Barbara Lile

MY ADVICE:

• Think outside the box and use items in different ways. For example, maybe a Closet Factory garage storage unit works best in your teenage son’s bedroom? Teenagers can be very hard on furniture plus the legs on the unit lends themselves to a contemporary look.

• Try to find ways to personalize your closet for yourself whether it’s a drawer handle you love or creating one very special area for a collection you have.

• Be true to yourself and don’t try to organize in a way that’s not you. For example, if you know you will never file everything away in file drawers then maybe you need baskets to be able to dump items into so you can purge items once a year.

MY FAQ’s:

 “How do you first approach a space? In other words, what’s the first thing you think about when you first see a client’s closet space/storage problem?”

 “What is the biggest design obstacle you’ve overcome? i.e. awkwardly angled walls, electrical sockets in bizarre places, big collections in small spaces.”

My client had a small master closet with only room for double hang and a bank of shelves for shoes. But the client wanted a drawer for his watches. So I maximized the shelving by making them 36” wide and divided two of the shelves with a vertical shelf at 24” wide. This created the perfect area for a single 24” drawer which fits our jewelry drawer insert. I also made it 6 1/4” high so in the future, if he needs that drawer for something other than jewelry, it will be available to him.

 “Since collaboration is such an integral part of the design process, how do you like to engage or connect with clients in order to help them realize their vision for a space?”

I like asking the client what is not working for them in the closet. Often, it’s the area least organized in the closet that they need help with but sometimes they want to be able to bring something into the closet that they don’t have room for at the present. I always ask them if there is something they want to fit into this closet that they presently can’t.

 “How are you inspired by a home’s existing décor? Is there anything specific that you look for during an in-home consultation?”

 “What are some ways a custom designed home office can improve productivity? In other words, how does the right type of home office help people do business?”

Having a place for the client’s specific items in the office will help keep clutter under control which leads to improved productivity. Also, orienting the office equipment and files based on whether the client is a left hander or a right hander is very important. It’s also important to find a place for personal items in the office, like family pictures and mementos. All of these suggestions will help the client LOVE their office because it’s personalized for them.

 “What are some modern organizational trends, or what’s a trend you’re looking for?”

I love the idea of standing at my desk or even walking on a treadmill while working. I have often moved my computer from my desk to my kitchen countertop just so I can stand while I work. I think the desks that adjust up and down are going to grow in popularity in the future. I also love the trend of placing a Murphy bed in a home office thereby creating a multifunctional room.