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Making room for all the trappings of day-to-day life is a task that’s never finished – as kids grow and seasons change, storage needs shift. Unfortunately, most of us try to solve these things on the fly, rather than assessing the larger organizational picture. So we talked to professionals who were able to suggest comprehensive, proactive solutions for problem spaces such as the garage and closets, helping busy families to circumvent future messes.
Easier Living
When the Rice family in Purcellville, VA, made the call for help, the garage was so full they had no space to park their cars. Hyojon Robbins, co-owner of Built In Style, says the first item of business was to get everything “up off the floor.” He installed vertical storage in eco-friendly white melamine along the back and side walls, and he hung hooks for bikes and tools so the Rices could easily access them. (As a rule, oddly shaped items should be given hooks, while boxy items should be placed in modular storage.) Owner Lance Rice says the design has made much better use of their space, and the family now has more storage room than they can fill – a good problem.
Next to the garage, Robbins designed a cheerful mudroom and laundry room that have cubby holes, durable finishes, and decorative cabinetry, so the kids can drop their gear before entering the living space. The Rice house is also a farm, and the family’s intention is to make use of every inch of their space – “there’s always a project going,” Lance says. And durability is a must – the family pig, Rosabel, and the four dogs have free rein of the house.
Closet Case
The last spaces we organize are usually those that are out of sight. But we have to use our closets every day, and if we’re always having to dig through or step over items, or look at sagging, over-burdened closet rods, it can be frustrating and take time away from things we’d rather do.
Noel Sweeney, owner of Eco-Nize Closets, says his approach to solving organizational issues is to first just sit back and listen, let the customers vent. That produces a clear picture of their needs and habits. He also asks them to purge first – that means storing or donating anything that hasn’t been used in a year.
In this Reston, VA, project, contracted by Encompass Design Build, the owner opted for solid cherry, self-closing drawers, a concealable ironing board, valet rods for dry cleaning, and decorative moldings. LED lights illuminate the extra-deep hutches, which make the areas and the items within them glow.
The high-end finishes raise the price, naturally, but Sweeney points out that hiring a professional is often much less expensive than people think, and that getting a lasting, site-specific solution is a worthwhile change. “It’s such an improvement,” Sweeney says. “It leads to a happier lifestyle.”
