OrganizingLA Blog

Organizing Emergency: A Reader Wants To Buy a Laundry Hamper - Part One

DaneNow on Twitter wants to know where professional organizers get their hampers.

He's just moved into a new house in West Los Angeles and headed to IKEA to shop for a temporary clothes hamper for his closet. We put this together for Dale to get him started (and by the way, you can follow us on Twitter, too-- click here).

What is a Laundry Hamper?

A hamper serves an important function in a home. The unit is a homebase to gather, sort and store dirty laundry. By strategically placing the hamper where you need it most, you'll save time and energy doing laundry. The same kind of container can be used to re-distribute clean clothes back to their origin. Laundry Hampers are usually made of wicker, but are now offered in wood, canvas, fabric, stainless sleel, plastic, mesh and acrylic.

Save Yourself Disappointment, Ask These Questions Before Buying a Hamper:

Before Dane heads out and chooses a hamper, we suggest asking these quick questions. Thinking about them ahead of time will save him and his family time and disappointment.

Wondering How to Plan Your Storage? Take a Cruise

 

One of our organizing clients has an office at Crossroads of the World in Hollywood. 

   

The art deco moderne complex was designed by Robert V. Derrah in 1936 and is often referred to as the first modern shopping center in America.  Various old world cottage bungalows surround one large center building created to resemble a streamline ocean liner.  How cool is that?

It's no wonder streamline created such a design influence, even to this day.  Below in the black and white picture, you can see how the period inspired this West Hollywood-area streamline duplex home.  The home still stands today, we used to walk past it everyday.

Much of 1930s design was borrowed from the golden age of transportation, especially ocean liners.  Ocean liners have long been a source of fascination, not only in their beauty but in their functionality.  A transatlantic voyage in the 1930's and today's "sea cities" have much in common-- tight, functional storage for adventurous passengers.

During the Golden Age of Travel in the 1930s, transatlantic voyagers captured the allure of distinctively designed passenger cabins:  rich woods, fine linens, shiny brass fixtures, flawless service-- all in a postage-sized space with concealed cabinetry, floor-to-ceiling and petite fixtures, this professional organizer's daydream!

Modern day travelers planning a small space can take a design clue from the past and book a voyage on today’s cruise ships.  A shrewd use of space and efficiency where high-style and beauty meet functionality hasn’t really changed in over 60 years.  The principles are still the same.

Let us know about your small-space adventures.  Have you ever traveled on a cruise ship? Was the storage functional (and beautiful) enough for you?

Read more on the Crossroads of the World in Hollywood.

Crossroads - Photos by Floyd E. Bariscale on Flickr

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Archive Your Wedding Gown Like a Museum

We were in West Hollywood yesterday, picking up dry cleaning and stumbled on some information about archiving textiles.  While this is not the most exciting news, we do run across this issue occasionally-- boxing up wedding gowns and children's clothes for organizing clients.

Designed to last 200-years, my local dry cleaner is now using archival-quality boxes and tissue paper just like museums, overseen by Federal and State governments for the preservation of historical costumes, and by libraries for the preservation of rare books and magazines.  You are familiar with this material already because archival board is used for the backing in framing pictures.

Once your gown has been preserved, it's up to you to incorporate these tasks into your datebook:

• Every 2-3 years open the box and inspect the gown;
• Wash your hands with baking soda mixed with warm water prior to touching the garment;
• Examine each layer, box, tissue, fabric;
• If you see spots or discolorations, contact your cleaner;
• It is not necessary to remove the garment for initial inspections.  Examine top layer of the gown, and in-between a few folds;
• Wash the cotton liner and cover every 10-15 years;
• After initial washing, rewash every 20 years.
• Tissue should be replaced every 25-30 years.

A quick check on Microsoft Outlook does prove that you can make a to-do task in 30 years.  So there's no way you'll miss it.

Image courtesy Cat and Adi at Next Exit Photography.  Christina and Kevin's wedding ceremony at La Venta in Palos Verdes, Calif.

One Couple Gives Up Bondage and Succumbs to Clutter

Warning:  This post is NOT for the faint of heart.

Clutter has gone controversal, and satirical.  Recyling has gotten out of control.

Not too long ago, the Onion published a very, very naughty satirical article about an Illinois couple who became overcome with modern life, children, junk mail, unsolicited catalogs, Home Depot receipts, unread issues of O, The Oprah Magazine and medical bills.

If you didn't know, The Onion is a parody newspaper published weekly in print and online, daily.  Wikipedia has a long list of published articles that went overboard.  This one is no exception.

Do not read this article if you are easily offended!

RotaBob Rotary Closet Racks

This next post may not rock your world, but it's always interesting to see new products, especially when the products may have been transfered from industrial to residential use.

 

 

RotaBob rotary closet racks seem to be gaining consumer momentum, thanks to an upcoming appearance on "Today's Family" on the ABC Family Channel.  The units are an import from China, and distributed by a company in Palm Springs, CA.  They hold numerous garments and you manually pull the "closet" to get to your clothes.  They're supposed to be highly efficient in a small space, holding over 100 garments.  Prices start around $600 bucks.

The show will feature the Rotabob in the segment "America's Most Innovative Closet Solutions."

See a video of Rotobob by clicking here.  It's worth two seconds of your time.  There are some better pictures in an eBay closed auction (click here to see the pictures).

We love any closet that has fresh flowers, a chandelier, and a Plasma (see picture, above right).

 

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Hangers Direct Launches Closet Division

For the past week, my assistant and I have been organizing in La Canada Flintridge, a beautiful city just north of the hassle and bustle of Los Angeles.

We've met this wonderful woman named Bee who works at the deli counter at the local market.  Bee and her netted beehive hairdo have been celebrating their 27th year at the store.  Boy, does she give great customer service.  We've been leaving with a smile on our faces every visit. 

Also at the house in La Canada, we've been working in and out of several closets and thinking about space planning and accessories. We found out this week that Hanger's Direct, a supplier of closet hangers and accessories has announced plans to launch a closet division.

Hanger's Direct will soon be offering a variety of wood, metal and plastic products designed to cater and complement the many different colors and designs of today's custom and prefabricated closets.

This new venture with Hanger's Direct is encouraging because the company offers terrific service and a great product.  So we're excited to see what they'll unveil.  We think even Dee at the local market would be proud.

Photo courtesy of city of La Canada Flintridge

[5.17.07 - We have updated this post so there is no confusion as to who is starting this venture.  We apologize for any inconvenience! -- John]