How To: Clear The Clutter.

Sometimes tackling a messy situation can be overwhelming. You just don't know where to start. I feel your pain! Here are the simple steps I followed yesterday that make clearing the clutter a manageable process.

1. Pinpoint the specific problem. For me, it was clearing out all my purses. For you, it might be the pile of God-knows-what on your kitchen island. By clearly stating the problem, you can create an attainable goal. And in doing so, you're setting yourself up for success. And that feels good! Success will encourage you to tackle other clutter areas in your life.

2. Organize the things you want to keep. Sort like objects into piles. Putting things away will be much easier, thanks to this step.

3. Throw it away! I have a tendency to keep things because I feel I might need them someday. Example: I've been lugging around the same salon menu in my purse for over a year. If I haven't needed it yet, chances are I never will. And if I do, there is this handy dandy little thing called the internet where I'm sure I'll find a more up-to-date version.

Everything is a compromise. You need to decide which is more important. For me, having an organized purse was more important than hanging on to the menu. You'll need to decide for yourself.

Although my purse situation did not warrant such measures, donate unwanted belongings to charity. Many organizations accept everything under the sun, including clothes, bedding, office supplies, toys, home decor items, and even unused toiletries. Clear the clutter and help others. What could be better!

4. Create an organized system to stay clean. I decided to keep belongings in small pouches within my bag. This way I can switch out the pouches easily from purse to purse and can keep my bag organized. I also assigned a drawer near our front door to house all my purse essentials. This way I can choose a different bag everyday and am not lazily grabbing for the same old bag just because all my things are in it.

Also very important: Set up an effective system, but make sure it's beautiful. The more you like looking at your organizing system, the more you'll use it. Above I lined the drawer with a vintage tie dyed fabric and used this ikat bowl to hold my lipgloss. Convenient and pretty!

Well I hope this helps motivate some of you out there! I'm using the month of February to clear the clutter. A perfect time as I unpack all these boxes filled with things I managed to live without for over six months. I think I'll be rereading this post often over the next month!

Dirty Little Secret.

Can I admit something to you guys? I'm messy at heart.

I spend a lot of time helping clients establish effective and beautiful systems for managing their clutter. Yet for some crazy reason I don't heed my own advice.

My purses take the brunt of the abuse here (also my car, but we'll save that for another day and a much longer post :) ). I use the same bag everyday for a few months straight, and you can only image the junk that collects in a designers bag. Every paint chip under the sun, fabric clippings, magazine tear sheets, and this is all in addition to the normal girlie stuff. Bobby pins, lip gloss, random business cards, etc. When I decide to switch-up my arm candy and commit to a new regular, I only transfer the absolute essentials: drivers license, credit cards, and keys. Everything else remains piled in the bottom of the bag, not to be seen again for a very long time.

Until this morning that is. I decided to tackle every half-full bag and get this mess straightened out once and for all. And can I tell you what I found?!

Some really great stuff I had legitimately forgotten I owned (I'm talking to you, Bobbi Brown Bright Pink Lip Gloss)

Lots of trash, mainly receipts and no-longer-necessary paperwork.

And finally and most importantly, the realization that I feel so much lighter now! Both literally and figuratively. And boy, does it feel good!

I took inventory and decided to put everything I use regularly in small pouches separated by category. Work supplies (paint deck, measuring tape, etc.) fill one. Gift cards and store reward cards fill another. Cosmetics fill another as well. This way I can keep my purse organized. And when it comes time to switch purses, changing out a few small pouches is much more manageable that dealing with a bag full of loose, random objects.

And now that I thoroughly embarrassed myself....Happy Hump Day.

But honestly, my motivation for sharing this not-so-fun personal fact was first to help myself. Thought process: By publicly humiliating myself it will hopefully keep me on the right track. I'll keep the purse situation under control and continue to address other dusty little corners of my life.

And secondly, I hope it helps you guys! I'm sure some of you are laughing at this post thinking, "Honestly? Do people really have this problem?" because you spic-n-span ladies don't have this issue. And kudos to you! Really. But I do know from personal experience and visiting lots of client homes, many people struggle with clutter issues.

So there, I hope you found this post helpful. And if not, I hope you enjoyed the pretty pictures of all things girlie. Feel free to leave any little bits of advice that help you stay neat and organized. I'd love to hear and I'm sure other readers would love to as well!

Come On In: Michael Haney and Brooke Cundiff Via The Selby.

Doesn't this home feel so welcoming?

Almost familiar, in a way. As if you've been there.

The neutral color palette with shots of saturated hue

might be responsible for my gravitation to this NYC space,

owned by Michael Haney and Brooke Cundiff.

The style is clean, but collected enough to feel cozy.

It seems they've included all the right accessories to prove a life well-lived,

yet left out all else.

And there's certainly no denying the fact that Todd Selby has a knack

for making his readers feel as if they are the one

heading step after step deeper into a new friend's place.

The guy is good.

Such a great way to decorate,

especially for those who like to mix things up often.

I've said it before. I'll say it again.

By keeping the shell neutral,

you can incorporate colorful objects of any shade seamlessly.

Happy Monday Lovelies!

Friday I'm In Love: Choosing A Wedding Band.

Today's wedding update isn't about design. It's all about the music. Jason and I sat down Wednesday night with some wine and a long list of Michigan bands. We're looking for a fun band that plays a pretty solid mix of oldies peppered with some nineties classics and a few new covers, too.

We listened to tons of Michigan bands on this website and narrowed it down to a few we're considering. Hopefully these bands are all available on our date (fingers crossed)!

We would love any and all advice on choosing an awesome wedding band!

Tidbits friends told you when you were choosing a band for the special day?

Something you would do differently if you could do it again?

Anyone live in Michigan and know of a great band?

I'm all ears! Let the sharing begin!

This Breakfast Nook Is So Me.

And here are the reasons why....

Yup. Sums it up pretty well.

P.S. After writing this post, I caught up on some of my favorites in Blogland and saw that Miss Bri very recently stressed the importance of creating a personalized color scheme for your blog. I've been thinking about this a. lot. ever since Blogshop and am definitely seeing some patterns develop. Can you say tomato red, inky navy blue, cognac, black and white, gold, light blue gray, and fresh spring green?

Image via My Pinterest

Defining Personal Style.

Since the renovation phase is quickly approaching an end at the house, I'm starting to focus on decor. I want to nail this portion of the process and include every little detail I've always dreamt of living amongst. There's nothing like being surrounded by things you truly love on a daily basis. One of life's greatest luxuries, as far as I'm concerned.

But I don't think I'm alone when I say this, it can be hard to figure out just what to include and what to leave out! In this day in age we are exposed to so many versions of pretty. With blogs and tumblr sites galore, our sense of style can become slightly diluted. I find myself saying "I love that" to stark white modern spaces and seconds later to a perfect example of more-is-more.

While my likes clearly run the style gamut, I need to separate what I like from what I love, and further from what I truly cannot live without. I've boiled it down to some inspiration images that are so "me." You know, the images you see and have an immediate connection with. They include specifics from color, to accessories, to fabrics, to furniture layouts that I dearly love and feel are a strong representation of me and my style. I admire individuals with a strong sense of self and defined personal style and am working very hard to create a home that friends and family will walk into and say (aside from being well decorated and beautiful), "It's so you!"

Over the next few days I want to share some of my favorite "me" images I've loved for a long time. Let's start with the bedroom.

I start with white bedding, almost always.

I love crisp white linens for the basics.

Think duvet, pillows, and sometimes sheets too.

Then I like to add color or pattern.

This can be done through decorative pillows,

maybe a long punchy boudoir in front of the main pillows.

Or I'll throw a colorful blanket across the bottom of the bed.

I like a touch of brass in almost every space I decorate.

The gold hue works well with tons of colors,

and is enhanced especially by so many of the colors I love working with.

It doesn't fight saturated colors but rather blends with the whole quite well.

I love nature.

There's something so beautiful about bringing a bit of the outdoors in.

Whether it's as subtle as a vase of fresh flowers or as in your face as climbing vine wallpaper,

I'm drawn to spaces with a nod to Mother Nature.

This one kind of encapsulates it all.

Basic whites. Ethnic Pattern (and a stripe!!). Aged Brass.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

For years I claimed blue was my least favorite color.

Interestingly enough, it's one of my favorite colors to use in design.

The right warm blue acts as a neutral in my mind and can take on so many colors really well.

In the space above, blue is the perfect backdrop for every hue-

beige, grays, mustardy yellow, black, white and even blush pink and bright red.

I love this palette.

Stripes are a real favorite of mine. They get me every time.

Crisp without being stark, stripes add a graphic element that works well in nearly every space.

They are classic and fresh at the same time.

What are some design elements that are "so you"?

Any that pop up over and over again in your house or client projects?

One of my favorite things about decorating is the endless possibilities for the same space.

A room can be done so many different ways.

It's really fun to see a client space come together

by including things they truly love and elements that are very "them".

images via My Pinterest

Friday I'm In Love.

Loyal readers, you've known about our exciting news since November.

But for you newbies out there, it's true! Jason and I are getting married.

The big day is just over five months away,

so planning has taken over much of my time and many of my pins.

I'd love to share our plans for the big day...

Decor for the reception. Fashion for the bridal party.

Personal touches we will add to make the day more special.

Design boards for little things like Save The Dates (above).

What are your thoughts? Would like in on all the lovely little details?