Embracing urban living with kids is all about knowing how to maximize small spaces. My client one spare bedroom needed to function as her office as well as a playroom for her two small children.The key step was to have clearly defined storage for the kids’ toys. We also moved my client’s desk to the other side of the room to give her a little more privacy and free up more floor space for play. We took inventory of the room’s closet and made sure everything was categorized and grouped and labeled accordingly.

Private, roomy and light-filled, my client's master closet made a great WFH office. But she was hoping to shed the “I work in my closet” look, not exactly ideal for Zoom calls. I helped her hone her entire wardrobe and then organized everything by season and color. Once all of the suits and piles of clothes, shoes, and accessories were situated, the office portion just needed a quick refresh. I consolidated her files and paperwork onto shelves (that had previously held clothes), mounted cork boards, and added drawer organizers, and voila!

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis years ago, my client was finding it very difficult to maneuver around her home and cook or do other household tasks. Working closely with her, I learned about what obstacles she dealt with on a daily basis and helped come up with solutions that supported her everyday routine. In organizing her kitchen and basement, I prioritized ease of access, like moving basic household overstock closer to the door or simply turning canned goods so that she could see the labels. We even surprised her husband with a home office makeover. Seeing how simple changes in my client’s home made her day to day easier was truly rewarding.

Busy with back-to-back virtual meetings all day long, my client desperately needed a more inviting and ergonomic space to work in. In just one day, we took her small, dark built-in workstation and turned it into a bright and chic home office where she can sit comfortably and focus. We prioritized important basics like a proper office chair, desktop monitor, and a new floor lamp and then captured her style with framed photos, greenery, and colorful decor.

My client was feeling the weight of all of the stuff that had piled up in every nook and cranny of her home after eight years and three kids. She needed my help to take stock and figure out what to keep, toss, or relocate. Once we purged, it was simply a means of making her home work better for her and her family—from setting up a kids’ craft zone in the basement and reorganizing the kitchen to outfitting the master closet and styling the bookcase in the living room, her entire home looks and feels lighter!