Julie Carlson

Subtitled: simple, stylish storage ideas for all over the house
This approach to creating a tidied home with less clutter had some simple approaches that clarified the way to move forward. Unlike the much-admired KonMarie way (see Marie Kondo's well-known The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up), one doesn't need to make vast piles of a room's contents to decide how to store and discard items.

Instead, the authors have created a straight-forward manifesto which succinctly outlined key points.
In show more the edition which I read (page 10), there were 8 points that bring the reader into the mindset Carlson and Guralnick are advocating. I didn't agree with everything, but point #6 particularly resonated ~
Ample storage is not necessarily a good thing. We've been conditioned (sic in North America) to think that huge closets are desirable. But the truth is they can encourage you to avoid pruning your belongings (and thus lose track of what you have).

A big plus in this book were the copious photographs to illustrate the ideas for storage and arrangement. While many suggestions didn't suit my living space or preferences, the "think outside the box" approach was inspiring. My favourite idea was the magnetic knife rack placed at the entryway door to hold keys! Every reader will likely have the same reaction: that some ideas resonate and others are just not practical or appealing. That's what is so great about reading several books on the tidying up and decluttering topic: exploring different points of view. show less

The subtitle for the book tells exactly what it covers: 'simple, stylish storage for all over the house.' I found some interesting ideas here and plan to look at their website. I definitely have too much stuff and could see myself using some of their concepts. However, I am not about to go the full minimalist route. The idea that you should get rid of stuff you only use 2 or 3 times a year sounds fine until you come to those times. Keep one wooden spoon, one spatula, one paring knife! Duh, show more what if you have two cooks working in the kitchen, several things needing to be stirred? As I said, some good ideas, some not workable. show less

This is a companion book to the Remodelista.com website which they call a digital guide to the home design process. The book takes a look at how they started, their concepts and their headquarters. They then cover 12 homes with different aesthetics; provide guides to kitchens and baths; and take a look at individual items and ideas that they love. Often not my aesthetic but I found a few looks that would work for me and intend to spend some time on their website seeing what else might be show more useful. Beautifully photographed. show less

A beautifully composed book with great organizational tips for the home that I feel will last well past what’s trending and always be timeless.