Project Profile: Creating New Systems in Somerville

This client reached out to us after driving by our professional organizing studio on Mass Ave. At that time, she and her family had been living in their house for two years but were uncertain if their home storage solutions were effective. They struggled to create and maintain efficient organizing systems in their space. Her priorities were organizing her basement, office, and garage, but after evaluating her space during our consultation, we expanded the project scope significantly. This client was ready to tackle their entire home, and we implemented a variety of storage solutions to meet every need. This project profile will be published in multiple parts, as we had the opportunity to work on every inch of this client’s home! We made a significant impact on the first floor with extensive purging, custom closet designs, and the use of our favorite organizing products and tools.

Please note that we are not sponsored by The Container Store or Elfa – we just love their organization products!

The Kitchen & Pantry

This family enjoys cooking together, so optimizing their kitchen storage organization became a top priority. One of their biggest challenges was cabinet space, and we were excited to collaborate with a local carpenter to design and install a custom cabinet for their kitchen. The new cabinet integrates seamlessly into the kitchen, providing a substantial increase in storage space.

Did you know that we can assist you in designing custom built-ins? We partner with local companies to help you create storage solutions that match your needs and aesthetic preferences.

Pantry organizing can be very challenging. If pantries are too large, they can easily become cluttered with items that don’t belong, while smaller pantries can feel cramped quickly! This family had a well-sized pantry built into their kitchen, but it wasn’t optimized to utilize all of the vertical space and lacked flexibility for accommodating new grocery products.

We addressed these issues by partially replicating their existing shelving with Elfa Decor shelves, significantly increasing the storage capacity by adding adjustable shelving units all the way up to the ceiling. Additionally, we designed the system with drawers for easy access to snacks and smaller items that tend to get lost on deeper shelves. To ensure everything remains organized, we labeled every item in this space, providing a designated spot for each product which will help maintain order and efficiency in the long run.

For a family that spends a lot of time in the kitchen, the impact of these adjustments was immediate! 

The Utility Closet

The utility closet was not meeting the needs of the family at all. This storage closet held back stock cleaning supplies, paper goods, reusable bags, and a variety of tools. It faced numerous challenges with its existing storage solutions, which only included one shelf and a rod, along with an awkward step up from the floor. Our clients attempted to add shelving using an existing bookcase, but it wasn’t the right size for their items. We sorted and purged all the different categories in this closet but still struggled to make it functional.

Elfa storage solutions came to the rescue, yet again! This closet design allowed us to optimize a lot of vertical space that was previously underutilized. Items that are necessary but not frequently used are perfect for high shelves, freeing up space for items needed more often at eye level. We incorporated numerous small drawers into this closet design to hold tools and other small items that need to be quickly accessible (like candles and flashlights), as well as larger drawers for bulkier items (like vacuum parts). The door rack in this closet neatly holds all of the reusable bags and provides a quick grab zone for masks.

The Coat Closet

The entryway closet initially offered a good amount of space, but the family struggled with organization and putting things away. By implementing a new closet storage system, we created smaller, dedicated zones within the closet, including short hang, long hang, shoe storage, and door racks. This approach allows us to specifically assign items to their designated spots, enhancing the overall organization. This is a valuable solution for families that find it challenging to stay organized—when everything has a designated place and that place is clearly marked, it becomes much easier to maintain order. The door racks also offer a practical solution for children's storage, allowing baskets to hang close to the floor so kids can easily grab their own items.

We love working with these clients and have been thrilled by the positive impact of these changes in their home. Check back in next month for Part 2 of their home transformation!