Whether you have heard about Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, or have seen the trailers for her Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, there is no mistaking that Marie Kondo will have a lasting influence on the way many people view their material possessions. The KonMari Method, Marie Kondo’s custom style of decluttering and organizing, helps you keep items that spark joy and eliminate everything else. If the thought of a certain closet or drawer creates stress, it’s likely you need some Marie Kondo in your life. If you don’t have time for a Netflix-binge, consider this your cheat sheet to KonMari your home. Continue reading

It’s the most wonderful time of year: time to haul 17 plastic bins of holiday decorations down from our 7th floor storage unit and then up to our home in a fourth-floor walk-up.

My family thinks it is Christmas chaos.

I think it is a heavenly host of ornaments beautifully organized by family member and breakableness, each labeled, easy to access and ready to hang.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to keep our baubles securely ordered and stored 11 months of the year. Continue reading

Find yourself laughing whenever a house-hunting couple on TV lists a mudroom as one of their must-haves? It’s my second favorite bit of ridiculousness on those shows (the first is the absolute need for a guest room when the entire viewing audience knows that no one is ever going to visit the family who just moved a $2,000 plane ride away).

The reality (not reality TV) looks a lot different.

Many city dwellers are lucky to have a coat closet or landing to stash their shoes. And those of us who live in the suburbs or somewhere without shared walls may have the space for a mudroom, but it may be overrun by laundry…or plastic kids’ vehicles…or it’s been turned into an office/gift-wrapping station/storage.

Practical Chicagoans, here are some simple and stylish alternatives for storing and organizing your winter gear.  Continue reading