In the News

December 31, 2009

Giving clutter the heave-ho

Most of interior expert Patricia Mackay's cases involve redesigning a room to make it new and more functional or tossing out large items like furniture to create space.

But there are some clients who need a little more help. She remembers one retired couple who had books piled from the floor to the ceiling in every room of their home.

In another, a grand piano and other bulky pieces of furniture blocked doorways and made it tough to even get around.

"That was a tough one to make headway because they didn't want to get rid of those items," says Mackay, who owns and runs Newark-based Interiors Revisited. "As people get older, it becomes hard for them to part with these possessions."

She's talking about clutter, and clutter doesn't discriminate by age, race or any other societal categorization.

It also just so happens to make it onto almost everybody's top 10 New Year's resolutions list.

With the green movement still going strong, Mackay and other organizing experts are big on giving items away -- or recycling them -- rather than throwing them away.

Books that you don't read can be given to a local library. Dated or unused electrical appliances like TVs, stereos or kitchen products can be donated to Goodwill or other secondhand shops, or left at recycling centers that take such items.

Same with clothes and jewelry -- give them away to a second-hand store or a family member or friend, says Mackay, who will hold a public seminar called "Downsizing Your Home: What to Pack and What to Part With," on Jan. 9 at Newark Free Library.

In November, Mackay helped husband and wife Beth Morling and Darrin Pochan redecorate the family room in their Landenberg, Pa., home. While clutter wasn't an issue, Mackay helped the couple repurpose furniture and maximize space, which ensured nothing was thrown away and wasted.

"You're not buying anything new, you're not producing anything new. And if you donate your old stuff, you're not making anyone buy anything new," Morling says. "It's healthy for the planet and for your wallet. I'd much rather do that than put it in the landfill. And then other people can use it."

This strategy might not work now that the holiday season has passed and caused a present explosion all over the house, but it's a good way to kick off 2010. Before any new toys come into the house, try and get some new ones out of there, Mackay says.

"Anything they haven't played with, they have to donate it," she says. "You just can't keep bringing it in."

Professional organizer Sue Frost describes herself as a minimalist who pushes her clients to think about what they have before they buy something identical, causing duplication and therefore more clutter.

"As you're making your shopping list, look through the pantry. Look where you keep the batteries," says Frost, who owns Organize My Life, a Wilmington-based company that caters to women. "Sometimes you realize you don't need that."

The other danger, Frost says, is the impulse buy. If you want to limit the amount of clutter that comes into the house, hit the department store armed with the things that you need in the back of your head, she says.

Frost likes to throw out the rules for her clients, but one she wants them to live by is if you're going to buy something new, you need to go home and make room for it first.

According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, we use 20 percent of what's in our closet.

"If you need to replace a pair of black shoes, and you see the best dress on sale, think about it overnight," she says. "There's certain questions to ask: Where's it going to go? Can I afford it?"

Another question worth asking is why did this happen in the first place. Frost thinks people of a certain age -- who were raised by Depression-era babies -- have a tendency to hold on to things because they might be able to use it for something. There's also members of what Frost calls the sandwich generation, people who are starting to care for their parents while they're also caring for their kids. These folks simply run out of time to care for clutter because their lives are so busy.

Whatever it is, Frost says, it isn't hoarding.

Hoarding is an obsessive-compulsive disorder. Most of Frost's clients suffer from what she calls "chronic disorganization."

"They're super-busy women," Frost says. "We have much more going on in our lives than our mothers did."

Mackay agrees.

"If you've got areas of your home that's full of clutter, that's cluttering up your life," she says. "That's going to affect the way we live."

A more important question than why clutter happens is how do we get started with the process of eliminating it. Mackay says we should start with baby steps, taking 15 minutes a day to put things away and dealing with minor items like the mail that comes in.

"It's actually dealing with the stuff as it comes into the house," Mackay says. "It's making your bed every morning, putting your clothes away at night."

Time management is also key, Frost says. People should actually schedule routine activities like household chores and exercising, she says. "Because the time never magically appears," Frost says. "You don't have the time unless you make the time."

ORGANIZING TIPS

Sue Frost of Organize My Life (690-2144) offered her top 10 ways to get clutter out of your life in 2010.

1. Pick a time of day when you have the most energy, use that time for tasks that require the most "oomph."

2. Organize one room at a time instead of doing a little in each room. You will see a difference faster. Plus, it's easier to maintain order in an organized space.

3. Break large projects down into small tasks. Start with organizing the top of your dresser, and then tackle one drawer at a time. Ultimately, the entire room will be finished.

4. Avoid time wasters like answering e-mail throughout the day. Turn off the sound indicating that you have mail. Designate two time slots to return messages. Try 8 to 8:15 a.m. and 7 to 7:30 p.m.

5. The easier it is to store and retrieve items the more likely you are to stay organized. Store things where you will use them. Set up workstations such as a drawer for all baking material or a gift wrapping center.

6. Keep an ongoing to-do list and use it religiously. Move items from your to-do list to your calendar. (Use one calendar for both work and social engagements to avoid overlapping appointments.)

7. Scrutinize everything in your closet. Unless it's an outfit for special occasions, if you haven't used it in over a year pass it on. Weeding out your closet makes your morning so much easier. This has a huge impact on your entire day.

8. Schedule 15 minutes to pick up every evening. Everyone in the house should help to pick things up and return stray items to their proper place. Set age-appropriate goals for little ones, play music, give awards for most efficient, and make it fun.

9. Instead of trying to "find" time for necessary tasks, reduce stress by scheduling those tasks.

10. Be mindful of overextending yourself. Remember your New Year's resolutions for 2010 before saying yes to new projects. Learn to say no, or if appropriate, not now.

PURGE LIST

Interior expert Patricia Mackay of Interiors Revisited (766-0049; interiorsrevisited@gmail.com) offered the following suggestions for items that must go.

• Items that are broken, worn, outdated or uncomfortable, other than antiques.

• Furniture that is too large for your new space.

• Any kitchen item that you have doubles of, or any appliance that you do not use.

• Dishes and glassware that are chipped, cracked or not in complete sets.

• Throw out any books and magazines that are not in good shape, and donate others that you do not want to your local library.

• Dated or nonworking electrical items, including audio visual equipment.

• Items of clothing/shoes/bags that do not fit or that you have not worn in two years.

• Go through jewelry and give away items to family or sell gold items to a jeweler.

• Artwork that you no longer enjoy or artwork that is in inexpensive frames.

• Keep only your best linens.

Contact Peter Bothum at 324-2885 or pbothum@delawareonline.com.

February 16, 2009

Patricia Mackay of Interiors Revisited Named “Gold Member” Of the Nationally Known Interior Redecorators Network®

Contributed by Trish Mackay

Trish Mackay of Interiors Revisited, a New Castle Delaware Interior Refining company, has been named a “Gold Member” of the Interior Redecorators Network®, the preeminent organization of one-day redecorators who provide affordable, professional, quality decorating help to the public by working with them to transform their homes in hours by using what they own.

The announcement came from Lauri Ward, Use-What-You-Have Interiors® (UWYH) president and founder. Well-known designer and best-selling author, Ward revolutionized the interior design business in 1981 with a simple idea: using what people already have in their home as the foundation to create a fresher, updated, more elegant look, without spending a lot of money. All members of the Interior Redecorators Network®, have been trained and certified as Interior Redecorators™ by Ward, in the popular Use What You Have Decorating system seen on Oprah, CBS News, TODAY and shows on Fox, Discovery and HGTV.

In presenting the award, Ward said that Mackay was one of only 30 recipients. There are certified Interior Redecorators™ in more than one hundred cities across the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Scandinavia. The organization has been featured in, among other publications, USA Today and the Chicago Tribune.
“Our “Gold Members” are the shining stars of the IRN organization. These outstanding redecorators exemplify the ideals of the IRN by their hard work and by their commitment to their professional growth. In order to qualify for IRN Gold Member status, these individuals must meet set criteria which include pursuing continuing education, as well demonstrating an exceptional level of service.”

The company specializes in affordable, flat fee, by-the-room refinements as well as a variety of services that include: Color Consultations, Art and Accessory Refinements™ Downsizing or Moving Refinements™ and its popular Resale-Ready™ service that assists homeowners who are trying to sell their residences more quickly and for higher prices.

For more information about Interiors Revisited and its services, call 302-766-0049 or visit www.interiorsrevisited.com. For infomation about the Interior Redecorators Network, visit www.interiorRedecorators.com.

First Interior Redecorator in Delaware

Contributed by Patricia McKay

Interiors Revisited has relocated from East Lansing, MI to Newark, DE and will now offer Use-What-You-Have Interiors-style decorating consultations using the innovative principles and techniques first developed by Lauri Ward, Use-What-You-Have Decorating. Emphasizing “expert redecoration without new investment”, certified Interior Redecorators in more than 100 cities across the United States use existing furniture and accessories to give clients’ homes a great new look in just one day.

During these challenging times the services of Interiors Revisited bring the residents of Newark and Wilmington a proven, money-saving way to redo their homes using what they already have.

Services offered by Mackay include one-day, flat-rate makeovers for home or office; rearrangement of furniture and accessories; the creation of a detailed design plan that includes paint, lighting, window treatments, flooring, furnishings, art and accessories; and home staging for resale.

For information call Patricia Mackay, Interiors Revisited on (302) 766-0049, email interiorsrevisited@gmail.com or www.interiorsrevisited.com. Member, New Castle Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the Interior Redecorators Network or Use-What-You-Have Interiors, log on to www.redecorate.com or call 800-WE-USE-IT.

Newark Interior Redecorator Participates in National Conference

Contributed by Trish Mckay

Patricia Mackay of Interiors Revisited, attended the 7th annual conference of the Interior Redecorators Network® (IRN) in Cleveland Oct. 14-17.

The nationally recognized organization of one-day redecorators provide affordable, professional, quality decorating help to the public by transforming homes in hours by using what homeowners already own. The organization has been featured in publications including USA Today and the Chicago Tribune.

Mackay earned certification credits in:

• Hot Design Trends on the Horizon,
  
• The Importance of Good Lighting.

All members of the IRN have been trained and certified as Interior Redecorators® by its founder, best-selling author, Lauri Ward, in the groundbreaking Use What You Have Decorating System®. The IRN uses what clients already own to create comfortable, functional and attractive living spaces in hours. The system’s principles have been devised and perfected over more than 25 years of successful Interior Refinement® consultations in thousands of homes across the U.S.

Services offered by Interiors Revisited include one-day, flate-rate makeovers for home or office; rearrangement of furniture and accessories; the creation of a detailed design plan that includes paint, lighting, window treatments, flooring, furnishings, art and accessories; downsizing your home and home staging for resale.

For information call Patricia Mackay, Interiors Revisited (302) 766-0049, email interiorsrevisited@gmail.com or www.interiorsrevisited.com. Member New Castle Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the Interior Redecorators Network®, visit www.interiorredecorators.com.