My goal is to create peaceful, organized rooms for busy folks living in small spaces. After working in event planning and non-profit fundraising for ten years, I transitioned to being a stay-at-home mom in 2013. During my time at home, I personally dealt with the spatial challenges of a growing family in a small condo and I regularly helped friends who were struggling with the same problem. Together we cleaned out toy-rooms and closets and basements and packed up to move-out and unpacked others to move-in. It’s been my greatest professional joy to start this business so that I can continue to help other moms, working adults, and generally very busy, people turn their cluttered areas into functioning, peaceful spaces.
Holly is the founder of Open Door Organizing. She lives in Medford with her husband and two children. When she isn’t organizing or spending time with her family, Holly creates and sells stained glass.
Home Organizing
I find people face one of a few challenges. They have too much stuff for their space, they don’t have systems in place to manage their belongings or they just don’t have the time needed to keep things organized.
- Clear out clutter
- Whole room organizing
- Closet organizing
- Basement organizing
- Paperwork management and office organizing
- Create systems for sustained organization
- Getting rid of items - recycle, donate, discard (I will help you plan for how to best get rid of items you are ready to pass on.)
Family Storage
With children there is a constant influx of new items. Often families stow away outgrown toys and clothes because it is too overwhelming to sift through, they don’t know what to keep or aren’t sure if there will be more children on the way. Living in a small space makes this even more of a challenge.
- Kids clothing
- Toys
- Storage of large baby related items (swings, bouncers, baby tubs, etc.)
- Seasonal items storage (summer vs. winter clothes, winter gear, sports gear)
- Kids artwork
- Create memory box
- Getting rid of items - recycle, donate, discard (I will help you plan for how to best get rid of items you are ready to pass on.)
Moving Prep
It is better to clean out before you pack so you are only unpacking what you need and love. Consider it a pre-move purge. This is a gift and investment in your new home.
- Clean out clutter
- Assess for storage vs move vs discard
- Plan for packing up items for smooth transitions
- Getting rid of items - recycle, donate, discard (I will help you plan for how to best get rid of items you are ready to pass on.)
Kids & Teens
Teaching kids to organize is a life skill that will benefit them throughout life. Kids can be enthusiastic and empowered to organize when we teach them and involve them in the stewardship of their belongings. Having the time and patience to work with kids is often easier for someone outside of the family. Making it fun is part of the fun.
- Organizing toys and hobbies
- Organizing special memorabilia
- Learning to let go
- Keeping my room clean
- Grouping items
- Labeling
- Regular maintenance
“Holly is amazing in working with kids. Holly is kind, encouraging, clear, and offers lots of high fives when the work is done. She helped my daughter (age 7) clean out several areas of her room and my daughter can't wait for her to return. She loves working with Holly! She even helped my children part with 2 bags of stuffed animals. And whenever I tried to go through stuffed animals it resulted in tears. I can't recommend her enough in working with kids.” — Whitney, Cambridge, MA
Seniors
The organizing needs in late adulthood can differ from those in earlier life stages. Legacy, downsizing, safety and documentation are just some of the important things to address. This process can be overwhelming with or without family to help. Having an organizer that is completely dedicated to your needs and desired process can make this transition easier.
- Making a plan
- Downsizing
- What to keep
- Cleaning out and letting go
- Important documentation
- Safety in the home
- Managing your legacy
How It Works
- Questionnaire: I start by emailing you a short survey to learn more about your needs.
- Phone consult: We have a phone conversation (face time if possible so I can see your space) so that we can get to know each other and I can learn more about your vision, goals and limitations. At this point we will schedule your first session.
- Session: We can have one or several hands on organizing sessions where we work towards your goals.
- Discard: I can advise on ways to donate and discard items and at the end of each session I will take away one full carload per visit.
My rate is $110 per hour and includes a free 30 minute consultation, a written organizing plan and the removal of one car load of items per session. I request a minimum of two hours per session.
I reserve a spot in my business for clients who can’t afford my rate. If this is your situation let me know and I'll be happy to discuss options with you.
If you have a home organizing need that is not listed, please be in touch and I'll be happy to discuss it with you.
