Table of contents for Spring 2022 in BH&G Secrets of Getting Organized

A LITTLE LOVE YOU KNOW THE FEELING … THAT MOMENT WHEN EVERYTHING YOU TRULY NEED FITS PERFECTLY INTO ONE COMPACT SPACE. MAYBE YOU EXPERIENCED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME setting up a dollhouse or a dorm room or your first apartment. Your surroundings may have been tight, but your dreams were big! We chose all the stories in this issue because they gave us that oh-so-familiar thrill of a small space outfitted with super-smart storage solutions. Start by experiencing three ways to live the organized life in less than 1,000 square feet (“Home Tours,” page 18), then jump from chapter to chapter, digging into the nitty-gritty of optimizing a tiny living room, kitchen, bath, or bedroom. (Even if your home is spacious, we’re guessing you have at least one room…

KELLY KEISER HAS EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS IN JUST 564 SQUARE FEET. Her small-space tricks, which can be put into practice regardless of floor plan, begin with maximizing every inch and using rooms in creative ways. Specifically, she carved a cozy bedroom out of a closet and established a compact office in one corner of the living room. Kelly also selects furniture that can serve multiple roles: Customized wardrobes hold clothing in the kitchen nook and a fold-down kitchen table with casters moves to the living room as a bar or work space. To keep things neat, the designer is discriminating about what she brings into her home. “I have to be thoughtful about what I add—only the design samples I’m currently working on, only clothes I truly need,” Kelly says.…

A FORMAL DINING ROOM MAY NO LONGER BE ESSENTIAL, BUT IT’S STILL NICE TO HAVE A DEDICATED SPACE FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO GATHER AND SHARE MEALS. If your home is short on square footage, you’ll need to get creative to maximize seating and storage within a small footprint. Some ideas: Push a bench against the wall, then add a rounded table and chairs that are easy to move in and out. Add a cozy corner nook or expand your kitchen island countertop to create an eating area for hungry kids. Mount a long shelf to the wall, then add chairs for a dining area that takes just inches of space. Remember, the more uncluttered the space, the bigger it will look—so smart storage is key. Wall-mounted shelves or banquettes…

ATTICS REPRESENT UNIQUE DESIGN CHALLENGES, MOST NOTABLY SLANTED CEILINGS, VENTILATION OBSTRUCTIONS, AND AWKWARD LAYOUTS. But with careful planning and thoughtful design choices, you can claim your attic as living space without the expense of an addition. This once-unfinished attic embraced its limitations and worked with the existing footprint to become a relaxing suite full of smart storage solutions. Built-ins form the backbone of the space and offer a cohesive design element throughout. In the sleeping area, cabinets frame a large window and create ample storage and display spots. The room’s closet is divided into two zones—one for hanging clothes and another for folded items. Smart storage continues in the bathroom, where a spa-like aesthetic conceals its hardworking elements. A stacking washer/dryer and a mini office bring functionality at the top…

DANA ARKINZADEH Dana Arkinzadeh, a Certified Professional Organizer and Certified Senior Move Manager, has been organizing seniors and families since 2002 with her company, DMA Organizing & Moves. They provide senior move management, downsizing, decluttering, and general home organizing services. Their nonjudgmental, supportive approach makes the process both efficient and enjoyable. DANA ARKINZADEH, CPO, SMM-C, DMA ORGANIZING & MOVES; BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA; DMAORGANIZING.COM SHARON LOWENHEIM Sharon Lowenheim is a Certified Professional Organizer in New York City specializing in solutions for small spaces. Sharon founded Organizing Goddess Inc. in 2006 after a 25-year career with three of the world’s largest corporations. A native New Yorker, she has spent a lifetime developing techniques for living happily and comfortably in apartments. Sharon is currently the treasurer on the Board of Directors of the National…

WHAT IS RIGHTSIZING, AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM DOWNSIZING? WENDY BUGLIO Downsizing usually refers to someone who is letting go of some amount of stuff to fit into a smaller space. When I think about rightsizing, I think about making the amount of stuff you own fit into the space you have and fit the current goals you have for the space. It’s not necessarily about having less space, but it’s about using the space that you have better. SHARON LOWENHEIM The goal of downsizing is to have less stuff. The goal of rightsizing is to ensure that all the stuff that one owns is used and valued. The end result might be the same. Rightsizing usually leads to downsizing, but it’s about getting your stuff down to the…

WITH A BABY ON THE WAY, KIERA AND MICHAEL KUSHLAN KNEW THEY WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR ONE-BEDROOM, 750-SQUARE-FOOT APARTMENT AND FIND A NEW PLACE THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE THEIR GROWING FAMILY. Their search led them to a two-bedroom, 1,175-square-foot apartment in a handsome pre-World War I structure on a picturesque street. But the dwelling was low on storage and devoid of character. “Over the years it had been gutted of all historic qualities,” says Kiera, who co-owns the D.C. interior design firm Residents Understood. As soon as the couple closed on their new home, Kiera began a top-to-bottom renovation focused on bringing the 100-year-old residence back to its former glory while adding storage and making the space more efficient for family living. The home’s overall footprint remained the same, but…

ON THE COVER Interior design—Kiera Kushlan, Residents Understood, Washington, D.C.; info@residentsunderstood; residentsunderstood.com. Runner—Dash & Albert, an Annie Selke company; annieselke.com. Ceiling light—Schoolhouse; schoolhouse.com. Pages 18–19 HOME TOURS OPENER Paint Arugula SW 6446—The Sherwin-Williams Co., sherwin-williams.com [P]. Stool Kacia Tri end table—EQ3; eq3.com. Rug Distressed Persian Style Hazel area rug in Rust and Gold—World Market; worldmarket.com. Wall-mounted hooks XAOHAO, door handle Emtek Contemporary Tubular entry set, Lausanne Style with round knob, lighting Forma wall sconces in Brushed Brass from Linea di Liara—Amazon; amazon.com. Purse and scarf—Target; target.com. Baskets Better Homes & Gardens Collection® plant baskets, mirror Better Homes & Gardens Collection® Gold 28-inch round wall mirror—Walmart; walmart.com. Pages 20–25 ROOM TO GROW Interior design—Kiera Kushlan, Residents Understood, Washington, D.C.; info@residentsunderstood; residentsunderstood.com. Pages 20–21: Runner—Dash & Albert, an Annie Selke company; annieselke.com. Ceiling light—Schoolhouse; schoolhouse.com. Leather chair—Dwell; dwell.com. Pages 22–23:…

LIFE IS FULL OF TRADE-OFFS, AND THAT’S OK WITH THE MOYSA FAMILY. Geoff, Bri, Greyson, and Emerson gladly gave up a bigger house, a second bathroom, and extra closet space to buy a 1,008-square-foot condo near the beach. “Southern California is crazy expensive,” Bri says. “We can’t see ourselves too far from the ocean, and with that location comes an expense. Do we move inland and get more house for our money, or do we stay here and make it work? We chose to stay and make it work.” Bri, a professional interior stylist, ingeniously utilizes every square foot. To start, she embraced minimalism, both as a way of life and as a design aesthetic. Cutting down on clutter imparts a serene attitude, as do Bri’s signature neutrals (grays, black,…

PROBLEMS ■ Products were stored wherever space was available in this tall cabinet. ■ Items became lost in the back of deep pantry shelves, leading to duplicate purchases. ■ Frequently used spices and oils were stored too far from the cooktop, which was on the other side of the kitchen. SOLUTIONS GROUPING PRODUCTS BY TASK, SUCH AS MAKING BREAKFAST OR BAKING, CAN BRING NEW EFFICIENCY TO A PANTRY—AND FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE BETTER. To that end, professional organizer Yvette Clay of Living Order Austin (see her bio in “Meet the Pros,” page 92) suggested homeowners Kelly and Tim Reilly first sort the contents of their petite cabinet-style pantry. They removed everything, checked dates (tossing expired items), and grouped the remaining products into four categories that made sense to them: breakfast, baking,…

PROBLEMS ■ Grooming products stayed in disarray on the counter after use. ■ A too-small shelving unit in the space below the sink did not take full advantage of the available storage area. ■ The vanity did not accommodate towels or bulk purchases. SOLUTIONS “ORGANIZED CHAOS”—that’s how Erin Nanke described the double vanity she shares with her husband, Kent, before project designer Cathy Kramer got involved. After Erin pitched expired products and seldom-used items, she prioritized what remained based on their use. Kramer then laid out a plan for style updates and organizing improvements. She added wall-mount shelves near Erin’s sink for high-priority hair-care and contact lens supplies. Kent’s products were awarded space in the medicine cabinet. A three-drawer storage unit (for her), a two-drawer unit (for surplus storage), and…

ONE-WALL WONDER This utility room features as much function as many rooms twice its size. Here’s how to copy the look. 1 WORK SURFACE Adding a countertop above the washer and dryer provides a handy spot for folding—and can work for ironing with a heatproof pad. 2 HANGING SPACE A tension rod set up between cabinets holds clean clothes ready to be taken to closets. 3 STYLISH STORAGE Glass canisters contain decanted laundry cleaners, making them part of the decor. Above, matching baskets hold stain treatments and mending supplies. RESOURCES BEGIN ON PAGE 94.…