Household Organizers
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Looking for organizer to come every month or so
Jan 2013
i have finally admitted that i am not going to do filing and
don't have time to 'pick up' all the stuff that gets left out
around the house. My new years 'intentions' this year is to
live in a house that is organized and orderly. I am looking
for someone to come in once a month or so and do my filing
and other organizing tasks like putting my kids toys away,
organizing the kitchen drawers, etc. So part organizer and
part personal secretary. Thanks! lisa
I highly recommend Kasey Brenner to you. She did an amazing
organizing job for me about a year ago which included my
home office, kid's room, closets, etc. But I am a working
mom and I, just like you, had to admit I couldn't do it all.
Since then, Kasey has come in about once a month for 2-3
hours (her rates are really inexpensive) and does my filing,
which i hate to do, and just generally straightens up, which
is also the name of her business. Call her. She is easy to
work with and trustworthy to work in your house when you're
not home. Her cell is: 510-290-6273. dawn
Like you, I finally admitted I was never going to do my
filing and other office tasks. Kasey Brenner had done a
large organizing project for me and I was very happy with
her work. She also organized my kids rooms, closets, etc.
but I am not an organized person and just couldn't keep it
up, being a working mom with 2 kids. So I asked Kasey if she
could come once a month and straighten up (which is also
the name of her business). Turns out this is exactly what
she does now! For the last year, Kasey has been coming once
a month to help me with organizational tasks: she does the
filing, straightens up the kids rooms, kitchen drawers and
whatever needs to be done. She is fun to work with and you
can trust her with the key to your house. I don't feel so
overwhelmed anymore, because I know that Kasey is coming and
things will get back under control. She's great... a
life-saver actually. You can reach her at 290-6273. You
won't be sorry! Amy S
I'm happy to recommend Rebecah Freeling, (614) 769-3563 (or
rebecah@rfreeling.com). She's awesome. She's a great
organizer, and a great assistant! (She's helped me with
bookkeeping and budgeting.) She can handle any specific task
you throw at her, and she's also excellent with more
complicated projects. And if you lack systems that ease work
flow and make organization easier and you need her to design
one, she'll come up with one that makes sense to you and
fits with your preferences. (And finally, she also works
with children, so if it's relevant and you want, she could
get it so that your children put their own toys away :-))
Rebecah one of the most focused, efficient, 'get-it-done'
people I've met, and she's also very encouraging and
validating. I hope you give her a call! Satisfied Client
I have the perfect person for you - Kasey Brenner. Years
ago, I paid an expensive organizer to design systems for my
mail and other clutter which I was not able to keep up.
Then arrived Kasey who did a better job redesigning systems
for the mounds of paper, magazines, and just plain stuff for
a fraction of the price. Since then, Kasey keeps me on the
straight and narrow by filing and decluttering on a regular
basis. She has saved my sanity. Call her at 510-290-6273.
You'll be grateful you did. Finally organized
Professional organizer to help with baby's room
Nov 2012
Got recommendations for a professional organizer? Need help
with my baby's room! Angela
I LOVED working with Virginia Maddan -
http://comfortablestructure.com/
I did a fair bit of homework via another list serve last
year to find someone to help me with my home office as well
as kid room and kitchen. She has a wonderful process that
starts off with a bit of getting to know you - it's almost
like therapy - and then she digs in. She offers a lot of
services (shopping, dropping off donations and junk) or will
give you pointers on how to take care of things yourself to
save money.
Virginia is not the cheapest resource around but she is very
efficient and understanding. I never felt like a basket
case/hoarder or anything working with her, which was one of
my secret fears!! Sarah
I highly recommend Jane of BadAss Organizing & Design. She
has an amazing ability to ask just the right questions, take
a look at what feels like an overwhelming mess, and get
right to the heart of the problems. She helped me to sort
my priorities, focus on how to get the most done in the
least amount of time, and was great helping with follow
through. Jane also has a great eye for color and design, so
your home or project will not only be organized but
beautiful! Best of all, she is there not to judge but to
help you get to work and get your house -- and your life! --
back. You will love how free you feel after working with
her! She can be reached at 415-308-1366, or at her website,
www.BadAssOrganizingAndDesign.com. Karen
Jane Kemp is an excellent organizer and a delight to work
with! She reorganized my sister's 'grandmother' room. (It
was previously a 'catch-all' room loaded with way too much
stuff.) The final product is just perfect for spending fun
and/or relaxing time with the grandkids. Jane makes the
process of sorting through things and deciding what to
keep/toss fun. She asks all the right questions to help your
decision-making processes. And when you've made the decision
to toss things, Jane helps you by taking the reusable items
to a local charity. Jane is also a seasoned decorator and
has helped many of her friends 'stage' their homes for sale.
She has a keen sense of what should go where to make a room
functional and beautiful. Jane's number is (510) 593-8684.
Kathy
Katherine Korlacki is an awesome professional organizer.
Katherine will work alongside you, helping you to choose
between items to keep (and put them in place), those to give
to Goodwill, and items to trash. She never leaves without
boxes and boxes for donation or shredding.
I am always pleased with my well-organized space, once
Katherine and I are done working.
www.kkorlacki.com
(510) 525-3310
Katherine's motto:
Clear out what weighs you down,
keep what brings you joy
.
merry
Need Home Organizer for Downsized MIL
Sept 2012
I am looking for a referral for my MIL who moved in a few
months ago. She is an elderly woman, disabled, and has a
strong emotional component tied to her stuff (read: soft
hoarder). She moved into our home, so had to greatly
downsize, but is emotionally and physically unable to do
what is necessary. She needs a gentle, nonjudgemental, but
firm assistant for this project. Thanks. Home Organizer
Needed
Katherine Korlacki is a wonderful professional organizer.
She loves her work and folks who work with her love her. She
is non-judgmental, compassionate, humorous and totally
committed to helping people, as she puts it,'clear out what
weighs you down, keep what brings you joy'. Her website is
www.kkorlacki.com. You can contact her at 510.525.3310 or
kklorlacki@aol.com. laura
I highly recommend Katherine Korlacki for the compassion and
nonjudgemental attitude she brings to her professional
organizing engagements. She helped my mother-in-law as
well and was really terrific.
Her website is www.kkorlacki.com
Lisa
Need Home Organizer Recommendations
Aug 2012
Hi,
I'm considering hiring a professional to help me sort and
organize things in my house. I've read Yelp reviews for a
few local professional organizers - Jennise Mendoza (Rescue
Me), Bella Organizing and Simply Sorted all get good
reviews.
I'm looking for feedback about any of these companies, or
referrals to other organizers you've used and liked in the
East Bay.
I'd also like to get an idea of the going rate for home
organization services (we have a two bedroom house; we're
not using our space efficiently but it's not tooo
cluttered).
Any info much appreciated. Thanks!
Cluttery Mom
I heartily and highly recommend Dana Arkinzadeh of DMA
Organizing. www.dmaorganizing.com She has helped our
family of four live in a much more organized home -- and
it's amazing how much that positively impacts our quality of
life together. She's got a lot of experience, ideas and is
very personable. I recommend her highly. Good luck, Rachel
I highly recommend Katherine Korlacki for organizing. She
helped me with a couple of projects including organizing my
files and FINDING my desk and organizing my closet. With the
closet project, Katherine installed a shelf system and then
we put objects away. She helps clients make the tough
decisions about keeping what you want and getting rid of
clutter. She also knows organizations to
donate/recycle/shred/dispose of unwanted stuff. One of her
real talents is approaching her clients with compassion so
they feel ok about having clutter and having the will to
make improvements to their environment. Her phone is (510)
525-3310 and her email is kklorlacki@aol.com.
shoey
You'll get the best bang for your buck using Helena Tiainen
to help you organize. Besides being a fabulous organizer,
Helena also has over 12 years of training as an expert
interior designer and artist (she has a BFA degree from the
San Francisco Art Institute).
You DON'T get charged extra for her additional phenomenal
skills as she helps you organize, but you DO get the benefit
of her great ideas as she helps you make sense and order out
of your clutter.
I researched all the recommendations for organizers from
this website that I could find, conducted additional
internet searches, and talked to many organizers before I
settled on Helena- and I'm so glad I did.
Helena prices her services very reasonably. She gives you a
FREE half-hour telephone consultation (which I found
extremely valuable), and she offers a sliding scale
regarding fees depending on how much and how often you use
her services (the more hours, the cheaper the price). She
is kind, nonjudgmental, extremely dependable and well- she's
organized!
Now I don't dread coming home to a chaotic and
dysfunctional home. Instead, I often sit in my home office
after a long day at work and marvel at how serene I feel-
knowing things are in order, that I can find what I want
when I need to, and that I now feel in control of a good
part of my life. You'll love the feeling!
Helena's has two websites:
www.helenatiainenorganizing.com
www.interiordesignandorganizing.com
Best way to reach her is by email at HTiainen01@aol.com or
leave a message at: 510 548-3914. Diane
Need an easy-going home organizer for small apt
June 2012
My husband and I do not have knack for organizing and
cleaning, which is crucial being in an 1100-sq-ft apartment
with a 4-year-old and a baby on the way. We hired an
organizer a couple years ago, which worked out well for the
most part, but because going through my stuff and organizing
it is so personal (and is emotional for me), I really want
someone whose personality blends a bit better with mine. We
really don't want to be schooled on how to live - we are who
we are and want to better our lives w/ an organized home
where things have a place to go and we need help doing this.
Does anyone know of a great, easy-going but
helps-get-the-job- done kind of organizer? I would be fine
with a man or woman organizer. We live in Oakland. ready
for better
I would highly recommend Teri Gardella of Organized to a
Tee. Teri is wonderful, non-judgmental, and really easy to
work with.
http://www.organizedtoatee.com/
info@organizedtoatee.com
415.722.6047
Kim
You need to call Dana! She is a wonderful and talented
organizer and you won't feel judged or that you need to
change who you are. She is personable, easy-going, fun to
talk to and most importantly efficient and knowledgable
about organizing. She's just an all around great person who
happens to be gifted at organization. Did I mention the
non-judgemental part? Call her and get peace of mind! dma
Organizing. 510-525-6805. dmaorganizing.com Lise
You asked for an easy going home organizer:
Call Kat Reichmuth http://www.thesimplifiedlife.org/
i'm messy too
Hi, I have worked with a wonderful organizer over the
years, Diane Christiansen, and I highly recommend her. She
works with your needs rather than what she thinks you need
and helps create systems that will work for and with you.
I'm completely inept at this stuff but she taught me a lot.
I still have issues with upkeep but I also have more skills
to deal with organization than I used to before we worked
together. Her email is: diane@organizedbydiane.com and you
should check out her website:
http://www.organizedbydiane.com/
Call her and chat; you'll get a sense of her approach right
away. i love her energy and her positive attitude.
Clutter bug
For organizing, there is no one better than Lis McKinley.
She is so easy-going and not at all judgmental. Plus, she
offers a free consultation, so you can get a sense of
whether or not she is a good fit for you. I have seen her
work some magic on small spaces! Her number is 846-1976.
Camille
Emily Vander Tuin is your person! She is wonderful and
non-judgmental and will do what you want and not push you to
do what you don't want. I can't find her phone number at
the moment, but her email is: emilyjvt@gmail.com. anon
Professional organizer to help clean out garage
May 2012
I'm overwhelmed! I need help getting rid of 15 years worth
of stuff in my garage to prepare for a massive garage sale
in the fall. Can anyone recommend a professional organizer
for the task?
Thanks.
Sally
Grateful for Advice
I would like to recommend Nicolas Lucia, he is a great
personal professional organizer. He has experience working
at an auction house so he knows the value of things and he
really gets the job done! He has a great eye for how things
should be organized so they will stay tidy after he is done.
He is honest with you about what is realistic, a great
quality in a personal organizer! He can be reached at:
925.785-6717.
- Happily Organized
I highly recommend Dana Arkinzadeh of DMA Organizing. She is
just fabulous and has a great handle on different ways of
organizing for needs of different people. She truly listens
to get to the heart of the matter, rather than imposing some
set system on you that may or may not work depending on your
personality. Her website is here:
http://www.dmaorganizing.com/ Jeanne
I recommend Lisa Brink. Very good at what she does and a
pleasure to work with. Here's her website:
www.letsbeorganized.com anon
I highly recommend Isabella Guajardo of Bella Organizing.
When Isabella still operated Girl With a Truck, she helped
me organize and pack for a major relocation. As a pack rat,
I have always resisted exposing my clutter to anyone, but at
the time, I really needed help. Isabella was amazing,
organized, creative, sensitive, non-judgmental and fast. I
had dreaded and avoided this task for far too long, but
Isabella never made me feel ashamed, gave me some good ideas
and was very positive and encouraging. I have been
recommending her ever since. Recently, Girl With a Truck has
matured into Bella Organizing. Isabella's business focuses
more on professional organizing in people's homes and
offices, than on the variety of small packing, organizing
and local moving jobs she had been doing for years in the
Bay Area. I do not know about her current prices or
availability, but I do know that whatever work she does will
be thorough and professional. And, not only is Isabella a
local small business owner, an excellent organizer and a
genuinely nice person; she is an active member of various
Bay Area progressive communities and women's business
organizations, including Women's Initiative.
And good luck with your project!
Isabella Guajardo
Professional Organizer
SF Bay Area to Monterey Peninsula
Tel: 510.229.7321
http://www.bellaorganizing.com
Laurie
Pam Condie is a professional organizer and member of NAPO,
which is an organization of professional organizers. She is
skilled, non-judgmental, patient and thorough. I've been
working with her this past year and am impressed with her
skills. She has a website: www.pamcondie.com 653 7744 Sydney
You asked for a recommendation for a professional organizer.
Call Kat Reichmuth
http://www.thesimplifiedlife.org/
i'm messy too
Need an organizer to help my pack rat husband
April 2012
I am not sure if this falls under Products and Services or
Medical/Therapy. My husband is a pack rat, almost to the
point of hoarding. He has filled a storage area under our
apartment, and we rent a storage unit elsewhere that is
filled. He also has back and knee problems and it is hard
for him to do a lot of the physical work that would involved
clearing the stuff out. He just can't seem to get himself
going on eliminating the stacks of stuff in our home. Are
there organizers who help with the physical work of digging
through stacks, and also work on the mental part of this
problem? Are any of them covered by medical insurance?
Please send any recommendations. I can't live like this
anymore! Anon
Fabulous organizer Katherine Korlaki will work closely with
your husband to identify what can go and what can stay,
nicely organized. She is gentle but firm, and never leaves
without a load for Goodwill, boxes for the shredder, and
boxes for the dump. Your load is lightened and you feel a
great sense of accomplishment.
'Clear out what weighs you down, keep what brings you joy.'
Contact Katherine Korlaki at:
katherine@kkorlacki.com
or
(510)525-3310
or visit
www.kkorlacki.com
.
merry
Call Katherine Korlacki. Katherine has a Masters in
Counseling and has helped many people get rid of the stuff
that keeps them from living life fully. She is more than
happy to do the physical work, and has assistants she can
bring in to help with big jobs.
She's helped me clear out a kitchen, garage, filing
cabinets, kids' rooms, and then, reorganize/rearrange my
living space after a divorce. She's thoughtful, sensitive,
and clear-headed. She helped me create order and clear space
so that I could move forward, get on with my life.
She's more than worth the money you'll save by not renting a
storage unit.
http://www.kkorlacki.com
510-525-3310
signed, a Happy Client
Organizer to make small house feel larger
July 2011
Seeking a person who can look thru our entire house and
suggest ways to make it feel/seem larger. Have done
fly-lady, am pretty clean and organized but we have a family
of 4 in about 1,000 sf. I want a person who can help plan
for needs of two kids who are currently 3 and 6 - beyond
suggestions like bunk beds. We have a few bonus spaces
(basement and small studio) and I am hoping this person
would be able to take it all in, and help me make a plan
that I can (mostly) implement. I met with one organizer who
had good ideas but did not have kids or have a good feel for
things like toy sorting/purging/storage. I am open to
spending a bit on new furniture etc (over a period of time)
but would love to work with what we have. Ideally this
person will have some design sense as well - so that it can
all come together. Hoping there is a person like this out
there! Thanks
Freedom Filer has transformed my paper stacks into
manageable files that tell me when to save, when to remove
and replace, and when to shred my papers, all with the
labeling system. I was a bit dubious, but decided to start
fresh with new papers, and now I've transferred my old files
into the Freedom Filer system.
- Freedom Filer fan
I had a wonderful experience working with Shira Gill
http://shiragill.com/ of 'Simply Sorted'. She came to my
house and listened to what I needed/wanted, helped me
prioritize, and then we got started right away--I couldn't
believe how much we accomplished in 3 hours. She left me
with a 'to do' list and followed up with resources. She
works by the hour or a package and was very flexible. She
has great eye for detail, very practical, and has two
children of her own so understands the need to organize
around toys, etc. Meg
Home organizer to help me with boys' rooms
Nov 2010
i am in desparate need of a home organizer, especially
someone who can come in and help me organize my boys
room(s). they are 7 and 9 and now sleep in one messy room.
we have an extra room for the older boy. so someone who can
also help me decorate and pick out furniture to meet their
personalities.
I would like to recommend Kasey Brenner as a fantastic home
organizer. Kasey helped my daughter organize her room; she
was fun, encouraging and fast. She also worked with my
husband on organizing his office, again with excellent
results. Kasey is very supportive and upbeat, she has great
ideas and knows how to get practical results quickly. I
think you will enjoy working with her, and you won't believe
how fast your house shapes up! Give Kasey a call at 510-290-
6273. Her rates are great too. Heidi
Dear Lisa S,
I just had a GREAT experience w/a local organizer, who
helped me tackle (what felt like) mountains of brown boxes,
from a cross-country move. She was concise, non-judgmental,
and kept up the pace to get things DONE. VERY happy with the
results (I can open the door! I can see the floor! ;-) She's
a mom herself, an artist, and a teacher; you won't regret
calling her! She is: Pam Consear, find her:
www.handygaloakland.com --Organized now, w/loads of room!
Meg Connell, aka The Organized One--worked wonders on my
house. I actually met her through my work, when she was
hired to help numerous people in the office (at various
levels in the organization) get control of paperwork,
workflow, etc. I was able to work w/ her to organize my
professional office and ended up asking her to come help me
at home. I still use all of the systems we set up, and it's
been a few years. She is really enjoyable to work with, and
has great ideas!
http://www.theorganizedone.com/
I hope she can help you.
Julie
I used a great organizer, Kasey Brenner. My boys rooms were
a mess too and they were just sleeping in one of the rooms
because the other one was fillled with old toys. Kasey came
in and cleared everything out, talked to my boys about what
they each wanted for their room and then she helped me pick
out the furniture. My boys and I were astounded at the
transformation. She is really easy to work with, likes
children (she has 2 of her own) and not judgemental at all!
Her number is 510-290-6273. dawn m.
I have used 'A Girl With A Truck' for several organizing
projects: an overstuffed garage, 150 boxes of office files,
etc.
I highly recommend Isabelle -- she's experienced,
professional, reliable and smart.
girlwithatruck@gmail.com
510-229-7321
harriet
I know the perfect person - Kasey Brenner. Kasey has helped
me declutter my entire house, including a messy room of my
teenage daughter. She has a good eye for decorating in how
to use space and color. She is also hands on in hanging
pictures, assembling furniture, etc. Give her a call. You
won't be disappointed. Her number is 510-290-6273 Kathy
Galvin
Great home organizer: Katherine Korlacki
510-525-3310 - kkorlacki@aol.com - www.kkorlacki.com
Each time I've worked with Katherine, I've been left with a
tightly organized space where I can easily find what I want;
and Katherine has left with boxes for goodwill, and helped
me to toss dozens of boxes of unwanted stuff. Best of all,
we work side-by-side, so that I get to decide what stays and
what goes, and pitch in to make the organizing go faster.
Katherine's motto: Clear out what weighs you down. Keep what
brings you joy!
http://bni-brn.blogspot.com/2008/08/katherine-korlacki-professional.html
Merry
Seeking home organizer for garage storage area
Oct 2010
I'm looking for a household organizer who is good with
storage areas. My garage is the only place I have room for:
extra dishes/wine/camping equipment/luggage/extra clothing
etc etc. I've thrown out/given away/put in shelving--and it
is still a mess and I can't find anything half the time.
Has anyone used an organizer recently that they recommend (I
don't want to buy a lot of stuff, just get ideas that I
don't have) Permanent Mess
I have used the professional organizing services of Helena Tiainen multiple times
for decluttering, organizing, and redesigning several rooms of my home, my
university office, and most recently my garage storage area. I highly recommend
her. Organizing can be an overwhelming process, but Helena is consistently
supportive and constructive. I really appreciate how she creatively uses and re-
use furniture and storage containers that I already have, which keeps additional
expenditures to a minimum. For more information about her professional
organizing services, visit http://www.helenatiainenorganizing.com/services.html
Helena can be reached by email at HTiainen01@aol.com
Catherine
I recommend Gabriella Condie. She recently helped me clear
out baby/kids' stuff from my basement. She was wonderful to
work with: very attuned to what my particular ''stuff''
dilemma was about. Also, she is very committed to purging
in an environmentally sound way-- knows all the places to
get rid of anything without it going into landfill. Due to
her environmental bent, she is very good at thinking of new
ways to make things work within existing parameters and
re-purposing with what is on hand. Your desire to not buy a
bunch of expensive new equipment might make her a good match
for you. Her email is: luciente@wildmail.com
Colleen
I recommend Helena Tiainen for organizing garages and other
areas of the home. I've hired her off-and-on for about 4
years, most recently to prepare for a move-out and to
organize us upon moving back in, including tackling a
backlog of piles, establishing places for things so they're
easier to keep organized, and developing new habits to stay
less cluttered. She has been particularly helpful arranging
things in storage areas, including some creative solutions I
never would have thought of. Helena doesn't have a
cookie-cutter approach, and listened well to what my hopes
and constraints were. Helena's contact info & background
are on her website: http://www.helenatiainenorganizing.com/
Alicia
I would strongly recommend Gabrielle Fishman of GO Gabrielle
Organizes for all your home organizing project. She is a
wonderful person to work with, highly efficient and
amazingly talented and creative. She'll get you organized
and in top shape in no time! Her phone number is
510.288.8380 and her email address is
gabrielle.fishman@gmail.com
Best of Luck to you!
Rebecca
In response to the question, ''Seeking home organizer for
garage storage area,'' I would like to offer the following
advice:
1) Ask your friends for the names of organizers they were
highly satisfied with (preferably who have experience in
organizing garages or large spaces)
2) Call and ask them to provide you with the names and
contact information for at least 2 client references
3) See if they will conduct a consultation to give you an
estimate of time and cost for organizing your project. This
will also help you know whether or not you can comfortably
work with them.
4) Visit their website and ''Google'' them to learn more about
their credentials and experience.
Good luck,
Lis
Need a personal organizer we look like Hoarders
Sept 2010
We have a lot of mess and little time to organize, purge and place.
Are there people we can hire to help us sort through our stuff and create more
useful space in our house?
If you know someone or a business I could call please send them my way.
Looking for someone between the dates of Sept. 1st - Sept 15
Thank you
kristen
For all the hoarders, pack-rats, and clutter queens/kings, I
highly recommend Debra Baida. Her company, Liberated
Spaces, was named #1 Best Home Organization business in the
Bay Area on SFGate's BayList 2010. Debra's very sensitive
to your individual needs and helps you figure out best
practices for organizing your home and/or work space. She's
so organized she even finds time to blog about creative ways
to keep the clutter down by recycling, donating, and living
green on her Facebook page and website: www.liberatedspaces.com.
- feeling liberated
you need to contact shira gill, http://shiragill.com/
she will clear your clutter and make you feel like you got a new house, only it's
no longer a house, it's a streamlined space that you wish you could live in, like
an awesome boutique hotel, oh but wait, it's your home! where did all that mess
go? i don't know how she does it, but shira helps you breathe air into your
personal space and through doing so, your life.
good luck!
clutter free
Dana Arkinzadeh is a terrific professional organizer. She has helped me through
really overwhelming organizational dilemmas. She's easy to work with, flexible
and really wants to help folks find a solution that will work for them and that
they can maintain.
www.dmaorganizing.com
I would like to recommend Kasey Brenner as an outstanding personal organizer.
Kasey has worked with us on several projects, with great success. Our office was
really an embarrassment, and Kasey guided us through the process of planning
and executing a complete overhaul. The hardest part was throwing things out,
but with Kasey's support we were able to separate out what we needed to keep
and what we could let go of. Kasey is patient, responsible, and completely
supportive throughout the process. My greatest fear in hiring a personal
organizer was judgement, but she was completely non-judgemental... I guess
she's seen it all! Her rates are reasonable and she gets a lot done in a short
amount of time. I could not be more enthusiastic about recommending her! Give
her a call at (510) 290-6273.
K
check out shira gill of simply sorted. she's like your own personal Martha, but
doesn't make you feel bad about yourself.
www.shiragill.com
leila
I have the perfect person for you. Her name is Kasey
Brenner. Kasey is a fantastic organizer. She is adept at
purging and then creating systems, including buying
containers and furniture, for all the stacks of paper and
piles of stuff that cover every surface of the house. She
inspires me to get organized every time she comes, and I
feel lighter when she leaves. Give her a call at 510-653-
2720. You will feel so much better.
kg
Organizer / spaceplanner / architect? (+shrink?)
Dec 2009
I want to finally tackle the bed/bath/closet/office remodel,
but need someone to get me to: clean out / organize; AND to
help with the design (layout) of the to-be-reconfigured
space (I've got the piggybank, and a contractor). I'm hoping
there's someone BPN'ers have come across that combines those
talents... (or, maybe I'm just finding a new way to
procrastinate on this, again?) Hey, maybe there's a shrink/
organizer/architect I can hire, huh? Or (more realistically)
any one from those disciplines that y'all think are great at
what they do, and would be willing to talk to me about this
project.
--running in circles, chasing my tail
I think the person you want to talk to is Nina Johnson. Her
phone is 510-482-1619. She is great with this kind of
thing, and has all kinds of people at her fingertips:
designers, contractors, etc. (even the shrink) that she
knows well and works with regularly. Working with Nina can
be great fun once you get started. The hardest part for me
is always just making that initial phone call. From then on
it's pretty easy.
Laura
I recommend Helena Tiainen for organizing and space
planning. I've hired her off-and-on for a 2-3 years to
tackle a backlog of piles, establish places for things so
they're easier to keep organized, develop new habits to stay
less cluttered. She has been particularly helpful preparing
for our home remodel and arranging things when we moved back
in upon completion. Helena has helped me rearrange
furnishings and belongings, especially in the living room,
dining room, closets, and work/desk area. She doesn't have
a cookie-cutter approach, and listened well to what my hopes
and constraints were. Helena's contact info & background
are on her website: http://www.helenatiainenorganizing.com/
Alicia
While she isn't an architect, I know a fantastic
Professional Organizer/Feng Shui Consultant who has a solid
knack for being a ''therapist'' too! She is sensitive,
efficient and amazing at what she does.
She does free consultations in your home, so you can get a
good idea of what she brings to the table before you start
spending money. I can't recommend her highly enough.
Kim Prigge
www.kimprigge.com
415.819.6727
Best, Lisa F.
Personal Organizer Needed
April 2009
We are in need of a personal organizer to help us get our home, garage and
closets in
order. Does anyone have a good reccomendation? Thanks!
Suzanne
Give LeeAnn Kleinfelter of Keeping Order a call. Her web
address is www.keepingorder.com and her # is 925.360.5015. She
is fabulous at sizing up a situation, creatively solving the
problem and setting up a system that you can easily follow.
She has helped me organize my office, getting systems on the
computer in place, and organizing my kitchen and garage. She
is approachable, non-judgmental and really efficient. She
works really hard and you will definitely get your moneys
worth.
happily organized
Give Helena Tiainen a call today! I've collaborated with
Helena on specific projects as well as leveraged her for
ongoing support over the last 2 years. She customizes her
services according to whatever the client needs and has quite a
skill set and tool box to pull from ... we have worked on
organizing, strategizing, redecorating, you name it. She is
responsible, has many ideas, listens well and can even help you
decide what your needs are and how to prioritize what's
important to you. She does not drive her own agenda, but is
good in coming up with many ideas on how to approach something,
including creative and practical alternatives. She can be
contacted at 510.848.1525 or email htiainen01@aol.com. Her web
site is www.helenatiainenorganizing.com.
Denise
I know a fantastic organizer, Karena Gruber. She will help you
put your stuff in order (without judgement). She has a website,
bypiece.biz, you can reach her by email at karena@bypiece.biz or
phone at 415-350-8515
Elena
I have had a fantastic experience with Lexa Walsh for personal
organization. Contact info: toychestra@yahoo.com, (510) 282-
6311, http://lexawalsh.com/ Lexa has been recommended many
times on BPN, and for good reason: she is excellent at what she
does, and a pleasure to work with. Lexa helped us reorganize
our ENTIRE house. We did room by room, week by week. This
included turning our garage into a functional workspace
(designing the plan, buying shelving, etc), reorganizing our
kitchen, emptying and consolidating our attic and basement
(including creating storage areas, etc) and considering/changing
where we stored things in various parts of our house so that it
all had better and more natural flow. Lexa led the effort
conceptually, but also really got her hands dirty (helped us
make it happen at every step, hauled stuff away for us). She
was a godsend. She is I think entirely unique in that she is an
artist, has a great eye for aesthetics/color/etc, but is also
entirely practical/hardworking/organized. And she LISTENS. She
is definitely the whole package. Oh, and did I mention she is
just a lovely person to spend time with? Who would have thought
I could enjoy emptying the attic?! My husband and I both give
her our very highest recommendation.
Vandy and Leo
I know a fabulous Organizer, Lee Ann Kleinfelter, Keeping Order.
Her phone number is (925) 360-5015.
Dana
March 2008
I need help with mail and bill management. I also have to deal
with too much clutter in the garage, kitchen, kids room, etc.
And my closet could use some help. Does anyone have a good
organizer?
buried in clutter
I used Pam Condie to organize my office. My favorite quality:
she's NOT judgemental!!! Second, she showed me how to recycle
stuff that was too valuable to toss, but not worth the trouble
to store. It felt so good to find new homes for my ''valuable''
junk. 510-653-7744. pam@pamcondie.com. Big plus: when I moved
my office, I used the principles she taught me to make my new
space effecient. She teaches HOW to organize!!
HappyBusinessOwner
I have a great organizer referral for you. Her name is LeeAnn
Kleinfelter and her business is Keeping Order. She's
fabulous. She can easily and quickly scope out a situation and
not only get it cleaned up but give you strategies for handling
it efficiently in the future. She's no nonsense, a hard worker
and just a nice person! Her # is 925.360.5015 or email her at
leeann@keepingorder.com.
marika
I can't exactly recommend *how* to find an organizer - I stumbled
onto ours in a talk thread on Yelp. However, I can highly
recommend the person I did find. Susanna Sabahi from
www.planetsimple.com is a great personal assistant/organizer.
First, she helped me organize the various vendors for our wedding
and reception and now she is invaluable for helping us turn my
home office into the baby-to-be's room. She is locating vendors
for us, helping sort out items to donate and sell, selling items
on eBay and CraigsList, coordinating the pick up of donation and
bulky trash items and helping us organize the space in both the
baby's room and the corner of the living room that will now be an
office. She is heaven-sent!
Lise
A few months ago we hired Jennise Mendoza (Rescue Me Organizer)
to help de-clutter our one bedroom apartment. I highly recommend
her. When she left - honestly, I felt like we had just added a
room! She worked with my husband and I to organize, sell, donate
and recycle sooooo much stuff. She was diplomatic but firm about
purging our many belongings. She was also just a nice, funny,
kind person - so someone I felt comfortable going through things
with. This is her # 510-866-4619
Good Luck!
Christina
Hi,
There are a few different ways to find an organizer - asking
for a referral being the best one! There is a National
Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and the Bay Area
has quite a large chapter. You can go to www.napo-sfba.org and
click on the ''Find An Organizer'' link at the top. You can
search by area or specialty. Lastly, some organizers advertise
on Craigs List. Dana
For organizing help, look no further than Claire Tompkins at
cluttercoach.net. She and I have been working our way through my
entire house, from the basement up, with great success. I've been
learning through working with Claire, what strategies work for me
to keep paperwork, kids' toys and clothes, and general clutter
from getting out of hand. Her slogan is ''non-judgmental help for
the overwhelmed,'' and she really achieves that; she is great at
helping me stay focused on the goal at hand without spiraling off
into either sentimentality (at the precious memories I'm finally
throwing into the recycling) or shame (that my house is such a
mess). She's at 510-238-8875. Good luck!
heidi
I've worked with Pam Condie, a professional organizer, and think she's very good at
what she does. She'll help you go through your stuff, and help set up systems for
dealing with it in the future. She has some good info at her web site:
www.pamcondie.com
Since it can be a very personal and intimate thing to have someone go through your
stuff, it's important to find someone with whom you feel comfortable. If Pam doesn't
work out, try checking out NAPO (Nat'l Assoc Professional Organizers) for other
options.
Talia
I have the perfect organizer. She has helped me develop a mail
and bill system and eliminate the piles and piles of clutter
throughout the house. Her name is Kasey Brenner, and her phone
is 510-290-6273. You will be so relieved after she works with
you.
Kathy
I found an organizer through the architect who drew up remodel
plans for my house. She recommended Dana Arkinzedeh of DMA
Organizing. My house was full of my own stuff as well as a great
deal of paper and sentimental items from my mother (who had
recently died) I was completely unable to deal with the sorting
and sifting necessary to reduce the volume! Dana was undaunted by
the task and began restoring order immediately, explaining how
she interpreted what I needed to be done and checking in with me
to see if I agreed. After each session, she gave me assignments
for disposing of things; sometimes I could accomplish it and
sometimes not. She was so sympathetic to the situation. Amazingly
enough, in a short time, my ''stuff'' had been greatly reduced in
size and was in order. Dana is also really good at suggesting
furniture rearrangements that support better work and family task
flow patterns. She helped me immensely with my studio/office.
Her contact info is 525-6805 dana@dmaorganizing
www.dmaorganizing.com/ Signed: suzyanna
Try calling Regina Franca, who does organizing, cleaning,
moving, packing, unpacking, etc. I recommend her as reliable,
trustworthy, kind, smart, and easy to work with. You can find
her at www.organizemetoo.com.
Rahel
I have worked with Nina Johnson. She will tackle any room
including the garage with patience and grace, plus allot of
fun. We went through paperwork, storage areas and more. I
couldn't face the clutter alone. Nina really helped me get
through everything and put it away so that I could find things
on my own. Nina is at www.simply-org.com or 510-482-1619.
clutter free
Sept 2007
I need someone that will work with me and also give me some direction in setting up
systems -not my strong suit. Thanks. Heidi
Organizer Katherine Korlacki 525-3310 is a dream to work with. She comes to your
home or office, clipboard and labeler in hand, and helps you decide what to keep,
where to put it, and (best of all) what to give away and where to donate it or
sell.
She is professional, organized, and helps you get your place in order. Hands-on
organizing services, space planning, paper management, moving assistance or
coaching. ''Clear out what weighs you down. Keep what brings you joy.''
Merry
I recommend Anita Berg, Professional Organizer. She LOVES what she does and is
good at it. She helped me organize my office space and took into account the way
I work before suggesting systems that would work for me. Give her a call! Anita
can be reached at 601-8031.
Kamila
Dana Arkinzadeh has helped us and many of our friends with organizing tasks that
seemed insurmountable. She does a great job and is a pleasure to work with.
dana[at]dmaorganizing.com, 510-525-6805
Jessica
June 2007
I'm looking for a consultant to help me use the space in my kitchen more
efficiently. I
can't afford to remodel it completely, but want to organize the space better. Is
there
anyone out there who does this kind of work?
Mary
April 2007
I want to recommend a professional organizer who helped change our
lives in a mere 3 days. Her name is Sini Anderson and her phone # is
415-238-0286. She helped us do a massive de-clutter as well as
reorganizing of rooms and stuff. This involved purging many things,
some of which I thought I couldn't live without but have already forgotten.
She's good at introducing new habits as a way of not undoing all her
work with you. Well worth the money spent.
tc
I run a home business, and was in dire need of someone to help
me get things in order so that I could get a handle on
everything. I found the business card of Ida Razick on a table
of a jewelry vendor at the Temescal farmers marker. Adjowah
(the vendor) told me that Ida helps her with weekly organizing
and that it ''had changed her life''. And now I have Ida come a
few times a month to do a myriad of tasks. She really is very
easy to work with and has years of experience working as a
nanny and family assistant in the Bay Area. Always punctual,
professional and full of ideas for where things can be put to
make my life easier, it has been such a big help that I thought
I would pass a recommendation along. Her phone number is 510-
529-9127
claire
March 2007
Hello,
I am a working single mom preparing to move. I am hoping to hire someone to help
me with the process of packing up this home and setting up the new one. I am
needing technical assistance, in getting phone and internet/cable servies set up, as
well as setting up the computers in the new space. I also need help with setting up
new file cabinets and systems, and general organizing. Could this be one person?
several? can you recommend anyone for any part of this?
thank you!
anon
Katherine Korlacki is a great organizer de-clutterer.
She comes in ready to work with you to sort, file and toss. I've had the
pleasure of
working with Katherine to de-clutter my office at year-end, and to
organize my
garage (and toss 10 boxes of stuff - hooray!).
Call Katherine at 510-525-5231.
merry
I highly reccomend Alinya Charron for all your needs -
seriously. She is wonderful with office organizing/home
organizing as well as computer stuff. Not sure about phone but
she'll tell you if she cannot do it. She has worked with me
personally for about two years (home organizing stuff)and we
worked together for about four years before that (she completely
reorganized complex office/billing/tracking filing system. I
trust her and as a bonus she is great with my toddler.
I cannot attest to whether it's possible to find one person to do
all the things you mention, but for the ''packing up this home and
setting up the new one'' process, I can enthusiastically recommend
The Family Packers, http://www.familypackers.com/, 510-893-6896.
Johanna and Janna (the mother-daughter team who comprise the
heart of the business) are wonderful at what they do, and are
lovely people. They're even writing a book on how to pack! They
are incredibly professional, and their estimate (given on the
spot after a free and thorough walk-through) was very accurate -
perhaps even a little more than the final cost. Not only did
they pack EVERYTHING we asked them to, but they made the most
amazing list for us of what was in each box, so when we were
ready to unpack, we could get at the stuff we needed first.
(They also offer unpacking services, but we didn't hire them for
that.) They packed our entire 1600 sq. foot house in less than
two days. Although they didn't set up our computers at the new
house for us, they packed and labelled everything so well that I
was able to do it with ease. They also packed everything so well
that when everything was said and done, the only things that
ended up broken were the things I had packed myself. We moved
when I was over 7 months pregnant, and I can't imagine how we
would have done it without their help. They also picked up and
reused all the packing materials when I was finished unpacking,
which I thought was a great environmental bonus!
The Best Money I Ever Spent!
March 2007
I am looking for a home organizer who will find creative
solutions for closet reorganization. I need someone who will
help me find space for my clothes collection, and will not ask
me to give things away to make space!
susie
I would like to recommend LeeAnn Kleinfelter who owns Keeping
Order (www.keepingorder.com). I worked with her many years ago
when I needed help organizing several areas of my house. She
was very practical and very 'gentle' with me about de-
cluttering. That said, she never forced me to give up things I
didn't want to part with.
I have since referred her to many friends who have all been
very satisfied with her work.
Please give LeeAnn a call at 925.360.5015 and tell her Karen
referred you!
Good luck,
A lot less cluttered now
I highly reccomned Alinya Charron. Our space has been renewed
after working with her. She is very gentle - she showed me
things she thought I could part with (antique sewing machine
that sort of worked, old file cabinet) but did not push me at
all. It took me some time but I did end up purging some stuff.
However, she is so good at creating space that its not an issue -
I could have kept the stuff anyway.
I have known Alinya for many years and completely trust her.
her info: alinya charron, 510-543-1169 or atcharron[at]comcast.net
Jacqueline
organized!
Try Meg Connell, she helped us get our house together and has
lots of creative suggestions for how to use space effectively.
She also helped me with what kinds of containers and things to
buy for my closet to maximize space.
Meg Connell
510/482-5892
Julie
Feb 2007
I am looking for someone to come to my home office to help me
file and organize my clutter. The person needs to be
personable, completely trustworthy, and excellent at organizing!
alison
Hi! I highly recommend flylady.net
Helena
I highly recommend Pam Condie. She came to my 2-person office
and set up simple filing system, helped me get rid of stuff on
surfaces, helped with decision-making about papers and much
more. She is non-judgmental, has a lot of experience and I
totally trust her. Her phone is 653-7744 and her website is
http://www.pamcondie.com/. Tell her I say ''hello.''
Stu
I highly recommend Alinya Charron for your organizing needs. She
has worked with me for about two years (on and off as I need the
help) specifically on our basement, kitchen/bathroom cabinets
and creating a sewing/craft space. She is upbeat, efficient and
great at what she does. I know she has worked with other clients
how work out of their home - organizing office space
specifically. Having help organizing has made a huge difference
in our home, especially post-baby.
We worked together at a non-profit in the east bay for about 4
years before that, so I know her well and trust her completely.
Her info: Alinya Charron, 510-543-1169 or atcharron@comcast.net
clutter free
I have the perfect organizer/de-clutterer to recommend. She's
very experienced and has helped me and several people I know (and
many I don't!) gain the upper hand over everything from a chaos
of paper to too much [pick one] clothing/memorabilia/project
supplies/dishes and other kitchenware/linens/stuff you once
thought was a good idea. She has great organizing strategies and
is a responsive listener, helping tailor systems to specific
people, spaces, needs etc, rather than imposing her own approach
regardless of whether it will fit. Her particular gift is helping
people with their stuck processes and attachments. She's not
aggressive or domineering, but she's very effective. You will be
amazed at what can get done in a couple of hours. Call Susan
Strasburger at Lighten Up! 510.655.4419
happily orderly
Jan 2007
I am needing someone to help me get organized. I have stacks of papers to go
through, as well as drawers and closets that need attention. I am needing to get all of
my bills in order and filed. I want to develop some general systems for what to do with
things that come into the house, where to put them, etc.
While there were a few postings on this, none were recent. Anyone know of who might
help with this project? and/or on an ongoing basis?
thanks!
anon
I am a member of the Women's Business Connection of Lamorinda
and one of the members is a fabulous personal organizer. Her
name is LeeAnn Kleinfelter and her business is called ''Keeping
Order''. She has helped me in my business (I am an Esthetician)
and organizing at home. She has helped me organize my garage,
kitchen and an overflowing closet. LeeAnn can get a good
overview of what needs to be done, does it quickly and
efficiently. She has all kinds of tips on how to organize
paperwork and create files, etc. She also knows where to get
containers inexpensively, tips on recycling stuff, etc. She is
highly professional, yet very approachable and down to earth.
She is an absolute joy to work with and she will transform your
space...leaving you full of joy and renewed energy! She can be
reached at 925.360.5015 or email is leeann[at]keepingorder.com.
Marika
Oct 2006
Hello, can anyone give a recommendation for a household
organizer - particularly skilled in kids stuff, attics and
daily clutter - in Alameda or near? I checked the website but
the last recommendations seem to be from 2005. You can post
and/or reply to my email. Thanks for any help! Joni
I doubt very much if there is any other organizer...or
designer for that matter, that can hold a candle to Cyrina
Quinlan (415-999-7594). We live in Alameda too, and yesterday
she finished organizing our house. We have fallen back in love
with our house and feel so much more ease with everything
having it's own place. A big plus, is she handled our needs
with a great sense of esthetics, as well. First off she passed
our ''child test'' and related well to our 2 year and was
sensative to his concerns of moving things around! She expertly
accessed our space, sorted belongings, help select out unwanted
items, installed storage systems and even help us set up a
stunning wall of pictures. She is reliable and super fast. We
are so happy to share her name with you! Geri
Hi Joni-
I highly recommend Julia Olkin a professional organizer - her
contact info is - 510 727-0714. She is a mom and teacher and
understands the many needs of families. Julia is very
approachable and helps you find workable solutions in your home.
Her strategies have saved me a lot of time/money!! Her rates are
very reasonable.
Amy
October 2006
For people looking for an organizer around the Bay Area, I highly recommend
Isabella Guajardo 510-229-7321. She has her own truck and is completely reliable
and considerate. She just helped my older son move his futon, computer, guitar,
etc and she was relaxed, friendly and helpful. To boot, she only charges $20-$25
p/ hour plus gas/tolls. She's also available for packing, delivery, and organizing
home, garden, offices.
I'd especially recommend her for seniors and women who want someone they can
trust and who will treat them and their belongings respectfully.
Rachel
May 2005
Has anyone had a successful experience with an organizer for help with MOVING and/or organizing a HOME OFFICE?
I need help with a moving from a very large place to a small one, which involves sorting my belongings into sell/keep/consign/donate, actually selling my current furniture, packing/unpacking, setting up the new place, etc.
I also need someone to help me catch up with some paperwork (not too much) and create an effective, easy filing system (and possibly some basic electronic spreadsheets, quicken or other) to help me manage and report financial and medical information and keep the day-to-day things on track.
Types of projects:
1. -organizing the move and making it happen
2. -setting up the new place
3. -organizing paper flow, filing system, basic electronic record keeping (catching up with small amount of paperwork)
4. -designing storage/space
5. -monthly: assisting with bill paying, filling out and mailing forms, etc.
THANKS!
jayekaye
I highly recommend LeeAnn Kleinfelder of Keeping Order.
She did a wonderful job of organizing my office and my kitchen. She has done work for several of my friends, including an attorney that was moving from one office to another.
She has great ideas, is thorough, efficient, and sensitive to the fact that someone else's 'junk' may just be your 'treasures'!
You can reach her at 925-360-5015 or keep.order AT sbcglobal.net
Good luck!
Karen
Hello,
I recommend Pam Condie, www.pamcondie.com for your moving/organizing office project. My husband and I are in business for ourselves and work out of a small office in our home. There are just three small files drawers in the space and we didnmt want to add a big file cabinet for aesthetic reasons.
Pam helped us go through every file and organize files. She also helped us sort through everything thing in the office. In the end, there was room for more new client files in the existing file drawers and everyday things were easy to find and in reach. And it was accomplished pretty quickly, and actually, pleasantly.
Karen
January 2005
If you are looking for an organizer/redecorator, I would highly recommend Helena Tianinen. She is an artist who is also an experienced organizer. She can help you redecorate and/or organize your house by helping you make choices on new purchases and by utilizing what you already have to the degree you desire. Helena worked with us to help us figure out difficult room arrangements (her spatial eye is superb), how to pick the paint color/style of the rooms we wanted, and how to prioritize house projects. Most importantly, she showed us how to organize the "stuff" that was taking over our den & garage. All of her services are catered to your specific needs and likes. Helena is good at creating functional and attractive environments. She offers both consulting and hands-on assistance. She can be contacted at HTiainen01 AT aol.com or phone 510.848.1525 (leave a message).
Jeanne
December 2004
Parents are you overwhelmed with clutter in your home? I
highly recommend Professional Organizer, Deborah Anderson.
She just organized my home office, bedroom and closets.
It's a pleasure coming home again. She listened to my
needs, helped me identify problem areas and worked with me
to achieve the organization plan that works best for me. I
now don't mind my family coming for the holidays. With my
newly organized home, I will gladly welcome them. Call her,
you won't regret it. She can be reached at 352-1068.
Sonya
November 2004
If you are looking for an organizer/redecorator, I would
highly recommend Helena Tianinen. She is an artist who is
also an experienced organizer. She can help you redecorate
and/or organize your house by helping you make choices on
new purchases and by utilizing what you already have to the
degree you desire. Helena worked with us to help us figure
out difficult room arrangements (her spatial eye is
superb), how to pick the paint color/style of the rooms we
wanted, and how to prioritize house projects. Most
importantly, she showed us how to organize the "stuff" that
was taking over our den & garage. All of her services are
catered to your specific needs and likes. Helena is good at
creating functional and attractive environments. She offers
both consulting and hands-on assistance. She can be
contacted at HTiainen01 AT aol.com or phone 510.848.1525
(leave a message).
Jeanne
October 2004
My husband is starting a tree consulting business and is
setting up a home office. Can someone recommend a home
office organizer who handles both the physical space and the
general details. Thanks.
Stefanie
Hi Stefanie,
You've got to check out Dana Arkinzadeh, her company is called DMA Organizing
and she can be reached at 510-525-6805 or dana AT dmaorganizing.com. I've known
Dana for about a year now. She has organized two offices for me...including
dismantling my office while i was on vacation (so my new floor could be
installed) and putting it back together so that I wouldn't lose any time when
i returned. More than anyone it was Dana I trusted to coordinate that project
(between the house sitter who would help with heavy lifting and the
installers) so that I knew it would be done right. Each time she came to help
me deal with my space I had blocked out the time to work with her and both
times i spent the full 6 or 8 hours on the phone and not helping her at all.
She was able to keep moving and here or there ask me a question or get her
piles together so she could ask her questions all at once. My work has picked
up and I've added 3 more things to my plate and I'm about to schedule with
Dana to help me deal with the ensuing chaos. I can recommend her without
reservation. Good luck with your project. Jenny
To the person interested in the home office organizer.
I would like to recommend Gabrielle Campbell. Gabrielle
has a business specialized in workflow and space
organization and optimization. She works with individuals
and small businesses. A friend of mine has used her and
had great results.
Her phone number is: 415-883-1954
margo
July 2003
My Husband and I hired a great personal organizer and space
planner. Her name is Shannon Hicks at Function and Style 510-
841-0405. She had several great ideas to get rid or clutter
especially art projects. Such as creating a space like a
shelf to show off the latest or favorite projects. When
your child brings another treasure home let him pick what
comes down in order to make space for the new. Good
exercise to teach children to de-clutter. Also Shannon
suggested collecting several ''master
pieces'' together along with your child and take a picture.
Then put all the pictures into an album,(which takes up much
less space than all those little gems.
Another mom in need of clutter control
June 2003
I would like to recommend Theresa Marino as either an
organizer or plant consultant. Although she has not been
doing either job as a career, I am encouraging her to think
about it. She's terrific. She worked at a nursery and is
helping me spruce up my yard (which plants to plant where,
has a good eye for placement and mixing colors and
different plants). She is also helping me with my house
from hell - 15 years of stuff i never know what to do
with. She is one of those people with great spatial
awareness - she rearranged one cabinet in just a minute -
it was amazing to me. She can tell when you're
overwhelmed - we started with just 2 feet of counter space
to clean off because that was all i could do. (some of us
have issues...) Her email is cjoepm AT juno.com.
Peggy
Feb 2003
In response to a recent posting in which someone asked
about Interior Decorators/Personal Organizers, I wanted to
recommend Dana Arkinzadeh of DMA Organizing. We had a huge
problem with clutter & also with paper flow (i.e. bills,
filing, etc.) until Dana helped us come up with some
simple, inexpensive solutions. Her rates are very
reasonable. Although she's an organizational consultant
rather than an interior decorator, Dana can recommend
attractive furniture/storage/etc. in every price range.
You can visit or Web site at www.dmaorganizing.com, email
her at dana AT dmaorganizing.com or call her at 510.525.6805.
Elisabeth
Jan 2003
I'm looking for help in re-organizing my house. I'm trying to
clear out old clutter, room by room. My older son is about to
move into our spare bedroom which gives us NO extra space
to put
stuff. I'm thinking,how can we rearrange furniture, add
shelves,
organize closets etc. to create storage and a feeling of more
space without actually remodeling (which hopefully is down
the
road)? By the way, I'm doing this all myself, as my husband
isn't phased by clutter and piles around him. Any
recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks. Sign
me...drowning
in clutter.
June
I'd like to recommend Julia Perkins
(juliaperk AT earthlink.net), who just finished helping me
organize my living space -- and best of all, the MESS in my
office is gone. She's good at advising on clearing out
clutter, and at rearranging to take advantage of space, but
the best part is that she rolls up her sleeves and helps do
the work. She even put up with the ''assistance'' of my 19-
month-old son!
Karen
October 2002
I'm looking for recommendations for an organizer for the
home office I share with my husband. It's completely out of
control.
I've read the recommendation for Spruce Girls and am seeking
a few others to look into, as well.
And if anyone has suggestions about what to look for and
what to look OUT for, what to be careful of, I'd appreciate
that, too.
Robin
We recently used a superb household organizer -- Julia
Perkins -- to get our playroom/basement, living room,
dining room and kitchen in shape. She came to our house on
several different occasions, helped us use our existing
space better, recommended what (very reasonable) Ikea
storage systems to purchase, and brainstormed about all
sorts of things to make our household activities flow
better. She's very gifted, efficient/quick and both easy
and fun to work with. Her number (in Berkeley) is 540-
7440, juliaperk AT earthlink.net.
marguerita
April 2002
A friend of mine used Elizabeth Loughlin to organize the clutter in
her house. I don't know whether she would want to work on such a task
weekly, and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't be the person to do errands
like taking your car for an oil change, but she did a wonderful job
for my friend. Elizabeth also has a housecleaning service, and she
lives in Oakland. Her number is 510-530-8271.
Maria
Feb 2002
My house has been buckling under the accumulation of fifteen years
worth of Stuff: piles everywhere, most of the rooms not functioning
well and stressful to look at. It has been driving me crazy for years
but I haven't been able to deal with it, because it has just felt so
overwhelming. I did hire an organizer several years back and she
taught me the basics of Sort & Purge, but I had trouble following
through.
I am thrilled to report that our house, and our lives, have turned
around thanks to a new organizing team called Spruce, run by two
brilliant and energetic young women (the Spruce Girls). They did a
thorough interview and evaluation of the house, including taking
dozens of digital photographs, of the most horrific areas. Once I got
over my initial mortification, I was relieved that this was finally
getting dealt with. Then they studied the situation and wrote up a
creative proposal for re-visioning different areas of the house. It
was so inspiring.
They just finished their 2nd full day of Sprucing yesterday, and
already our house is transformed. (it is not over yet) Our upstairs
hallway, which used to be Corridor of Junk (literally, just piles of
boxes, bags and loose stuff) is now a beautiful library, office area,
and music area. It's functional, beautiful and relaxing. My bedroom,
which is quite large, and contained TOO much activity to be restful,
had lots of computer and office equipment. This was all moved out
(into the hallway landing) and the room is now a beautiful, peaceful
sanctuary with separate sitting area. There is lots more to do but I
am already ecstatic with the results. They have sorted the massive
piles into other manageable categories (ie, all computer manuals,
electronic equipment, magazines etc) which I will now sort and purge.
They're delightful to work with.
If you and your house are suffering from clutter and disorganization,
I can't say enough about Spruce. You can reach them through their
website at www.sprucegirls.com. Their service is not cheap, but it
is invaluable.
Susan
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