found it at a flea market

While scouring the Long Beach Antique Market last weekend, I cam across this cool metal basket that was the perfect size to hold my floor plans and rolls of trace and graph paper. To check out the market for yourself, visit http://www.longbeachantiquemarket.com

weekend project

Here's a great weekend project to get you organized, courtesy of Southern Living.

Happy Weekend!

moving day...

The boxes and furniture have all been moved, and now the work begins. Here's a peek at what I'm dealing with (this unfortunately includes a few damaged items...)

what will be the living room (a slightly damaged coffee table and side chair will need to be refinished)

I had a little bit of trouble with the slipcover!

Our soon to be kitchen and dining room


the master bedroom will be getting some attention this time around...

...and the office. I love a challenge!

weekend project

One thing that helps minimize the stress that seems to come with the changing of the season is to get organized. Spending a weekend cleaning out closets, pantries and other areas of disarray will make things easier as your schedule gets busier.

Labeling is an easy way to keep everything in order once you've done the dirty work. Martha Stewart has some great templates for everything from food labels to birthday charts.
Here are my favorites.


keep track of food freshness so you can just grab and go


make recycling easy for everyone


plan lunches (or dinners) easily with a magnetic food chart

Click here for the full gallery

If you live in Orange County and need some help, I offer affordable organization services through Suite Luxury

home-work

I know I talk about home offices a lot, probably because I and many other people I know are currently working from home. But I actually do have quite a fondness of the idea of working where you sleep (though not literally). There is something very personal about the kind of work you create when you do it in a space that means a lot to you. For me, I love having my dog at my feet all day and I enjoy making lunch in my own kitchen.

Not that I wouldn't love to have a large expanse of counter space in an offsite office, but I should make the best of what I've got for now and I'm grateful to have a space that I run how I want it (though slightly more messy).

Here are some inspiring images of home offices in all their efficient and well-organized glory.





images from Martha Stewart's Home





images above from Pottery Barn

And some clever ideas for storage in your own space




a cool magnet board made from a baking sheet


I need this! A wine rack for my plans



storage ideas from Better Homes & Gardens

my {little} dream office

Oh my, how things do change. Once upon a time I may have wished for a large open space to scatter all my design paraphernalia about, but not so anymore. Now I crave efficiency and organization, mixed in with some personal touches (i.e., things to inspire me everyday).

That's why I love this small office space shown in the new Pottery Barn catalog. The 'office' is actually a closet, so not only does it not take up any additional space but it also creates a lovely little enclave to help you focus...at least that's what I'm hoping it would do. I love all the details; the lighting, the blue wall, that ceramic bird and the re-purposed jars to house office supplies (which, by the way, is what I use in my current office. I guess I'm off to a good start, eh?)