DIY

Getting That Kitchen Organized

November 13, 2019

Last month, we did a piece in homage of the generations’ old spring cleaning and organizing tradition. For most of us, the kitchen is one of the most cluttered area of the home. Even if things look suspiciously neat and tidy from on the surface, opening just a cabinet or two will be enough to reveal the monstrous pile of “stuff” that has collected over the years.

Kitchen Design Organization Tips

The following tips will help you to organize your kitchen, whether you want to work with what you have or you’re in the process of designing a kitchen remodel or renovation.

De-Clutter. Today’s kitchen design websites are all about maximizing storage space, and this can certainly be helpful. However, after a thorough kitchen de-cluttering session, you may find you don’t need as much storage as you thought. In the latter case, this provides the opportunity to eliminate space-hogging cabinets to free up kitchen square footage and/or to make room for some open shelving. On the flip side, once you’ve inventoried kitchen items, you’ll provide your kitchen designer with a more comprehensive idea of what your storage needs really are, which will yield to a more customized kitchen design.
Re-Organize. I work with retired homeowners on a regular basis. As age increases, the desire to crawl around on the floor to access lower cabinets, or to spend time on stepping stools decreases. For this reason, I’ve always recommend that older clients re-organize kitchen cabinets, placing frequently-used items in the most accessible spots. Now, I advise all of my clients – regardless of age – to do the same. It’s a smart move that makes kitchens more functional for people of all ages, sizes and abilities.
Go Custom. Wherever you can, opt for custom-designed storage spaces. When you do this, you will have a much more efficient storage system, eliminating wasted dead space created by standard cabinet shelving spaces. Think about customized spice racks, pot/pan drawers, appliance storage, etc., to make every square-inch count. Again, focusing on optimizing your storage spaces may allow you to remove enough cabinetry to add a kitchen peninsula, dine-in area or small home office (more on that in #4). The more you can eliminate, the more spacious the kitchen will feel.
Slide it Out. Wherever you can, switch out fixed cabinet drawers for slide-out options. Once you do, you’ll wish you would have done it long ago. Slide-out shelving features mean no more crawling around on hands-and-knees to access lower cabinets. They are more accessible and you can design custom slide-out features for corner-cabinets and/or those with awkward dimensions or access.
Add a Message Center. The contemporary kitchen is the resting place and charging ground for a range of electronic gadgets. Not only that, but with the trend toward open floor plans, and kitchens that are as much living rooms as they are food prep areas, countertops and islands are a default dumping ground for everyone’s stuff. One great solution for all of the above? Incorporate a small home office in the kitchen area. This provides shelving, room for a charging station (hide those electrical outlets and gadget in a drawer or two!) and a comfortable space where you and/or kids/grandkids can work in an organized space. If you don’t have room for a small home office space, find a corner or end-cabinet that can be transitioned into a message .
Fall in Love Again…With lazy Susans. Rotating lazy Susans work great great for corner cabinets but why stop there? Use smaller, countertop versions in the corner of your cabinets in order to house those same, random items that are forever cluttering things up: honey bottles, sugar for coffee, the salt shaker and pepper grinder, a few of your go-to spices and pantry items, etc. No muss, no fuss and very convenient.

You’ll be amazed at the space you’ll gain – both storage and otherwise – when you reorganize your kitchen space.

Egg Dying: Food Coloring And BEYOND

October 12, 2019

Easter egg dying is a spring time given in our home. Like pumpkin carving or gingerbread houses, it’s a tradition that has passed down through the generations. Growing up – and then when my kids were younger – dying eggs meant purchasing a PAAS kit and getting down to business.

As time progressed, and kids got older, we itched to do something different and new. That urge spawned all kinds of experimentation and research so we could create eggs that went beyond the water, vinegar and food coloring.

Beyond Food Coloring and Into the Eggs-Traodrinary

Here are some of our favorite techniques for creating dyed eggs that can become serious works of art.

Blown or hardboiled?

For years and years, I followed in the footsteps of my mother, hard-boiling dozens of eggs for egg dying day. This yields dozens of hardboiled eggs that are eventually eaten as snacks, in salads, and as egg salad sandwiches.

Then, I wised up. Blowing eggs yields permanent fixtures that can be boxed up carefully and displayed year after year. So, I highly recommend blowing a good third or half of your eggs (using the blown contents for scrambled eggs, frittatas and quiches. If sealed well, they will remain fresh in the fridge for up to a week or more) and then hard-boiling the others.

Use Colorful Permanent Markers

If you want to keep things simple, but different, start with permanent markers. Our favorites are Sharpie because you can get lots of them for a reasonable price (don’t forget the gold and silver) and they come in both medium, fine and ultra-fine points so artists can get as intricate as they want to.

We also have a tradition of personalizing dyed eggs for each member of the family, and the extended family if we’re going to see them for Easter brunch or a household egg hunt, and this is much easier with Sharpies than with clear wax crayons! To make it more artistic, we’ll cleverly weave their names into our artwork.

Glue and glitter or confetti

Some kids (and adults) are crazy for glitter and eggs are a perfect medium for it. While you can dye eggs first if you want, this is also a simple way to skip all that and use your white (or brown, or Arcana green) eggs au naturel. With a little glue stick or glue tape (traditional craft glue can be too messy if you’re trying to glitter designs, rather than the entire egg), and baggies of different colored glitter (confetti creates a fun effect too), you can make beautiful eggs with all kinds of different looks.

Temporary Tattoos

Have tweens? Purchase sheets of temporary tattoos and let them go to town (plan on having a temporary tattooed child after this one since it’s hard to resist). The eggs look fantastic and the motifs can vary from princess to hardcore rocker, which lends itself to all kinds of personal expression. If the tattoos don’t adhere perfectly, that’s just fine – it adds a retro, distressed look.

Twine or colored string

You can use hemp or natural fiber twine for a country or rustic look, or you can purchase baker’s twine in all kinds of colors or striped patterns. Use craft glue on a third of the egg at a time (I have found it best to move from the wide end to the narrow end of the egg), and carefully wind the twine around the egg. If you want to switch colors, simply cut the end of the twine you’re using and press it down into the glue, then start the new color by overlapping the end just a bit over the finished one. When you get to the top of the egg, dab another dot of glue at the tip of the string end and press gently to prevent the string from fraying or unraveling.

Washi tape

You can use colored or patterned washi tape by the strip, or you can cut them into geometric pieces to create a mosaic. You can even cut out hearts, stars, flowers and other shapes and mix washi tape décor with the marker, dye or other decorating methods for a mixed-media effect.

Modge Podge and anything

Modge Podge and anything (rhinestones, glitter, magazine cutouts, pressed flowers, etc.) will result in awesome eggs. If you’re going to go through all the trouble, use this idea on your blown eggs so the results are permanent and you can put them on display in your home next year, and the next.

Egg decorating is a wonderful bonding ritual and a fun way to get the creative juices flowing no matter what age you are. Have you and your family come up with eggs-traordinary designs?

The Art Of Flower Display

August 31, 2019

With the return of spring comes the return of flowers – and flowering branches – which can make a tremendous addition to your interior design. While vases are lovely, sometimes it’s fun to think outside the vase, finding unique containers in which to show off your garden’s bounty.

10 New Ways to Display Your Flower Arrangements

While you’re in the process of spring cleaning and organizing, start thinking in terms of reduce-reuse-recycle to find eclectic ways to use a variety of containers and vessels.

Teacups in saucers. In addition to being a sweet way to show off individual blooms or small clusters, this is also a good method for getting that collection of antique teacups and saucers out on display. They look sweet on shelves or small end tables or you can line them up as a centerpiece for the dining room table.
Children’s rain boots. Kids grow in and out of their galoshes so quickly, but you can put them to use year after year as a watertight floral vase. It’s a fun way to add color and interest and a little something different to the mix. They’ll work indoors but will also serve as a clever springtime addition to porches or hanging from the front window ledges.
Recycled bottles. Use colorful or beautifully shaped bottles solo or in groups. Rinsed out bottles make a lovely home for a tall, stalk-like blooms. You may want to anchor them on the bottom with tacky putty in case they’re top-heavy to protect glass from toppling over and breaking in a strong breeze.
Watering cans. Have a watering can that has rusted through? Turn it into a flower container with a florist’s frog in the middle to retain moisture and hold flowers in place.
Colorful pots. Rather than planting a pot, insert a frog and use the pot as a display for groups of stalk-like flowers or tall cut grasses.
Conch shells. Are you a fan of beach house décor? Put those conch shells to use by flipping them open-side-up and sticking a bloom or two inside. With a little arranging, you can come up with some gorgeous looks, including cascading blooms or sweet succulent gardens. These are a fun surprise on book shelves or window sills.
Jars, jars and jars. Even if you are a serial-recycler, it can be tough to throw away all those jars left over from foodstuffs. Once the labels are soaked off, however, those empty jars make a perfect vessel for displaying flower arrangements or a single, stunning blossom. You can also use them to starting new plants from houseplant cuttings – kids will enjoy watching the roots begin to sprout and grow. You can tie a ribbon or colored raffia around the necks for color and a little traditional flair.
Printed tin boxes. Prop open the lid of an old tin box and you have the perfect container for flowers. Tin boxes come in all shapes and sizes and are a fun theme as you coordinate the right tins for the right locations and rooms.
Pitchers. I have found stunning pitchers for a song at local thrift stores and flea markets. You can store them easily in a box in between times and use different sizes, shapes, patterns and colors to suit your seasonal needs or the whimsy of your moods.
Coffee Cans. A coffee can will serve as the foundation for a myriad of external decorating motifs. From asparagus spears, upright and tied with a bow, to twigs of various shapes and sizes, seashells, glass beads and more. Get creative and enjoy transforming old coffee cans into shabby-chic delights.

Creating A Closet In A Closet-Less Space

July 28, 2019

Whether you find yourself in a historical Bay Area home, where clothes were often stored hanging from hooks on a wall, live in a smaller home, where space is of the essence and closet-space is scarce, or you’re interested in converting a den into an additional bedroom – you may need to be a little creative when it comes to closet space.

The following ideas can help you create a closet where there isn’t one. Some work well for renters, who will want to take their solutions with them, others involve more permanent changes. In any case, these tips will expand hidden storage options for you and your guests.

Build a Real Closet. An after-market closet addition is your best move if you have the room for it and you own your home. If you rent, and you feel there is enough living space post-closet, your landlord may be willing to spring for it – especially if you do all the legwork to plan and design it. A bedroom closet add-on is a fairly inexpensive construction project in the big picture, especially because it will significantly increase the value of the home. In the state of CA, rooms can only be called “bedrooms” if there is a permanent closet. Thus, your current 2-bedroom home will instantly become a 3-bedroom home, which is pretty significant when it’s time to put the home on the market.
Purchase a Gorgeous Armoire. You can never regret the purchase of a gorgeous armoire. For now, it can be the closet you wish you had. Down the road – in another home – it may become the entertainment center that elegantly houses that ugly TV screen when it’s not in use, or it could become your next favorite linen closet in a master bathroom renovation. The point is, armoires are versatile. And, they hold their resale value – so there’s that.
Create an Exposed Closet Rung. Next time you’re out on a hike, look for a sturdy branch, about three-feet or more in length and bring it home. Trim it to its core, paint it any color you like, and suspend it horizontally from the ceiling using chains, rope, ribbon, or whatever material makes sense with the existing décor. If you combine that, with an attractive dresser beneath it, you gain clothing storage for both folded and hanger-worthy wardrobe options. Don’t want to spring for a new dresser? Cheap and attractive versions abound on Craigslist and a quick coat of paint will fix them right up.
Get Yourself Some Bed Risers. You can purchase bed risers for a song and in a range of heights. Once your bed is elevated, you have just given yourself the gift of significant storage space. Now, you can free other closets of the seasonal and lesser-worn items, storing them in storage bins in your new, under-bed closet.
Invest In a Loft Bed. Loft beds are pretty genius, especially if you have a room that is both small and tall. Once the bed is elevated to those lofty heights (pun intended) you can create a walk-in-closet of sorts underneath. If you have a more modern design, an exposed closet might work just fine. If you’re more of a traditionalist or the exposed space winds up looking cluttered, hang a beautiful expanse of fabric around the perimeter of the loft. The underneath space can also create room for a small home office. If this is a kid’s bedroom, divide the under-loft space in two, using one for their clothes and shoes and the other for their own personal hideout and quiet space.
Use a Pre-Fab Closet Organizing System. You can also use a pre-fab closet organizing system. These will give you the hanging, shelved and/or drawer space you’re looking for. For stability, mount the system to the wall. If you feel inclined, a builder or certified handyman will have no problem installing “walls” on the sides for a real closet look. Then, using a curtain rod system, you’ll be able to enclose the space tastefully.
Create a Closet Nook Just Outside the Door. Depending on the shape of your hallway and room entrances, you may be able to enclose a small nook and then install shelving and a small section of rod to hang nicer clothes. Again, you can choose to hide or expose the space using a rod and a curtain or piece of fabric.

Tips For Optimizing Storage Space

May 17, 2019

Adding and/or optimizing storage space is a straightforward concept in larger spaces, but that’s certainly not the case when you live in some of the Bay Area’s smaller apartments, townhomes or bungalows – especially when your home’s footprint was designed 50 years ago or more.

Smaller spaces require smart design tricks and multi-use furnishings. The combination of these two things will ensure your smaller home offers enough storage for your belongings – assuming your possessions are maintained in moderation of course…

Step One in Optimizing Storage Space Means Eliminating Things You Don’t Need

The first step in creating more storage is to ensure you aren’t hanging on to things, furniture or furnishings you don’t love, need or use anymore. For many of my clients, this is by far the most difficult and complicated part of the entire design process. If you live in a small space, however, this purging and cleansing is imperative.

Take pictures of sentimental items you’ll never use or display again for posterity’s sake and then pass the “real” versions on to someone who will. In the meantime, I recommend reading, Creating Space in Your Bedroom Closet, and, Getting That Kitchen Organized. Both posts share similar themes, and the tenets and tips shared in each can be applied to any room in the house. There’s no point in spending time designing or purchasing/building specific furniture pieces to house stuff that doesn’t need to be hanging around anymore.

Think About Built-Ins

The interior spaces of your exterior walls need to be insulated to conserve energy in the home. The interior walls, however, might be able to be co-opted into storage space. In many cases, you can gain at least 12- to 18-inches or so, optimizing storage space and storage depth by designing and building shelving or storage niches right into the interior wall spaces. The additional woodwork or painted trim will also boost your interior’s appeal.

This use of interior wall space takes an expanse of unused air space and makes it significantly more functional as you make it into:

Built-in book and display shelving
Medicine cabinet and toiletry storage in the bathroom
The back half of built-in cabinetry, minimizing the air space/square footage required to stick out from the wall’s surface
Your movie or music collection

Built-in shelving and storage will also be more appealing to future buyers down the road.

Swap-out Dysfunctional Furnishings

When you live in a small space, it’s essential to furnish your home with multi-purpose pieces. This includes things like flat trunks that serve as both coffee tables or end tables as well as storage for out-of-season throws, pillows, and accents. Perhaps your window can be augmented with a window seat and a hinged cover that will store serving plates, china, or other useful items that aren’t required on a daily basis. That decorative serving cart or tea cart you inherited from your grandmother can become the home bar, freeing up much-needed kitchen cabinet space. An ottoman should open to store books or blankets, can be used as additional seating when guests are over and can be topped with a stylish serving tray when required for an end table or coffee table.

The more you take advantage of functional furnishings that accommodate storage, as well as day-to-day furniture needs, the more streamlined your home design, will be. Custom furniture pieces are often the ideal way to go because they’re built to suit your household’s specific design, needs, and dimensions.

Take Advantage of the Corner Pockets

Are your corners sitting empty or largely unused? This is a waste. From furniture designed to fit into corners (bookcases and entertainment centers come to mind) to relocating plants from a straight wall location to a corner pocket, using corners or other difficult spaces effectively will add extra space to your main living areas.

Use Customized Cabinet and Closet Design

I can’t speak highly enough about the wonders of custom closet and cabinet design. While the initial price tag may seem high to you, the payoff is invaluable. These companies, such as the tried-and-true California Closets will analyze what you have (preferably after you’ve done the sorting and purging recommended in Step One) and will be able to transform your closets and storage spaces into personalized wonders where there’s a place for everything and everything has its place. By using every square inch of your home’s cabinets and closets, you will be able to store much more than you were before, and it will all be neater and tidier to boot.

Taking the time to optimize your storage space will enhance your overall interior design by creating more space and cleaning things up. The result is a more functional home and one that remains uncluttered as a result.