We just wanted to pop in to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
We hope you are surrounded by family and loved ones today and always.
We are so thankful for you; our friends, families and clients.
With grateful hearts,
Caroline, Katie & Taryn
with thankful hearts
Before you get swept up in the hustle & bustle of the holiday season, let's slow down and make room for gratitude. This week we're going to share a few of the local businesses we're thankful for!
Image via K Brew's Facebook page.
K BREW
Whether you are downtown or in the neighborhood, there's a location close by! The baristas are excellent at crafting beautiful caffeinated drinks while also making you feel at home. It doesn't get much better than a friendly face and a hot cup of high quality coffee.
Image via The Happy Envelope website.
THE HAPPY ENVELOPE
We have a strong affinity for creative designs and pretty paper goods. From calendars, to wall prints, to stationary and even wedding invitations- they've got it all. And the lovely husband and wife team deliver incredible customer service and attention to every detail. Their beautiful studio and shop is downtown on Jackson ave.
Image via Three Rivers Market website.
THREE RIVERS MARKET
Through the freshest produce and highest quality food, the co-op aims to "nourish a healthier community". That's a cause we are all about. If the co-op is your routine grocery shop or you just stop in once or twice, you're supporting their fight to stop waste and address food justice issues in our community.
Image via Rala's Facebook page.
RALA
Looking for a unique gift this holiday season? We always love the variety of original goods and gifts available in this downtown shop. The best part is the shop is curated with products that are regionally and locally made by artisans. So many fun items specific to our region of East Tennessee.
Image via Moretz Moving Facebook page.
MORETZ MOVING COMPANY
These guys have become our go-to for most of our clients who are moving locally. They are professional and reliable. Family owned and operated for over 30 years. We've enjoyed working with them and watching them handle our client's furniture and belongings with extreme care.
We are so thankful for the local businesses we've been able to learn from in the past 3 years. We love being a small business that cares deeply about the local economy and helping our neighbors.
Last but certainly not least, we are thankful for you; our clients, friends & family. Thank you for allowing us to walk alongside of you in transition, to create beautiful and functional spaces, and to help you bring simplicity and order to your homes and workspaces.
A renovation home tour
Before
After
A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of interviewing Abby Jones and got a tour of the lovely home that she and her husband Stuart renovated. We are so excited to share pictures of their home and the transformation that took place in the 8 months of hard work that it took to make this house their home.
After several years of renting, Stuart and Abby took the plunge and bought a house from a friend. The house was a project. With a rumored condemnation order on the house, graffiti covered walls, and an unpleasant smell, it was quite the undertaking. Abby shared that walking through the house for the first time, they were quickly able to envision a restoration. It had good bones, french doors, "disney princess" windows, and buried under the muck, some beautiful floors.
Original French Doors
Before
After
One of the biggest selling points for them was the lofted bonus room that they have designated the Prayer Room. Abby and Stuart share the prayer room with their community as a way to offer a space to rest, pray, or worship.
I asked Abby what home means to her and she shared that to her, home means rest. Abby's desire is to cultivate a space where people come in and feel that they can be themselves. As Abby and Stuart are small business owners, work is busy, stressful, and can become consuming--home is where they unwind and get away from the daily grind. Abby said it perfectly when she said, "our home is a facilitation of community and relationship". They chose their home for many reasons but one being that several of their friends are now their neighbors. One habit they have started is meal sharing with those neighbors. After realizing that sharing the work and only having to cook one night a week would benefit everyone, they came up with a plan. 6 nights a week, a meal is cooked by one of the neighbors to feed 12 people. Each neighbor takes a night and cooks a simple healthy meal. Often times everyone ends up eating together but some nights the food is disbursed between everyone. It's become an awesome tradition that makes it easier to spend intentional time with those they love and share life with.
Here are a few of the questions I asked Abby in reference to her home.
Dining room looking into kitchen
How would you describe your style of decorating?
I would say that it has changed over the years. In 2012, when we first got married, I was more into the cozy, antique look. When we started designing this house I realized that I actually gravitate towards clean lines and more modern elements. We don't have much storage at this house and I knew I didn't want to clutter it up so we have kept things pretty minimal. One of the best decisions we made with this house was to wait to fill it. We took the time to figure out what we really wanted and saved for more quality items. We still have some antique items incorporated into our home along with our new purchases. Our dining room table was gifted to us by my parents. It was my grandmothers and I ate all of my meals around it as a child. We love pieces that have a story and meaning but also have discovered that we love to buy new things together.
What is your relationship to your belongings?
It's a bit of a mix. Some pieces have been in my family for generations. For example, I have a quilt that was my grandmothers when she first became a mom. I love the deep significance of items with a story. It's all about casting vision for what you enjoy--marrying the pieces of deep meaning with the pieces that you just really like. I love the idea of passing pieces to my own children one day. Stuart and I have been really intentional about what we keep and about what we buy so our furniture and belongings really mean something to us.
Before
After
How do you balance working from home with your home being a place of rest? (Abby is a food blogger)
I do all my recipe testing, recipe development, pictures and video in our home. It doesn’t feel like work at this point, it mostly it feels like creating. I think I’ve tried to keep it that way because I don’t want it to feel like a chore. For me, cooking/baking is my creative outlet, it’s how I get my alone time. Creating great tasting and beautiful food is restful for me. When we lived in the old city, Stuart worked from our studio apartment but as we are both introverts, we realized that separate time is really good for us. Stuart now has an office away from home which helps us draw the boundary of being able to leave work at work and rest at home. Having the two separate spaces has been really life giving.
How is your home an extension of yourself or your family?
I love hosting and I love creating. Our home allows me to do those things on a daily basis. We have great lighting for being able to shoot for my food blog, we have a prayer room that is designated communal space for our friends and neighbors and we have a layout that is conducive to hosting our people. Our home, specifically, our prayer room is a reflection of what our heart is- to provide space for community, creativity, and rest.
Thank you Abby and Stuart for letting Help You Dwell share your renovation journey and your beautiful home with our readers!
*All photos were taken by Stuart and Abby Jones
hosting for the holidays
Image from Remain Simple blog.
21 days til Thanksgiving! That reality might cause you excitement, panic or any feeling in between. We want to encourage a spirit of "intentionality" instead of "perfection" this holiday season. Think about being a guest in your own home this year: what do you notice, how did you feel, what was the focus? We're sharing a few practical and thoughtful ideas to create an intentional holiday gathering this week.
Intention: your guests will see it, taste it, feel it and enjoy it.
While there are so many moving pieces to coordinate for the Thanksgiving meal to be ready, one thing you can have prepared ahead of time for guests to enjoy upon arrival is a festive cocktail. Make it in a large batch so you aren't spending time making individual mixed drinks. Don't forget to mix up a batch without alcohol. Take a look at this recipe.
Image from The Kitchn blog.
In order to plan well, the host needs to know the amount of people they'll be serving. Send a text or email out 2 weeks in advance to get an accurate number of guests. Take a look at this helpful chart about servings and quantities for the size of your group.
Don't go crazy with seasonal decor. Less is more! Instead of shopping for hours for the "perfect" centerpiece or tablecloth, look outside. Bring some natural elements in to create a rustic and welcoming table. Include your kids as you gather leaves, branches, or greenery from your yard. Lighting and natural elements will create a warm and inviting ambiance for your table.
If you prefer a later Thanksgiving meal, someone is sure to be hungry before meal time. Whether it be your children, new acquaintances or yourself- these cranberry brie mini tarts are a beautiful appetizer that won't require additional dishes or silverware to serve and enjoy. If cooking one more thing feels like an unbearable burden, grab some cheese & crackers and have these out to snack on.
Image from Fox and Briar blog.
Shift the focus outward. Your Thanksgiving table can be the launching point for a group investment in a local cause. There are so many ways to give back in our community. Take a look at this list of specific avenues to give of yourself this holiday season in Knoxville.
With just a pencil and paper, your feast can get a lot richer. Challenge your family or friends to take a moment to write out the things you are thankful for. If you want to go a little deeper, try sharing one or two of your items on your list. Gratitude begets gratitude and the thoughts shared around the table will create memories and meaningful moments.
Share your favorite Thanksgiving decor ideas, organizational tools, and traditions with us. How does your family or community celebrate?
to do lists at your fingertips
Our daily tasks are just as important to order and simplify as the physical objects in our homes and workspaces. While we are still huge fans of printed calendars and lists, it seems that we are quicker to turn to our smartphones to make lists or calendar appointments as we go throughout the day. What does this mean?
We are all busy people- whether you are juggling kids, freelance work, creative ideas, or diverse clients, we can sometimes get lost in our devices, calendars and apps that are supposed to help us live simply.
I've tried a few different methods of list making and a few apps created specifically for task organization. By far, the one I would jump to recommend to my mom, my roommates and my coworkers is Todoist.
Why it might be a good tool for you:
- It allows you to streamline all of your lists into one location. When you add an item on your phone, (as long as you have internet) it will sync to your computer or tablet. This eliminates redundant list making and saves you time from transferring things from one device to the other.
- You can actually attach a "priority" to the item you are adding to your to do list. This creates an order of importance among your list, helping you remember what the most important and potentially urgent items are.
- The feature of "assigning a task to someone" is extremely helpful for a team working towards a common goal. It streamlines the communication process, allowing the app to serve as the mouthpiece and explanation of a task as well as a calendar with a due date. It could increase your productivity as a group or team as it cuts out the email or phone call in between.
- Using the Todoist list for your tasks and daily duties, will create simplicity and space in your calendar. Instead of plugging everything you need to do in a day, into your phone calendar, causing it to look overwhelming and full to the brim- put your tasks in the Todoist list and enjoy the satisfaction of checking tasks off one by one.
- The list stays up to date. It will show you the current day, or the upcoming 7 days. This serves as a form of auto clean up and fresh start for each day. If items don't get completed "today", you can simply click and add it to tomorrows list.
- Todoist offers integration with over 50 other softwares and programs that will increase your ability to share and upload images or documents from other locations on your phone or computer.
Follow @todoistofficial on Instagram.
Follow @todoistofficial on Instagram.
Check out why Hannah loves Todoist on a professional and personal level.
Recently, I've been using my Todoist app like crazy in order to stay organized and up to date on tasks leading up to our Fall Flea @ The Hive. Is this event on your calendar? We'd love to see you there! Add it to your calendar today- Friday, November 4 from 8 am to 2 pm and Saturday, November 5 from 8 am to 2 pm. #HYDFallFlea
fall flea @ the hive
We're so excited to invite you to come shop the Fall Flea @ The Hive. We've curated an amazing collection of eclectic and unique pieces that we've gathered.
Grab your neighbors, co-workers or friends and come shop!
Invite your friends on Facebook.
these 5 things
We wanted to share a few things we're currently loving. Our hope is to bring you inspiration, beauty and simplicity through these links. Enjoy!
Hikes in Tennessee you don't want to miss. This weather is just asking you to go on an adventure.
Eclectic Fall Home Tour that has us swooning. Love the way this home showcases natural beauty, simplicity and personality. You might see an image that gives you some inspiration for your space!
Trader Joe's publishes some of their featured items online. They do not disappoint in the seasonal food department. They also consistently have beautiful bouquets of flowers at great prices.
These tips for a Casual Fall Dinner Party are so practical and also inspiring. According to this post, all you really need is a loaf of bread, a bottle of wine and a genuinely grateful heart for those gathering. Amen to that!
Feast your eyes on Danielle Walker's Paleo Pumpkin Recipe Roundup. Tis the season for everything pumpkin! Danielle Walker is the author of a few incredible cookbooks despite living with an autoimmune disease and multiple dietary restrictions.
Wildcat Falls - Anoldent.
Did you know we have a page of our favorite organizing products? Check it out. As always, we'd love to hear from you- what are you currently loving?
This fall would be a great time to begin your year long subscription of monthly organizing with us. Give us a call to find out more- 865.245.9080.
*blog post image courtesy of Nesting With Grace.
Ways to Display Collections as Art in your Home
col·lec·tion
kəˈlekSH(ə)n/
noun
an assembly of items such as works of art, pieces of writing, or natural objects, especially one systematically ordered.
Would you consider yourself a collector? You very well may be.
Collections can be inherited, gathered over the years, bought when traveling, found all at once, created by your own hands, or slowly grow one piece at a time. They can be practical, sentimental, humorous, or all of the above.
We are so lucky to spend time with our clients, getting to know them and their stories. In their homes, we often discover beautiful pieces of history, family memorabilia, and one of a kind pieces of art. To collect is truly artistic. It requires selection, preference, taste and intentionality.
Collections may be displayed in your home and they may be private. Your reasons for collecting are personal as well. You might collect to display your personality in your home to all who enter, and you may collect to build a compilation of meaningful pieces that will be passed on to a family member or dear friend. We wanted to share some of the most remarkable collections we've come across in the homes of our amazing clients.
We'd love to see some of your favorite collections. Snap a photo of your collections and tag us on instagram or facebook. Thanks for sharing your treasured collections with the #HYD team!
*Blog image source: Town And Country Magazine.
the all purpose closet.
As much as it would fulfill our perfectly designed and organized dreams of each closet having it's own category of contents, sometimes we are presented just one closet for multiple purposes. Imagine one closet that needs to contain all of your seasonal decor, gift wrapping supplies, crafting tools, and cleaning supplies. We've come up with a few tips regarding each category, to help this closet function as functionally and organized as it can. These ideas can be applied regardless of the size or shape of the closet. Let's work with what we've got & get creative... after all this is why we call it "the art of organizing".
Seasonal Decor.
Image from Eleven Magnolia Lane.
Snap and stack ornament storage. Or if you have your own boxes, use those! Also try- egg crates or apple cartons for round & fragile ornaments.
Hanging your wreaths vertically with a hanger... what?! Read more on how to.
Use your storage tubs and bins more efficiently. Empty all of your current holiday storage to see it all at once. Let go of the things you no longer like or don't want to use this season. Reorganize the bins into: outdoor decor, christmas tree decorations & lights, serving ware & hosting dishes.
Gift Wrapping.
Image from I Heart Organizing.
Use the door for vertical storage.
Gift wrap station in a shower caddy.
Use a mail organizer for bags.
Cleaning Stuff.
Image from The 36th Avenue.
Use a shoe organizer for cleaning spray bottles.
Choose pretty containers (clear glass or labeled clearly) to hold all of your cleaning supplies. Like this.
Get rid of all expired or toxic cleaning chemicals. Show your kids the supplies you want them to have access to and where they are to be stored.
Crafting Supplies.
Image from Mad in Crafts
- Separate and distinguish between adult and children's craft supplies.
- Encourage the kids who will use this closet to help in deciding where things go and how they'd like to set their things up.
- Make room by purging items that your kids may have grown out of and would like to donate to another family.
- Use vertical storage (this is a common theme in this blog post!) like a hanging shoe container for yarn.
- Hanging paint storage: try this DIY trick.
If you love the pretty door image we used for this blog post- google some creative ways to make a bland and boring closet door POP!
Post a photo of the space, room, or nook that you love dwelling in & simply tag us (@helpyoudwell) and one lucky winner will receive a free HYD Canvas Tote! Last week to win.
Also, we're so excited to announce the Fall Flea we're co-hosting with The Hive on November 4 & 5. Watch our Facebook & Instagram for sneak peeks of the collection we've curated coming soon!
your favorite nook.
Last week, we launched the "HYD Fall Challenge" and our hope was to inspire you to conquer the closets in your home one at a time. However, we realize we may have been asking a lot of you to show us your perfected linen closet in just 3 short days!
So this week, we are going to keep it simple.
We want you (our friends & followers) to post a photo of one of your favorite areas, corners, nooks or spaces in (or outside) your home that you enjoy "dwelling" in. It doesn't have to be fancy or perfect. Then tag us - @helpyoudwell !
One random person will be chosen to win a free HYD Canvas Tote. You've got nothing to lose & we'd love to see some of your favorite spaces. We'll still share some tips on organizing another closet, but as far as the "HYD Fall Challenge"... the pressure is off.
Week 2: Coat Closet
Where to start?
Pull everything out. All the jackets, umbrellas, shoes, hats & scarves, and whatever else might have made a home here.
Sort into categories. Discard: don't be ashamed if you find a few things that should be thrown away. Donate: old jackets, hats and scarves that you won't wear this year. Relocate: the jackets that should go into individuals closets, items that belong in the garage, anything that might be more useful to have in the laundry room. Keep: the jackets, umbrellas, hats and boots that make the most sense in this closet for you and your family.
Before putting the keep items back in the coat closet, take time to imagine and visualize the coat closet of your dreams. These photos might inspire you.
What you need?
Hangers
Bins or tubs (various sizes, whatever works for you and your items)
Hooks for the back of the closet door (umbrellas, children's backpacks, hats)
Shoe organizer (rack, hanging shoe organizer, boxes on a shelf)
*Keep in mind, these are all optional. We just made a list to get you thinking of the possibilities. As always, we encourage using what you have instead of purchasing a bunch of new things.
How to maintain?
Let your people know. Show them the changes that have been made. Tell them what goes where and what does not go in this newly refreshed coat closet.
Re-visit monthly or seasonally. Put a calendar reminder on your phone to gently nudge you to spend a few minutes sprucing up the closet, or discarding unused items. This way, you are enjoying your organized coat closet all year around!
If there are areas in your home, garage, or office that you just haven't gotten around to organizing... we'd be happy to help. Give us a call or shoot us an email to schedule your free consultation!
join the challenge
Fall has finally arrived. Let's hope the weather follows soon! We are devoting the month of September to an often neglected and problem area of our homes. You guessed it... the closets.
What better way to get motivated and organized than joining us in the:
#HYDFallChallenge
For 4 weeks (every Thursday in the month of September) we will pick a specific closet to focus on in your home. Our blog will feature inspiration and tips to help you conquer your closets one week at a time. We want to see your completed projects each week! Post a photo to Facebook or Instagram (by the Monday after the blog is posted) with the hashtag #HYDFallChallenge . We will pick one random winner each week to receive the prize of a lovely HYD Canvas Tote!
Why participate?
Because your closets need some love every now and then.
Because you will create space in your closets for the things you need and love.
Because you might win a beautiful HYD canvas tote.
Because purging and creating space in your closets will inspire you to declutter other areas.
Because donating and giving back to your community is life giving.
Week 1: Linen Closet
Begin by taking everything out of the closet (or cabinets).
Separate the contents in a way that makes sense to you.
- separate by room of use (master bedroom, children's bathroom, extra bedroom, etc.)
- separate by color (whites, colors, neutrals, etc.)
- separate by type (bedsheets, hand towels, bath towels, picnic blankets, etc.)
Sort into categories.
- Discard- the torn towels or worn out sheets that you'd rather use in the garage or to dry off the dog. These can be put in a new place- laundry room or garage.
- Occasional Use- the towels, sheets and blankets you only need when you have multiple house guests at one time or when the whole family goes on a trip. These could be better stored under a bed in a vacuum seal bag. Table cloths might fall into this category- try to find a place closer to the kitchen such as the top shelf of the pantry.
- Necessity- the ones you use every day. These are the ones that deserve a prime spot on the shelf in your laundry room. The trick here is that you don't need excess. Only have on hand, what you need and use regularly. Let your kids pick their favorite towels and blankets and find a shelf they can easily access.
- Donate- Challenge yourself to fill a few grocery bags or even a trash bag of linens that you can part with. Our local KARM stores would be a great place for these to end up.
Put back the contents that are here to stay.
- Think about who is using the linens and if they can reach what they need
- Put them back in a way that is practical and aesthetically pleasing (each time you open this closet, you'll be glad you did!)
- Show your family members or roommates the new linen closet system!
- Share your photo and hashtag #HYDFallChallenge
Happy organizing!
#HYDFallChallenge
home office must-haves
Whether you work from home full time or not- chances are you need a space to handle paperwork, pay bills and get personal tasks done. We have a few suggestions for your home office space, even if you don't have a separate "office" room in your home. We know that space, furniture and budgets are all constraints here but we hope these ideas help you create a space that is productive and also a space that you love. Here are some must-haves for your office space.
SUPPLIES
Notepad- If you are on a call or making plans, you need a place for those thoughts and numbers to land. Maybe a legal pad or clipboard would work for you, or maybe you are a sticky note lover.
Stationary and mail- Having the essentials on hand will set you up for success. Stamps, note cards, return address labels, and envelopes are the keys.
Pens- It's always helpful to have at least one highlighter and Sharpie available. Find your favorite writing tools and stock up so you don't spend time searching for them.
all the littles- We're talking paperclips, staples, rubber bands, tab dividers, etc. A drawer with dividers and different size containers is the perfect home for these supplies. Or if you'd prefer them to be visible, pick up a stylish tray to place on top of your desk as your "control center".
SYSTEMS
Contact Information- When you meet a new friend or get a business card, what do you do with that information? Create a system that works for you, maybe you have an album on your smart phone where you take pictures of the business cards you collect. Or maybe you have a box that functions as a small filing system (alphabetically by name or type of service they offer) for contact info.
Calendar- Similar to contacts, you have the choice of paper or electronic. Some people like to use both. The great thing about using your phone calendar is the reminders and alerts that keep you on track. Planners and agendas are great for seeing your week at a glance and scheduling your days. Here's a link to some fun printable calendars.
Files- Again the question of paper vs. electronic is up to you. If you purchase an inexpensive scanner, you can digitally upload all of the papers that you need, in folders on your computer. If the traditional paper filing system works for you, go for it. Make sure to get folders that will allow you to separate and categorize the items you need to organize. Think colors, labels and dividers here. We love working with clients to come up with a personalized system that works best for you.
COMFORT & INSPIRATION
Seating- Never underestimate the power of a comfortable chair. What you can do in a nice padded seat compared to a hard and rigid chair will surprise you. It's worth looking for just the right chair and spending a little money on. If you enjoy standing while you work, look into standing desk options.
Natural Light- Windows are ideal in any space that you will be spending time as they allow the sunlight to warm the room, energize your mind and get you going! If windows aren't present in your space, find a few lamps that will create warm and inviting light.
Plant(s)- It's life-giving to have a real life plant in your workspace. It's something to tend to, but it also reminds you of growth, our need for nourishment and the fragility of life. Find a little low maintenance succulent to start with.
Inspiration- We feel strongly about creating a space you enjoy. As you dream up this home office, what are the colors you love? Decorate with a few of your favorite prints or art pieces.
If a home office seems unattainable or like a far fetched dream, let us come help create an office space in your home with you. We love empowering our clients through a personal and orderly work space.
Before
After
Also, don't miss our Labor Day Special - One FREE Month of Organizing when you sign up for monthly organizing this weekend!
consignment opportunity.
Fall is approaching; this means brisk mornings, pumpkin flavored everything, UT football games, and the holiday seasons approaching faster than we realize. As the weather transitions seasonally, so does our wardrobe.
Is your closet full to the brim? Do you have clothes you rarely wear that are in mint condition? Would you love to make room for some new pieces? Want to make a little money on the clothes you can part with? What if we told you this was possible while also partnering to make a meaningful impact in 125 lives in our community?
We are so excited to invite you to StateMint | An Upscale Consignment Event. This event was founded by Sarah McAffry, a Knoxville native who realized that Knoxville is full of fashion conscious women and men who need an event like this to buy and sell current fashions.
Mark your calendars...
Thursday, September 29 | 10 am - 8 pm
Friday, September 30 | 10 am - 8 pm
- Saturday, October 1 | 9 am - 3 pm
Ready to get started...
See you there...
6700 Jubilee Center Way
Knoxville, TN,
37912 United States
Have more questions? Ask away!
Share the event with your friends and follow StateMintStyle on Instagram.
tools and tips.
Do you have ideas and big ambitions about how to stay on top of your to-do list, calendar and schedule? If you're like us, we find our brain space full of swirling tasks and goals. We wanted to share some helpful downloads, printables, tips and tools we're loving recently.
Get those things out of your mind... onto paper... into action!
We love these sheets for so many reasons. You can use them as you're thinking through your design taste, creating new habits and writing out goals. And the font and colors are pretty too!
2. My Love for Words - Printable Labels
Looking for a set of labels that are ready to print today? These are perfect for a pantry, closet, garage or shelves. Tape them on today & feel accomplished.
3. House Full of Sunshine - Vision Board Printables
Does your office, home office or kitchen calendar need some inspiration? These are beautiful, encouraging and inspiring. Print them today and your workspace will be instantly brighter.
4. Kennary - Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
We are quickly approaching Fall... How functional is this pre-made maintenance list for the coming season?! Print it off and make a plan with your roommates or family before summer slips away.
We hope these tools and tips are fun for you to look into today. Feel free to share with a friend who might love these resources!
Furniture & Art Placement from a Recent Job
This week we wanted to give you a little glimpse into a job we recently completed (and loved)!
We had the privilege of helping an elderly client move from an apartment on the second floor down to the first floor in an assisted living complex. What seemed like a pretty simple "move" became much more meaningful for our team as we got started.
Our client gave us permission to give her a fresh look in her space. From the furniture set up to art placement, we loved every minute!
As we began gathering her artwork and memorabilia from international travels, we got very excited. It was such a fun experience to revel at her artwork and hand crafted books as we found special places in her apartment for them. We could see her light up as we got to enjoy the art she had created and collected throughout her life. Each piece had a story that she was eager to tell. Decorating her living space became more like an intimate art exhibit tour with the artist herself.
We were reminded of the importance of surrounding yourself with things that bring you joy. For you that may mean memories, collections, or pieces of art.
Yes you can.
Four ways to find success this weekend.
1. The paper pile on your kitchen counter?
You can sit down this Saturday morning and go through it. Trash, File/Put away, To do. Those are you three categories. Then:
Toss the trash
File the keepers
Put the hammer where it belongs
Pay the bills or fill out the forms
2. The bags or boxes of items to be donated?
You can make one more 15 minute round through the house, add a few more items to the bag, load them in your car Friday morning and drop them off on your way to the grocery store or on your lunch break.
3. The toy room overflowing with unneeded toys that other kids would love?
You can grab your kiddos on Saturday afternoon, tell them they have a special opportunity to let go of their toys for other kids less fortunate by picking out 5-10 toys, place them in a box, and the nice men & women at the closest donation site of your choice will take care of the rest.
4. The bathroom closet/medicine cabinet with expired meds, unused beauty products, and scattered items?
You can get a trash bag to fill with the unusable items, purge any products that friends or family might like, and see what’s left. Once you know what you have, it’s easy to pick up containers like these from Target to contain items just the way you need and add a label to the front to make things easy to find!
Here are four little ways to make a big difference in your living space. They may not seem like much reading them on this blog, but trust us, we have experienced it personally and with clients time and time again.
Remember it only takes one little rock to start an avalanche. Who knows what organizing one small space in your home or workspace could lead to?
As always, if these tasks sound just like what you need but time is limited, HYD would be honored to help you along your journey to order in your space.
Call us at 865.245.9080 for a free consult today.
Have you heard about BackRoads Market?
Earlier this week, we took an unofficial tour of one of Knoxville's newest businesses. Back Roads Market is more than just a store, it's a destination. Kerry and Craig Myers have poured tons of time and love into this beautiful space and have truly created something unique. For before and after pictures of the space, check out their latest blog entry!
The Myers' original vision was to create space for community. In our opinion, they have certainly executed that vision. They hope you find a fun item to purchase, but more than that, they hope you have a welcoming experience. Part coffee shop, part flower market, part consignment, part new furniture and decor, part custom furniture, part local goods, they have it all.
On Saturdays, you can come build your own bouquet. Rather than purchasing a ready made floral arrangement, you get to pick each type of flower and you can make it work on any budget.
If you are interested in consigning with them, you can check out their consigners agreement here.
The in house carpenter, Danny, builds custom farmhouse tables and bed swings like the one below!
Check back in with them regularly as they get new items in each week. With a mix of consignment, new items, and hand picked items from all over East Tennessee and North Carolina, you are sure to find something you can't live without.
You can follow them on instagram @backroads_market
Caroline, BackRoads Market owner Kerry Myers, and Katie
living well in shared spaces
While many of us have Pinterest boards full of our "dream homes" that we will one day decorate with all the beautiful things and zero clutter... your living situation today may be a rental home or apartment with roommates. Whether you live with family, friends or roommates - there is an art to living well in a shared space.
In your own space.
TIDY AND TASTEFUL.
Your bedroom may be the only space you can call your very own. That's why it should be your haven and retreat. This is the place you wake up and begin each day, the place you go for rest and sleep. While having systems of order are important, your personal design taste is equally as important. Displaying things that inspire joy (from art to family pieces to colors and textures) in your bedroom, is just as important as the particular way you store your clothes and accessories. If coziness is important to you, pick pillows and sheets and blankets that create the bed of your dreams. If art is important to you, create a gallery wall today. If your book collection is special, refresh the way they are displayed by color or subject. Images below from Apartment Therapy.
SUBTLE STORAGE.
Are there storage containers and bins in your room that are taking up prime space, without adding a lot of functionality or visual appeal. There could be better ways to "store" your stuff, that adds personality and your taste to your room. Instead of cramming blankets into a bin or drawer of your dresser, find a wooden ladder and repurpose it to vertically display your favorite throw blankets and purge the extra ones. For the keepsakes that pile up, check out local yard sales or antique stores for a vintage trunk that would hold them while also offering a little seating or surface for your favorite lamp. We believe that storage pieces should be working double time - offering storage and additional functionality in your space.
CLOSET CONFIGURATION.
Before jumping in, or giving up altogether it is important to think about creating a system that works for you instead of against you. What are the things you wear daily or even weekly, those should be given the prime location in your closet or dresser. How do you decide what to wear each day? Do you think in terms of color - organize by colors. Do you think in terms of style/type - organize by category (professional, casual, dressy, activewear, etc). Let your closet work for you, not against you!
MEMORIES.
Choosing which photos and memories to display might not be easy for you. Instead of a wall full of concert posters, pick your favorite one or two and consider switching them out seasonally for a refreshed look. A gallery wall is a great place to hold your family photos, postcards, historic maps and more. Find frames you love, to create an orderly and contained display of these special pieces. It's tempting to want every memory to have a place on your wall or bookshelf, but if you completely fill your space with things from the past there won't be room for the new adventures to be displayed. Pick your favorites and remember switching a photo from a frame is very doable.
SOMETHING GREEN.
There is something life-giving about a little live (or artificial) green in your living space. It reminds us that we need nourishment and we're growing daily. The Farmer's Market is a great place to grab some beautiful fresh blooms or succulents. If you aren't sure a little plant would survive, there are faux flowers and plants that add the same feeling in your room. Look at Target or Home Goods for one or two that you love!
In the shared spaces.
DECOR DO'S & DON'TS.
It's important to remember to consider the people you're living with before going decor crazy in places like the living room or kitchen. It might take some communication on the front end, but talking through how each person plans to use and enjoy the room will help everyone feel at home in the shared spaces. Try a few furniture arrangements and see what works best for your group of roommates or family. Challenge yourself to see a room through someone else's perspective, you may end up loving it! Remember a blended space is just that, a blend of different needs and personalities - it can be eclectic and beautiful at the same time.
TEAMWORK.
It's all about communication. We live full and sometimes chaotic lives. If you and the ones you share a home, apartment, condo or RV with can create systems up front that reduce extra stress, your home will be a place you can relax and be refreshed. Maybe even seasonally, you each commit to purge the excess in your closets as well as the shared household things you don't need anymore. Individually and collectively you have the ability to create and maintain a home that works well for you instead of against you.
PANTRY PUZZLE.
No one wants to search through a full pantry on their way out the door for the day. Baskets, bins, containers, trays... containing items that are similar is key. If there are shelves, grab some colorful tape and outline specific areas that are for each person. In order to do this fairly among different shelf sizes and heights, draw the dividing lines vertically. This is another place that labels will serve a great purpose, because you are more likely to maintain order while unloading from the grocery store if there are labels telling you what goes where. Same thought goes for the refrigerator. If pantry space is limited, pick a kitchen cabinet that could serve as extra storage.
MAIL MANAGEMENT.
Whether it's a basket, a shelf or a side table there needs to be a designated place for daily mail to land. If it begins to pile up, it might be helpful to sort through and discard ads and junk mail. This is a great place for labels in order to cut down on confusion and missing mail.
One last thought that will go along way in shared spaces: be quick to extend grace. We're talking about grace for your (sometimes messy) roommates and for your (sometimes messy) self too. As much as we wish we were tidy super organized individuals all the time, we just aren't. Stuff piles up, so when it happens remember: you got this!
Is your storage unit the best investment?
We get it. Sometimes life comes at you in ways you never imagined and you find yourself needing to make a quick move either to a smaller place or for a short period of time. Storage units can be the best route if you don't have a family member or friend to let you store your extra stuff while your in transition. BUT......
this blog is for all of you that don't fit into that category. : )
Today, storage units can range anywhere from $40/mo up to $400/mo depending on how big and how nice a unit is. At first, this can be easily added into the budget for some folks. Others, it's a bit of a stretch. Oftentimes, it all makes sense to store that piece (you really don't like) from your grandma or the dining room table and 6 chairs that you used at your first house but don't need now or the really nice bed frame you hope to use someday but haven't yet because it never seems to match the style of your current home. But then you do the math. Say you've had the unit 4 years now. And say you're just paying the average price of a unit in Knoxville, TN which is about $90/mo. That is $4320. Yes, Four-Thousand Three-Hundred and Twenty dollars. Woah.
Like we said earlier, you may have very good reason to need that extra space for a transition period. We get it. But, if the "transition period" has lasted so long that you don't really remember what's in the unit, it might be time to reconsider that extra monthly expense.
HYD would love to help. As you've heard us say before, taking someone along when you're ready to find new homes for items you no longer need is definitely the way to go. If you've got a friend ready and willing, grab 'em and go for it! If not, HYD would be honored to be that helping hand as you decide the best way to find the right spot for all those items in your storage unit. Who knows? Some of it might be just what you need in your current space but you'd just forgotten you had it! We can help with that too!
Don't let another month go by spending money that could be much better spent on family, friends, travel, and life that you can enjoy! Make a valuable investment of a bit of your time and a small investment in HYD services and enjoy the freedom from the monthly storage expense as well as the peace of mind that comes with letting go of items you don't need and others do.
A User's Guide to the HYD Canvas Tote
In keeping with our tips and ideas for bringing more peace & order to your home &/or workspace, we wanted to make sure our fabulous readers were fully informed as to the best uses of our new Help You Dwell canvas totes as well. Just a note too, they are sturdy, practical, and so so lovely!
What fits and what doesn't...
A Pink Marlin won't fit.
But your next picnic will!
This beach ball won't fit.
But your beach necessities will!
Katie won't fit.
But her laptop and accessories will!
A tire won't fit.
But your Knox County Public Library books will!
And to celebrate all the great uses of the HYD Canvas Tote... Lots of bottles of wine from your local Knoxville grocery stores will fit!