• home
  • about
  • services
    • apartmentjeanie
    • photojeanie
    • partyjeanie
    • closetjeanie
    • happy home
  • galleries
    • apartment
    • photo
    • party
  • testimonials
  • press
  • blog
  • get started

Clutter and Chaos: How to Control It

December 17, 2018 by jeanie Leave a Comment

Clutter is Just Delayed Decision Making Not opening the mail upon receipt, not properly filing paperwork, or leaving laundry out are all examples of delayed decisions. These delayed decisions manifest into clutter and chaos. Decision making is a skill that can be learned. And just like golf, some of us are naturally gifted and others have to ... read more

Filed Under: apartmentjeanie, closetjeanie, how-to, lifestyle, partyjeanie Tagged With: #clutter, apartmentjeanie, declutter, delayed decisions, events, holidays, hosting, laundry, mail, monday, motivate, motivational monday, organization, organize, paper, piles, prep

search

browse by category

  • apartmentjeanie
  • closetjeanie
  • how-to
  • lifestyle
  • partyjeanie
  • photojeanie
  • travel
  • Uncategorized
Tweets by @apartmentjeanie
Visit Ronit Abraham Delson's profile on Pinterest.
“When I met Jeanie my apartment looked like an episode of hoarders - all my belongings were in bags in closets and my apartment was a mess. She is an angel sent to me. She guided, encouraged and reassured me while rearranging my furniture in a way I never would. I am so happy - Jeanie literally changed my life!”- Jill Land

subscribe & save with a monthly visit from the jeanie of your choice! learn more

“With a firm but gentle hand Jeanie guided me through deciding what should stay and what should go and then she swiftly organized everything! In one afternoon she did what I was unable to accomplish in 3 years. Plus, so much more! Money well spent is an understatement!”-Wendy Goldberg

from the blog

  • Bookworm Organizational Tips
  • Working with vertical space
  • Over The Rainbow
  • what’s happening in nyc this week!
  • through the lens of a professional organizer

get in touch

now is the time
email info@photojeanie.com
call (917) 828-7197

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

apartmentjeanie

It’s never too late to make-up for all the items It’s never too late to make-up for all the items you never ✨really✨ unpacked! No matter how long ago that move was, we don’t ever 💋💄 and tell!

#makeup #makeuptutorial #makeupaddict #makeupaddict #organizer #bathroom #bathroomdesign #interior #interiordecor #organization #thehomeedit #apartmenttherapy #apartments #nyc #storagesolutions #vanity #makeuplooks #makeuplover
Decanting is more important to some clients than o Decanting is more important to some clients than others 😅🤣

For me, the gold lid spice jars from @thecontainerstore are a necessity for open shelving. 

But the systems in place in YOUR home only have to work for YOU! Not everything has to be Instagram-perfect, or entirely uniform if you can access things easily, everyone in the house knows where to put things back, and the end result isn’t visually distracting to you. 

When would we opt for an upgrade? ✨

➡️ The original packaging does a poor job. 
A great example is brown sugar — it needs moisture and an airtight seal to not dry out, but once the bag is open, the packaging doesn’t preserve it properly. 

➡️ It doesn’t fit in the cabinet where you store it. 
Top culprit? Cereal boxes. Coming in so many sizes, sometimes they are too tall for your cupboard. If you store the one tall box away from the rest of the cereals, it becomes much harder for your family to know where to find it, and even harder for them to remember where to put it back correctly. 

➡️ You hate how it looks!
Certain things need to live in the open for ease of use! Think cooking utensils, salt, and pepper. Investing in a great looking crock or grinder is an easy scenario to justify, but this can apply for any areas visible or behind closed doors. How it “looks” is part of organizational preference as long as the system you have created isn’t being compromised!

#funny #funnyvideos #funnymeme #meme #viral #richgirl #hallandoates #yourearichgirl #organizedmoms #organization #organized #clean #kitchen #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #tips #tipstuesday #tuesday #decant #decanting #spicejars #spices #spiceorganization
🙌🏻 How is it possible to keep everything, an 🙌🏻 How is it possible to keep everything, and make it look so empty?! 

Here’s how we make it look so easy:

♻️ Recycle those cardboard boxes!
Removing external packaging on things like toothpaste, appliances, paper towels, and new linens helps them to condense into smaller drawers, fold uniformly, and fit on shelves in the areas you define for their storage. 

Taking items out of their packaging also increases your likelihood to use what you have by removing a barrier of entry to access items when they’re needed!

🎁 Upgrade your storage containers!
Large, opaque wicker baskets make it hard to see items, and don’t offer enough compartmentalization for the number of toiletry categories we needed to store. This is asking for a pile up in aisle 5! 

Especially when lighting is tough in closets, opt for clear! And always look for stacking! We added drawers for a couple key categories like: Personal Grooming, Dental, Skincare, Makeup, & Haircare! 

🛠️ Use the right tools for each job!
We love the drawers! But they aren’t appropriate for those 20” deep corners, where you can see items pile up in the before shot. Spinners are much better - and also make reaching all the cleansers & hair accessories a breeze! 

Before making any product purchases, think ahead about your limitations and plan for systems around any existing structures you cannot change for your current project’s budget!

#organization #organizing #organizer #homedesign #home  #closetorganization #closetgoals #closet #apartment #apartmentliving #apartmenttherapy #howto
Sweater season is upon us! But they better not be Sweater season is upon us! 
But they better not be FALLing ON you!

🍂 Rule #1
Keep out of season HIGH, current season LOW! If you have a single shelf in your closet, look into adding at least one or two more so you can create more categorization. Folded items on shelves are most functional when sweaters, pants, or hoodies are stacked only 4-6 items high. 

🎃 Rule #2
Don’t be afraid to put some things on display! Do you use it everyday? Do you love looking at it? Does it make you happy, but you often forget about it? Designate some space for hats, bags, jewelry, or shoes OUTSIDE of the closet to free up space for the bulkier items making their way out the next few months. 

🍁 Rule #3
Keep your categories tight! Don’t mix drawers with tees and long sleeves without a drawer divider. Don’t put your Halloween costume hanging with what you’re wearing to your friends fall wedding next month. We’re all going to be feeling a lack of energy as the days get shorter and darker, and it’s important to limit the amount of energy you’re expending while getting ready to actually keep the plans you debated canceling because it’s “too cold out” !
Instagram post 17941996124705796 Instagram post 17941996124705796
How to turn drab to fab AIRBNB edition - Brandy Cr How to turn drab to fab AIRBNB edition - Brandy Crusta at Cocktail Club, Charleston

Romantic and sweet likes its namesake cocktail, the Brandy Crusta is perfect for couples, newlyweds, honey and babymoons alike.  This adorable carriage house is open and warm with whimsical decorative touches and colors inspired by traditional Charleston palates throughout. 

We outfitted the cozy living room with a new comfortable loveseat and moveable ottoman for snuggling and stretching. 

Retained the wood slab end tables and added a console under the now mounted flatscreen TV which holds a curated selection of local interest books. 

Repurposed mirrors share the walls with site specific art highlighting Charleston landmarks and hidden gems alike.

In the bedroom loft, an awkwardly placed TV was moved and mounted on the staircase wall for optimum viewing while in bed (not pictured).

In the TV’s absence, we added an inexpensive assortment of floor vases and woven baskets as a nod to the art of Sweetgrass weaving that flourishes in the Low Country. (And perhaps an added distraction for the occasional boo hag 🧟‍♀️)

Do you have a short term rental property in need of a refresh that will give you more 🔫 for your 💵?

Click the link and let’s 🗣️

📷@chaddyarphoto
Make your guests feel welcomed - especially at you Make your guests feel welcomed - especially at your short term rental property.

Adding a cheeky front door mat, is not only a cheap & cheery way to greet visitors, it minimizes dust & debris from entering the Airbnb.

Pro tip - We kept the porch door mats the same for visual consistency.

You’re welcome @westelmcharleston
How to turn drab to fab AIRBNB edition - make it t How to turn drab to fab AIRBNB edition - make it thematic

🙋🏼‍♀️who wore 🩷 to see the Barbie 📽️❓

Having a theme makes dressing that much easier and this is true when designing a space, especially a short term rental property that will have loads of traffic, high turnover and not necessarily the most gracious of guests.

Immediately after touring 165 Spring Street, Ryan (lead designer and expert mixologist) and I started to brainstorm themes and concepts that would individualize each of the 5 units, yet unify the property as a whole.

Ryan brilliantly suggested Southern cocktails which highlights Charleston’s rich drink culture and the ingredients of each beverage would serve as a color palette for that unit’s design.

Custom signage - recipe included greets the guests when they check into their suite and (hopefully) sets the tone for a fun and cheerful stay.

Elm House units:
Mint Julep (listed as Mint to Be*)
Sazerac
Vieux Carre
Hurricane
Brandy Crusta

👩‍🎨@kerry.me.away
📷@chaddyarphoto
How to turn drab to fab AIRBNB edition - if these How to turn drab to fab AIRBNB edition - if these walls could talk

For the past several months we have been working on a short term rental in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.

The 5 unit rental property had been purchased lock stock and barrel by our client. 

It was in dire need of a refresh and restyle.  As a passive income stream for our client, the budget was generous enough to make some significant upgrades yet we had to (as we do with most of our interior projects) repurpose as much as we possibly could.

Having the ability to ‘shop’ all the units and relocate much of the wall art and mirrors allowed us to allocate some funds that created high impact in small spaces. 

💰📝 - paint and wallpaper can be an inexpensive & effective decorative addition, it’s the labor costs for professional painters and wallpaper hangers that should be factored into the budget.

Charleston Toile wallpaper @katie_kime 
Henrietta Floral wallpaper @spoonflower 
Historic Charleston Paints @sherwinwilliams 
📷@chaddyarphoto for @stayduvet
Pride weekend in NYC may be over, but we celebrate Pride weekend in NYC may be over, but we celebrate 🌈🌈🌈 all year long!!! 

#pridemonth #pride #rainbow #colorful #colorfull #interiordesign #interior #interiordecor #apartment #apartmenttherapy #renter #style #styleinspiration
We don’t gate keep - tips below!👇🏻 🌈Ou We don’t gate keep - tips below!👇🏻

🌈Our go to is PRE-PASTED SMOOTH! And REMOVABLE PRE-PASTED SMOOTH specifically for our renters out there! 🫥

📢 PSA!
Vinyl peel & stick WILL show every teensy irregularity in your wall texture! Use at your own risk of mental sanity! 🤪 This is OK for covering very smooth surfaces (such as melamine, if you’re so bold!) but not our first choice for any self-installing on walls!

💸 Tight budget?
Aim for a smaller scale pattern! Larger patterns require you to buy extra rolls to match seams correctly, and murals are by far the most wasteful.

✨ Place it where it can shine!
If you’re investing in wallpaper, try to install it on at least one full wall uninterrupted (like behind a sofa, bed, or desk!) where the pattern can be appreciated! Walls with windows and door frames will both be more time consuming to install it, and won’t have as much impact. 

🤔Can’t think of where to start?
Peek at our favorite suppliers @flavorpaper and @spoonflower to get creative juices flowing!!
And the new trend is 7 second clips? 🎬 And firs And the new trend is 7 second clips? 🎬
And first you burn a green candle? 🕯️And then you sacrifice your first born child to an unnamed entity? 🐐

Throw us a 😂 (or 😭) below if you know what we’re talking about!!!
✨You’re going to want to save this one✨

🙋🏼‍♀️Tell me if this sounds familiar…
You bought the grey, black, beige (🛋️🍽️👜) instead of the red one because it wouldn’t match anything. You made the practical choice. And it was seemingly the right choice, EXCEPT for one little detail… you loved the red one. 

Here is the fool-proof order to start introducing color in your home! (Until you are ready to fully embrace your Lisa Frank rainbow spirit animal 😂)

❤️ Level 1:
- Mugs, servings bowls, coasters
These items are behind closed doors and not always visible, so you won’t feel overwhelmed by new changes in your environment. 

🧡 Level 2:
- Accent pillows, blankets, soap dispensers
These items are in regular use, but can be inexpensive, and easy to change seasonally if the colors or patterns you chose feel unbalanced. 

💛 Level 3:
- Hanging art, art objects, book displays
Art and books take time to style; but still nothing too permanent here if your style changes and you need to refresh some frames & shelves. 

💚 Level 4:
- Rugs, curtains, chairs, wall paint
You will be living with these for a while! Be sure to test out some hues first within the other categories before graduating to adding color here. 

💙 Level 5:
- Sofa, credenza, wallpaper, tables
While we will always consider a pink sofa to be a neutral, any of these big ticket items need to have some existing color around them first to be most impactful. 

💜 Level 6:
- Appliances, tile work, cabinetry
These can be a life time investment, and you need to take time making any color decisions! What’s trendy now won’t always be chic, but something you truly love will make you happy every time you see it!

🌈 But don’t forget, your color BFF is always just a call away if you need to bring in the expert!
👋🏻 Raise your hand if you’ve had it with 💩 on the counter! 

Now, we say this with no judgement, when is the last time you cleaned out those cabinets? (And don’t feel bad! 🥫Our current expired record holder is a can of Heinz baked beans circa 1993)

Easy, manageable tasks you can do this week to change the state of your kitchen are:

⏰ Commit to just one shelf and pull everything out to check those expiration dates! We’re all at different comfort levels here on what those dates mean, but discard anything you don’t feel is edible. And for those teetering on the edge, take note of what you (and your family) didn’t eat, and plan a last hurrah meal to not waste food. 

🍰🧁🎂 Next, group your like items together! It’s tempting to put things in a ✨away✨ in your cabinet where there’s space when you already spent a lot of time and energy at the store — but this will create stress later when you (or your partner) need to find things! It’s important that everyone in the household can participate without household tasks bottlenecking through one family member. 

🌈 Pro-Tip: Create zones like dry goods, instant meals, snacks, oils & spices, condiment & sauces. Then put your most frequent categories lower for easy access & even easier restocking! 

🪜That being said, higher shelves don’t have to be where food is banished to die. Use bins that are easy to pull down so you can use the depth of all your shelves and see everything that makes it way up top! Tempting as those cute Instagram-perfect opaque bins are, we suggest clear like @mdesign, so you don’t forget what’s up there. A few favorites tagged for easy access, and don’t forget while shopping, most kitchen cabinets are only 11” deep!
Hey y’all! Do you know this Charleston cutie?! Hey y’all!

Do you know this Charleston cutie?! It’s Ryan, our lead designer and Holy City based team member.

We’re working on an amazing project that we’re super stoked to roll out over the next few weeks.

We’re redesigning and styling a multi unit short term rental property in historic downtown Charleston.

We’ve been focusing our interior design efforts in the southeast to encompass privately owned short term rental properties so the owners can make more 💵 with smart and stylish upgrades.

Do you have a 🔥property that’s been running a little ❄️ post Covid⁉️

Pick up the 📞 and give us a holla and let’s get you more💰
Let this party GO! 🚛💨 🌈Save for our shor Let this party GO! 🚛💨

🌈Save for our short list of questions to ask when you dig into spring cleaning this year!

Ready, set, RELEASE! We are in full ✨swing✨clearing our client’s house before her renovation. And notice how she’s even smiling (last frames!) while we take on this week-long task!!
❌ You don’t need another tumbler! I know, I k ❌ You don’t need another tumbler! 
I know, I know, those are fighting words; but hear me out…

✨Do you reuse the same water bottle for months?
💦Wash your dishes more than every 14 days?
💕Have a favorite that is just the right size? 

Be honest with yourself - which of these are really being loved and which are aspirational for that eventual camping trip? You will thank yourself for the added cabinet space! 😌
There’s a light at the end of closet, we promise There’s a light at the end of closet, we promise!! 😂

In a move (or a full closet makeover — like this ELFA design from @thecontainerstore !) it always gets a LOT worse before it gets better! To get through the chaos:

👗 We address the personalized storage solutions
We ask questions about your frequency of use, lifestyle demands, height preferences, and favorites that should be front & center!

👔 We make it easy to be tie-dy
Hate folding? We’ll maximize a hanging system! Send clothes out for wash & fold? We’ll plan spaces for you to be able to put them away without any refolding!

👚 We tell you when to get rid of “shirt”
This exercise takes you through every single item in your closet - which means inevitably we find holes, stains, and many (MANY!) lonely socks 🧦 Our goal is to make sure you are making the best use of your space for what you actually wear and absolutely adore, so we may challenge you on those 23 old college sweatshirts… 😉
Most of us have the right tools to be organized! 🛠️

But that being said…
Just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD✨

👉🏻 This is a conversation we have often with our clients when they express feelings of guilt or shame about not being more tidy or organized on their own. Clients tell us they feel like “failed adults” or “bad parents” or “total hoarders” because they can’t control the chaos happening around them, and it’s just not true. 

You can look up almost anything on YouTube, but there’s a reason for calling in a professional — experience saves time, gets the job done right the first time, and usually costs you less 😫 and 💸 in the long run. 

🌈We make organization look fast & easy because of thousands of hours handling the same items in so many different storage configurations! We know what questions to ask to design intuitive systems, which products are best suited for different dimensions, and how long it will take to fully empty & reorganize different areas in a day of service. 

For non-organizers those tasks can take a LOT of time! It’s important to remember the reason these things don’t get done is because that time is being allocated somewhere else (where it’s also needed!) and there’s no shame in ☎️ for some help to speed up the process!
Hello 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ It may have ta Hello 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣

It may have taken me 25 days, but I’ve finally landed on my guiding words for the year. 

We had an incredible 2022 and I want us to use last year as a foundation for moving forward which is why my words for this year all suggest movement and growth. (Plus they really are a reflection of how I am feeling.)

What are you planning to manifest this year? 

I would ♥️ to know what your motivational prompt is👇🏻
Load More... Follow on Instagram