3 Clutter Free Gift Ideas for Mom

Mother’s Day is a mere two weeks away — May 13! Our suggestions focus on creating experiences rather than giving stuff.



1. Make a date — Most moms want to spend time together more than anything else. Dinner (or brunch/lunch) and a movie? Yes please. The Byrd ($2/ticket), Bowtie and Westhampton Cinema are great local theaters with a lot of character. Some of my (and my Mom’s) favorite local spots to dine are Balliceaux, Ipanema and Akida. Other date ideas: a long walk, a museum tour, or a day at the spa together.

If Mom lives far away or time is an issue, you can also give her any of the above experiences via gift certificate for her to enjoy on her own or with another friend.

2. Give a service — Offer to clean, do yard work, cook, etc. You can also hire someone to do it if you’d prefer. If Mom wants help getting organized, we offer gift certificates for our services and you can buy them online via our “gift us” page.

3. Go digital — Electronic things are clutter free in nature because they don’t take up physical space. Think a subscription to Netflix, or an iTunes gift card. Does Mom have a ton of old printed photos and VHS tapes? Preserve those memories forever by transferring them to digital format for her. Local business Revolve can do the job at a very reasonable price.

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Handmade RVA: Rare Bird

I’ve always had trouble accessorizing because it makes me feel cluttered (surprise). I love local artist Pauline Stanley’s work. It suits me well — minimal and delicate, goes with everything. I’ve already purchased several pieces and wear them constantly. She will be at the Bizarre Market at the RVA Street Fest this Saturday from noon to 6p selling her designs. You can also find her on Etsy here.









Our good friend Christie with Fibre Craft will also be at the market selling her handmade ties and bags!

MCM on the Cheap

Today I had to drop off some donations for an organizing client at Diversity Thrift. I always like to pop in and see what Mid-Century Modern (MCM) furniture pieces they have — about a year ago I found an upholstered Eames DCM for $5, which sells for $250 on eBay! While it may not be an Eames chair, this retro sofa bed (currently at Diversity) has a lot of potential:


The color is much nicer in person.


Yep, just $59!

Ultimately it needs to be reupholstered, but it has great lines and would look very crisp with neutral furnishings and some graphic patterned pillows. The sleeper sofa aspect is handy for urban dwellings that lack a guest bedroom.

Gungho Guide

I’d like to present to you Richmond’s new Gungho Guide — “the definitive guide to where you should be.” From their new site (which just launched on Friday):

“GunghoGuides.com is a place to celebrate the best things we love about Richmond. We picked the top hundred or so places that we feel contribute to the pride of living in this city. We wanted to create a site that presents these unique experiences and JUST these experiences as places you absolutely SHOULD patronize.”

You can find info on food, museums, galleries, entertainment, apparel, beauty, retail and of course, events! We love the idea of consolidating all of this information in a city guide that’s easy (and fun!) to search through. And oh hey — Minimalist is a featured blog. Thanks GG! You can find their free pamphlet/map in participating locations around town.

Side note — Anne Marie told me that a random guy on the street asked her if she wrote for Minimalist and then gave us a big compliment. Thanks guy on street, we like you too!

thief & BANDIT

Today I stumbled upon an awesome local designer’s work — Amie Cunningham of thief & BANDIT. She makes these amazing multi-color/pattern braided fabric necklaces that are sure to be the statement piece of any outfit. I’m going to have to get my hands on one soon. I love wearing patterned scarves as a necklace-like accent piece, and this accessory creates a very similar effect. LOVE love love. Check out their Etsy shop here and become a fan on Facebook here.

Retro Glasses with a Heart

My friend recently sent me a link for Warby Parker, a new revolution in eyewear. As a four-eyed person, I dread dropping $300+ whenever I need a new pair of specs. WP offers beautifully crafted, vintage-inspired glasses for $95/pair with prescription lenses. That beats Lenscrafters any day of the week — not to mention how stylish and unique their designs are. On top of being chic and affordable, WP has a Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program — for every pair of glasses sold, they provide one to someone in need. I know where I’m getting my next set of frames!

The 3/50 Project

Visit The 3/50 Project to find simple ways of supporting and growing your local independently owned retail businesses. There’s even some well-designed free marketing material for businesses to use! As an owner or a consumer, there’s definitely some valuable information to be shared.

Groupon

Did you know about Groupon? Somehow I didn’t until yesterday. I’d heard of it but didn’t really know what it was.

My friend Jillian was telling me how she got a $50 haircut for $25 through Groupon last night at Ipanema. She explained that you sign up and they send you “daily deals” that you can purchase. Another example she cited was restaurant coupons where you paid $20 for $40 worth of food. As long as you aren’t a sucker for deals, it seems like an awesome concept! The service is free, of course. I’ll be signing up in t-minus five minutes. You can too, just click here!

Voxy Richmond

In sorting through my most recent Valpak coupon envelope, I found an advertisement for Voxy Richmond. It’s “an interactive social media experience for the fun-loving, deal-seeking people of the Greater Richmond Metro area.” I liked them on Facebook (click here) and it seems that they run a feed of current deals around town. Neat!

Handmade Goodness

The holidays are here and this weekend officially kicks off the retail madness. Christmas has often been a stressful time for me because of all the “stuff”. As a minimalist, there are very few buyable things that I feel I need, or even want. I did stumble across something that money can buy today in my quest for simplicity.


By rae dunn

This little plaque delicately solves the age old problem of having to ask people to please take off their shoes every time I have guests. I always feel annoying, so now this cute little sign can do the dirty work for me! Life just got a little bit easier, maybe 1%? It all adds up, I say.

I love rae dunn’s work. I stumbled across the San Fran ceramics artist while doing my search for “remove shoes signs” on Etsy, my favorite handmade goods website. Another favorite item is her fortune cookie ornament. What a great little gift idea!

Speaking of gifts, I fully recommend going handmade and supporting the arts community whenever possible. There’s no better way to find a super unique and personalized gift. Richmond is having its very own Bizarre Market for the holidays as well. Currently being hosted on the upper level of Chop Suey in Carytown, find more information on the handmade fair here.

Chop Suey Tuey

This past Friday, I helped one of my organizing clients go through her book collection. We sorted into three stacks:

1. Sell or donate
2. Keep
3. Unsure

Creating the “unsure” pile allowed the process to move fluidly, avoiding hang-ups on tough decisions (a little organizing trick called “shortcutting”). At the end of our sort, she had decided to sell/donate over half of her collection. As part of my service, I took the books over to Chop Suey in Carytown to see what we could sell. They bought about 3/4 of her collection for a grand total of $75! Definitely a nice chunk of change. The remainder of the books were donated to Diversity Thrift.

Chop Suey is a great place to buy or sell used books. The staff is super friendly and the multi-level store is merchandised in a very fun and colorful fashion. I spent about 20 minutes on Friday wandering the stacks and was amazed by the vast selection. Located in the heart of Carytown at 2913 W Cary St, Chop Suey should definitely be Richmond’s first stop for book purchasing. I also love anything involving resale — much better for the environment to buy used instead of new!

Buy! Sell! Craigslist!

So I’ve developed a little side hobby/obsession of selling things for friends, family and clients on Craigslist. It’s just one of the ways I help people get organized. Less clutter, more money. Definitely a win win in my book! Contact me at kziegler83@gmail.com if you’d like to work with me and we can discuss details. Currently on the docket:

Eastpak “Pinnacle” Backpack in Midnight — $15
Eames DCM Metal Frame — $50
Beatrix Potter Miniature Tea Set — $10
Custom-Built Desktop Computer Package — $300
Monster Super Sweep EB-006 Cordless Vacuum — BRAND NEW! — $15
Thane USA M H2O Steam Mop w/ Microfiber Pads — BRAND NEW! — $50
SteamFast SF-140 Steam Mop w/ Microfiber Cloths — BRAND NEW! — $50
HP Photosmart C4180 All-in-One Printer, Scanner, Copier — NEW IN BOX! — $100
IKEA Sultan Mansken Full Size Mattress — $50
HoMedics Back Pleaser Ultra — NEW IN BOX! — $40

Also, please hit me up if you’re interested in purchasing any of the items listed!

Clothing Consignment

It’s almost time to pack up summer clothing and pull out the fall cardigans, scarves, hats, boots... I do love autumn fashion. With each seasonal change, I like to assess my wardrobe and decide which pieces will make the cut for another year. Going through my threads also allows me to see any fashion “gaps” so that I can spend money wisely filling in my wardrobe. For example — rather than purchasing ten new ruffled blouses (which I am apt to do), maybe I instead invest in a pair of black skinny jeans or a nice waist belt to tie together some existing pieces.

In any case, whatever doesn’t make the cut can either be donated or, better yet, consigned. I save consignment for “gently used” clothing, shoes and accessories and tend to donate my more “heavily loved” pieces to Diversity Thrift. Here is my top three list of women’s clothing consignment shops in Richmond. Each shop has a different niche, so read below to find yours. FYI, fall clothing consignment typically begins in August and runs through October when they switch to winter.

1. Clementine



In the heart of Carytown, Clementine offers young, hip women’s clothing, shoes and handbags on consignment along with new hand-picked jewelry and accessories. The shop has a boutique feel to it, and the merchandising is extremely well done. I love the simple use of recycled materials and hand-written tags (adorable). There is no consignor sign-up fee, but they do ask that you make an appointment to bring any items by. Clementine accepts brands such as American Apparel, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Elevenses, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, Seven and Theory — just to name a few. For those of you who know my style, my items tend to do very well at Clementine. I average about $30 to $50 per season on +/- five items (usually on the lower end of the brand list). It’s nice to have a little extra cash to put towards new clothing, or my social budget.

2. The Butterfly

While I don’t consign with The Butterfly, my organizing colleagues can’t say enough good things about this shop. It’s their top choice for mid-level brands that they consign for their clients. While Clementine has a young and hip focus, The Butterfly stays fashion forward with a more conservative and “grown up” vibe. There is a one-time $15 consignor fee and they work by appointment only. The shop is located in Richmond’s near West End at 5726 Patterson Ave. Contact them at (804) 288-4700 to set up an appointment.

3. Baggio



Located at 9734 Gayton Rd ten minutes from Short Pump, Baggio is Richmond’s premiere designer label consignment shop. Norma Santamaria, Baggio’s owner and a friend of mine, just launched an awesome new website so be sure to click the link above and check it out. The lovely shop feels like a high end boutique that you might find in New York City. They accept brands such as Armani, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Carolina Herrera, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Oscar de la Renta and Prada. There is a $20 annual consignor fee — check the website for other specific consignment policies.

For kid’s clothing, I recommend Kid to Kid. Any items that don’t sell with Clementine usually go to Plato’s Closet. Both of these shops buy rather than consign, so you get immediate cash for any items they accept. No appointments needed. Unfortunately men’s consignment has not caught on in Richmond to my knowledge.

Consignment is super easy and rewarding in my experience — definitely give it a try if you haven’t already! Also, while you’re dropping off your stuff at these shops, be sure to look around. It’s hard for me to leave Clementine without a cute pair of earrings (at the least) and Baggio obviously has an amazing selection of designer threads and accessories. Consignment is not only great for your wallet (usually 1/3 to 1/2 of retail value) but buying used is good for the environment as well!

Reduce. Reuse. ReStore.

(And of course, recycle.)

The Habitat for Humanity’s Restore is a retail outlet that sells used and new building and home improvement supplies at substantially reduced prices. I made a trip over for the first time last week and was very impressed with their selection. Not only is it a great place to buy, it’s also an excellent donation spot for items that may not otherwise find a good home — used paint, old plumbing fixtures, casework, etc. You can also find bathroom vanities, blinds, doors, light fixtures, sinks, toilets, trim, windows and screens, and a bazillion other building parts in the massive warehouse. If you are doing any sort of home renovation, a visit to ReStore is a must!

They have a small thrift store-like section with furniture as well. I saw some nicely priced pieces — a Mid-Century desk and dresser and a sweet farmhouse kitchen table caught my eye.

I love the ReStore’s concept of recycling building materials via bargain resale to the public. It’s a win win for sure! Check out the Richmond location at 1901 Roane St.

Online Savings

Last week I was doing some online shopping via The Container Store with an organizing client. We had racked up a pretty full “cart” of about $200 by the time we’d checked everything off our list. As a NAPO member I automatically receive 10% off at The Container Store, but thought I’d see if we could do a little better. My rule of thumb — ALWAYS do a Google search for discount coupons before confirming an online order. I am usually able to find one, whether it be 10% to 30% off or free shipping. RetailMeNot is my favorite site for said coupons. We were able to find a 20% off coupon for The Container Store, which (needless to say) made my client all the more pleased with my services.

Another great coupon site is Short Cuts. While not for online shopping, this eco-friendly concept allows you to “load” paperless coupons onto your Kroger (or other participating grocery store) card. Save money AND trees! What could be better?

For electronics and other gadgets, check out Lifehacker’s “Gadget and Gear Deals of the Day”. The site is almost like a free flow Real Simple-esque community forum, with a focus on technology from what I can tell.

For local deals here in Richmond, check out the Richmond Bargains blog.

Let’s talk! Share your favorite online coupon/deal sites in the comments section.

Calling All Architects & Designers!

Herman Miller is having a 70% off sale on their Eames molded plastic chair collection for qualifying A&D (Architecture & Design) firms. I have lusted after the iconic Eames Molded Plastic Rocker (RAR) for awhile now and just might use this opportunity to get one. I no longer work for an A&D firm, but I have friends whose orders I can piggyback on (wink wink). So basically, I would be getting this chair for $179 rather than $500-ish after tax.


Photo from Herman Miller

The most important question is, which color? I have been obsessing all evening, and think I will get the “Greystone”. I am not a woman of bold colors. My closet is filled with mostly white, grey and black. It’s just who I am. The “Aqua Sky” is alluring, but I worry I would be making a lifelong commitment to that color which I’m not ready for. I like to keep my staple pieces neutral and mix in color via textiles and other accessories. Then when I get bored, I can change it up for cheap! That’s my money saving design tip for the day — over and out.

To get more information on the Herman Miller sale, contact your local representative. For Richmond, that would be Trip Vint with American Office at (804) 673-8107. He’s super nice and was actually the one who suggested piggybacking on a friend’s order — very cool!

Weekend of Greenery

This past Saturday I ventured over to Richmond’s appropriately named Great Big Greenhouse (referred to as GBG forward). I had been looking for an affordable place to buy indoor plants aside from the usual Lowes/Home Depot/IKEA option. What a great find! Located at the intersection of Huguenot and Robious Rd, it literally is the greatest, biggest retail greenhouse I’ve ever seen in person.

The whole trip lifted my spirits. It was a gorgeous sunny day driving down Huguenot, windows down, listening to an old Bon Iver album. I spent hours and hours agonizing (in a good way) over which houseplants to purchase. The place was immense! The prices really weren’t much higher than Lowes/Home Depot/IKEA, but the quality and selection was much much better.

I wasn’t aware of this, but according to a sign in the greenhouse:

“For our environmentally concerned customers... Offset your carbon footprint with carbon-dioxide absorbing succulents and orchids. While most plants absorb carbon dioxide during the day while photosynthesizing, succulents absorb CO2 even at night.”

I already loved succulents (and orchids) and now I have even more reason to! I’d probably have to get a farm full to really make a substantial environmental impact, but every small effort adds up. Kind of like my philosophy for saving money!

After much deliberation, my damage was only $15 for a Desert Rose plant and $20 for a Ficus Weeping Fig. I almost bought a $50 bonsai for my dining table (those things are pricey!) but decided on the Desert Rose instead. GBG also had a cool selection of home furnishings!

One other note — GBG has an entire outdoor area devoted to outdoor plants. I have a fire escape for a porch and no garden, so I skipped over that section this time.

Barter & Haggle!

I am super bummed! I used Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean my vintage table and it ate the finish. So, word to the wise, don’t use the stuff on antiques. While the table looked impeccable, I am assuming the finish wasn’t as solid as it appeared. It is over 50 years old, after all!

In any case, I have a solution to my dilemma. I have never refinished a piece of furniture before and certainly did not want my table to be the guinea pig. I was looking at an unhappy price tag of about $200 to have it professionally redone. Enter the subject line of this post (Barter) and my friend Bart of Killer Junk. Ha, “Bart”-er. I made a joke!

I consulted him about my table issue and, furniture fixing being a favorite pastime of his, he offered to repair the finish in exchange for more home goods (I gave him some IKEA planters in exchange for repairing a chair awhile back). What a great deal, and what a nice guy! Check out the Killer Junk blog often — they are currently running a series called “How to Anger a Purist”. Good stuff.

Bartering and haggling is not a common practice in the US the way it is in other parts of the world. It’s a great thing though. A trade of services or goods is often more fulfilling for both parties than a monetary one. Craigslist even has barter listings. I highly recommend haggling as well. I always try to get people down on price, even in big box stores like IKEA. About a month ago I was looking at a piece in the “AS IS” section of IKEA and got the price down from $50 to $35. In this economy, people often just want to make a sale. It never hurts to ask!

On that note, let me know if anyone is interested in trading my organizing services for a sweet piece of Mid-Century furniture (or a nice home cooked meal).

At Last!

I finally found the Mid-Century Modern table and chair set that I have been daydreaming about for over a year now! Even better — it was only $400 (with tax) for the whole set, which included six chairs and three leaves for expansion. The furniture is immaculate, which is rare for this period especially with larger pieces like this one. After selling my IKEA dining table and chairs this weekend for $150, my net is only $250. Not bad!


Basswood crates at Goodstuff

The place? Goodstuff Consignments in Forest Hill. Right now the entire store is marked down 40% to 50% to make room for new merchandise (hence my table/chair score). I enjoyed some solid conversation with the owner, Peter Burnet, about photography, art and design. The small store was impressively organized and the basswood crates he was using to display merchandise were great. The idea is so simple (which I love) and they had a really beautiful rhythm in repetition. He purchased the crates from the Mennonites at The Green Dragon in Lancaster, PA. IKEA has a similar product that I am a fan of — the IKEA PS Bintje. Surprisingly expensive for IKEA though.



Best of all, the entire table fit into my car (the chairs, admittedly, were a second trip). I’m telling you, EVERYTHING fits in my car. I once crammed a full-sized mattress in there...

I am currently in the process of reupholstering the chairs and will post pictures once they are finished!

To IKEA or Not to IKEA?

That is the question. I have seen many a heated blog discussion on such sites as Apartment Therapy (a favorite) about the merits, or lack thereof, of IKEA. People seem to either love it or hate it. My perspective is somewhere inbetween.

The good {list}...

1. Accessories


KASSETT Box with lid — one of the most versatile organizing products ever

I have to agree with the IKEA-haters that an all-IKEA home is a little bit dull and uninspired. However, many of their accessories are very well designed and can add a modern touch to any space. Because they are accessories, their presence among other pieces doesn’t scream “IKEA”! Frames, kitchen accessories, lighting, organizing product, plants, pots, textiles — all A+ in my book for both price and design. One IKEA accessory I can’t bring myself to buy is the artwork. It’s mass-produced and I do feel that art is something, more than other things, that should be personal and unique.

2. PS Line

From the IKEA website:

“PS stands for POST SCRIPTUM, or the latest additions to the world of IKEA design. The IKEA PS collection is one way of sharing the design values IKEA has — form and function at a low price. IKEA PS gives designers free rein to shape the latest creations, where the aim is to create products that are emotional, fun and less predictable, appealing to those who prefer an individual taste to a common style.”

Today the PS Line tends to be some of the most innovative and original pieces in the IKEA collection. A personal favorite is the uber-affordable IKEA PS Cabinet that was created by teaming up with a local locker manufacturer.


IKEA PS Cabinet

3. Social and Environmental Responsibility

IKEA thinks about their social and environmental impacts when they design their products. There’s the obvious “flat pack” methodology that they have been using since the 1950s. In the 1990s, IKEA developed an environmental policy and has since expanded their social and environmental involvement into the 21st century. Providing “design within reach” (unlike the actual DWR) is a social feat in and of itself.

4. The Food

You just can’t beat hotdogs for $0.50 or an ice cream cone for $1! Their Swedish Food Market is pretty great too, especially for unique gifts and/or party favors.

The bad {list}...

1. Laminate and Particle Board

It’s ubiquitous in IKEA. When I am reviewing any piece of furniture (whether at IKEA or elsewhere) I ask myself, “How gracefully will this piece age?” Scratches and dents are a part of life. Furthermore, as an architect I prefer honest materials and I especially hate the printed fake wood laminate. The bottom line is that the stuff just doesn’t hold up, especially if you move around a lot like I do. Stick with solid wood and other materials that will stand the test of time. IKEA has very affordable wood products, many of which can be stained to your liking. The IVAR series is a personal favorite for storage.


IVAR three sections/shelves — super vesatile modular shelving

2. Quality Control

Unfortunately, many times you are getting what you pay for at IKEA. I always make sure to look over a piece for imperfections before I buy. Flaws are all too common in IKEA furniture and my own personal quality control can take a lot of time and energy. Sometimes I even purchase multiples if I am buying a flat pack piece just to make sure I have a “good one” when I get it home (and then return the rejects). In the end I usually feel that it’s worth it to have a nice piece for such a good price.

All in all, I don’t think that IKEA is evil — a piece of furniture or other designed object should be judged on its own merit, not where it came from. With a tight budget like mine, IKEA is one of the few options for owning modern furniture. It’s not every day that I find an Eames chair for $5! I do love mixing the new with the old, however. It creates a texture that an all new interior might lack. Plus, there’s nothing more environmentally friendly than second hand furniture, so I try to go that route whenever possible.