getting enough exercise and enough sleep are good for you. Why on earth do I need to bring it up again? What if you’ve been struggling with checking things off your list, moving projects forward at home and work, and generally being productive? Perhaps the latest apps, the … Read more

An Action Plan for Moving

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

Are Your Books Excess Clutter or Beautiful Possessions?

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

Are You Stressed Out By Piles of Paper?

The number one complaint most of my clients have is paper clutter. So, how do you set up a functional home office space, and what systems can you implement to keep those piles of paper under control? First of all, you need an easily accessible and user-friendly place to store your necessary papers. Whether you … Read more

To Take a Vacation or Not To Take a Vacation

You guessed it, my struggle during this time of year is what to do about vacation. In the old days, when I worked for someone else, it was a much easier decision because I had no choice. However, now that I own my own business, I do have a choice. One would think the freedom … Read more

Tasks Expand to Fill Time

Summer is finally here, and I’m tired of working seven days a week. It’s easy to work long hours, especially when you run your own business because tasks expand to fill time. If I continue to work at this rate, summer will be over, and I will have missed it. So, I’ve made a commitment … Read more

Too much ‘stuff’

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

Can You Live a Good Enough Life?

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.

Planning for Success – A Few Tips

Sometimes we get to the end of a week, we wonder where the time went and why we didn’t accomplish anything significant. I often work with clients to teach them time management skills and tips for planning for success. Then, I realize I should manage my time better. Why do we put off planning? In … Read more