Home organizing essentials

It’s back to school for the kids, and the need to keep things at home organized has never been greater. To stay ahead of the game, I’ve asked the De-Clutter Coach Moreen Torpy to share some easy organizing tips. This is what she has to say:

September can be the beginning of a new year, along with January, for very different reasons. In January, we make resolutions to improve our interior lives, while in September, we tend to think more about our external lives and how to make them easier. Here are three simple ways you can do this without investing your entire RRSP in the project:

Papers:

Your children will soon start bringing these home from school or their extra-curricular activities so…

- Set up a file or box for each child and keep in a convenient place so your child can access it and add papers to it himself or herself. 

- Check that file or box daily to deal with anything new that has arrived. There may be forms and requests that must be dealt with in a short time frame. 

- Ensure your child takes back the necessary forms by the deadline with whatever needs to go with it.

Technology—small stuff:

Charge your cell phone, Blackberry, etc. and keep your countertops clear of charging cords by setting up a Technology Garage. Create one with a pretty box or covered basket with holes cut in the back to thread the cords through. The phones etc. can be placed in the box and plugged in without creating clutter. Plug in your devices every night so that they will always be charged and ready when you need them.

Mail:

- Drop into your recycle bin anything you won’t need when you pick up your mail. Shred anything with your name on it to protect your identity. 

- Place mail needing your attention into a dedicated box or basket in a convenient place so you can deal with it at a specified time. For example, if you normally pay your bills at the beginning or middle of the month, that would be your guideline. Setting up this kind of schedule will prevent having piles of miscellaneous incoming mail strewn about, yet what you need will always be organized for your attention.

By implementing these three tips, you will create a more peaceful environment in a sometimes chaotic life. And that’s certainly something to aspire to! Happy organizing!

Moreen Torpy is the De-Clutter Coach, a Trained Professional Organizer and Author. Let’s Get Organized: 172 tiplets to simplify life is her first published work. See www.decluttercoach.ca to subscribe to Let’s Get Organized, her monthly e-zine and purchase the booklet. Watch for her new book Moving Forward: Downsizing, Moving and Settling In that will be available soon.

Fabulous fall fabrics

Dwell Studio fabrics for the modern home. 

Be inspired by fabrics this fall! They are ideal as jumping-off points for a complete colour scheme. Or they can serve as a bold statement in an otherwise neutral environment. My hunt for inspiring fall fabrics took me to Stewart's Decorating Centre in North Bay. When browsing through their recently arrived product line from Dwell Studio, I knew I had to look no further. These fabrics make me happy! Dwell Studio has teamed up with Robert Allen on a line of modern and elegant fabrics that will breathe new life into any space. Just have a look at the beauties below. You can buy them by the yard (minimum half a yard) at Stewart's. And yes, there’s a lot of mustard this season.

This graphic print almost looks three
dimensional.. Check out the pillow below.
The print comes in a range of colours.

Botanical print in muted colours.

Another fantastic print from Dwell,
available at Stewart's.

Why not frame a piece of this big

print and use it as artwork?

Depending on what you combine this

print with, it can read as either traditional

or modern.

Black and white prints make a strong, modern statement. How do you like these?

Dwell Studio for Robert Allen. Also

available in grey.

Robert Allen Home.

Dwell Studio for Robert Allen.

A rich violet velvet gives a cozy, warm

feeling. Perfect for the fall! Robert Allen

Home.

Lush velvet in grey from Dwell Studio's 

collection. 

Striped fabrics works for every season. 

They lend a slightly casual feel and are 

clean and elegant at the same time. Nautica 

collection from Robert Allen Home.

Trellis prints are another beautiful classic. This

one comes in a range of colour options. Robert

Allen Home.

Online inspiration for your projects

    To travel can also be a big source of 

    inspiration. I always bring my camera 

    wherever I go. Often I don't have to 

    travel far. This gallery of art tiles, for 

    example, is from a store in Huntsville. 

    It reminds me that there is strength 

    in numbers and that you can mix motifs 

    pretty liberally as long as there is one or 

    two unifying features; in this case the size 

    and shape of the tiles.

Don't fret about summer soon being over. Start planning some fun interior design projects for your home instead! These sites will help you turn your interior dreams into a reality:

Houzz features over 150,000 inspiring photos of environments created by design professionals. Search by category and start putting together your own ideabooks. 

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets you save decorating ideas, recipies and beautiful things that you find on the web. It’s also helpful if you’re planning a major event which you want input from friends and family on.

Evernote allows you to save pages and images from internet, your own photos and written notes. You can add tags to easily identify trends within your choices.

Mydeco has a free 3D design software program, and tools to help you create moodboards, bookmark images from the web and decorate a photo.

Shabby chic in Bracebridge

Introduce colour by painting the drawers 

of an old dresser in contrasting hues. 

Simply Cottage.

Make sure to stop in Bracebridge the next time you're heading south. This quaint little summer city in the heart of Muskoka, offers both beautiful views and interesting stores. Lovers of the shabby chic look will discover a mecca in Simply Cottage. Here you'll find a mix of casual cottage chic and Canadiana. Two floors are loaded with slip-covered sofas and chairs, heirloom pieces, painted wood furniture and funky accessories. Everything with tons of style! Another must on Bracebridge's main street (actually Manitoba Street) is Your Home Interiors. This store is filled with French-inspired antique-style furniture and home décor with lots of charm. Don't miss it! Check out some of the highlights from my explorations in Bracebridge.

Slip-covered dining chair in a pale,

light-blue shade at Simply Cottage. 

Look how well the slipcover works 

with the white table. Isn't the turned 

leg on the table absolutely gorgeous?

Here is the pale blue again, this time striped on a cozy

couch. Simply Cottage.

How unique; the top of this table resembles 

a flower. Simply Cottage.

These fun storage bags come in a wide

range of fabric options.

A new use for old board games: 

display a collection of them on the 

wall for a cheery pop of colour. 

Simply Cottage.

Red side table with a folkloric vibe.
Simply Cottage.

Find your perfect sign at Simply Cottage.

And below are some images from Your

Home Interiors. Make sure to check out

the store's Facebook page for more 

beautiful pics.

The intricate ornamentation makes this piece a 

showstopper. Your Home Interiors.

Beautifully carved fireplace mantel. 

See detail below.

A vignette filled with shapes; the chunky 

candleholders and sculptural vases contrast 

nicely with the more delicate table.

Shiny tin vases for some bling. 

McQueen's Furniture - a family affair

Furniture runs in the family! This is certainly true for the owners of this family-owned and operated store. With over 135 years of combined experience in the furniture business, the owners of McQueen's Furniture are clearly veterans. In addition to furniture, you'll also find accessories, bedding, fireplaces and appliances in any of McQueen's stores in Sudbury, North Bay and Espanola. Have a look at some of my favourites from the North Bay store:

This mirror rocks! It has

everything going for it:

the size, the shape and

the bling! And the mirror

frame is so slick - see 

below.

The frame consists of small, pebble-shaped 

mirrors that provide additional interest and

reflection. 

I like the shape and wooden texture

on these candleholders. Grouped in

three they make for an interesting,

decorative vignette.

Sturdy wooden bowls with a beautiful, clean

design.

As with the wooden candleholders above, 

your stoneware should also be displayed 

in groups of three or more for maximum 

impact. These pieces have a rustic appeal.

Dramatic, yet peaceful artwork.

I'm very fond of sculptural

lamps like these two...

...and how about this one?

It will reflect light both 

from the inside and the 

outside.

Try banquettes around the dinner table!

Combined with chairs, they look elegant 

and sleek.

Upholstered chairs are perfect for lingering dinner

parties. This set has a simple, yet sophisticated 

design. It was perhaps not the intention of the

showroom designer, but I actually think the two

upholstery options can be combined around the

same table. Especially if you want a fun, modern 

feel, and if the colours of the fabrics are repeated 

elsewhere in the room.

Avoid sharp corners with a round coffee table.

Consider one with a glass top - such as this 

one - if your space is tight and otherwise filled 

with heavier pieces. 

Lovers of black-and-white will probably find this 

dresser quite effective. They might also like the 

glass vase below.

Summer sauna taking shape

Our long-awaited sauna is complete - at least on paper! With careful preparation and lots of work, it will hopefully be ready by the end of the summer. Tucked away between pine trees and with a prime view of the lake, it will be a desired place for late summer evenings. Designing a sauna is a bit like designing the interior of a boat; a lot of function has to fit into a limited space. Challenging! And while the actual sauna leaves little room for decorative embellishments, the adjacent change room is more flexible in this regard. This, of course, triggers the imagination of a design enthusiast like myself; I can already envision the room's white-washed walls, blue towels neatly piled up on a shelf, and little lantern in the window, telling visitors that the heat is on...

Stay tuned for pictures and stories as the building takes shape!