A family of four was searching for their forever home and hadn't intended to stay in their current place as long as they had. The clutter and haphazard set ups had only seemed temporary. Realizing all of these delayed decisions were creating a stressful environment, we helped to sort and edit down their belongings so that they only had the things that they wanted or needed, saving them time and energy when it was time to move. And wouldn’t you know they closed on their dream house shortly after!

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.

My client’s home had very unique nooks and crannies, and I came in to make sure those spaces were purposeful and working for his family of five. From the small area under the stairs to a tiny sunlit alcove, we helped to reconfigure them into a kids’ drop zone for bags and coats and a cozy reading area. We also edited down toys, rearranged furniture, and established some order in both the family’s playroom, living room, and multi-purpose office/guest/active play room, all while showing off their fun, eclectic style!

With a toddler and a new baby in tow, my client wanted to bring a little order to the play area and accumulating toy clutter. We sorted through toys and added shelving and open bins that encouraged both easier play and clean up. To keep the living room from being completely overrun by kids’ stuff, we set up a cube unit right behind the couch for additional books and toy storage. And we reined in the games, crafts, and gift wrapping supplies with a quick closet makeover.

Tight on closet space, my client had resorted to using her home’s enclosed porch as storage space for anything and everything. Meanwhile, her living room was becoming overrun with her kids' toys and activities. With some purging and the addition of a new cabinet, I was able to transform the enclosed porch into both a playroom and extra pantry area. Now her girls have a space of their own and my client has her living room back again!

You don’t need to buy new storage containers or furniture to refresh a space! My client had a great family room and play space in her basement but it was always left in disarray with her kids’ stuff and toys scattered all over. I helped her think through how to better define what happened where and then I rearranged her existing furniture and storage to support those activities and clean up afterwards.

Sylvia's enthusiasm and ideas were just what I needed to take back control of my home while also giving my kids space to be creative and messy. She pinpointed exactly what pieces of furniture and storage items we needed so that our entryway could be multifunctional and still look good! I especially love how she framed our kids artwork and put up a cable for the kids to proudly display their paintings and drawings. And now that everything has a proper home, clean up is less of a struggle too!

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!

The challenge? Transform the basement into a playroom and small workout area that fit the home’s overall aesthetic. My clients wanted an inviting space that wasn’t overly “girly” and would grow with the family’s two elementary-school-age daughters.