The Polished Pebble: Designers that inspire

What do you do when you have too much stuff?

Well...most of us usually cleverly hide away things in a drawer or closet

until it reaches the point of bursting

We have cute names for these areas like:

the junk drawer

the drunk drawer

the knick knack...brick a brack... stuff and jumble closet

and the ever popular

clutter bug room...

known as the the place where everyone seems to

drop their stuff

leave it there

and then run off to another location in the house (usually the kitchen)

at the speed of sound

I for one

cannot live with out a junk drawer or even two

but I'm an organizer at heart

Most of my favorite houses have been quite small

so organizing the stuff of life has taken on epic proportions at times,

sort of like fitting the Titanic into a dinghy

I love a challenge

...especially when it involves baskets, boxes, files and labels

So I agreed to share a little project I'm helping with

and link to the amazing creativity of some other talented organizers too

thanks to Leslie and her team at Segretto

My project is helping a young twenty something couple create an office organization space

using a basic Ikea wardrobe

We start with this

the Ikea Pax wardrobe system

which retails for around $275

They already owned this and when they moved into a lager apartment with more closet space this became the perfect item to use for a new office/creative organization area

It will contain:

files....

his...hers...and joint files

a printer

all of their office supplies...pens, paper, tape etc

a spot for daily mail

a spot for keys, wallets and cell phones

software and miscellaneous data equipment

crafting supplies

gift wrap and stationary

table linens, candles and a few vases for flowers...

and since they live in a big city with great shopping

food and fun...

lots of shopping bags

the goal is to have all of the usually untidy and crazy odds and ends

organized in a single location that works for a busy couple

above is the old wardrobe with

a few new modifications....

2 new drawers

a pull out shelf for the printer

and multiple additional shelves for storage

this Ikea wardrobe can be completely customized

the wardrobe is fitted with two mirrored exterior doors which also will add a nice visual too their dining area when the doors are closed

as you can see we are just getting started...but just wait

all of the filing system is clear with bight colored folders

in colors of kiwi, orange and blue

the interior of the doors are fitted with magnetic memo boards for snapshots,

business cards and a quick note to each other

and we purchased these dog magnets because

they have a new puppy named Bruno..and he's very cute

we are almost done

but we have a few more items to take care of

please stop by for my next post

too see the finished project completed

its awesome..well not quite as awesome as Bruno, but we will try!

In the mean time check out these talented

and very organized bloggers:

Mary Ann @ Classic Casual Home

Kristy @ Design Chic

Tina @ The Enchanted Home

Sandy and Sarah @ L/E journal

Mona @ Providence Design

Leslie @ Segretto Secrets

Julie & Danni @ TG Interiors

and

me and my very organized crew

kelley

About this time each year, I clean out my shelves, closets and over loaded drawers.

I donate the items that have lost their usefulness (at least to me)

But books are sometimes the hardest to part with.

Book lovers would say that a good book never looses its value to the reader and I suppose that is true... but decor and lifestyle books are as bit different.

Like all book lovers, there are the old decorating classics that I can't seem to part with even though they seem outdated today.

But looking through these older books (I found a few from the 80's...yikes) gives me an opportunity to re-discover things I really like.

And what is really interesting is how my taste has come full circle... from when I was young and a new wife and mom and loved really modern contemporary design...

then fully immersed myself into folk art and antiques

and finally here I am today...

back to those more modern and spare rooms which are really appealing again

The blurry definition of what is a "country" look

is really at the center of my decorating style...and I suppose my dilemma.

I like to think today it is more about what is left "undone"

than what is clearly "overdone"

I have been a huge fan of Tricia Foley for many years and find her style to be so wonderfully pure and admire how effortlessly she masters the modern country vernacular

In her book: At Home With Wedgwood

She writes about about the history and design of this most beautiful and popular

pottery and china

and shows the reader the beauty

of the simple well set table

I love how the flowers are not in the center of the table

and the lantern is placed at the very end

The history of Wedgwood is actually really fascinating

and the variety of china amazing

Wedgwood is really beautiful!!!

and all of the settings photographed in this book seem so natural

The fork and knife on the napkin and the spoon on the far right...love that

what is more beautiful than this drab ware with the silver chargers!

Her style is somewhat Wabi Sabi in the true definition:

finding beauty in the most basic natural objects and perfection in the imperfect

everything is set a bit off kilter

but perfect none the less...

perfectly imperfect

She seems very comfortable styling photos that are both formal and rich in texture and layers but manages to find that balance of simplicity and natural beauty in

what are very detailed, formal objects like the Wedgwood lamp