Eleven years ago I helped a woman clean out her basement. From this treasure chest of a room I brought home two things: vintage Bon Apetit magazine covers for a decoupage project and a stack of old maps, mostly AAA.  This Christmas I used the last of her maps to wrap gifts, as I had done with all the rest.  

Backs of doors are often underutilized real estate.  One of my favorite ways to use this space is by using The Container Store’s elfa system.  Here’s an example of how I used it in a client’s utility closet. They also offer a simple gift wrap solution that I installed for a client earlier this year.

For three years running I’ve been working off of a note in my “Personal” notebook called “Gift ideas.”  Throughout the year this is where I drop in ideas and links to potential gifts for family members, my husband, and even myself. It’s a good place to keep track of some wants, not needs, to have on hand when someone asks “what do you want?”

"I don't need time. What I need is a deadline.” 
- Duke Ellington

Thanks, Duke. When I saw this quote in Tim Ferriss’ newsletter recently, I silently screamed, “AMEN!”

L.A. has always been at the top of my list of American cities to visit, which is why I was thrilled when the stars aligned for me to work with a lovely woman in Northridge, CA in early November.  I spent three days exploring one of my new favorite cities and three and a half days organizing one of its home offices in need.  

Japan has Marie Kondo, encouraging all of us to “Kondo” parts of our homes. Now, Sweden has its very own organizing term for export, “Death Cleaning” with its own budding decluttering star, Margareta Magnusson, author of the upcoming The Gentle Art of Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter.