Archives for June 2009

Workspace of the Week: Homemade brew

This week’s Workspace of the Week is Eric’s Brewing Workspace submitted by Ladydemona:

Most every hobby comes with very specific stuff. If you play golf, you need clubs, golf balls, a golf bag, and a glove just to step onto a course. If you bike, at the bare minimum you need a bicycle and helmet. Home brewers need exponentially more equipment and supplies. This week’s workspace of the week shows that just because you need a lot of things to make beer at home doesn’t mean it has to be a mess. I know very little about making beer, and even I’m impressed by this well-organized space. I bet Eric’s beer tastes really good.

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Posted by Erin on Jun 19, 2009 | 11 Comments | Tweet This

And the winner of the FranklinCovey briefcase giveaway is …

Thank you to EVERYONE (all 1294 of you!) who participated in our FranklinCovey briefcase giveaway. We never expected so many entries! Wow!

At 10:00 a.m. ET this morning, I closed the comments and counted up the entries. Then, I headed over to the Random Integer Generator at random.org and entered in the data:

Out popped the following number:

#697 — Steven

I have contacted the winner and he will be receiving his prize from FranklinCovey early next week. Congratulations to our winner and thank you to FranklinCovey for their generosity!

As I mentioned yesterday, if you weren’t a winner, be sure to check out the FranklinCovey’s biggest sale of the year that is currently being held. Some items are as much as 70 percent off their regular price. If you need to get your schedule organized, now is a great time to take advantage of their biggest sale of the year.

Posted by Erin on Jun 18, 2009 | 6 Comments | Tweet This

Zip and Dry apron

On page 42 of the July issue of Real Simple magazine, there is a picture of a wonderfully ingenious multi-purpose apron (at right). The Zip and Dry apron has a dishtowel at its bottom that can be used during cooking and afterward for cleaning:

Made from heavy-duty fabric, the apron will keep your clothing free from splatters, while the attached towel is the ideal place to wipe your hands during the process. When you’re all done cooking, simply unzip the towel and use it to clean up. Complete with multipurpose pockets.

The zippered dishtowel could easily be added to the bottom of any apron as a simple DIY project. However, at $25, it’s not a bad price for an apron. Either way, I like that this design was made with an actual cook in mind.

Posted by Erin on Jun 18, 2009 | 16 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: USB microwave

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

This week’s unitasker is specifically for our England-based readers. Sure, you’re across the pond, but that doesn’t seem to keep you free from lovely items such as:

Yes, it’s a USB microwave from Heinz. The Beanzawave is perfect for the office worker who is chained to his desk:

The mini-micro has been designed by microwave expert Gordon Andrews and Stephen Frazer, an authority on industrial design and managng director of Frazer Designers.

Apart from its size, the key breakthrough is the use of a combination of mobile phone radio frequencies to create the heat to cook both on the outside and within in under a minute.

Mr Andrews, the managing director of GAMA Microwave Technology, said it is possible to ‘tune’ the radio-frequencies to provide the best results with any small product.

‘It is possible to heat a pie, a burger, a cup of soup or tea in quick time,’ he said.

‘There is the option of powering it with lithium ion batteries that would make it completely portable, which would be a help to fishermen, campers or sportsmen.’

I don’t know what is creepier, the fact that a worker doesn’t have enough time to leave his desk to eat a meal or that this thing cooks using mobile phone radio frequencies. Well, um, thankfully it’s not yet for sale and only looking to be manufactured in England.

Special thanks to my college pal Adam at Serious Eats for giving me a head’s up about this product.

Posted by Erin on Jun 17, 2009 | 40 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

2007

Posted by PJ on Jun 17, 2009 | Comments Off | Tweet This

FranklinCovey briefcase giveaway

The wonderful people at FranklinCovey recently contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in giving away a briefcase to one of our readers. Compared to most of the offers I get to give things away, this is definitely the most expensive offer we’ve ever had. So, I took them up on their generous offer to get a briefcase into one of our reader’s hands.

The briefcase is the Tyson Laptop Bag in black and it retails for $189 (see, I told you they were being generous). Check out the link for specific product details.

To enter for a chance to win one of the briefcases, simply leave ONE comment to this post indicating that you want to participate in the drawing. On Thursday, June 18, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. ET, I will enter the number of comments into the Random Integer Generator at random.org and select one random winner. Good luck!

Also, if you turn out not to be a winner (or even if you are), be sure to check out the FranklinCovey’s biggest sale of the year that is currently being held. Some items are as much as 70 percent off their regular price. If you need to get your schedule organized, now is a great time to get FranklinCovey products for a little less dough.

Warning: If you leave a comment to this post that isn’t an entry, I will DELETE it. Nothing personal, I just don’t want to select a winner who isn’t interested in participating in the giveaway.

Posted by Erin on Jun 17, 2009 | 1,293 Comments | Tweet This

Crowning the king or queen of clutter

Angie’s List, a website where consumers provide reports and reviews of local service companies, is having a Clutter Contest this summer:

Submit photos of clutter catastrophes — whether you own or another worthy candidate’s — and a brief explanation to mailbag@angieslist.com by August 1. We’ll select the most awe-inspiringly hideous office or home and crown a national king or queen of clutter. Whoever “wins” our contest will qualify for a clutter cleanout compliments of a highly rated service company in the Organization-Home and Garage category [on their website]. And we’ll feature the winner in our magazine.

Even if you aren’t a contender to be the king or queen of clutter, you might know someone who could use some help. Pass the word along (kindly, of course) and maybe your friend can win a free makeover!

Posted by Erin on Jun 16, 2009 | 17 Comments | Tweet This

Palm Pre: A review by an ex-dumbphone user

Today we welcome back Unclutterer programmer Gary DuVall to the front side of the site.

Smartphones are all the rage these days. From Palm’s earlier creations, through the Blackberry and the iPhone, I’ve managed to resist the urge to upgrade from my old Motorola RAZR. As my thinking went (and had for nearly a decade), all I needed was a phone that worked — not one that included the kitchen sink. All of that went away this past weekend when I finally upgraded to Palm’s newest creation: the Palm Pre.

The Palm Pre sports a veritable plethora of features found on many competing smartphones: a camera, integrated mail and contact management, an easily-accessible online store (called the App Catalog), media playback, and more. What set the Pre apart from the others in my mind were some distinctive features that promised to make life just that much easier: Synergy, multitasking, iTunes sync, turn-by-turn GPS, and a very sharp 3-megapixel camera with integrated LED flash.

Synergy, Palm’s contact management system, integrates and merges your contact lists from Gmail, Facebook, Instant Messaging, and Microsoft Exchange into one easy-to-manage profile for each contact. Merging my Facebook contacts with my AIM list was easy; out of approximately 175 contacts, only three wouldn’t automatically merge. Linking the remaining three unmerged AIM contacts with the profiles they belonged under took maybe two extra minutes.

One of the more quirky and unexpected features of the Pre is its ability to masquerade as an iPod and synchronize with your existing media library using iTunes. While it won’t allow you to listen to files containing Apple’s DRM, it will synchronize your non-DRM MP3 and MP4 video collection to its 8GB storage without a problem. One caveat: Apple may not look upon this feature so favorably in the future, so you may not want to exclusively depend on it.

With the Pre’s on-board 3-megapixel camera, I no longer find it necessary to bring my everyday point-and-shoot along with me. The pictures are more than acceptable in both well-lit and low-lit situations. The LED flash works well enough, providing just enough light to get the right shot in dim light. That said, if you’re a dedicated amateur photographer, you may want to stick with your higher-end camera because the configuration options are currently slim.

The on-board turn-by-turn GPS system, called “Sprint Navigation” by Telenav, could easily replace most in-car GPS systems — provided you’re in a coverage area. Looking for the nearest bank? Three button presses and your directions are already queued up. While Google Maps on the Pre also offers much the same functionality, the spoken directions of Telenav’s system make it a much safer proposition. Sprint Navigation is provided free on the Pre.

And now we come to multi-tasking, perhaps Palm’s biggest achievement with the Pre. WebOS, Palm’s new operating system, allows multiple applications to be opened and used at once in the form of “cards.” While the iPhone has unofficially supported minor multitasking in certain applications, Palm takes it to a whole new level, allowing a user to view a PDF (through either the included PDF Reader or the newly-available Shortcovers e-reader application), listen to Pandora, map out a route using Google Maps, write an email, and browse the web all at once without having to close out from any of them to access the other.

While the App catalog may be sparse until more developers get on-board, there’s already evidence the organization-minded will have even more to enjoy on the platform: Evernote and SplashID Secure Password Manager were both released last week, offering even more tools to keep everything in its place.

With the Pre, I’ve come to realize just how much the smartphone has to offer: an innovative OS just ripe for organizing multitaskers, and (most of all) I no longer have to keep a notepad, GPS, point-and-shoot camera, or iPod with me. While I’m not going to step into the inevitable “Is it better than the iPhone?” fray, I can at least tell you that Palm has most certainly made me a believer in keeping life organized using the Pre.

(The Palm Pre is currently available for $199 (after $100 mail-in rebate) with a 2 year contract through Sprint, but other Palm phones using the WebOS platform are expected to find their way to other carriers including AT&T as well as Verizon in the next 6-12 months.)

Posted by Gary on Jun 16, 2009 | 16 Comments | Tweet This

Cordotz clear cable confusion

Reader Tomas recently tipped me off to Cordotz, a cable organizing solution.

I really like the cord identifier straps and the cord identifier buttons for labeling and controlling the mess under your desk or behind the television. Pre-printed labels come with each package, and you can also print your own labels with their DIY sheet. A pack of 10 buttons or straps sells for $10. Oddly, to purchase the items, you need to click on the “locate” tab on the homepage.

Posted by Erin on Jun 15, 2009 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

Your children can have toys and you can have an uncluttered home

A few times after speaking and writing about having an uncluttered home, people have said to me:

You obviously don’t have kids.

I know that these are lighthearted statements meant to let off a little steam about one’s personal experience, but they always rub me the wrong way.

Simply stated: Having children and being uncluttered are not mutually exclusive endeavors. You can have both. Problems occur when people (of any age) have more stuff than they can store and routines do not exist to take care of the things they own.

If a child has so many toys that they are strewn in every room of the house, it’s time to get rid of a large selection of the toys. If the child doesn’t have a toy chest, cabinet, or closet to properly store his toys, then he needs one. Lay out all of your child’s toys on the living room floor for him to review. Next, have him pick which toys will be kept and which ones will be donated to charity (or recycled or thrown away, if necessary). Have your child go with you to make the charitable donation so that he can see the children who are benefitting from his generosity. Then, after returning home, organize the remaining toys in a designated storage area.

A reader on the site recently left a comment that I agree with wholeheartedly:

If a child is old enough to get out a toy to play, she is old enough to put it away.

Yes, it takes diligence to monitor a child’s behavior to know when to encourage her to put away her things after play time, but it’s not impossible. If you’re unable to keep on top of toys being put away at the end of every play time, then have a routine in place where the child walks through the entire house and puts away all errant toys 15 minutes before starting her bedtime routine. Teaching children these life skills at an early age will help them to always live an uncluttered life. Yes, there will be times when your encouragement will be met with resistance, but such are the ways of parenthood.

Be sure to check out our previous posts in the Baby and Children categories to get even more ideas and suggestions about keeping toy clutter under control.

Posted by Erin on Jun 15, 2009 | 71 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

2007

Posted by PJ on Jun 14, 2009 | Comments Off | Tweet This

The Uniform Project

We’ve talked in the past about uniforms and how having a signature look can reduce clutter in your wardrobe (like Seth Brundle in the movie The Fly). We know that wearing the same outfit every day isn’t for everyone (certainly not for me), but a number of people do pull it off successfully. We’ve recently stumbled upon The Uniform Project and are amazed at the variety Sheena Matheiken is getting from a single dress and a lot of accessories.

Starting May 2009, I have pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade’s boudoir.

She takes a picture every day of her outfit and posts it online. The simple black dress can be worn either forward or backward, which gives the dress even more versatility. The first image below is the plain dress, and the other two are simply ones I fancied. Check out the website to learn more about the project:

Posted by Erin on Jun 13, 2009 | 51 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: How to use Entourage to manage e-mail

Reader Bev submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

The company I went to work for in March has both Macs and PCs (me=graphic designer, Mac). The IT department has all of us using Entourage to keep us on a consistent system. I know that Entourage has features to help organize e-mail and create tasks, but I’m not using them yet. Help–please!

Bev, either you’re a plant, or you have the best timing in the universe. Last week, Microsoft arranged for me to have a phone call with Peter Walsh about Entourage for Mac. I’m not kidding. So, even though I’m not an Entourage user, I have a little more insight into the product than I did before the call.

For starters, Microsoft has fantastic training videos on their website to teach you how to get your e-mail, to-do lists, and calendar in sync. After watching the “Get started” video, choose from the other 11 videos in the left column under “Entourage 2008: videos.”

Peter Walsh is actually a fan of using Entourage as a home maintenance system, tracking everything from appliance warranties and finances to children’s schedules. “It’s a simple spreadsheet to manage all aspects of your life,” Walsh said.

He likes its comprehensive nature because in one place you can have your e-mail, calendar, and task/to-do lists. You can also color coordinate messages and calendar items.

For anyone not using Entourage, you can download a 30 day free trial of Office 2008, which includes the program. And, as Walsh said, “If it works, great. If not, move onto what works best for you.”

However, Bev, at work you don’t have much of a choice about the program that you use. So, learn all that you can from the videos and take advantage of the planning features in the program. Peter Walsh seems to like them, and that is an organized endorsement if I ever heard one.

Thank you for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Good luck getting your e-mail under control, and check out our other posts on e-mail management for non-program specific ideas.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Posted by Erin on Jun 12, 2009 | 9 Comments | Tweet This

Workspace of the Week: A comfortable home office

This week’s Workspace of the Week is Patrix99′s office in black:

There are knick knacks and pictures and books and CDs, but everything has a home. This desk is an organized, functional space. The wireless mouse and keyboard help a great deal with keeping cable clutter to a minimum (it’s the same thing I do on my desk), and the chair looks mighty comfy. Thank you, Patrix99, for your submission to our flickr pool.

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Posted by Erin on Jun 12, 2009 | 5 Comments | Tweet This

Outfitting a minimalist kitchen

Although I am a fairly adventurous cook, I find that I repeatedly reach for the same utensils, pots, pans, and ingredients in my kitchen. You probably do, too. We’re creatures of habit.

A friend who is getting married recently asked me what I think are the essential items in my kitchen. I first directed her to the “Creating a multi-tasking wedding registry” post I wrote last year. Then, I made a list of the 10 things I can’t live without in my space.

Making “essentials” lists is a risky endeavor. Obviously, the items I turn to every day aren’t going to be what other people use. It was still a fun experiment and I created my list by answering the question: “If my home were destroyed in a disaster, what 10 items would I replace first?”

The minimalist kitchen:

  1. 10″ cast iron skillet. The Lodge version and the Le Creuset enamel-coated version both get the job done extremely well. I prefer the enamel coated version because I don’t have to season it and can throw it in the dishwasher, but both are excellent and the Lodge price tag is unbeatable. They work on the stove top, in the oven, and on the grill.
  2. 12 qt. stock pot with lid. The best and cheapest way to get one of these is to head to your local restaurant supply store and pick up a well-made aluminum one for under $30. You can make soups, pasta, and sauces, as well as using it for frying and soaking. It also works in the oven and on the grill.
  3. 9 qt. cast iron Dutch oven. Roast or braise in this amazing product. You can fit an entire chicken in this bad boy. Plus, it can go on the grill or directly over an open flame. Expensive, but it will last you a lifetime.
  4. Two silicone oven mitts. I use an Orka brand, but there are many others out there. Because they’re silicone, I can reach into boiling water and grab things without risking burns (the way you do with fabric oven mitts).
  5. A good knife set. I’m a big fan of the Cutco 5-Piece Set because they’re durable, can go in the dishwasher, and come with a solid warranty. Plus, since there are so many dealers around, it’s always easy to find where to have them sharpened.
  6. Cutting board. I love my Epicurean Cutting Surface because it’s nice on my knives, can be tossed in the dishwasher, and can be used as a trivet (up to 350 degrees F). I’ve had mine for a number of years and it is as good as new.
  7. Tongs. Not a lot to say about them, but love that they lock closed for easy storage. Long-handled stainless steel ones can be used for items in the oven as well as on the grill.
  8. Food turner. I grew up calling these things spatulas, but apparently that is not their official name. Again, you can use them on the stove, grill, or in the oven. They also do nicely in the dishwasher.
  9. Infrared thermometer. Simply point it at your food and know the temperature. Nothing to clean, and really cool.
  10. Baking pans. All you’ll need to get started are anodized aluminum sheet cake, loaf, and jelly roll pans.

I believe anyone can make fantastic meals with only these items. Do I have more in my kitchen? Definitely. This is just a basics list and nothing more. If I were to add five more items, I’d throw in a long-handled ladle, heavy-duty stand mixer, bread machine (I use mine twice a week minimum), coffee pot, and tea kettle.

Are there essentials that I have forgotten from my list? Do you think any of these items are unnecessary? Give your opinion in the comments.

Posted by Erin on Jun 11, 2009 | 83 Comments | Tweet This

Get moving: A checklist for an organized move

Today we welcome Bonnie Joy Dewkett as a guest post author on Unclutterer. She is a professional organizer (The Joyful Organizer) based out of southwest Connecticut. The following advice is based on her Guide to a Joyful Move.

Moving can be stressful, but it’s nothing to fear. These tips will help to make your transition less stressful, more organized, and an enjoyable new adventure for your family.

Before You Leave Your Old Home:

  1. If you have children, make sure each child has his own bag packed with any toys, blankets, or books that he will need to go to bed at night. These will help him feel comfortable during the transition.
  2. Purchase an expandable file folder and start gathering documents such as birth certificates, passports, and currency. These items should not be shipped with your household goods.
  3. Call your doctors to obtain written copies of the family’s medical records. Offices sometimes charge for these documents, so have a form of payment ready. Also, see if your doctor can refer you to a new doctor in your new location. If applicable, ask for copies of prescriptions in case you cannot see a doctor quickly in your new location. If you have remaining refills at a local pharmacy, call to see if they can transfer them to a new pharmacy where you are moving.
  4. Arrange for the home to be cleaned after all your furniture has been moved. Stay one night in a hotel and return to the home to clean, or hire a cleaning service to do the job for you while you are traveling to your new location. Keep in mind that many real estate contracts state that the home must be left in “broom clean condition.” Failure to do so could result in a fee or difficulty at closing.
  5. Call your utility companies to arrange for final readings. Give them your new address to have any remaining bills forwarded.
  6. If you are using a professional moving company, ask about insurance for your items while in transit. You should also contact your homeowner’s insurance company to inquire about the same.
  7. Send out change of address cards to friends and family.
  8. Fill out a change of address and mail forwarding forms with the Post Office. These forms can be filled out online as well.
  9. Pack irreplaceable or valuable items such as cameras, jewelry, wedding photos/videos, or family treasures to travel with your family. Also, keep in mind that most van lines are not climate controlled. Consider this when deciding to pack items like candles in with your other possessions.
  10. If you are packing yourself, color-code your boxes. (Blue for the kitchen, red for the bedroom, etc).
  11. Pack a kit of the following items for use while you are in transit, and for your first night in your new home:
    • Toilet paper
    • Shower curtain
    • Snacks and bottled water
    • Clean clothes
    • Cleaning products
    • Flashlight and/or night lights
    • First-aid kit and medicines needed by your family
    • Air Mattresses and sleeping bags (if you decide to spend your first night in your new home).

When You Arrive At your New Home:

  1. Start by sorting your boxes and bringing them to their appropriate rooms. (Red to the kitchen, etc).
  2. Evaluate if you will need to purchase any organizational supplies such as shelves, pot racks, closet systems, etc. Purchase these before you start to unpack. Not doing so will make unpacking more complicated.
  3. If you need assistance in getting unpacked, contact a professional organizer. She will help you determine the best organizational systems for your new home, have them installed, and unpack your possessions using the systems.
  4. Use labels and/or sticky notes to help everyone locate items in the kitchen cabinets or pantry. This will alleviate questions and frustration when trying to find items in their new locations.
  5. Allow kids to help unpack their rooms. If possible, allow them to decide where their bed will go, where they want their play area to be located, etc. This allows them to make the new room their own.
  6. Have a sleepover your first night in your new home. Set up air mattresses, play cards, or if you have the capability, watch a movie on a laptop or portable DVD player. Bring flashlights and snacks for the family. Spending your first night all together in one room helps kids with the new creaks and noises associated with a new home.
  7. Unpack every box. Even if you are not using everything in your new home, you should unpack everything to look for any missing or damaged items. Insurance often limits the amount of time you have to file a claim for missing or damaged items.
  8. Lay each piece of newspaper or bubble wrap flat after unwrapping an item to make sure that you completely unpacked everything from its wrapping.
  9. Call the newcomer services in your area. They will often provide you with a basket or package of coupons and offers for your new area. You will probably be eating out for a little while, so you might as well save some money!
  10. If you do eat out a few times be sure to ask for menus, coupons, and business cards. Create a three ring binder with the menus of the places you like, and make sure to circle the items your family enjoyed. This will come in handy on those busy nights when you just aren’t sure what to eat.
  11. After you have been in your new home for about a month, re-evaluate your organizational systems. What is working for your family and what is not? Are you still missing items? Are the items you use in your daily routine hard to find or use? If you did not hire a professional organizer when you first moved in, now is a great time to do so.

Posted by Bonnie Joy on Jun 11, 2009 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Rochambeau

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

I’ll be honest, I never believed that I was going to find a better unitasker than the Spin the Bottle game. With Spin the Bottle, I thought the rest of our posts would pale in comparison. Then, I got a message from my friend Brittany and everything changed. Brittany introduced me to the Rock Paper Scissors game:

To play, you put your hand on the buttons and choose to push one button (scissors) or two buttons (rock) or no buttons at all (paper).

You can buy the game in (in)convenient 24-packs or the party-size 72 pack and display case!

Posted by Erin on Jun 10, 2009 | 32 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

2007

  • Travel tip: Mail items home
    Sending home no-longer needed items as your travels progress is a great way to keep your luggage clutter free.
  • The end of the chip-clip
    Video shows you how to seal a chip bag without a chip clip.
  • Wallet alternatives
    Over the years my cellphones have become smaller and sleeker, but my wallet has stayed the same unforgiving size.

Posted by PJ on Jun 10, 2009 | 2 Comments | Tweet This

Thought experiment: How would you organize Hannah Montana’s closet?

A year or two ago when Hannah Montana became the favorite topic among my young cousins, I decided to watch four or five of the episodes on the Disney channel to figure out what they were discussing. I’m not really sure I’ll ever understand the appeal of the show, but I did learn about Hannah Montana’s closet. (The link goes to a video of her closet. I couldn’t bring myself to embed the video.)

Hannah Montana has an enormous closet with library stacks filled with shoes, belts, and purses, and rotating racks of dresses, tops, and sequined pants. While a fashionista might see the closet and start salivating, my first thought was, “How could I better organize this space?”

A Closet Carousel would definitely be an improvement over the spinning metal racks in Hannah’s wardrobe. Getting rid of all of the clothes she no longer wears would be another good idea (but my assumption is that since she leads a double life, she has more clothing needs than most). And, Simple Division Garment Organizers wouldn’t hurt in such a large collection of clothes.

The pièce de résistance, however, would be a digital wardrobe database with images and descriptions of all of her clothing and accessories. This way, Hannah might be able to pick out what she wants to wear before setting foot into her closet for an evening of party hopping or whatever it is secret rock stars do with their time.

If she has a Mac, she might enjoy the Dress Assistant closet organizing software:

If she is a Windows user, she might like the Victoria Clothes Organizer:

Or, if she wants a custom solution, I’m sure she could whip one up in Access without too much trouble.

For those of us not living the secret rock star life, any and all of these ideas would be overkill. However, it’s still a fun mental exercise. How would you organize a fashionista’s closet?

Posted by Erin on Jun 10, 2009 | 24 Comments | Tweet This

Resources for designing a custom tool cabinet

There’s something intensely pleasing about seeing a box of fetishistically organized woodworking tools arranged perfectly in a custom-made wooden cabinet.

The Toolbox Book: A Craftsman’s Guide to Tool Chests, Cabinets, and Storage Systems by Jim Tolpin is a fantastic resource for any woodworker looking for ideas on how to store and organize woodworking tools. In addition to providing a number of designs for a variety of different tool cabinets and totes, it also provides helpful tips to efficiently store tools.

If you want to lose the next hour of your life looking at some amazing pictures of custom-made tool cabinets online, check out the entries that have already been posted in Fine Woodworking’s Tool Chest Contest. We particularly like the inside of this hanging cabinet, submitted by one of their community members:

Posted by PJ on Jun 9, 2009 | 9 Comments | Tweet This