From Overwhelmed to Organized: A Combined Approach to a New Home

We started with the decorating. The clients knew they wanted a change but weren't sure what their shared style was. She leaned toward the minimal, clean lines of Japandi, while he wanted the house to feel comfortable and complete, favoring mid-century modern. After a style assessment, we found the perfect blend: a warm mid-century modern foundation with a hint of coastal calm that fit their new mid-century ranch-style home perfectly.

Next, we tackled the heart of the home: a long, L-shaped, open-concept living and dining room. They had tried their old dining table in several spots, but nothing felt right. We landed on a layout that created three distinct areas — one cozy, conversational space around the fireplace, a two-chair conversation zone against a wall, and the dining table in its natural spot under the existing chandelier.

To find the right furniture, we used private Pinterest boards to narrow down options, and I created mood boards to show how different pieces would work together. The clients then visited stores to test out the main pieces in person. Once they had favorites, I flew down with a suitcase full of rug, fabric, and wood samples to finalize combinations that worked with their home's paint, flooring, and natural light.

We made a deliberate decision to hold off on buying any new storage furniture. The plan was to first see what their existing storage could do. We followed my standard organizing process (which you can read about in my secrets to home organization post) with a mix of them organizing on their own and me there in person.

By maximizing the potential of their existing storage options and adding a new wall-mounted system in their garage, we eliminated the need for interior storage furniture. A guest room closet was cleared out by relocating keepsakes to under-bed storage, so a new credenza wasn't needed. The built-in hutch in the kitchen was reorganized to become a beautiful and functional bar, removing the need for a separate bar cart. And once the primary closet was fully optimized, the need for an additional bedroom cabinet was no longer urgent. The final step was styling, which included adding a gallery wall of family photos and using their own meaningful accessories to make the space truly theirs.

Home Organizing & Interior Decorating Case Studies: The Story Behind the Transformation

Home Organizing & Interior Decorating
Case Studies: The Story Behind the Transformation