A good friend of mine uses this catch-phrase all the time when referring to decorating her house—I think what she means is “just do it”. As a decorator, my job is to design and create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect my clients’ sensibilities and personalities. But what to do when the space I am working with is a real mess? Or worse than a mess—-a clutter-fest. Or the worse possible scenario, a dirty, cluttered, mess. I won’t lie: this happens.

Part friend, part curator, part psychologist, part intervention-specialist, I have found myself having the dreaded conversation about cleaning up the mess, and I am proud to say that MOST (not all) of my clients have “ripped the band aid off” and done the work. I can’t tell you the pride I have when they actually clean up what was once a mine-field. Oh, the joy….

My philosophy is: why spend tons of money making a gorgeous space if you can’t see the elements or if you won’t respect and maintain them so they last? It’s very simple. I can’t do my job until I have a workable canvas. But, there are times when even I can’t tackle the task. I’m not talking hoarders here, but a mess so layered and so deep that I simply can’t get involved. When this happens, my best advice to you is to do one of two things:
1) Call in the pro’s or 2) Call 1800-JUNKIT and go to lunch when they come.

Muse Interiors | Better Homes & Gardens

Out of curiosity I googled “Professional Organizers Boston” and came up with a bevvy of finds. Bet you can do the same. I noticed many have a CPO: Certified Professional Organizer certification, and are members of the National Association of Professional Organizers, which I suppose is important. And some have a membership in The Institute for Challenging Disorganization: now that sounds like my kind of place… That is, if your band aid need ripping…

An Organized Life
Posh Boston
Clutter Clarity
Things in Place