Goodwill's DOOR to STORE Program

Did you know that GOODWILL has a new program that was created with the intent to help people be able to donate their gently used items...especially BIG ITEMS...with just a simple call to their  Program Director, Sharon Summers, at (314)982-8917. 

The program is appropriately named DOOR to STORE.  The name is a literal translation of what the program does...it takes away your old stuff from your door and takes it (in a big truck) to a Goodwill store and drops it off for you.  

Bam!  

Pretty easy, eh?

Here is what one of my clients donated yesterday from her "door" to a Goodwill's "store":

two gently used club chairs, a leather office chair, two giant area rugs, a heavy sofa...

...two office cabinets...

...and a pretty giant air hockey table!

It was a fairly simple process...and my client was thrilled!

Even better?  

I was the one at her house to meet the Goodwill truck and get the items out of her house and on their way to a new home.  

Easy and done.

Why don't you give Goodwill a call today and donate!?!

It's a WIN WIN for everyone involved.

Kitchen REorganization REveal

Here is the Kitchen REorganization REveal that you have been waiting to see...

(Holly Kunze, hope this is what you were hoping for!!!)

Before photo of the (NOT SO) "walk in" pantry...

Voila!!!  Thank you Target!!

You might be wondering why there are bins for this pantry REdo?

Well, it's simple.  After asking my client what she liked and hated about her pantry, I found out that she:

• was sick and tired of stuff falling through the wire shelving
• didn't really want to see her food...because it might tempt her to eat it
• had a hard time keeping it all organized...and had too much of the same item because she would rebuy them over and over because she couldn't find what she needed.

So, bins it was...and cute ones at that!  Thanks again, Target.

I also made laminated labels for the new bins in her pantry and cabinets.  (My favorite of all the labels was the KOOZIES one!  Seriously!)  BTW, I am proud to say I own a laminator.

Now on to the more "boring" photos for some of you...but this is like EYE CANDY for me.  No joke.

Rule #1:  PUT LIKE ITEMS WITH LIKE ITEMS.  

Rule #2:  NEST THE ITEMS, if at all possible.

Rule #3:  LAZY SUSANS SUCK...seriously.

Rule #4:  KEEP ITEMS THAT YOU USE ALOT ACCESSIBLE AND DOWN LOW.  (This client LOVES to bake, so the baking items were kept low in the Lazy Susan and in a lower cabinet right next to each other.)

Rule #5:  DO NOT HAVE MORE THAN ONE SET OF KITCHEN TOOLS...(I know this is hard!)

Rule #6:  ONLY KEEP NICE OVEN PADS/MITTS.  Seriously...you only live once and you deserve it.

Rule #7:  KEEP ALL BAGGIES, CLING WRAP, WAX PAPER, FOIL TOGETHER.

Rule #8:  KEEP ALL DISHWARE TOGETHER.

Rule #9 and #10:  KEEP SPICES WHERE YOU CAN SEE THEM AND MEDICINES IN SEE THROUGH CONTAINERS UP HIGH... (so kids can't get to them!)

REorganized in ABC order...(Yes, I used to be a teacher--love!)

I did label these containers with my label maker after this photo was taken...I'm sick and I love it.  (No pun intended!)

Rule #11:  KEEP TUPPERWARE ACCESSIBLE AND ONY KEEP WHAT HAS A LID TO MATCH THE BOTTOM.  (My client obviously needs to buy more since I recycled all the ones that did not match...)

Rule #12:  TAKE UNWANTED ITEMS TO GOODWILL IMMEDIATELY!!!  (If you hire me, I will happily take the load for you...it thrills me...just ask the workers at GW!)

Are you inspired?  I hope so.

Are you overwhelmed?  I hope not.

BUT...if you are...CALL ME...I can help.

I promise.

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.

Chairs in need of a face lift...or ZHOOZHING!

Everything looks better with a little "zhoozh"....these chairs are a perfect example!

Zhoozh (verb): first defined on the TV show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," to zhoozh means to push up with flair.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to zhoozh.  

It's my job.  It's how I think.  It's what I LOVE to do.

So...here are just a few examples of what I have come up with recently to "zhoozh" some of my own chairs and those of my clients.  It was fun, fairly easy to do, and very rewarding!

Wicker backed chair from Goodwill--only $5!!!

All this needed was a light sanding, a light spray of primer, and couple of coats of white!

VOILA!!!  

Half a yard of fabric--only $8!

Finished desk chair for my daughter's room!

Ice Cream Parlor Chair bought from Craig's List

Set of two chairs and a table--only $25!!!

Fabric choices for my client...traditional to eclectic...they chose the top two...LOVE!!!

 

VOILA!!!

Half a yard of fabric for both chairs--only $12!!!

Breakfast stool was well worn by previous owner, but FREE!!!

VOILA!!!

Half a yard of fabric to cover two stools--only $12!!

My Gaga's old fashioned needle point seat cover...

Close up of the fabric---the brown is a raised velvet that is very soft!

VOILA!!!

Half of a yard of this fabric for both chairs--only $13!!!

FREE chair and ottoman off the street!!!

Both chair and ottoman were lightly sanded, primed, and hand painted

by the owner and then recovered by a trained re-upholsterer.
It was well worth the elbow grease!!!

Check out the detail on the ottoman!

VOILA!!!

Five yards of fabric to cover the chair and ottoman--only $120!!

Chair and ottoman were reupholstered for $400--totally worth the workmanship!

I am amazed with what my client, Becky McFarland, came up with for this little reading space.

Is your life in need of a little ZHOOZHING?  Give me a call...I can help.

Next up???

Zhoozhing up the outside of your house can make all the difference...