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Designing Peace – Simplicity

January 15, 2013 in Designing Peace, News with 0 Comments

I think many look at organization and the feeling of gloom and dread drops into their stomachs. Looking at clutter can cause a major headache – I know that like the back of my hand! But what I have learned is that I have grown not only as an organizer but also from the beginning, when I had to organize my own life. Although organizing something is definitely easier said than done, it is also not as scary as we think it is. It’s time to clean out those ‘monsters’ from the closet and the bed. . .

This time, I want to talk about the concept of simplifying. No matter what kind of business or home I step into, simplifying is at the core of everything that I do. Take the PDR approach as an example. Purge. Donate. Repurpose.. right? The end result of PDR is that my client will have a simplified home and ultimately and simplified life. This doesn’t mean that all their troubles will go away or that life will stop throwing anyone curveballs, but that they now have the right tools and techniques that I have left them with to tackle life.

So don’t be afraid of clutter! Do not fear crazy closets or buried offices—we can do it together.

Closets are often the place we like to stuff things in. Closets are usually clutter central and we usually accept that it’s OK for it to be cluttered.

Closets can be our right-hand tool in the house – always there for you to store the extra stuff that you will need later but it is important to remember that even our closet needs to be simplified! Once that is simplified, the rest of the storage units in the house can be simplified as long as you know where everything goes.

Simplicity is one of the main components of not only my PDR approach but in how I help clients with whatever they may need. Let me support you in your organization endeavors (whether they be physical organization or life organization) today!

 

Planting Peace…

Shelley

Organization That Works

October 22, 2012 in Designing Peace, Organization Ideas with 0 Comments

Organization is one of the most popular services that I offer! Sometimes my organization skills lean into Business Organization. (Maybe it’s the PDR that hits the spot with my clients. . . ) I am always more than happy to have a supportive handin guiding my clients to the space they want to create and the place they want to be.

A true Peace of Mind within a short Piece of Time!

This time I took on an office space that was just needing some categories and smart use of space.  Below you will find amazing cupboards slowly filled to the gills.  Once the cupboards became stuffed with clutter it became difficult to tackle project. That is where I can step in and help with the process. Take a look at how I transformed this from clutter-central to streamline-heaven…

BEFORE

BEFORE-It looks like this cabinet wanted to be organized but was a little confused on how to get started

Like I always say… clutter is a state of mind manifested in our physical lives–we need clear space to think clearly!

I know you won’t like to hear this but it’s much easier to empty contents,

then move to sorting using the PDR approach.

Purge •Donate•Repurpose

AFTER-With a little help from ‘PDR‘ and a clean slate, all materials are now separated and

stored with easy access in these office-appropriate bins!

I am also just realizing this: I ALWAYS leave empty space for all my clients to grow into-this is my signature move!

 

This is more like it! Sorted papers, prioritizing to-dos, and a clean office desk.

 

To-Dos are something that I always bring to my clients. Everyone has things ‘to-do’ so why not streamline

and make it that much easier for us to get through the day, week, month, and year?

Here I’ve organized these to-dos by BINS and DATE so taking a quick glance will tell you

WHAT you need to complete WHEN you need to complete it!

Contact me here and let me help you de-clutter your space!

 

Planting Peace,

 Shelley

 

Limited Space?

September 18, 2012 in Decorating, Designing Peace with 0 Comments

In our tiny home we have a tiny, tiny bathroom. We always have just dealt with the fact it was small and had no storage was available.  We learned to modify and it worked up until lately. Our bathroom was used for 3 things wash hands; shower and you can guess the last.

A small leak that turned into a BIG leak, you know how that goes. The sink had to go and then replacing the sink spiraled into a mini bathroom remodel. One of my huge frustration was the lack of storage and the fact I could never find the right angle for the mirror to see the back of my head.

 Hubby dismantled while I shopped, crazy huh? We have been re doing things around the house for so long now. We have it down pact I measure, I shop and he pulls apart and builds, then together we put it together. We end up being a good team! A possible business ventures, hmm….maybe?

 I thought I’d share our bathroom transformation with you today.

Planting Peace!

Shelley

No Job Too Small

September 11, 2012 in Designing Peace with 0 Comments

My client collected  books and soon enough had  a beautiful book collection.

My client was unsure of how to organize a book case and soon enlisted my organizational services.

Sharing some pics of the transformation

 

 No project is ever too small…

If your finding you are stuck on a specific project contact me here 

Don’t forget I offer Free Consultations

Peace is just a thought away…

Planting Peace!

Shelley

The Space Issue {update}

August 31, 2012 in Designing Peace, Organization Ideas with 0 Comments

{Update}  

I finally decided to add a heavier curtain instead of doors. I really like to see my closet at a glance and using curtains to me seemed the best way to achieve this.  See pic below…

Back when my husband and I were dating we made the joint decision to live with each other before we took our relationship to the next level of commitment- Marriage.

 The Master Bedroom only had 1 closet and growing up himself with 3 women he knew that 1 closet was just not enough space for him and I. So he built an additional closet in the room for me! How sweet, huh? The closet was basic had an upper and lower hang bars, room for bulky stuff above and some hooks inside for belts.

 It was such a kind gesture I never had the heart to tell him it did not work for my clothes. The hang bars we too close together my tops ran into my skirts/pants/dresses and they crinkled at the bottom, which made them become wrinkled and dusty all the time. My purses were so high I could never see all of them and would forget about them. I had no space for my belts, scarves and jewelry. 

 Fast Forward 8 years and I cannot take it anymore that closet and I are at war. My strategy is to win this battle and it began with some major RESEARCH. I spent my time looking at different closet systems and mapping out what I needed in my new closet. 

When attempting to organize ask yourself?

 •Do you like to fold or hang?

 •Is the current you own current?

• Do you have the clothing worn often accessible?

 

 

Having such a small space I needed to maximize and keep things streamlined. I found this system at Home Depot it was perfect for me:  1. Fit my budget 2. Fit my needs. My needs were: I needed a place for everything and I wanted all my items streamlined into one space. Guess, what? I was able to do that! I used to have my items spread out in different cubbies and also in another room but with careful planning I was able to house all my categories in one closet!

Yea! My skirts have NO crinkle, wrinkle or dust!

 

 

 

I decided!

 

 

Planting Peace!

~Shelley

 

Just a little….

August 24, 2012 in Designing Peace with 0 Comments

I knew in the upcoming months I would have a variety of people coming and going from my home (details later).

My closet needed some attention. I need to create organization that was transparent, streamlined and accessible. I wanted to make it effortless if someone was looking for something… so here’s what I did.

 

It All Started With…

August 20, 2012 in Creative Ideas, Designing Peace, Re-purpose with 0 Comments

As you know I love to find a good road kill sitting on the side of the road.  This one was a must! I have been looking for just this thing for about 7 months. I knew I would run across one because it was only a matter of time.

 For those of you who don’t know me too well, I have 3 Boxer dogs, 1 cat, a tree frog, an African dwarf frog, 1 fish and counting… My cat packs some major attitude in our household but we don’t fault her… she does deal with 3 Boxers all day. Her 9 pounds to their average of 90 each can be a little daunting.

Recently I changed all my animals to raw food and with that change my dogs are now obsessed with her food. I can’t blame them! It’s just too tempting when her food bowl is staring right back at them and let’s be honest, 1 lick is not that much of the yummiest food–you keep checking for more!

 

 It was time for a new strategy. I needed something high yet open. I needed a place to put her litter box away from view and away from my dog’s accessibility. (Love that special cat caviar!)

 

 The piece had to offer a lot and this one was perfect.

 

 A place for storage                                                                                   √

 

 

 

A concealed litter box                                                                             √

 

 

 

A place for her food high enough to keep dog’s away              √

 

 

 

A unit that looks decent and part of our décor                         √

 

 And we are off!   

 

Check out my new cat central transformation.

Hubby Gets Inspired!

August 10, 2012 in Designing Peace with 0 Comments

Last week I posted my new transformed closet, which is such a difference -I absolutely love it! Funny enough, I find I am wearing clothing that I have not worn in a long time, not because I did not like it, I just couldn’t see it!  I am happy because: 1. I can see what I own 2. I have a home for everything 3. It’s accessible. Nothing but smiles from me!

We finished my closet and my hubby decided it was time for a re do on his closet, budget was tight so we put our heads together and came up with some plans. Some of his needs were: he loves his clothes folded, he likes to have his everyday shoes in his man cave, he wanted more space and he wanted things to be neater. His closet used  to be 2 cross bars but with some minor changes we were able to come up with this:

 

Since he loved his clothing folded-shelving was key!

We cut the cross bars and created a double cross bars= utilized  space.

Pants hanging on cross bar gives us more space for shelving.

 Large piece of wood from a left over project, slapped some paint on it = shelving.


Organizing by length makes it easier to find item. 

Folded T-shirts can be messy it’s better to organize by sleeve length and color.

Yea! Closet Completed- Smile on Hubby’s Face!

Planting Peace!

Shelley

Don’t Give Up On A Small Space!

August 6, 2012 in Creative Ideas, Decorating, Designing Peace with 0 Comments

My Hallway needed a little something…

It was this little space but it had potential to be something.

I just needed to figure out what! 

 Each day I would walk by and think “it’s so plain and BORING!”

The pictures are from our wedding in Costa Rica

It’s tiny space but still notable!

If anyone ever tells you decals are not worth it, they probably have never tried them. I have had these decals for 3 years! They have been on every wall in my home and they still stick!

My $14 investment has proven itself well! 

 

It’s coming together…

Using the decals with the frame added some fun!

Do you think these pics will remind my husband our anniversary is approaching?

Planting Peace!

Shelley

Whats The Mess Gotta Do With It?

August 3, 2012 in Designing Peace with 0 Comments

I love my hubby! But sometimes he can be… well let’s say sometimes my love is stretched thin. My husband is a huge creature of habit and most of the time its completely fine with me. Each day he likes to retrieve the mail and each day the mail is deposited on the kitchen counter. Did you notice I wrote retrieve the mail? So he doesn’t sort, organize or take the mail anywhere. He just leaves it on my counter and by the end of the week I have a huge pile of mail sitting on the counter.

So off I went to find some Fresh Road Kill! Did I find something? Of course I did!

Someone was throwing this away because it was chipped at the bottom.

Nothing a little glue and paint wouldn’t fix.

Viola!

Now we are both happy!

He has a spot for mail which I sort for him (you’re welcome honey!)

and

I don’t have to see mail on the kitchen counter.

It’s a win win!

What do you think?

Planting Peace!

Shelley

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