Home Organization Meets Functional Interior Design: Learn About The Blue Heron Home Process
I get a lot of questions: what exactly DO you do? My answer? Functional interior design! I combine home organization with aesthetic…all while focusing on function and organizational systems that are customizable to each of my clients.
Step One: The Interior Design and Organization Consultation
A few months ago, I met personal trainer and Moon Valley Local Lindsay at a weekly meetup for my fav local marketing group - Check Moon Valley First. Every week we stop in, grab a coffee, and support & network with each other as we learn and grow in our businesses. Once I introduced myself and my business to Lindsay, her immediate response was “OH my gosh - I need you! My pantry, spices, and garage food storage is out of control!” Our consultation was booked that day 😊
I love consultation days. It’s an exciting time to get to know a new client, help them envision a goal for their space, and begin to problem-solve the puzzle of how to fit everything they want and need. With Lindsay’s consultation, I did just that!
I begin every consultation by walking through the space. I take the time to ask about problem areas, your dreams & goals, who uses the space each day, and what the preferred design & organizational style is. I take notes of each detail you mention so I can reference them for the design board.
After walking through the rooms, I let the client get back to their day, and I begin the most important part of the consult - getting accurate measurements, photos, and notes so I can deliver a dream space that is both functional and beautiful!
The whole process takes 1-2 hours depending on how much each client has to show me. I always recommend focusing on one or two areas to begin with to avoid overwhelm and to get to know the Blue Heron Home process.
Lindsay’s Custom Home Organization Design Board
Step Two: A Custom Mood Board Design
After the consultation with Lindsay, I put together a quick time, labor, and product estimate. I always look for sales and pass that discount on to my clients. When needed, I refer to my in-house handyman for furniture building and wall installations. When choosing a product, I look for pieces that will match your home & personal style. I make sure each item is affordable without sacrificing quality, and have many go-to, proven recommendations that I love to use over and over.
I created and sent Lindsay her custom design board. It broke down what product would fit her space AND her stuff! I also added notes so she could begin to see a vision of the space and understand why each item was necessary. Lindsay had the opportunity to ask questions, veto certain products that she didn’t love, and add in any details that we may have missed earlier.
The functional design process is collaborative between myself and the client - I make sure I’m working within their budget and vision for the space while adding in my expert opinion. Since I offer both professional organization services and interior decorating services, I make sure to choose items that are both practical and beautiful!
After we completed the design process, I took care of product ordering, and we got Lindsay scheduled for her in-person installation!
During the installation process, we tackled the pantry, spice & oil/vinegar storage, and the garage backstock and grilling bins. We were even able to keep and reuse some products she already had!
Step Three: Professional Organization & Interior Design Install Days
Next came everyone’s favorite part - install day! I had shipped all the products to Lindsay’s house, and she had stacked them up in a tidy pile in her garage. After opening and organizing all the products, I got to work.
The first step in many organizing and design jobs is decluttering. There’s no need to organize and create systems for items that you don’t need! Lindsay had given me permission to toss anything and everything that was expired or unusable. This alone filled SEVEN big contractor trash bags! As you can imagine, this freed up so much space, making organization much easier. We even found some items that Lindsay no longer needed but was able to share with friends & family in her neighborhood through Facebook swip swap groups. How cool is that?!
After I finished the decluttering process, I moved on to categorization. This includes sorting items into larger categories - grouping like with like - so I can begin to create an organizational system. Since the items are no longer on the shelves at this time, I was able to give everything a good wipe-down and confirm that all the products I had chosen would fit.
Once categorization is finished, it’s time to put everything back into its new place with its new containment system or product. I think of this time as a giant puzzle - and I LOVE puzzles. I take into account location, daily flow of living, and client goals when placing products. For example, with Lindsay’s project, we moved the spices closer to the stove. We also created a centralized ‘snack station’ for packing school lunches. My favorite part? Moving all of Lindsay’s husband’s grilling tools and sauces from several different places into one place so he could easily find them and grab the whole grilling bin when needed.
After I finish putting everything back, it’s time to show my client the space. I call this the ‘final walkthrough’ where I get to let each client see what I’ve done. I do this before labeling everything because I want them to be able to see and give feedback on each part of the organization and design that’s been set up. I like to remind people that this is their space, and I’m here to help it work for them, so I’m always open to feedback. After the client approves and I apply any edits, I finish it up with labels and some after pics!
I hope this helps break down my process for those who are considering hiring a professional organizer or functional interior designer in Phoenix, Arizona. Are you loving the idea of adding some functional design to your space? We can help! Learn more about our in-person professional organization services in Phoenix, Arizona, or check out our virtual organization services.