Monday, October 4, 2010

Organizing Tip: Do You Need a Professional Organizer?

There is a difference between being messy vs. being disorganized. If you frequently encounter the following situations, you may want to consider hiring a professional organizer.

1. You do not invite your friends or family over because you are too embarrassed about the disorganized state of your house.

2. You spend a significant amount of time looking for misplaced items.

3. You repeatedly buy duplicates of the same item because you cannot find the original item.

4. Clutter is creating tension in your relationships with your spouse and children.

5. You no longer enjoy your home because living in clutter is stressing you out.

6. Your children are picking up your clutter habits.

7. You want to get organized, but you don't know where to start.

We can help you reduce the stress of a cluttered home and free up more time for friends, family and hobbies. We establish order, work flows and systems that are easy to learn so you can maintain order in your home long after we leave. A small investment in our services can yield a high return in an orderly home that will recharge and nourish you.

Friday, October 1, 2010

The Return of the Maximalists


For the last couple of years, I've been on a minimalist kick. I purged almost 75% of my belongings and kept only the essentials. Everything was simplified - patterns were sparingly used, surfaces were kept uncluttered, textures were flat and wall colors were neutral. Furniture had clean, mid century modern lines. It was soothing and serene with lots of negative space.

Now, I find myself craving more "stuff." I'm hungering for ornate, complex patterns, I'm starving for rich colors and I'm jonseing for texture. I want an opulent, layered look with lots of frilly, gold filigree and Persian rugs. I want to cram my bookshelves with leather bound books and Greek inspired nick nacks. I want to fill my house with time tested antiques. I want to live in a Maximalist house.

I'm seeing more of this Maximalist look in blogs and magazines. What has previously been dismissed as "clutter" is now carefully curated to create warmth and comfort. The most successful Maximalist rooms are grounded in a classic, traditional style. Colors tend to be richer and more masculine. Often, there is a preppy menswear influence.


Zach Motl proves that more stuff can make a room look bigger in 178 sq feet.


Nick Olson's famous oregano walls.


Miles Redd, the King of Maximalists.