July 2012

Tuesday 07.31.12

Tip Tuesday:: Don't Throw in the Towel!

This week's Tip Tuesday request was for creative towel storage solutions. Finding enough room for all your towels can be difficult...especially in a city aparment. These are some of NEATs favorite solutions to this organizational dilemma.

This ladder towel storage system will fit great in any bathroom with wall space and high ceilings. 

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If you don't have quite as much room and are looking to take full advantage of a cabinet or linen closet we recommend undershelf baskets

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Or roll your towels in baskets like these if you don't have closet or cabinet space.

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We all know that feeling of a fresh, new towel! Hopefully these tips will allow you to experience this simple joy more often!

xx

the NEAT girls

Wednesday 07.25.12

Cat's Outta the Bag...

Or...should I say cat's in the bag?!? Yes, it's true! NEAT's having a NEAT-O! Your's truly is due this October with a baby BOY! Yep...only 12 more weeks. Thankfully! 

I don't really get people that just "love being pregnant"? Don't get me wrong, I know it will all be worth it, but this is NOT fun! I'm always tired. I feel like I'm walking around with the infamous waddle. I have to pee all the time. My back kills. A workout these days is walking up the stairs. Oh...and I can't enjoy a glass or three of wine every night! NOT fun.

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(This is the picture I sent to my parents on Valentine's Day announcing the news!)

Regardless, it's happening and it's time for me to get prepared. You would think as such an organized person, I would already have the nursery completed, registry registered and the name picked out and monogrammed all over...but as it turns out, I am fully overwhelmed with the amount of s*%#t this kid needs. Really...5 different things to rock him, swing him, bounce him, swaddle him??? 3 different pacifiers, bottles, diapers, bibs...just to see what he likes? I refuse to make my kid high maintenance and I feel like all these options will do just that. What ever happened to the days when parents would just lay a baby down on a blanket and call it a day? I turned out okay. Sort of!

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(This was a picture from our baby reveal party with our friends & family!)

The good news is...I am fully on my way to getting the nursery figured out. However, that wouldn't even be happening if it weren't for my good friends, Sprout San Francisco! I had the privledge of getting to know this amazing children's boutique while living in San Francisco, and ironically moved back to Chicago at the same time that they opened their doors here. They have offered to help me with everything for my nursery! All of the furniture, decor, bedding, etc. I seriously don't know where I would be without their generous help! So...stay tuned for all of the Sprout nursery decor and NEAT organization you can handle! Coming to you in the near future. 

Oh....and happy Bump Day!

xx

Ashley

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Tuesday 07.24.12

Tip Tuesday:: Bow Wow WOW...What an Organized Pet!

Today’s Tip Tuesday is for the proud owner of Lottie, the adorable Labradoodle. Adorable as she is, her essential pawducts have transformed a beautifully organized apartment to a doggy haven. Many of NEAT's clients have pets, and here are just a few of the products that have changed their lives. We hope this works for you too Lottie!!

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This adorable dog bed features faux fur lining and is accented by a ruffled linen bed skirt! 

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Lottie deserves a fancy dinner, yet her bowls aren't the most asthetically pleasing. Good news, you can tuck them away in this wooden pet pantry!

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And last but not least, this cute pet planner will insure Lottie never misses an important event or dinner pawty :). 

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Thanks Lottie for your inquiry! We can't wait to see what your newly organized home looks like!!

xx

the NEAT girls

Wednesday 07.18.12

Changing Lives, One Closet at a Time

Everyone can relate to that stage in life, when you aren't quite ready to commit to owning a new home because there are still so many perks to renting! As life happens and we slowly start to outgrow our space, we still want and need our rented apartment to be a mature and sophisticated living space.

How do we accomplish this if we can’t even take a paintbrush or nails to the wall??

Brit Morin, founder of Brit & Co. (an amazing lifestyle brand and website dedicated to innovative ideas, apps, and products for the digital generation) came to us with this very problem! Her rustic chic San Francisco apartment may be decorated beautifully, but it was seriously lacking in the closet department. How is a girl to fit all her clothes in one little closet, let alone share with her husband?

With the help of NEAT Method, Brit’s guest bedroom was transformed into her dream walk–in-closet! AND the best part – not even one nail was put into the wall!

With a little closet rearranging, Brit’s husband’s belongings were reorganized into her old closet:

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Brit Morin, Brit and Co, closet, full closet, unorganized closet, closet tips, DIY, home decor, home organization

And his old closet became the “catch closet” for all items that were scattered around the guest bedroom - including skis and seasonal jackets:

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And...as for the once “guest bedroom" you ask?  

Just to give you a visual, here is what we were working with:

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Now...it just so happens to serve as Brit’s personal closet space filled with lovely dresses and amazing statement pieces!

Here are some pretty fabulous after pictures, along with tips on how we worked our NEAT magic:

The freestanding unit implemented is absolutely perfect for rental apartments! Not only does it leave the walls untouched, but the closet instillation can also be repurposed in your next home for an entirely new space. Whether it ends up in your basement or perhaps your garage, it's money well spent that can always find a new home!

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With Brit and her husband’s taste in mind, organizational items were purchased from The Container Store and implemented within the unit. Open bins help to maximize the space and provide easy access to hold smaller belongings including: purses, hats, and scarves.  

We also organized her shoes ROYGBIV, Brown, Black, and then within the color: flats, to heels, to boots.

And once again, we implemented our favorite black slimline hangers!

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We also placed her more fashionable jewelry on display in acrylic organizers:

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Living in a rental apartment has so many benefits, and now the few “typical drawbacks” don’t always have to be a disadvantage. We helped Brit make her closet space more functional and aesthetically pleasing - without even leaving a mark!

Now when Brit gets ready every morning, she feels like she’s shopping her closet!

What’s a girl not to love?

xx

The NEAT girls

Thursday 07.12.12

Tip Tuesday:: Are scarves the new shoes?

Well for some of us (uhh umm…the SF NEAT girls) the answer is yes. In their defense those cool nights by the bay do call for an extra layer more often than not. 

It turns out that one of our readers can’t resist a new scarf either! She writes “I have an ENORMOUS plastic bin under my bed filled w/scarves and Pashminas. Does NEAT have any suggestions as to how to make my scarves more visable?”. Answer:: Of course we do!!

Wrapping your scarves around cardboard keeps them in great shape AND makes them fit nicely into a basket or drawer.

 

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Wouldn't you accessorize with them more often if they were displayed like this?

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Thanks for joining us for another Tip Tuesday! What is your organizational issue? Email us at tips@neatmethod.com.

XX

The NEAT Girls

Tuesday 07.10.12

Tip Tuesday - Storing Large Objects...

Okay people! Get your head out of the gutter! Seriously, today's Tip Tuesday comes from a soon to be Mother of three! Her question was the following: "How can I store the abundance of light sabers and swords that my boys have? They are so long and just don't fit right in the bins I have. I was thinking something taller like a wrapping paper bin or garbage can but obviously I want to find something that looks nicer than those two things. Any ideas?" Good news - we are here to help! Here are just a few of our favorite storage solutions for larger objects.

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This rolling storage unit makes all toys look cuter than they really are. Plus! You can roll it away when company comes over - *BONUS*

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This "Crunch Can" has become a serious favorite with the NEAT Team and we can absolutely see a light saber looking FAB in it!

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For all of you DIYers out there... this one is very inspirational! Or, if you hate DIY...buy it here.

Happy Tip Tuesday! If you have any organizational issues that you need tips on, contact us at tips@neatmethod.com

xx

The NEAT Girls

Wednesday 07.04.12

Stars, Stripes, and Sparklers! Oh, My!

Happy Happy Fourth of July!

We here at NEAT Method happen to LOVE this “All American” Holiday! 

Yes, partly because of the historical importance - to celebrate the birth of American independence from Great Britain. For those of you who may have not gotten an A in history: on July 4, 1776 the US adopted the Declaration of Independence.

But aside from the history lesson, the 4th is a typically fun summer day filled with festivities ranging from fireworks and parades to family gatherings and barbecues.  The NEAT girls plan to be decked out in stars and stripes, writing our names in the air with sparklers at least a few times tonight, while also listening to Katy Perry’s “Firework” on repeat.

To help you stay organized in style on this fabulous day, we have decided to share some of our favorite holiday décor with you! We know that suggesting you purchase "costume like" items goes against every bone in our body, but believe it when we say that even NEAT breaks the rules sometimes!

 

It isn’t a party until you have a well thought out stylish American outfit - and this shirt is just perfect:

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And for the fellas, these will for sure give off the "All American Boy" vibe:

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We were raised to never come empty handed to a group gathering, so what better way to celebrate than by arriving with this ombre deliciousness: 

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And to organize your utensils in true red, white, and blue fashion:

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Lastly, one of our favorite ideas for the holiday is to decorate using these mugs (which will also be great for the Olympics!):

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We hope you enjoy your holiday, relaxing in patriotic style of course!

xx

The NEAT girls

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Tuesday 07.03.12

Tip Tuesday:: Happy 4th of July!

Happy Tuesday and early 4th of July!!!

Can't live without your iPhone? Neither can we. Well...actually we just can't imagine living without our favorite organizational apps. Evernote, ScannerPro, Priorities and TripIt are among our favorites! Have any others to add to the list?!?
 
Email your tip requests to tips@neatmethod.com
 
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