We’re Wondering…

We’re Wondering….which areas of your home cause the most stress when it comes to disorganization??? Is it your closet? Kitchen? Or….our all time favorite, the Mail?  Believe it or not, ever client gives the answer we are expecting. And from that answer….we ALWAYS have the same conclusion.  Please give your feedback where your clutter concerns lie. We need to prove that our theory works (fingers crossed) or we may be finding new professions

We’re Wondering Wednesday-Color Me Crazy

This week we are looking for your input – Ashley and I LOVE to organize closets but when it comes to putting the clothes away our color coding preferences differ.  This is clearly a total type A issue, but we hope that you can help us settle this once and for all.  Ashley is the master of light to dark but when I try to do it, I just can’t get it right – is red brighter than green!?  When I color code, I am the queen of the standby, ROY G BIV.  This may be the former teacher coming out of me, who knows!  Today, we thought it would be fun to ask you, the reader, to tell us what you think.  We used Ashley’s closet as our test case.  Ashley worked on her light to dark and I made a rainbow – which one do you like best??

Light to Dark….

Or Rainbow….

To: You… Love: NEAT

As you know, a few weeks back we were OBSESSED with Martha’s stickers for food and think that every NEAT reader should have them.  Not only can you use them in your refrigerator for produce but you can also put them on frozen goods in the freezer.  We constantly tell our clients that not keeping track of dated foods/spices is making you SEEM like a bad cook.  Today we are giving you a the gift of organization and the opportunity to stay on top of your cooking skills.

When you click the link below, you will find your own personal stickers to put on your produce and frozen goods made by yours truly.  Once you have the document, purchase and print these stickers out on the Avery 5264 labels.  We hope you enjoy our replica of Martha’s fabulous idea!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Download NEAT Food Stickers

We’re Wondering….Wednesdays

As Professional Organizers, we are constantly faced with life’s hardest questions (sarcasm).  In all seriousness, NEAT pays close attention to even the smallest of details in our clients’ home so that they can enjoy the ‘perks’ of an organized life.  We, at NEAT, thought that it would be fun to share some of these questions with you.  We will also give you our opinion to the dilemmas we are faced with while organizing.  Every Wednesday, we will have a post entitled, “We’re Wondering Wednesday..”  Please feel free to share your opinion with us  xo NEAT

We’re Wondering about……..

SHOES!!!!   Should they face out…

…or….

In??

We have run into this question while organizing MANY times.  In pictures, I think we can all agree that shoes facing out look AMAZING!!!!  Shoes can be so photogenic can’t they??  After testing both ways, here are some things that NEAT has learned that we wanted to share with you:

1.  Nothing looks better faced out than a cute pair of heels or a sleek pair of dress shoes BUT what about the running shoes?  We can tell you that they simply DO NOT work.

2.  Shoes that are facing in are easier to pull out when you need them however shoes facing out are easy to find when you are looking for a specific pair.

NEAT’s Conclusion:  We feel that unless you have the space for adjustable, wooden shelves in your walk-in closet, keep your shoes faced in.  Nothing looks worse than attempting the luxury look of a walk-in in the simplicity of a reach-in.  If you do have the space, place your prettiest shoes on those shelves and take your running and casual shoes and put them faced in on a separate shelving unit in the closet.  Not everyone can have the *dream* closet but you can make the closet you do have pretty unbelievable.

Stay tuned for some tips and photos of NEAT’s work in a reach-in.

*Photos found on www.decorpad.com*

Eliminate Clutter – We Mean Business!

Almost every client that NEAT works with has a pile of business cards that exceeds any filing method.  Even in our own homes, we find business cards hidden all over the place.  The problem is obviously the clutter it creates, but also if you ever needed to actually contact someone that gave you a business card, the chances are slim to none that you will ever find it…. until now….

This Phone App that we came across is an organizer’s dream come true!  Card Munch is currently only available on the iPhone however they are working on a blackberry app as we speak!  We will give you the Cliff Notes on this magical app:

1. Download the App : CardMunch and create a profile

2. Take photos of your business cards using your iPhone

3. Wait a few minutes for the app to read your business cards and voila! Your business cards are organized by name AND company!

4.  Share the business cards you have collected by touching the photo of the card and Card Munch will email it for you

5. Follow up with Business contacts by touching the “follow up” button

6. ALL of your cards are SAVED on the site ONLINE!!!!

We are completely certain that you will be as amazed by this app as we are but if you don’t believe us, we will let you in on a little secret…shhhhhh…. Linkedin just bought the app (that must mean they think it is pretty useful!)

You can thank us later.

Turning Nothing Into Something!

*Photo found on Realsimple.com

Although San Francisco’s beautiful historic homes have more charm than most, they certainly lack a modern girl’s closet and storage space.  When your closet is simply too small for…well…. anything, consider converting it into an inspiring office nook.  The wallpaper certainly gives the space a true personality but a great paint color would do the trick too  We ADORE the curtain idea so when guests are over, your office space disappears!

Simple Solutions for Your Kitchen

Lately, NEAT has been organizing many kitchens!  Our good friend Martha (friend is such an ambiguous word isn’t it) has some AMAZING quick kitchen fixes that we had to share with you!

This simple tray solves your barware stacking issues!  Our arch enemy is the martini/margarita glass – but this issue has been put aside thanks to this little problem solver

One time, the NEAT team watched “Hoarders”…. NEVER AGAIN!  The episode featured a woman who hoarded food and lost track of expiration dates!  (Seriously, nightmares for weeks) BUT let’s be honest, we all put things in the freezer and can’t remember how long they have been there…. Try using these ADORABLE stickers and don’t look back!

When NEAT organizes pots and pans in a client’s home, we always follow the rule, “tops on top, pans on the bottom.”  This usually helps our clients to create a routine that keeps the pans tidy and manageable.  This lid organizer is the perfect addition to our rule.  Consider NEAT’s rule amended!