The Guzman Sunroom
We recently had the chance to meet up with our Instagram friend Andrea Guzman (@ohndreeuh) in her beautiful home in Hampton, Virginia to tackle the decluttering of her sun-room and master bedroom. Nestled in the heart of Hampton, Andrea’s home is a gem - the classic architecture combined with the natural sunlight and Andrea’s cool mid-century modern style honestly gave me some serious house envy…
Dividing our project into two days, Andrea and I decided to focus on decluttering the sun-room one day and the master bedroom the next. Located right off the living room, the Guzman’s sun-room is used for a combination of things - a playroom for her young daughter, a space to practice yoga in, and a place to store bulky items such as strollers and exercise equipment. The bones of the sun-room were set into place, all we needed to focus on was clearing the clutter which covered a good bit of the floor and spilled into the cabinets. To achieve this, the first thing that we tackled were of the boxes and storage containers spread throughout the room. We went box by box identifying the items that we were to keep, recycle, shred or trash. Some of the boxes we moved out into the garage while others we set aside for Andrea’s husband to go through. Next we worked our way through the bookshelves, consolidating books, toys and plants - creating a space that is both functional as well as beautiful for Andrea and her daughter. Being a space that is right off the living room and that can be seen through the interior glass doors, it was important that the sun-room look just a beautiful as the rest of the home.
Together we were able to declutter the sun-room in one session which was a surprise and relief to Andrea and her husband. It really is amazing to see what you can accomplish with the help of a professional organizer, who will help to keep things moving along and can aid in setting up a system for your space. Left alone, the process can be overwhelming and drag on never to be completed; but together we can get it done! Schedule your Consultation and Decluttering Session HERE!
WOODEN CUBBY
Wooden cubbies such as as this one by Ikea are the perfect storage solution for play rooms. Most toys, books, and puzzles are all able to fit into these compact units whether in bins such as to the left or on shelves (as seen above). They allow for flexibility as your child grows and their toys come and go. Wooden cubbies can also be used to house crafts, sports equipment and shoes.
LARGE BASKET
We all know by now that large baskets are the quick and easy solution to sweeping up clutter. Perfect for playrooms and living rooms alike, large baskets such as this one from World Market are great for storing toys and blankets. TIP: when selecting a basket make sure that you have one that’s large enough and sturdy enough for the items you plan on storing in it. You don’t want things to be overflowing out of it.
We are still jumping up and down over here after learning that our home has been featured on Apartment Therapy!
I am excited and honored to share that Making Room for Peace is featured in the newest issue of ORIGIN Magazine!! A small team of artists working in LA, NY, Dallas, and Paris, it is Origin’s belief that beauty and art can uplift the world.
For a lot of people, selecting storage containers for their home is the “fun” part of the decluttering process. However too many people jump to straight ahead to this step before tackling that not-so-fun parts which then mess up the entire process.
We know that the process of styling and decluttering can be overwhelming, which is why we encourage you to invite us to come alongside of you to guide and to cheer you on.
We recently had the chance to meet up with our Instagram friend Andrea Guzman (@ohndreeuh) in her beautiful home in Hampton, Virginia to tackle the decluttering of her sun-room and master bedroom.
Do you want to know something? A used to be a shopaholic. You know how after you graduate from high school and everyone generously gives you money for your next endeavor be it college or a job? Well I spent most of mine.
I think that most of us could agree that some of the hardest items to sort through and to let go of are old: photographs, cards and letters. Compared to most of the other items in our homes, these are some of the most sentimental. Sorting through we find accounts of our childhood and adult years, words of encouragement, funny stories, and accounts of daily life.
Our home hasn't always looked as styled and decluttered as it does now. In fact, it used to be overflowing with stuff! Stuff that we loved mixed in with things that we no longer used or valued.
Often times when we talk about decluttering we discuss "removing things", "shedding items", or "letting go" but there is so much more to it that than that! When we shed what is no longer serving us we are letting go in one sense but we are also making room for more - more time, energy, space, money…
It was during this time that I began to learn that organizing is more or less shifting items around in a space to: one, make the room more physically attractive; two, make room for more items and three, to properly categorize items. Decluttering on the other hand involves removing items out of a space that are no longer needed, loved, or valued.
Rebeca Howe is one of those people who when you first meet, you immediately feel at home with. Her warm, bubbly personality lights up every room that she walks into; and her words of affirmation leave you feeling loved and valued.
So what do you do when you partner isn't on board with decluttering? You've read up on all the decluttering tips and methods out there, you've seen the beautiful images of what simple living could look like and now you are ready to give it a try.
A girlfriend and I were preparing lunch at my house a few months ago when she opened my fridge and gasped, "look at your fridge?! It's so beautiful and organized?!" Her reaction caught me off guard but at the same time I could see why she was impressed. Having our fridge arranged as we do not only looks beautiful but clearly saves: time, money, energy, and space.
A quick glance at her home address and list of professions, most would be quick to see that Sheena Jeffers is seizing life. It was about a year ago that Sheena and her boyfriend Ryan sold their home and belongings, and moved onto their 43-foot catamaran boat which they appropriately named "Seas Life". Instead of being tied down, they are making room for peace in their lives... traveling and discovering more about themselves, the world, and their life purpose.
Crystal Seay is one of those people that you don’t have to meet in person to feel like you already know. Her encouraging, spirited personality is contagious and can be felt on her and her husband's Instagram page. Wife and mother of 2, Crystal along with her husband Paul just completed the process of downsizing from a 1,300 sq. ft. home to a 400 sq. ft. RV in Jupiter, Florida.
Having an organized closet is an incredibly freeing thing. Not only is it beautiful to the eye but it is efficient and money saving. It takes the stress out of getting dressed because you know exactly what you have. Plus, all of the pieces that you do have are ones that you treasure - they are items that reflect your style, your life. When we are able to see what we have it avoids us purchasing items that we don't need.
We all go through seasons in life when things feel particularly chaotic at home and at work. A change in career, the addition of a new family member, or a big move for example, can leave us feeling as if our whole world has been turned upside down and our routine thrown out the window.
Giving every item in your kitchen a home from your wine stopper to your Kitchen Aid mixer is the key to maintaining an organized kitchen. There is no question about where something goes after your done using.
Y'all have been asking, so today I'm finally sharing with you the resources that I initially used to learn about minimalism and simplifying my life. The concept of "minimalism" had been buzzing around for a year or so before I finally decided to look into it to see what it was all about.
One of the great things about eating seasonally is that it provides us the chance to experience new flavors and to benefit from vitamins and minerals that we might not have received earlier in the year. The flavors of the produce in season are also much more satisfying as they have just been harvested during their natural season.
A friend of mine recently asked a question on her Instagram stories: "Help! What do I do with my kids' artwork?" Not having kids of my own I didn't have an answer for her but was curious as to what the response would be. Like her, a lot of parents find that their kids are bringing home at least one to two pieces of artwork per day.
"I've learned to have the mindset that nothing is too precious", she explained. If a piece isn't working out she'll subsequently go over it or throw it out. She doesn't feel the need to hold on.
We can't force everyone else in the family to feel the same way about these memories as we do; and we don't want to, right? Why would we? A part of what makes memories so special is because they are ours.
Over the past year by doing a little problem solving and prep-work we've been able to minimize some of our kitchen waste by implementing a few practices.
I am a believer that we all have to get to a place where we are broken and realize that "somethings gotta' give" before we ready to make a change. We're all marathon runners at heart but after a while our legs are going to give out. We all get to this point eventually because we are human.
Coffee shops and our phones are just a couple examples of distractions or "noise", that we encounter on a daily basis. This "noise" can disguise itself in many forms, from physical possessions and interior spaces, to the thoughts that we play on repeat.
The high that we get when we gain new followers or receive dozens of likes, is hard not to give in to. In this day and age with the use of social media so interwoven into our lives, it is vital to set up some boundaries in order to maintain a level of wellness.
Not only are natural storage containers a healthier choice for you and your family, they are also less harmful to the environment. Bonus they are way more stylish and are often more durable! For example, items made out of real wood, especially older wood, are quite strong.
Friends, it took me a long time to get to this point. For most of my childhood and early adult years I was a complete pack-rat. I would hold onto clothes, gifts, home décor accents, and family heirlooms that I no longer used, desired, or needed for fear of three things.
We have some sad but exciting news to share with you today… we are moving! After six years in grad-school my husband is finally wrapping up his PhD and is in the throws of securing a job back up home, in Northern Virginia.