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How Do You Store Your Shoes?

casasugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:30:38 -0700

If you're sitting pretty like Blair Waldorf, your designer stilettos are neatly stacked in your custom closet. But, if you're more like Yours Truly, your ballet flats are piled up like Legos and plastic trucks in a kid's toy box.Source

How Do You Store Your Shoes?

Neatly on my custom closet shelves!

In individual boxes.

Piled on the floor (à la Leaning Tower of Pisa).

Stashed all over the house.

On an overdoor/hanging compartment bag.

On a floor shoe rack.

Other, I'll tell you in the comments!

Before and After: A Cutlery Tray Reenvisioned

casasugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:30:30 -0700

Last week I showed you another use for a plate hanger, and today I'm back with some more inventive repurposing. DIY queen Twiggie had a spare cutlery tray lying around and a need to store some of her finest personal possessions, which had been piling up. With some basic household supplies and some decorative paper and knobs, she transformed her basic cutlery tray into something both feminine and functional. Can you guess what she made? To find out,

Casa Quickie: Taper Treatment

casasugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:00:41 -0700

I think most would agree that Martha Stewart seems a little OCD about organization . . . if there's anyone who can make a home a picture of perfection, it's her. Personally, I like to have a little mess in my digs: it calms me. But, where guests are concerned, I look to Martha as a guide. My mother has always had an elegant dining room with a sideboard that neatly stores her fine silverware, table linens, tapers, and matches — the perfect arrangement for entertaining. But, it has always vexed me that her candles get scratched up as they roll around in her drawers. I know, it's irrational to be irritated by such a trivial matter.
Again, Martha saves the day. To keep your tapers in tip-top form, she suggests wrapping them in tissue paper and slipping them into a recycled paper towel roll. Genius!

Open House: Where Do You Need to Organize?

casasugar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:30:00 -0700

I'm currently in the process of organizing my closet, but because entropy is inevitable, there's been a lot of deliberation about what system works best for me. I've figured out how to best organize my hangers, and am trying to be diligent about hanging my clothes back up after I try them. And, I've organized my tops and sweaters by color. But I'm still working on the shoes; I think I have a gene that prevents me from keeping them in order, or at least looking neat. There are a few other war zones in my house that need to be handled with a peace treaty of some sort as well, particularly the garage. How about you? What area of your home needs to be organized, or reorganized? Where do you need to implement an actual organization system (inbox, outbox, labels, etc.)? Do you have any spots that are truly out of control? Are you disorderly to a point where it affects your efficiency? Tell me by commenting below!
Source

Room Therapy: Metal Accordion File Holder

casasugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:15:18 -0700

Dear Casa,
Can you ask your readers for help? I saw a metal accordion-style file holder in a magazine in the last few weeks. I can't find the magazine and I am trying to buy something similar for my office. It was something from the May issue of a design mag. Thanks for any help you can offer!
Cheers,
Jennemmy

To see my suggestions, and offer your own,

Casa Quickie: Conquer Clutter

casasugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:00:46 -0700

One of the most sensible ways to deal with clutter (and consumerism) is to abide by this rule: "Every time you bring something new into your home, something else must leave." Since I bring you wonderful home décor products day in and day out, you'd laugh in my face if I told you to stop shopping — wouldn't you? But, if you get in the habit of recycling or donating one possession before you bring home another, you'll not only prevent clutter in your home but you might actually feel good about yourself. That's not to say that when you finally save up for an ottoman, you should get rid of your matching armchair, but you should routinely get rid of things you genuinely don't need or want. Just as you'd organize your desk, keep an outbox of things you can part with. It's the only healthy way to purge.
Source

Steal of the Day: Room Service Home Etc. Wire Trays

casasugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:15:09 -0700

If you read my How-To on organizing your desk, you may remember that I wrote, "If everything has a place, you won't need to search for it. . . . That means, an inbox, an outbox, an on-hold box . . ." Something tells me that maybe not all of you have spent the time since then to get your desk into shipshape, so now is the time. You can get started by picking up the Room Service Home Etc. Wire Trays ($39 for two) to serve as your inbox, outbox, or on-hold box. At 13-x-11 and 12-x -10 inches, they're the perfect fit to glam up your boring paperwork. If it bothers you that they read "Etc.," get some decorative paper and a calligraphy pen, and switch them to more appropriate names. You like?

Casa Quickie: Junk Drawer Diaries

casasugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:00:33 -0700

Since it's Small Changes month, I'm all about giving attention to the tiniest nooks and crannies in your home, which may have been overlooked. One of these zones that's infamous for clutter and things without a designated storage space of their own is the junk drawer. You've told me before what's in your junk drawer, so I know you've got one! Here are my few steps that'll help you organize that mess.

Pour it out, onto a table or the floor.
Toss the trash. If you don't use it, lose it.
Anything out of place? Store it where it belongs.
Fill your drawer small containers (tins, boxes) to separate your things.
Sort your junk into the separate containers by function (paperclips in one box, batteries in another).
Repeat as necessary!

Source

Open House: How Do You Ready Your Closets For Spring?

casasugar — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:18:55 -0700

Spring is finally here. That means, among some other Spring projects, it's time to examine what's in your closet and shed some layers. So for this Open House, I want you to tell me all about your plans, if any, to update your closets for the change of season. Do you box and store your Winter wardrobe to make room for your lighter apparel? Do you leave all of your clothes in your closet year-round? Do you store your ski gear and bring out the surfboards as the snow melts and ocean temperatures rise? Do you haul your snow tires to the attic? Do you move your wool blankets to the back of your linen closet? Do you keep your out-of-season items in a cedar closet? Do you toss receipts that are so last season? Do you pull out your melamine picnic plates? Do you shed the junk you've collected (and hoarded) during the year? Will you be making a trip to the Container Store to stock up storage boxes? Or, is the idea of "Spring cleaning" your closet of no interest you? Fill me in on your plans by commenting below.
Source

How-To: Organize Your Desk

casasugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:00:19 -0700

Although Eric Abrahamson and David H. Freedman's book A Perfect Mess claims that there are hidden benefits to being unorganized and cluttered, I'm not sure I'm a believer, and I stand by the aesthetic reasons for being organized. So, I thought I'd give you a few tips on streamlining your workspace that seem to have helped me out. I know that many of you are super organized already, so this is for the rest of you!

First and foremost, rely on a computer filing system. Save your documents on your hard drive and back them up. Keep your computer organized as one would a filing cabinet. Scan your paper documents and save them to your hard drive, then recycle them.
Say no to paper. Only print out paperwork if it's completely necessary. If you do print something out, recycle it once you've completed the task you used it for.
Ditch the pens. You shouldn't have more than three pens, a pencil, and if needed, a marker, at all times. Once you have them, don't be tempted to add to the collection by stealing from your hotel or office supply closet. Leave your writing utensils at your desk; don't carry them away with you in your purse.

To hear more of these organization tips,

How-To: Organizing Your Books

casasugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:30:53 -0700

Unless you're of minimalist mindset, keeping books around can give your home a cozy look, add interest to a room, fill up empty space, make a place feel more like home, and reveal your personality to guests — not to mention keep you entertained. But when your library is simply causing visual and physical clutter in your home, it's time for a reassessment. It's time to hit the books! How you organize your books is another reflection of your personality — design-oriented, Type A, intellectual, etc, but actually logging down an inventory of your books will help you systematically and in case you lose track of them somehow. So, I'll give you a potpourri of options, and you can choose your own scent. To hear seven options,

Etsy Find: Decorative Adhesive Labels

casasugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:00:41 -0700

For those of you who don't find organizing traditionally fun, I bring you Remake Decorative Adhesive Labels ($5 for 16). Filing away your utility bills? Organizing your pantry? Slap these beauties onto your file folders or flour, sugar, coffee, or even makeup jars, and getting your house into shipshape might actually be fun, or at the very least, chic. This set has an aqua, chartreuse, turquoise, and periwinkle color palette, but other colors are available if you're not looking for a cool palette. What do you think? Do you dig them? I think I might have to go on a Spring cleaning binge, just to make use of these purdy things . . .

Coveted Crib: A Crafty Home

casasugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:30:31 -0700

Karen and Thaddeus are amazing DIYers. They make their own beer, cross stitch Ms. Pac-Man screens, knit, sew, and construct flat-screen, old-school video games — and that's only the beginning! They also host a lot of dinner parties and potlucks, where they make a lot of food and drink from scratch. To accommodate all of their crafting, cooking, and hosting needs, they've had to become very innovative in storage and decorating. Take a look at their impressive storage solutions in the slideshow.

Casa Query: What's in Your Junk Drawer?

casasugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:15:40 -0800

In nearly every home, a junk drawer is growing, luring refugee "stuff" to find solace there. It's unavoidable really; there are always some odds and ends with no place to go, and the junk drawer is the only haven for them. The trick is clear that junk drawer out frequently, and organize what's left into categories and containers. Regardless of whether it's organized, I know you have one. Admit it. So tell me, what's in your junk drawer?
Source

Win This Vitra Organizer!

casasugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:26:34 -0800

I can't get enough of organizing and renewing my house this month. And while I wish I could enlist this Vitra Uten.Silo organizer ($375) to aid my efforts, instead I'm giving one away to a lucky Casa reader!
Uten.Silo is one of the best-known plastic designs of the late 1960s. Today, this colorful wall tidy is a veritable design icon and a true-to-the-original version of the product has been reissued by Vitra Design Museum. The lucky winner will get one in her choice of red, white or black!

To enter, YOU MUST LOG IN and take the quiz below. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just by completing the quiz once you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member and log in before you take the quiz. If you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored.

Contest ends Tuesday, Jan. 29, at noon PST. Click here for Official Rules.

Great Organization for Designers of Color

casasugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:02:50 -0700

Shadesoftrue sent me a message about HUES: Designers of Color, saying, "I'm working with them as a volunteer, and the site just launched last week. I thought you might be interested in telling readers about them, since it's the only organization of its kind."

Hues is committed to providing a supportive and resourceful online community for designers of color, strengthening networking and communication among designers of color, and increasing demand and job opportunities for people of color in design industries. They work with interior, graphic, and fashion designers. For $50, you can become a member, which gives you access to the site's list of exclusive scholarship, internship, and job openings, among other benefits.

To see HUES' list of green tips for interior designers (which are also great tips for everyone), just

How Organized Is Your House?

casasugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:20:27 -0700

Source

How Organized Is Your House?

Very organized. I'm kind of anal.

Fairly organized. I keep it together pretty well.

Average, but not as organized as I would like.

Pretty disoragnized. I'm just barely keeping it together.

Total chaos.

Other (tell me below)