Welcome to Epiplo Aris! We would like to invite you to explore our completely customised upholstery service. Every product is hand-made to perfection & each upholstery service is unique and is carried out to the highest quality from the cutting of your chosen fabric, to the intricate sewing using traditional skills, which are hand finished to the finest detail.
Showing posts with label Organising inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Organising inspiration. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Getting organised again
This morning I woke up and felt like the whole apartment was a mess after flicking through the gorgeous pages of the new Lonny Magazine. I know that before any shoot takes place in someones home, it's perfectly re-organised down to a T with some elements of personal & cluttering items removed... my question is, for those who have either just moved houses is where on earth do you put things/stow things away when they just don't fit into your home?Most people have a garage or a storage cabinet in their home (like the area surrounding your boiler or wardrobe in the entryway/hallway), but we don't have any of those options. Do you chuck all those big old boxes which once transported your precious 40" TV away, or boxes from brand new items away and just keep the manuals? Or have you got them stashed away nicely somewhere? Over at Deliciously Organised Carlee did a great post on how to prevent 'an avalanche waiting to happen' incident especially if you have an over crammed area either in your wardrobe, closet, cupboard that might just collapse or explode because you've over-stuffed it. We've all been there - i certainly have, and it's interesting to find dust and well all sorts of interestingness once you de-clutter. Check out her post on making a DIY clothed cabinet - the non sew easy easy way.
Carlee's cabinet with boxes labelled and stowed away behind the fabric.
Sneaky peek of floral fabric - pretty isn't it?
Aha - So that's what's hiding beneath the fabric!images via Deliciously Organised
image 1 via Lonny
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Trays, trays, trays... and Bar Carts
Going through issue 3 of Lonny again made me realise how much this magazine rocks! It's jammed packed with amazing tips, design & home bits from Interior Designers & creative peeps alike. Lizzie Bailey spoke to me through the words of using "trays, tray's, trays', use them in every room..." Trays are really brilliant for keeping a contained space organised and tidy and can be used for holding anything, piles of books, vases, stationary, the post, pretty, sentimental ornaments, oooh the list goes on. There are tray organisational usage and there also calls for another kind of tray use, and that's Bar use! I love these images below, they are my current inspiration source for trays!
Alaina's Bar set up, love, love, love!Also, I've got an Expedit shelving unit from Ikea - love what Alaina has done with hers - it's not filled with books!
I really like the simple tray table, just wish there was a TARGET in Greece.images above via Live Creating Yourself
Gilt Bamboo Bar Cart via Shop Chic Coles
Tray display via Absolutelybeautifulthings
I want one of these vintage Hermes trays! Via Lonny
Olivia Palmero has one too!
Another Bar Tray display - an obsession has begun. Am also loving the trunk underneath via LonnyTuesday, 23 March 2010
Decisions, Decisions... & Re-Organising
Before I launch into my 'Situation aaahhhhh', I wanna show you these lovely pics of perfect display-all with telephones. I 'borrowed' a vintage marble one from the mother-in-law and I need a perfect home for it. I pulled these images ages ago and have not labelled them properly (slap on the wrist) so not sure who to credit... oops
Spring has sprung and having recently immersed myself in a whole new load of inspirational sources, I can't help but feel like my home isn't quite what it should be. It's so important to live somewhere for a while before going on a mad spending spree on finishing touches for your home or even major statement pieces, I say this purely because i'm lacking in some key pieces of furniture and also because i've changed my mind about how one room should look like about a billion times!
Also a big thing that stumped the interior styling is how we're not supposed to put wall paper up or paint the walls or anything for a matter of fact, to top it off it's been written into our contract when we moved in. So we've got a really ugly looking fireplace and different coloured wooden panelling in the open plan living, different wood for the kitchen units & different coloured wooden front door. It's a freaking nightmare that all these 3 are essentially in one space. At least the wood panelling around the edge of the doors match the fireplace - just wish i could paint the yucky coloured bricks.
The state of my home is currently far from being a stylish abode, but having moved from one continent to another with no key pieces of furniture I got to start with a fresh palette and make the most with what we've got. Lucky me!
Admittedly it was difficult to source things in the style of what I was looking for, Greece has like two styles, really flash and super traditional, (and Chintz in Kolonaki is pricey) crikey! Plus you would have seen some of the previous posts on Beds, Sofas etc...so you know what I mean. I'm still looking for some unique pieces to add a personal touch and also I would love to be able to afford some classic design pieces of furniture too (say a few Platner Armchairs). Have you seen what Kelly Wearstler did with The Avalon Hotel? Yummy, High octane Hollywood glamour.
The Lobby Avalon Hotel, US
Back to reality: Thanks to Ikea, most of the basic pieces are well and truly sorted. I know everyone has blogged about the LACK bookcase/bookshelf - I've got the EXPEDIT one, but not the full size one. It's cheap and looks good!
So anyhow, I'm in full on organising mode now, this obsession started after reading up on what Tiffany & Carlee had to say on the fabulous 'Deliciously Organized' blog. Amongst other blogs who actually have a D.I.Y to-do list & follow through include the lovely couple over at Young House Love and super organised, project supergirl, Brooklyn Limestone. Thanks to them I feel like I need to get the house ship shape before Easter.
Why am I in such a state of organising? This latest rant is because we simply don't have enough room to hang stuff - mainly clothes, almost all my lovely jewellery is hidden in a drawer somewhere, we have lots of shoes, my stationary plus personal filing is in serious disarray, I even forget what I own half the time and some fab stuff that just never gets to see daylight. Ugh!
To get things kickin' off i've started making a to do list for each room, but for now ill leave you with a brilliant article from Oprah by Andrew Mellen on getting organised! I'm officially guilty of a lot of things written here.
The Ground Rules
1. Everything you own should have value, either because it's functional or beautiful or you just love it. Remember the question of what you'd grab if your house were on fire; that's your baseline for determining an object's worth.
2. Every item needs a place where it "lives." Setting things down on the coffee table or kitchen counter creates piles and confusion. My clients mock me when I say, "Where do your keys live? They live in a bowl or on a hook by the front door"—but you never lose anything when you put it where it lives.
3. Focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking is supposed to help you get more things done quickly, but when you try to do 19 things at once, everything ends up incomplete. You're trying to simplify your life, so simplify your approach to getting organized. Now let's get started.
The Crammed Kitchen Your kitchen is a food preparation area, not a storage space. The idea here is to weed out what you're not using, then put similar items together and in the best places.
Appliances: Machines that are broken or aren't used are just taking up space. If your Crock-Pot has a missing lid that you say you're going to replace someday, or you're keeping the bread maker just because it was a gift, get rid of it.
Food containers: All your plastic storage items should have corresponding lids. If you don't have one or the other, it's a recycling item.
Pots and pans: If there isn't a lot of space in your kitchen, use a pot rack. If you have the space, hang them along the wall for fast access.
Knives: If you're short on counter space, consider the type of knife block that fits in a drawer.
Plastic bags: Everybody has a plastic bag full of other plastic bags. Use the ones you have for trash can liners, or take them back to the supermarket for recycling. Keep canvas shopping totes in the car so you don't accumulate more plastic bags. Mesh shopping bags roll up small enough to be kept in your handbag for unexpected trips to the market.
Cookbooks: Unless you're a collector or you have a lot of room, edit them. How often do you use the cookbook? If you've had it for years but it's never gotten a single stain or burn from use, donate it.
The Pile of Mail
If you can't finish the mail, don't start the mail. You can't slice chicken for dinner and sort your bills at the same time, so when you come in the front door with a stack of mail, put it in the basket, box, or whatever container you have handy for this purpose. You don't have such a container? No wonder there are so many piles of mail around your house. When you're ready, take your mail basket to wherever you deal with paperwork. First, pull out the circulars and flyers and set them aside; you'll either clip the coupons or put them in the recycling bin—later. Also set aside the catalogs. If you're shopping for something specific, save them. (Caveat: no multiples. The new catalog replaces the old one, which gets recycled.) If you're getting catalogs you never wanted in the first place, pull off the pages with the mailing label and put them aside; that's an action item for later. Then separate the rest: bills, personal correspondence, time-sensitive invitations, requests for charitable donations, membership renewals, new credit card offers, and so forth. Open the bills first because they represent a relationship that must be honored; if you want the services, you have to pay. All the stuffing that says "You've been selected to receive these free gifts" goes into the recycling bin. All you want is the bill and the return envelope. Put any invitations aside; later on, you'll transfer those into your calendar and send your response. If there's room in your home office, have small bins in which to stack bills, invitations, and the correspondence you're keeping. When you're done sorting, then you can read your magazines. Or get those back pages you ripped out, call the companies that sent them, and tell them what you don't want—their catalogs.
The Overstuffed Closet
My clients have a lot of "someday" best. Someday I'm going to fit into these again. Someday this trend might return. Someday I'm going to wear this. The problem is, "someday" doesn't exist; there's only today. Here's what to do with what's being worn only by your hangers.
Clothes that don't fit: If you've gained weight, keep the smaller-sized clothes that you'll get the most use from and work on fitting into them again. If you've already lost weight, don't keep a whole closetful of big clothes as though one day you're going to suddenly be struck fat; donate them.
Trend items: If you're waiting for something to come back in style, don't. Even if it does return, it will look dated—and so will you.
Special occasion outfits: The rule that says "If you haven't worn it in a year, donate it" is a fine guide for when to say goodbye.
Sentimental pieces: You say, "I really loved this jacket." I know you did. But if you haven't worn it in ages and it doesn't work with your other clothes, it's time for it to go away. If you're saving your wedding dress, be honest—do you have the space to store it? Do you have a daughter you're saving it for, and is it a timeless classic she won't roll her eyes at? If the answers are yes, keep it. If you're short on storage space, you have only sons, or your dress has puffy sleeves, lace, and buttons up the arms because you did a kind of Linda Ronstadt circa 1974 thing, give it to a thrift store. Now that you have a closetful of clothes that you actually wear, organize them—all the short-sleeved shirts together, all the jeans together, etc. Do the same with your shoes. If you have the space, they can be kept on shelves so you can see them immediately. If not, try stacking shelves or hanging shoe racks.
The Drawer Full of Photos
If you don't have time to put your photos in an album or scrapbook, it's okay to stop pretending you're going to do it. Get clear shoe boxes to store them in instead. Then get a kitchen timer. Why? Because sorting through photos leads to reminiscing, and suddenly it's three hours later. But you're not looking at photos now—you're organizing them so that looking at them later will be more fun. Decide how long you have and set the timer. Group the photos by subject—the family reunion, your trip to Istanbul. While you're grouping, you're also sorting: Is it a clear picture? Do you even know who those people are? Throw away any that don't measure up, and any in which you can't stand the sight of yourself. When you're done, label the boxes accordingly: "Family Reunion, February 2008."
The New Things That Haven't Been Used
Do you buy things because they're on sale? If you didn't need them, they weren't a bargain. Here are the three questions to ask before you buy anything:
1. Where would this live? A very practical consideration, especially if you're trying to declutter.
2. What am I going to do with it? If it has a purpose or fills a need, fine. If you already have four of them, not fine.
3. What is it replacing? When something is broken or you don't like the old version as much as the new one, then by all means, charge away. But be prepared to get rid of the old item when you get home.
The Inherited Items and Mementos
Your home is not a museum. Many people subscribe to the unwritten rule that you're obligated to keep your great-aunt's dishes, even if you don't like them, just because she used them. But maybe your great-aunt never liked them either and also felt too guilty to let them go. Things don't have to become yours simply because they belonged to a relative. You're not living her life, and you're not a bad person for giving inherited items away. If the acquired stuff is worth money, you may feel bound to it financially: "It's real silver—I can't give it away." Yes, you can. Donate it, document what it's worth, and take it off your taxes. Or give it to another family member who would really like it. Or sell it on eBay. And if you like something enough to keep it, consider it a replacement, not an addition—keep Grandma's reading lamp, but donate the one you already have. Mementos from your own life are harder to part with because when you see them, you relive the story: To you, it's the cashmere V-neck you wore on your first date with the man who would become your husband; to anyone else, it's just an old sweater full of holes. The key to parting with items suspended in time is not to replay that story. Leave the room, come back in, and see what you're really holding on to—a sweater that's seen better days. Rule of thumb: If it serves no purpose, let it go.
Spring has sprung and having recently immersed myself in a whole new load of inspirational sources, I can't help but feel like my home isn't quite what it should be. It's so important to live somewhere for a while before going on a mad spending spree on finishing touches for your home or even major statement pieces, I say this purely because i'm lacking in some key pieces of furniture and also because i've changed my mind about how one room should look like about a billion times!
Also a big thing that stumped the interior styling is how we're not supposed to put wall paper up or paint the walls or anything for a matter of fact, to top it off it's been written into our contract when we moved in. So we've got a really ugly looking fireplace and different coloured wooden panelling in the open plan living, different wood for the kitchen units & different coloured wooden front door. It's a freaking nightmare that all these 3 are essentially in one space. At least the wood panelling around the edge of the doors match the fireplace - just wish i could paint the yucky coloured bricks.
The state of my home is currently far from being a stylish abode, but having moved from one continent to another with no key pieces of furniture I got to start with a fresh palette and make the most with what we've got. Lucky me!
Admittedly it was difficult to source things in the style of what I was looking for, Greece has like two styles, really flash and super traditional, (and Chintz in Kolonaki is pricey) crikey! Plus you would have seen some of the previous posts on Beds, Sofas etc...so you know what I mean. I'm still looking for some unique pieces to add a personal touch and also I would love to be able to afford some classic design pieces of furniture too (say a few Platner Armchairs). Have you seen what Kelly Wearstler did with The Avalon Hotel? Yummy, High octane Hollywood glamour.
The Lobby Avalon Hotel, USBack to reality: Thanks to Ikea, most of the basic pieces are well and truly sorted. I know everyone has blogged about the LACK bookcase/bookshelf - I've got the EXPEDIT one, but not the full size one. It's cheap and looks good!
So anyhow, I'm in full on organising mode now, this obsession started after reading up on what Tiffany & Carlee had to say on the fabulous 'Deliciously Organized' blog. Amongst other blogs who actually have a D.I.Y to-do list & follow through include the lovely couple over at Young House Love and super organised, project supergirl, Brooklyn Limestone. Thanks to them I feel like I need to get the house ship shape before Easter.
Why am I in such a state of organising? This latest rant is because we simply don't have enough room to hang stuff - mainly clothes, almost all my lovely jewellery is hidden in a drawer somewhere, we have lots of shoes, my stationary plus personal filing is in serious disarray, I even forget what I own half the time and some fab stuff that just never gets to see daylight. Ugh!
To get things kickin' off i've started making a to do list for each room, but for now ill leave you with a brilliant article from Oprah by Andrew Mellen on getting organised! I'm officially guilty of a lot of things written here.
The Ground Rules
1. Everything you own should have value, either because it's functional or beautiful or you just love it. Remember the question of what you'd grab if your house were on fire; that's your baseline for determining an object's worth.
2. Every item needs a place where it "lives." Setting things down on the coffee table or kitchen counter creates piles and confusion. My clients mock me when I say, "Where do your keys live? They live in a bowl or on a hook by the front door"—but you never lose anything when you put it where it lives.
3. Focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking is supposed to help you get more things done quickly, but when you try to do 19 things at once, everything ends up incomplete. You're trying to simplify your life, so simplify your approach to getting organized. Now let's get started.
The Crammed Kitchen Your kitchen is a food preparation area, not a storage space. The idea here is to weed out what you're not using, then put similar items together and in the best places.
Appliances: Machines that are broken or aren't used are just taking up space. If your Crock-Pot has a missing lid that you say you're going to replace someday, or you're keeping the bread maker just because it was a gift, get rid of it.
Food containers: All your plastic storage items should have corresponding lids. If you don't have one or the other, it's a recycling item.
Pots and pans: If there isn't a lot of space in your kitchen, use a pot rack. If you have the space, hang them along the wall for fast access.
Knives: If you're short on counter space, consider the type of knife block that fits in a drawer.
Plastic bags: Everybody has a plastic bag full of other plastic bags. Use the ones you have for trash can liners, or take them back to the supermarket for recycling. Keep canvas shopping totes in the car so you don't accumulate more plastic bags. Mesh shopping bags roll up small enough to be kept in your handbag for unexpected trips to the market.
Cookbooks: Unless you're a collector or you have a lot of room, edit them. How often do you use the cookbook? If you've had it for years but it's never gotten a single stain or burn from use, donate it.
The Pile of Mail
If you can't finish the mail, don't start the mail. You can't slice chicken for dinner and sort your bills at the same time, so when you come in the front door with a stack of mail, put it in the basket, box, or whatever container you have handy for this purpose. You don't have such a container? No wonder there are so many piles of mail around your house. When you're ready, take your mail basket to wherever you deal with paperwork. First, pull out the circulars and flyers and set them aside; you'll either clip the coupons or put them in the recycling bin—later. Also set aside the catalogs. If you're shopping for something specific, save them. (Caveat: no multiples. The new catalog replaces the old one, which gets recycled.) If you're getting catalogs you never wanted in the first place, pull off the pages with the mailing label and put them aside; that's an action item for later. Then separate the rest: bills, personal correspondence, time-sensitive invitations, requests for charitable donations, membership renewals, new credit card offers, and so forth. Open the bills first because they represent a relationship that must be honored; if you want the services, you have to pay. All the stuffing that says "You've been selected to receive these free gifts" goes into the recycling bin. All you want is the bill and the return envelope. Put any invitations aside; later on, you'll transfer those into your calendar and send your response. If there's room in your home office, have small bins in which to stack bills, invitations, and the correspondence you're keeping. When you're done sorting, then you can read your magazines. Or get those back pages you ripped out, call the companies that sent them, and tell them what you don't want—their catalogs.
The Overstuffed Closet
My clients have a lot of "someday" best. Someday I'm going to fit into these again. Someday this trend might return. Someday I'm going to wear this. The problem is, "someday" doesn't exist; there's only today. Here's what to do with what's being worn only by your hangers.
Clothes that don't fit: If you've gained weight, keep the smaller-sized clothes that you'll get the most use from and work on fitting into them again. If you've already lost weight, don't keep a whole closetful of big clothes as though one day you're going to suddenly be struck fat; donate them.
Trend items: If you're waiting for something to come back in style, don't. Even if it does return, it will look dated—and so will you.
Special occasion outfits: The rule that says "If you haven't worn it in a year, donate it" is a fine guide for when to say goodbye.
Sentimental pieces: You say, "I really loved this jacket." I know you did. But if you haven't worn it in ages and it doesn't work with your other clothes, it's time for it to go away. If you're saving your wedding dress, be honest—do you have the space to store it? Do you have a daughter you're saving it for, and is it a timeless classic she won't roll her eyes at? If the answers are yes, keep it. If you're short on storage space, you have only sons, or your dress has puffy sleeves, lace, and buttons up the arms because you did a kind of Linda Ronstadt circa 1974 thing, give it to a thrift store. Now that you have a closetful of clothes that you actually wear, organize them—all the short-sleeved shirts together, all the jeans together, etc. Do the same with your shoes. If you have the space, they can be kept on shelves so you can see them immediately. If not, try stacking shelves or hanging shoe racks.
The Drawer Full of Photos
If you don't have time to put your photos in an album or scrapbook, it's okay to stop pretending you're going to do it. Get clear shoe boxes to store them in instead. Then get a kitchen timer. Why? Because sorting through photos leads to reminiscing, and suddenly it's three hours later. But you're not looking at photos now—you're organizing them so that looking at them later will be more fun. Decide how long you have and set the timer. Group the photos by subject—the family reunion, your trip to Istanbul. While you're grouping, you're also sorting: Is it a clear picture? Do you even know who those people are? Throw away any that don't measure up, and any in which you can't stand the sight of yourself. When you're done, label the boxes accordingly: "Family Reunion, February 2008."
The New Things That Haven't Been Used
Do you buy things because they're on sale? If you didn't need them, they weren't a bargain. Here are the three questions to ask before you buy anything:
1. Where would this live? A very practical consideration, especially if you're trying to declutter.
2. What am I going to do with it? If it has a purpose or fills a need, fine. If you already have four of them, not fine.
3. What is it replacing? When something is broken or you don't like the old version as much as the new one, then by all means, charge away. But be prepared to get rid of the old item when you get home.
The Inherited Items and Mementos
Your home is not a museum. Many people subscribe to the unwritten rule that you're obligated to keep your great-aunt's dishes, even if you don't like them, just because she used them. But maybe your great-aunt never liked them either and also felt too guilty to let them go. Things don't have to become yours simply because they belonged to a relative. You're not living her life, and you're not a bad person for giving inherited items away. If the acquired stuff is worth money, you may feel bound to it financially: "It's real silver—I can't give it away." Yes, you can. Donate it, document what it's worth, and take it off your taxes. Or give it to another family member who would really like it. Or sell it on eBay. And if you like something enough to keep it, consider it a replacement, not an addition—keep Grandma's reading lamp, but donate the one you already have. Mementos from your own life are harder to part with because when you see them, you relive the story: To you, it's the cashmere V-neck you wore on your first date with the man who would become your husband; to anyone else, it's just an old sweater full of holes. The key to parting with items suspended in time is not to replay that story. Leave the room, come back in, and see what you're really holding on to—a sweater that's seen better days. Rule of thumb: If it serves no purpose, let it go.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
Chic Wardrobes Ideas
A while back I saw some of these gorgeous images on Instyle and much later more 'walk-in wardrobe' ideas over at Habitually Chic. It's high time I got started on re-organising my closet space. Some of these images are so dreamy and definitely an inspiration to help kick start the act of 'chuck, cherish & charity' the bits in my wardrobe.For selfish reasons, i'd love a room, with full on chandeliers, intricate wallpaper, a large antique style mirror & plenty of space to pile away all the shoes, bags, clothes i've hoarded from my days in fashion, but i'm not so sure what the Mr. would say. Right now there just isn't that kind of space or freedom to let the creative wardrobe juices fly. Sigh...
Images via Habitually Chic, Instyle.com, MadebyGirl, Home-Designing
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Bookshelf, bookcase & book piling inspiration
A bookcase/shelf is not the only place to plonk your books or magazine... there are far more fun & imaginative ideas to play with. Epiplo Aris have selected some inspirational images for organising your book space and to show you what else can be done. We've come across the EXPEDIT bookshelf Ikea, which is cheap and cheerful and can be used to divide a room space, be backed with colourful printed paper, be a place to feature your books as well a place for still life display.
A very helpful guide to perfecting a bookshelf comes from House to Home - a brilliant website for expert advice on decorating your home and plenty of ideas.
Statement pieces Create visual impact by displaying white ceramics with a strong silhouette against bold-coloured shelving.
Attractive storage
Keep receipts, appliance manuals and paperwork in pretty boxes.
Personal favourites
Family photographs add character, while treasured objects make attractive bookends.
Still-life displays
Small posies of colourful flowers give a seasonal feel, while empty vases can lend accent colour.
By the book
Sort out your reading matter by subject, colour of spine and size. Creating vertical stacks as well as horizontal rows will help to add variety.
Added extras
When not in use, items such as place mats and candlesticks can be used to create interest.
All images via House to Home, Elements of Style, Isuwannee, Brooklyn Limestone and Apartment Therapy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
