Organization Quest

No-Cost Kitchen Counter Makeover

 
Kitchen counters are a lot like desks: they’re both flat work spaces that tend to attract clutter.  As with desks, the approach to countertops is pretty much split down the middle: there are those who find it comforting and handy to keep things out and those who prefer a clear-space approach.  Usually you’ll find the former married to the latter.  This is just the way things work.

While I’ve struggled to develop clear-desk habits, I’ve always liked a clear counter.  I find I can’t cook—or don’t want to—if the counter feels crowded.  Meanwhile Alpay, who keeps a perfectly clear desk, likes everything out in the kitchen—napkins, plastic wrap,  waffle iron—on the precept that why put it away when you’re just going to pull it out anyway?

Recently, we reached a détente whereby I agree to keep out certain often-used basics like coffee, tea, and a row of pantry condiments, while Alpay has agreed we really don’t need to keep a month’s supply of mineral water within reach.  Because we don’t have the space to keep everything out-of-sight, I found new homes for the various serving dishes that tend to collect on top of the refrigerator and used the space instead to line up our large supply bottles for a next-best solution that’s attractive and functional. 

 Before: clean but not tidy.

 
Before" top of fridge.

 
After: lining up like-with-like creates a tidy view.

 

I Know That Cat Is Somewhere Around Here

The More Functional Desk: Clean or Messy?

At work, I always envied the effortlessly organized and assumed that managers preferred tidy desks, if not for themselves then certainly for their underlings, so it was a shock to discover this isn't necessarily true.  "Empty desk, empty mind" a manager once told me when I asked her opinion on the matter while waiting for a meeting to start.  "Cluttered desk, cluttered mind," retorted another manager at the table.

While there's something comforting about being able to keep materials out--especially if you have to leave when you're knee-deep in a project--overall I find that I feel best when I clear off my desk at the end of the day.  I like the way a cleared desk invites use; it feels like a fresh start.  When my desk is clear, I want to sit down at it. Not only do I find that I don't mind the few minutes that it takes to get out whatever it was I was working on, but I generally pull out less than I had put away, which makes room for new things that come up. 

At home, I have two desks, parallel to one another with my chair in the middle.  I try to keep the desk closest to the door completely clear, while I store a few frequently-used supplies on the top edge of my drafting table next to the window. The parallel rule acts as a kind of border between my work space and my supplies, a position that also allows me to use the rule freely without having to move stuff out of the way.

Among the supplies I keep on my desk at home:  bottled ink for my fountain pens, drafting brush, and stainless ruler.

The Key to Maintaining Progress

Last week I wrote about how a simple daily habit--loading the dish washer at night and unloading it in the morning--coupled with re-thinking how we use our space led to our recent organizational breakthrough.  But I’ve found that in order to maintain that progress, there’s a few things I need to do a couple times a week:

• Sweep the floors
• Mop the kitchen floor
• Do the laundry
• Put back things where they belong

That’s it.  It doesn’t even take that long to do.  I’ve made the habit of picking up something that needs to be put away  whenever I head in the direction of where the object belongs.  It really doesn’t take long to toss a load of laundry in the washer and fold it up afterwards, and doing a couple loads every few days prevents things from backing up.  Having crumb-and-cat-fur free floors is worth the 10 minutes it takes to sweep and mop the kitchen. The sweeping in the livingroom is pretty constant--this is the Windy City, after all, and dirt blows in from the potted plants on the balcony--but it doesn’t seem all that cumbersome.  I haven't decided if this is because I'm just getting used to it or if I'm getting better with practice.

Sure, life would be easier without flowers or kitties.  But wouldn't you rather have love and beauty in your life?

 

 

 

 

More Organization Breakthroughs: Small Changes, Big Impact

Earlier in the week, I wrote about my Big Organization Breakthrough, which involved re-configuring the space for three rooms:  moving the floor-to-ceiling PAX shelving units from a small bedroom to the living room; moving the master bedroom to the small bedroom; and creating a studio/den out of the master bedroom.  These changes took a lot of time, a lot of energy, and were not without expense.  But another change has likewise made a huge impact in our day-to-day lives and not only is it super simple, it doesn’t cost a cent.

 

We run our dishwasher every night.  And we unload it every morning.

 

I don’t know why this didn’t occur to us before:  it just seemed sort of wasteful to run the dishwasher unless it was completely full.  But we weren’t very good at gauging just how much we could fit in the washer, so inevitably we would have an overflow of dirty dishes, and then while we ran the washer more dishes would pile up, so that by the time we got around to unloading it,  we’d have an overflow of dishes again. 

 

Now we run the washer even if it’s half (or less than half!) full.  We do this at night, after dinner.  In the morning, in-between feeding the cats and making the morning tea, we (okay, Alpay) unloads the washer.  The empty washer makes it easy to put in any dishes that accumulate during the day, keeping the kitchen tidy, clean, and presentable.  The only downside is that the whole are-the-dishes-dirty-or-are-they-clean? rigamarole we used to engage in on a daily basis no longer takes place, and after 20 years, I’d sort of gotten used to it.  If anyone has any ideas on how we can annoy each other anew, I’m open for suggestions.

Making A Room Change Work For You

The former bedroom cleared out, making way for the new studio.  I often think that a room looks best with nothing in it. 

If your space isn’t working for you--if you’re feeling cramped, overwhelmed, and generally crabby with the space you have--a little re-evaluation may be in order. 

For pictures, ideas, and inspiration, check out this  article written by Seattle Times writer Stacy Downs.  I especially like Downs’ 1-2-3 approach to paving the way for a successful room re-configuration:

 

• Evaluate which rooms get cluttered and which go unused.
• Think about activities you want to do for which there isn't room.
• Write an action plan of what would need to change for a room to accommodate that activity.

 

By taking one step at a time to make your room change, you can move toward your goal without over-taxing your time--or your patience. 

 

View of the living room, mid-July, mid-project. Remember: it always gets worse before it gets better.

The Big Breakthrough: Moving the Master Bedroom To A Smaller Room

 

After a decade of being in our place, the space started to feel a little . . . stale.  It had become increasingly obvious that certain things--both big and small--weren’t working, but with so little space to work with, we were stymied as to what to do about it. 

 

Like most people, we took the lay out of the space we were given and arranged it according to traditional dictates, designating the largest bedroom as the master bedroom.  But the size and the shape of the master bedroom, I realized after taking various coursework in design and space-planning, was most certainly designed for a queen-sized bed.  That would leave enough room left over for a sitting area by the window or for a desk in addition to the standard bedroom fare of night tables and chests of drawers.  Instead, our bed was an enormous mahogany sleigh--king-sized--that only left long awkward passageways around the bed and between the few pieces of furniture we managed to fit in.  The result was quite a bit of waste space--too little to be of much use, but enough to encourage piles of all types--clothes, books, files and papers, to get a toehold and multiply.

 

Meanwhile, my study had become increasingly unfunctional.  Because it was so cramped, I tended not to take the time to put things away.  Instead,  piles kept building under and around my desk, which made it even harder to work, what with piles crashing down on my feet any time I shifted positions.  Even when I’d manage to tidy up, it wasn’t very inviting for anyone else to spend time there, as it was so cramped and only one club chair fit in the room.

 

At some point, I realized that the shape of the bedroom--more square than rectangle--would be perfect for a studio, and the shape of my study--more rectangle than square--would suit us just fine as a cozy bedroom.  Alpay wasn’t convinced that we could even fit the bed into the smaller room, much less any other furniture, but I showed him that not only would the bed fit, but so would the bedside table, the vanity, the bench, and the chest of drawers.  (“Must you do everything over the top?” he complained when I showed him the plans I’d drawn up in AutoCad, complete with door swings and pouched walls.) 

 

The better part of July was spent moving one double and two single PAX units out to the living room and installing sliding frosted glass doors in place of the former mirrored doors.  We also got rid of the half-height bookshelves that had seen better days, so that a whole wall that had been unappealing and tended to attract clutter now showcases a beautiful antique that serves as a focal point in the living room. 

 

The bedroom feels agreeably snug and cozy; everyone who has seen it agrees that the smaller room actually makes a much better bedroom with the furniture we have.  An unexpected bonus is that the bed no longer faces the door, which means that practically all the lights can be on and you’d never know it in the bedroom.  Before, if I wanted to be in the living room when Alpay was sleeping, I’d have to put a rug or a towel under the door to block out the light.   It’s also much quieter, as the former bedroom shared a wall with both bathrooms and the kitchen, and the new bedroom only shares walls with Alpay’s study and the living room.

 

The best part, of course, is my new studio, which is big enough for two desks, two club chairs, a wall-length bookcase, the chrome Metra shelves, a single PAX unit, and an easel (which I never had room for before!) without feeling the slightest bit cramped.  The two desks allow me space to work and space for supplies (using the parallel rule precludes having many supplies on my desk when I’m using it); I can also invite friends over to work on projects, or to scrapbook or paint, as we each have our own work area. In the evenings, the studio becomes the family den, as we prefer the west view at night, where we can alternately watch the El roll past or watch the planes descend into O'Hare in the the distance.

West view view from my studio; the little knot of lights on the horizon between the sunset and the standof buildings in the distance is O'Hare.

Having a comfortable space in which to work and spread out has made it so much easier to go through stuff and take care of things, to purge the old and file the necessary.  And the process of completely re-thinking the space encouraged me to re-think what we had and what we could lose, kick-starting a cycle of positive changes that has enabled us to find our footing in finally getting--and staying--organized.

Plenty of room for everything--even a ratty palm for Snapdragon to work on.

 

 

 

 

 

This Week on the Quest: My Organization Breakthrough

 

Almost two years ago, I announced that “every room in the house was clean and clear,” which was probably true for the few weeks it took before things got junked up again.  Within two months, I had to admit that “half the house has gone to hell in a handbasket” and the disorganization basically snowballed from there.

 

What happened?!  I was doing so well!  I got the clothes closets cleared, the craft closet organized.  I’d organized the kitchen cabinets.  I’d organized my recipes, and had spent hour upon hour slogging through my Supreme Paper Mess.  And yet:  there I was, not even two full months later, putting off both entertaining at home and needed repairs because things were in such disarray. 

 

I spent a lot of time thinking about what, exactly, had gone wrong, and this summer I had the chance to make some changes. We tweaked one daily routine that has made all the difference in the world, and I also figured out a few small things I need to do a couple times a week to keep things running smoothly.  

 

The really big change, though, was in re-evaluating how we wanted to use the very limited space we have. We ended up making a huge, if perhaps unconventional shift, re-purposing the rooms to fit our needs. In the process, we ended changing not just how we used the space, but also the habits of maintenance and storage that had been imbedded in those rooms over the course of a decade.  This week on the Quest, I’ll share with you the changes we made, with an eye to strategizing what changes you can make to fashion your own Organization Breakthrough.

 

 Maintenance under control:  today it took all of an hour to tidy the living room, bedroom, and my studio, which included sweeping and vacuuming, doing some dusting, polishing mirrors, cleaning glass-topped tables, picking up, and making the bed. And I'm not a fast worker, folks.  
  

When a Friend Dies

The only time I ever attempted to give blood at a blood drive, I had a grand mal seizure.  The last thing I remember is staring at the blood going down the line and looking up at the technician to, you know, warn him, and then I was coming to, with the technician red-faced and angry as I’d pretty much cleared the place out, save those terrified souls already hooked up to a line.  One of the volunteers from the fraternity running the drive, however, stood by, resolute with kindness and resurances.  He made me stay put, brought me juice and crackers, and gently teased me out of my mortification (“Oh, I’ve seen worse. Much, much worse.”)  Once I was cleared to go, he picked me up and carried me back to my dorm, and up three flights to my room.

 

That was Mike:  loyal to the core.  He had a particular gift for inclusiveness;.  he made you feel like you belonged. He was the type of person who championed causes.  Successful himself in life, happily married with two lovely daughters who did him proud, he cast his net far and wide, connecting people, sharing knowledge, and supporting other people’s dreams.  If you needed a job, Mike knew someone in your field you could contact.  If you were starting a business, Mike would tell all his friends.  If you were running a marathon, Mike would cheer you on.  And if you started up a little blog, never mind it was far, far from his ordinary interest and area of expertise, well, count on Mike to subscribe and post the most wonderfully kind and incisive comments.

 

Today Mike was laid to rest.  If there is something to come out of such sorrow, perhaps it is the reminder to re-evaluate the choices we make to ensure that they align with our values.  Mike, I think, scored pretty darn high along those lines.  The reassurance that it is indeed possible to live a life of  integrity is immensely comforting, something Mike was always good at.

 

Rest in peace, dear friend.

 

Snapdragon Has Developed a Bad Attitude

What happened to the sweet little kitten I once knew?

 
Yes, those claw marks are mine.  What are you going to do about it? 

 

Cheap, Easy, and Fast: The Perfect Fall Dinner

I don't know about you, but few phrases get on my nerves more than, "What's for dinner?" I always want to respond: "I don't know.  What is for dinner?" Nevermind the asker may be my friend's five year-old.  I figure if she's old enough to ask, then she's old enough to pony up some suggestions. 

One of the nice things about this time of year is that crisp autumn days are perfect for soup-making.  My favorite fall soup to make is roasted garlic and eggplant, but practically any vegetable lends itself to being roasted:  potatoes, tomatoes; bell peppers of any color; mushrooms.  Carrots.  Most arromatic vegetables (onions, garlic, shallots) are lovely roasted.  I like using eggplant because it's both delicious and easy: just slice in half, drizzle on some olive oil, grind on some sea salt, and roast at 450 degrees for a half hour or so. The eggplants are done when the insides are soft when inserted with a knife.  It's easy to separate the insides from the skin, unlike with peppers or tomatoes which are a little trickier.  Then just add some stock  (I use either homemade vegetable stock or chicken stock or a half-half mixture of the two) and blend.

Roasting garlic or onions to add to the soup is easy and great for achieving a rich, full-bodied taste.  I put a few cloves of garlic on a square of foil, drizzle on a little olive oil, add salt, then close up the foil package, which protects the cloves from getting burned, and toss it on the roasting pan, next to the vegetables. 

Yesterday's soup used two eggplants, maybe four cloves of garlic, a small can of stock and some of my own stock, and produced enough to generously feed four for just a few dollars.  Not counting the roasting time, the whole process took less than 10 minutes.  Add a salad and some nice, crusty bread, and you have an answer as to what's for dinner!

So versatile: add roasted garlic to mayonaise for a gourmet spread, blend with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and fresh herbs for a nice salad dressing, or spread directly on crackers.  Roasting makes the garlic mild and sweet; you lose the stink factor.

Quest On!

Allrighty!  Well, that was a refreshing little breather. Taking a little time off--whether a long weekend or, let’s see, nine months or thereabouts--allows one to re-define goals, re-set priorities, and re-focus anew. With a long weekend behind us, a short work week ahead, and school starting for many tomorrow, it’s the perfect time for some goal assessment and to think about what you’d like still like to accomplish this year. 

My short list includes learning how to edit video, finishing up a scrapbook I started for Alpay last year on our trip to Turkey, working David Allen’s Getting Things Done system (yes!  after much resistance I’m giving it a try), and committing myself to the great One-Pile-‘O-Week venture, whereby I commit to going through one stack, pile, drawer, shelf, or box a week.  What about you?  What would give you a sense of accomplishment or just plain relief if you finally got it done? 

Above:  boats moored at Gumusluk, one of the, let's see, 400 or so pix that need a home in my scrapbook.