Month: September 2005

  • The Positives, Negatives of Space and Design

    I enjoyed a terrific article in today’s LA Times Real Estate section from Architect Arrol Gellner, who has 24 years experience in residential and commercial architecture.  In the architect’s viewpoint, both amateurs and architects routinely ignore the implications of positive and negative space– terms that are among the oldest and most basic concepts in design.  This includes approximating circular shapes, whether using architectural features, furniture arrangements or landscaping.

    Prior to starting my own consulting business, I spent many years in a Robert A.M Stern-designed building in Burbank and I remember many colleagues would mention headaches, poor work flow, a lot of dust and spiders on overhangs and sharply-cornered walls and general space management issues in their work areas.  I myself spent almost a year in an office with a post literally in the middle of my small office, the Admin Manager could not move me.  Recently, I heard rumors that the company was going to gut the building and rebuild the interiors, but who knows if that will ever happen.

    Read Gellner’s Inman News edgy-architectural viewpoint here.

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  • Adventures with a Professional Organizer – Testimonial

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    Last March I worked with a new Client in her home office.  She later reported on the "joys" of getting her office pulled together in her business blog, Next Level Biz Tips.  You can read Denise Wakeman’s testimonial here.  A "before" picture (obviously, left) and an "after," appear above.  Additional pictures are available here.

    The reason is really waited 6-months to post a follow-up was because I wanted to give Denise some time to see if the systems we set up worked for her– to see if she was able to return things to their "new" and more appropriate places and dedicate time each week to keep it all orderly.  Continue reading what she wrote to a business colleague earlier this week– 6 months after we completed the project:

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  • Clean-up The Clutter – OrganizingLA & John Trosko Mention on KABC-TV Los Angeles Website

    OrganizingLA and Professional Organizer John Trosko are greatful to have received a mention on Los Angeles’ KABC-TV abc.7.com website Faq2earlier this Summer, 2005.  Click here to see the brief, or read below.  You can also view the garage organizing segment we filmed here.

    "Organization stimulates creativity, eases stress, and frees your time.

    Whether you have a problem with clutter or just can not easily find things, clearing the clutter can help.  Check out www.organizingla.com… for more ways to organize."

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  • Walk-in? More like live-in – The New American Closet

    Fascinating article in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times "Equipped" section on the "once-humble closet [being] reborn as a pricey space for lounging, exercising, even partying."  Author Alexandria Abramian-Mott wrote about the super-sizing of closets to house "archives" of jeans, dresses, sweaters, shoes and even intimate parties.

    "inlaid wood, floor-to-ceiling shelves, shoe carousels, pull-out ironing boards, dual mirrors, framed artwork and places to lounge."

    "mini-fridges, sinks, sound systems, hanging dryers, three-way mirrors, climate-controlled fur rooms and shoe "chambers," which are closets devoted to footwear.  Almost all Clients request safes…"

    "As for the particle-board construction of decades past?  Forget about it.  Adams used mahogany and maple, glass, leather pulls and a special mechanization so drawers close with a whisper, not a bang."

    Companies profiled in the article include Troy Adams Design, Architect David Hertz of Santa Monica, California Closets, KB Home, Decades on Melrose, VIP Closet Consultants and designers Kathryn Ireland, Michael Berman and Sue Firestone.

    Read the article by clicking here, but of course you’ll need to be a (free) member of the LA Times on-line edition to access the archives.

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  • Expert Organizing Tips for Super-size Travelers

    I enjoyed a glorious Labor Day weekend under the Desert sun in Palm Springs, California.  110-Sas_airplane_1 degrees gave me an opportunity to read the local newspaper, The Desert Sun, poolside (yes, Professional Organizers need to relax and recharge.)  ‘Read an article by Michael Martinez on the difficulties super-size travelers have taking airline seats and handling safety concerns.  I wanted to share it because it includes some tips on making travel easier.  An important suggestion?

    "Tell the gate agent that you have trouble walking comfortably down the aisle and that it will make for faster boarding if you can find your seat before boarding begins."

    Read the complete article here as well as some observations from Tim Barry, owner and operator of www.super-sizeworld.com, seller of products geared to large customers, including airline travel seat belt extenders.  Great tips to organize and save time.

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  • Reinventing the Contents of your Wardrobe with Closet Therapy

    I love organizing.  It’s a passion.

    But I do end up in homes where some closet projects areBarbrahorowitz_2  much better suited to someone, well, better suited.  That’s why I was so happy to have found Closet Therapy last year, a company led by Barbra Horowitz, former top agent in the modeling industry.  Barbra makes a closet call and writes a prescription:  Custom tailor the things you love and get rid of the unloved through charitable donations.  Her expertise will help you resell last season’s almost-tired outfits, and with her exclusive resources, she’ll work with you to buy key, choice pieces that will flatter your fall.

    And of course when Barbra’s job is complete, OrganizingLA can come in and make it all look great.  Stylish hangers, see-through containers, color-coding, labels and for a splurge, a new closet system with clever space planning you would expect from an expert organizer.

    Barbra let me know she was written up recently in the LA Times and will be featured in an upcoming KABC-TV news piece with Jane Monreal on September 20th.

    Continue reading to see the LA Times article.  Barbra has offered our readers a complimentary first hour when you book an appointment with Closet Therapy.  She’s bi-coastal, taking appointments here in Los Angeles and New York.  Call it self-improvement for your closet.  But mention OrganizingLA and John Trosko.

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