Basement Purge--After Photo!

TADA!  

Two hours of my life dedicated to my basement storage area resulted in this:

Goodwill here I come!

Before and After:

Sad.

Happy!

Things I LOVE:

Clear bins so I can see what is inside

My label maker to label everything and anything I can

Pairing up like items with like items

Storage boxes that perfectly fit your need

(WREATH boxes found at The Container Store)

Inspired?  Overwhelmed?  Both?

Contact me ... I can help!

Promise.

Basement Purge!!! (the BEFORE photo!)

This is one of my many things to do this weekend...clean MY basement storage area.

Yep, even I have clutter.

Anyone else have a space like this?

If so, I am happy to help you organize it.

Seriously.

Look for the AFTER photo on Sunday...

It'll be fabulous!!!

(If only for a while...)

HavenHouse St. Louis needs a REdo!!! (Can YOU help?)

Below is an letter that I just received about my latest Design Dilemma!  I am fairly certain it is going to be the most impactful REdesign job I have ever done!  Please contact me if you can help me in ANY way, small or large, to make this REdesign a success.  Thanks so much in advance!

Dear Rebecca--
I am working on a new project and need some help from a fellow designer, so naturally I thought of you! 

Through my work with Scott Harris Oliphant Foundation or SHO, it has been a pleasure to be introduced to HavenHouse St. Louis and the volunteers that work there. HavenHouse is a local nonprofit (which SHO supports) that provides all the comforts of home for families who live out of town and need to travel to St. Louis for treatment at local hospitals. I have been so impressed by the impact that HavenHouse has had on the lives of cancer patients and their families, that it has moved me to donate my skills as an interior designer to REdecorate a few of their guest rooms. 

The facilities at HavenHouse started out as a children's orphanage, and many of the rooms still have a very institutional look to them. It would be such a pleasure to be able to create a beautiful room, where a guest can relax and heal after being in a hospital all day receiving treatment. Basically, I'll need some help with the REdesign of the room, as well as the installation. 

The design of course, may be mostly dictated by the donations we receive for the project. Accepting delivery and coordinating installation will be especially helpful if you are available since I'm not during the day to be on site. I have commitment from Ashley Furniture and Weekends Only to donate new furniture for the project. The scope of the project will really be determined by their level of commitment. I gave them a list of furniture needed for 5 rooms, I would love to do all 5 - but we will have to see what they come back with. Still working on sources for bedding, accessories, bathroom vanities, light fixtures and paint. Any ideas? I've contacted a few people my husband knows through Lowes, my neighbor who is a contractor, a bedding line we use called Company C, as well as my rep for Sherwin Williams and Porter Paint - but haven't had any response yet. 

HavenHouse said they would be happy to give anyone who would be involved in the project a tour - maybe we could meet and you could see it one night next week? 

I have some pictures attached of a typical room so you know what we are working with - it's pretty sad :( 

Thanks!

REsale--Wanna sell or buy some stuff?

REsale!!!!!!

Contact me at rstisser@me.com with you are interested in any of the items listed below!

Pair of Buffet Lamps

Gold Base with Red and Gold Shades

$25

Pair of Lamps

Gold and Glass Base with Gold Shade with Red Beaded Trim

$25

Pottery Barn Craft Table

(3' square top by 22"H)

$75 OBO

Rocking Horse

Handcrafted

$75 OBO

Quilt Rack

Iron with Antique Metal Stars

$40

Queen Chalet Sleigh Bed, originally purchased from Macy's
Cherry finish
$350

Pottery Barn Queen Duvet and Shams
$40

Shaker Style Bedroom Set--Light colored wood

Includes: Headboard and Footboard, 2 Night Stands, Dresser, and Armoire

$350

Chair and a Half with Ottoman--mushroom color

55W x 37D x 36H (chair)

38W x 26D x 17H (ottoman)

$150

Solid Maple Sailboat Bedroom Set

Includes:  Dresser (46W x 18D x 31.5 H), Mirror, and Full Bed with Mattress 

$200

Nursery Rocker and Ottoman
$75

Rolling Cart 

(24W x 19D x 30.5H)

Kitchen Island and 2 Bar Stools

Pine and White Washed Wood 

$150

CUTTTTT the CLUTTER!

Clutter is like the old friend who’s not really a good influence on you – you know you need to break your ties, but it’s so hard to let it go!

So use these 11 questions to help you determine if you can CUTTTT the clutter in your home.  

General Clutter / Stuff Questions

1. If someone new walked into my house, would I be embarrassed about how much clutter / stuff I have?

(dining room sideboard)

2. Are the flat surfaces in my house covered with clutter /stuff ?

(craft/art room that you can't walk into)

3. Do I need extra space, storage or organizing bins or systems to keep my stuff?

(laundry room that needs a better system)

4. Are my closets, drawers, and cabinets overflowing with stuff?

(bins of clothing that are overwhelming to go through)

Specific Clutter / Stuff Questions

5. When is the last time I used it?

(stuff that is no longer a necessity)

6. Am I keeping it because it has sentimental value?

(baby stuff that is hard to let go of...even though your baby is 4)

7. Do I have items that I’ve never used, worn, or opened?

(just some of the "skinny" clothes that you hoped you might fit into last summer)

8. How much do I spend to buy more stuff in a week, month, year?

(pillow fetish)

9. Am I keeping things that need to be fixed, are broken, or are missing a part?

(computer broken since 2006, but remains on the office floor)

10. When will I know that I have enough of this item to stop buying the same thing?

(bedding, bedding, and more bedding!)

11. How much joy does this item really bring me?

(do I really need all these shirts?)

I found this questionnaire on a blog that I follow (iMOM) and it totally resonated with me.  These questions are the same ones I ask of my clients.  Most of the time they end up realizing they really need to CUTTTT their clutter!

Did this post strike a cord with you?  I'm sure some of the photos might have...!  If so, contact me...I can help you!  

Clutter happens.  Let me help you do something about it.

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