Portfolio

Below is a sampling of our organizing projects, to get an idea of the solutions Organized Interiors, LLC can bring to your spaces. 

Why Organized Interiors, LLC was engaged:

The Hanover Arts & Activities Center's (HAAC) had an absolute overflow of papers, materials, contents, supplies, etc. going back to the 1960's, It was nearly impossible to access the spaces and contents efficiently, effectively, and as safely as needed. Also, their very mission was constrained by clutter and disorganization. 

We assured them we could not only resolve their clutter and organization needs, but we could ALSO develop process documentation and advisory services that they were in need of, as well!  So, we were able to incorporate two very related services into one project to boost their effectiveness and efficiency. 

The HAAC Executive Board and the Executive Director participated in a brief survey, and Organized Interiors aligned the entire team around priorities, goals, and expectations, including clarifying which business processes were most critical to be documented for training others to ensure redundancy (and eliminate the existing risk of having a single point of failure). 

Prior to our work getting underway, the HAAC Executive Director had performed some preliminary decluttering of the middle of the main office. Originally, the open area you see here was 90-95% full, as well, and was sorted through and disposed of by the client as garbage. What remains and shown above, reflects the contents we assisted the HAAC in decluttering for the final organizing phase. 

Also, the filing cabinets housed more than 50 years' worth of documents, artifacts and memorabilia, and we incorporated fresh, functional cabinets. A need was identified to incorporate secure storage for financials, as well as cash boxes and checks from events and programs. Staff how has easy access to essential office supplies for daily operations. 

Not shown are 2 storage closets, and an auxiliary storage room, which were decluttered and organized, as well. 

Per our Client, the HAAC Board President, 

"The space has been nothing less than transformational and has set us all up for success in so many ways. I'm happy for <our Exec Director> to have a workspace that reflects her hard work and supports her tasks while allowing the board to better share in some of that load.  It sounds like your influence has spilled over into many of our personal lives as many of us have mentioned trying to create better organizational systems in our own spaces."  

We worked with our client to:

• understand the greatest organizational priorities for the space, critical processes that needed documentation, and the aesthetic needs of the space to better reflect who they are as an organization representing the Ashland community

• craft a shared Board and Executive Director vision for the space, which included visual management (whiteboards) and upgraded office furniture (desk, filing systems, and secure storage for financial materials) within a limited budget

• acquire new decorative rugs to brighten the area, complement the brand colors, and present a cohesive space, including seating for a collaborative activities, and installed artwork (existing and donations from local artists)

• present a welcoming and multifunctional space the HAAC could be very proud of. 

Why Organized Interiors, LLC was engaged:

Our Client said, "My triathlon gear is taking over my house." And, it was. We were asked to develop a storage solution to create control over a growing collection of triathlon gear, bikes, and memorabilia. 

Prior to our solution, it had become unmanageable and chaotic, making it difficult for our Client to collect the right items for a training session or race. It also needed to be super simple to maintain due to our client's very busy lifestyle. 

We devised a creative and intuitive use of previously underutilized space, in a manner that meets our client's preferences and lifestyle, and allowed for the collection to be maintained over time.

An unused closet, which was fairly deep and had a tall ceiling, was available for consideration. Also, there was a long, "dog-leg" hallway joining the main living portion of the home to a separate office/lounge space, to which the unused closet was connected.  This hallway was also under-utilized and needed an aesthetic upgrade, as guests to the client's home would often be in the lounge area, as well. This offered some opportunity for us to leverage portions of it, as well. Gear was being kept all through the house; what's shown is a fraction of what required organizing. 

We cleared the dog-leg hallway of its original contents, and replaced the prior shelving with shelving units which perfectly fit the space and didn't impede the walkway through the space to the adjoining area. Bins for each category of product were selected,  installed, and labeled for easy grab-and-go (and replacement) of items. 

The Client's memorabilia was all preserved and displayed in a manner in which he can continue to add future items to the installation and display the latest accomplishments.  We determined that the delicate road bikes were a perfect fit for easy-access storage in the previously unused closet, which keeps them easily accessible to the owner in a climate controlled environment, and also protected. And, this space also served as a perfect hanging and storage spot for the wetsuits.

Why Organized Interiors, LLC was engaged:

We were delighted that our Triathlon Client was so happy with his first project with us that he asked us to work with him on a second project: to solve his home office organization issues. The Client's office is in a multi-purpose room (home office, media room, and workout equipment).  Guests are often in this room, as well. Our Client also works out of his home, and needed this area to be productive, and to gain control over his paperwork, office supplies, and ensure that critical papers were managed securely.

This Home Office portion of the room contained a built-in platform-style desk surface and an office chair.  There was no storage at all for important files, structure to store and manage office supplies, or system in place to manage routine tasks. Critical documents were not protected from loss or damage. Further, our Client wasn't happy that when he had guests in the room, this area was not presentable.

Paperwork was sorted and some was appropriate for purging. We arranged for secure shredding on behalf of the Client, for sensitive documents. We installed a locking, yet mobile filing cabinet, which stores neatly under the fixed desk surface, alongside a new secure document shredder, and a fire safe for critical documents. Additionally, we sourced functional desktop products with a modern look for the Client's aesthetic, which now allows him to easily access and manage a variety of letterhead, pens, spare change, etc. Clever use was made of available vertical pony-wall space, and added easy access print cartridge storage for the adjacent desktop printer. 

The Client had a mix of documents in legal and letter format. We put our research skills to work, and selected a flexible and attractive filing cabinet to serve both needs. One file drawer was designated for standard letter size documents, and the other for legal size documents, for which we provided clearly labeled hanging and file folders. (Information of a personal nature has been redacted from the photos.)

Why Organized Interiors, LLC was engaged:

Well, color us flattered! We were again thrilled by our 2-time Client in Stratford Hills asking for our help on a 3rd project in his home: address the organizational issues for his Primary Closet (which extended into the contents of a secondary closet, as well as the linen/medicine closet.

The Primary Walk In Closet was very spacious and had well-built hanging rods and shelving. However, adequate shoe storage did not exist to accommodate the Client's shoe volume, and in a way that was conducive to maintain order. With a lack of clear "homes" for various clothing items, they were either hanging randomly throughout the space, or piled on the shelves vs. re-hung.

The Secondary Closet (also located in the Primary Bedroom), was a traditional, small reach-in closet, which was being used for less frequently used items, but without order.

The Linen Closet was so shallow, that it did not serve the purpose of a linen closet very well, and was being used for personal items and medications, etc., again without structure or organization. Items and products lacked a clear home, causing the owner frustration.

We discussed in detail any of the Client's preferences and habits for using these spaces, as well as how they might be differently used. As a result of a thorough decluttering, a significant portion of clothing and shoes were donated as they no longer fit the Client. Any items no longer in good repair were appropriately disposed. 

We researched a variety of shoe storage options and discussed with the Client, and procured some amazing hanging, fabric "cubbies", which were super sturdy, made use of the ample closet rod system, and coordinated with the rest of the space. Our Client was really happy with this novel approach, rather than installing expensive structures. The ample shelving had appropriate depth to accommodate towels and other linens, and suited the Client's preference to keep these items handy in his primary closet. A simple, inexpensive, and impactful upgrade was in swapping out the Client's prior hangers (a combo of mismatched wire and plastic varieties) for high quality (but very affordable!) slim, wooden hangers. We repurposed the handful of larger wood hangers for more substantial pieces, such as sportcoats or jackets, so nothing of value went to waste. 

The Secondary Closet was decluttered, and retained the more formal dress shirts (rarely worn) and suitcases, for easy access. Finally, the Medicine Closet (aka Linen Closet) had its contents decluttered, organized, and contained with clear bins, specifically for each type of product, and clearly labeled for easy access and replacement of items.