A Collector Who Fills His Los Angeles Home With Carefully Sourced Clutter (Published 2021)

Colin King, a 33-year-old Brooklyn Heights-based interior stylist, spent a year living in his 1830s brownstone apartment before the Covid-19 pandemic provided him the time to truly consider his own living space. Prior to March 2020, King's professional life involved extensive travel for design stories and advertisements for brands like Hay and Benjamin Moore, leaving little opportunity to focus on his personal environment. His 500-square-foot second-floor walk-up retained many original features due to his landlords' commitment to historical preservation, including six-over-six windows, a working marble fireplace, oak flooring, and 12-foot ceilings. Despite entering through an 1980s-era galley kitchen and nondescript bathroom, the classically proportioned living room, illuminated by nine-foot-tall shuttered windows, immediately captivates the eye. King's professional work aims to infuse elegance into mundane spaces, and his Instagram showcases his distinctive style through poetic still lifes in a palette of off-white, dark gray, and brown. These compositions often feature groupings of ceramics beneath a lone branch or understated details from his projects. When King began redecorating his apartment, it primarily contained a Mario Bellini Le Bambole sofa, a 1970s travertine round marble table, and a 1960s LC4 chaise by Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, and Pierre Jeanneret. The existing white walls in the living room appeared too yellow, and other areas were bland. His collections of design books and contemporary art were stacked or piled, and items he sourced for clients, such as ceramic vases, houseplants, table lamps, and mirrors, were largely absent from his own home. After a meticulous repainting process, which involved three attempts to achieve the perfect murky gray in the bedroom and an off-white for the rest of the apartment, King began furnishing his space. He acquired a blocky white Utrecht armchair designed by Gerrit Rietveld from Cassina, a velvet and walnut stool from Green River Project, a custom table lamp by Danny Kaplan, and vintage midcentury woven rattan Pierre Jeanneret chairs on loan from a friend. In the living room, he placed a hand-thrown Modernist vase by Lucie Rie next to an old mirror on the mantel. Unlike his fast-paced styling projects, furnishing his own apartment was a deliberate process, allowing him to "listen to the space." The resulting aesthetic is stark yet layered, subtly blending 1970s Italian design, early American architecture, and French Modernism, a sophisticated approach not always seen in younger designers prone to eclecticism. King's apartment exemplifies the minimalist aesthetic he has refined over the years, a journey that included various detours. Raised on a farm in rural Ohio, he discovered dance at 13 and moved to New York at 18 to pursue it, later relocating to Los Angeles where he faced similar frustrations in the performing arts. He then worked as a fitness instructor and estate manager before finding his calling as a digital content producer for Consort, a design firm. There, he gained experience in styling and photographing vignettes for social media. In 2017, King returned to New York, initially juggling multiple jobs, including personal training and managing social media for One Kings Lane, while also pitching stories to magazines to establish himself as a stylist. Within months, he was fully booked, allowing him to concentrate on his styling career. His apartment continues to evolve, as he seeks a large oil painting for his bedroom, a vintage Joe D’Urso side table for his living room, and his first plant, a black olive tree. The home stands as a testament to the power of a light touch in revealing a space's innate beauty and the patience required for its realization. #InteriorStyling #BrooklynHeights #MinimalistDesign #HistoricApartment #MidCenturyModern #DesignProcess #ColinKing #HomeDecor #ArchitecturalPreservation

The article details expert closet organizing hacks from Joanna Teplin and Clea Shearer, the founders of The Home Edit, a professional organizing service that gained widespread popularity following their Netflix show, "Get Organized With The Home Edit." The duo discusses common issues in closet organization and provides practical solutions. Following the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in September 2020, their show offered a visual escape into perfectly organized spaces, inspiring many to declutter their own homes. Since its inception in 2015, The Home Edit has expanded its brand, releasing books, co-designing organization products, and announcing a second season of their Netflix series. Teplin and Shearer's collaboration with fashion retailer Maurices aims to broaden their reach, offering style and affordability alongside organization. As part of this partnership, Maurices is hosting a giveaway for women, providing one winner with a $1,500 wardrobe, an in-person closet makeover by The Home Edit, and a trip to Nashville to meet the founders and top Maurices stylists. The article emphasizes that while not everyone can receive a personal makeover, Teplin and Shearer are sharing their most effective closet organization tips. They address specific challenges, such as organizing T-shirt collections often accumulated by young women. Their advice is to categorize T-shirts into items to wear, to keep (sentimentally), and to donate, stressing that closet space is valuable and should not be wasted on unworn clothing. For casual loungewear like sweatpants and sweatshirts, they recommend folding items and storing them by category in large, labeled open bins on shelves or the closet floor for easy accessibility. This method ensures that items are visible and easy to retrieve. For plus-size individuals who struggle with storage solutions designed for smaller clothing, Teplin and Shearer suggest creating custom storage options. They advise using stackable drawers to maximize vertical space and large, open bins for folded items, enabling a more tailored and efficient use of closet interiors. A common mistake people make when organizing their closets is attempting to complete the entire task in a single day. The experts warn that this can be physically and emotionally draining due to the sentimental value attached to clothing, unlike organizing a pantry where expired items are easily discarded. They recommend breaking down the organizing project into smaller, manageable steps, focusing on one category of clothing per session. They also debunk the idea that any hanger will suffice, advocating for an investment in matching "huggable hangers." Such hangers not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of a closet but also save significant hanging space. When asked about their dream celebrity closets to organize, they express excitement about the prospect of organizing for figures like Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, and Meghan Markle. Joanna Teplin reveals her personal shopping preference at Maurices would be sweaters, prioritizing comfort and style, while Clea Shearer would gravitate towards Maurices' extensive jeans selection, appreciating their range of fits for all body types. The article concludes with a reinforcement of The Home Edit's practical and aesthetically pleasing approach to home organization. #HomeOrganization #ClosetOrganization #TheHomeEdit #HomeDecor #StorageSolutions #Decluttering #CelebrityInterviews #FashionRetailer

The author reflects on the varied reactions to the stacks of books in her North Carolina home, which was featured on the design site Apartment Therapy. While some readers expressed dismay, finding the book towers to be clutter and a hindrance to movement, others found them welcoming and representative of a reader's home. Concerns raised by critics included the potential damage to books and the obstruction of furniture, such as an antique radio. In contrast, supporters appreciated the personal and friendly atmosphere created by the visible presence of numerous books, viewing them as a reflection of the homeowner's intellectual life. The author details the sheer quantity of books stacked throughout her living room and foyer, noting specific locations like the coffee table, end tables, and beside bookshelves. She counts 98 un-shelved books in her living room alone, and 233 in her foyer, mostly in front of the old radio. This personal inventory underscores her identity as a collector who enjoys having many items in her field of vision, contrasting with the minimalist preferences expressed by some commenters. The essay delves into the definitions of "stack" and "pile," highlighting how these terms imply a degree of order, or at least a grouping of similar items. She contrasts the casual arrangement of her home books with the ordered, often restricted, "stacks" of a library. The author questions the widespread attachment to bookshelves, suggesting that while shelves offer order and classification, they might also make books feel less accessible for immediate reading. She references Georges Perec's essay "The Brief Art and Manner of Arranging One’s Books," which discusses the challenges of space and order for book collectors, and the various, often insufficient, classification systems available. Perec's observation that readers like to see their books and the distinction between a book's life in a home versus a bookshop are explored. The author notes that stacking allows for both spines and covers to be visible, unlike traditional shelving where only spines are typically seen. She also contrasts her home's informal book arrangement with the alphabetical order she maintains in her office, where books are more for work and reference. The essay touches upon her collection of antique Shakespeare books, which are shelved not for reading but for their aesthetic and historical value, connecting her to the past and previous readers. The author draws parallels with Walter Benjamin's "Unpacking My Library," where collecting is described as a means for adults to renew existence and engage with objects not for their utilitarian value, but for the magic they hold. This perspective frames her book stacks as a "magic circle," an environment that fulfills the collector's desires. The author recounts an episode of "House Hunters" where built-in bookcases were seen as a negative, illustrating a societal ambivalence towards extensive personal possessions. She concludes by embracing her book stacks, acknowledging their occasional inconveniences but emphasizing the profound pleasure of being surrounded by books. For her, these stacks are not clutter but a visible representation of ideas, stories, and her personal history, allowing her to see herself and her world more clearly. #BookCollecting #HomeDecor #LiteraryCulture #ClutterVsCollection #ReadingHabits #BookClassification #PersonalNarrative #WalterBenjamin #GeorgesPerec

In the competitive New York City real estate market, closets are a highly valued amenity, often ranking in importance after kitchens and bathrooms due to the premium placed on storage space. However, when preparing an apartment for sale, closets are frequently overlooked in staging efforts. Many listing photos omit closet interiors, often because they are cluttered or overflowing, a common issue even after sellers attempt to declutter their homes. Professional organizers emphasize that this oversight sends a negative message to potential buyers. Kadi Dulude, owner of Wizard of Homes, warns that buyers will inspect closets, especially those in bedrooms and hallways. If these spaces appear cramped or disorganized, it can create the impression that the apartment lacks sufficient storage, deterring potential buyers. Janine Sarna-Jones, founder of Organize Me, highlights that the objective of staging is to reduce visual clutter and convey a sense of order and meticulous maintenance. The aim is to create an impression that living in the apartment will allow for an organized and stress-free lifestyle, distinct from merely organizing for personal use. Staging for a sale focuses on buyer perception, making the closet appear functional and spacious. Experts provide specific advice for staging different types of closets. For bedroom closets, the recommendation is to significantly declutter and reorganize. Dulude suggests packing away out-of-season clothing and items not regularly used, keeping only a curated selection of outfits. Attractive shoe collections can be displayed if a proper shelving system is in place, but most shoes should be stored away. The master closet, in particular, should be staged to evoke a sense of desire and spaciousness. Sarna-Jones advises editing hanging clothes to ensure ample space, removing items from the floor, and placing them on shelves. Color-coding clothes and ensuring all hangers face the same direction can enhance the visual appeal, making the closet seem organized and airy. Lisa Zaslow, founder of Gotham Organizers, recommends grouping similar clothing types, arranging them by length and color, and perfectly folding sweaters. Displaying a few high-end designer shoes or attractive accessories can add perceived value to the apartment. Zaslow also cautions against storing unrelated items in closets, citing an instance where a slow cooker was found in a clothes closet, which could raise buyer concerns about kitchen storage or the seller's state of mind. Beyond bedroom closets, other storage areas also require attention. Barbara Reich of Resourceful Consultants suggests treating a closet like a small room, advocating for visible walls to be wallpapered and light fixtures added to increase perceived value. She recalled a particularly impactful laundry closet with custom wallpaper that became a highlight of an apartment. For utility and coat closets, organization is key. Reich advises arranging coats by length and color, utilizing the space beneath shorter coats for shoe or accessory storage, and using monochrome white bins to neatly group cleaning products. Marty Basher, a home organization expert with Modular Closets, recommends removing at least 50 percent of closet contents and thoroughly cleaning the remaining space, including vacuuming corners, as buyers will often inspect these areas. If a closet appears dingy, a fresh coat of white paint can significantly brighten the interior and make it seem larger, especially for pantries. Linen closets can benefit from a spa-like presentation. Basher suggests packing away unnecessary items, editing out worn-out sheets and towels, and coordinating remaining linens by color. For fitted sheets, he recommends storing them with their matching flat sheets and pillowcases inside one pillowcase for a tidy package. White baskets can store extra toiletries, demonstrating functionality, and a lavender sachet can maintain a fresh scent. For children's closets, Dulude advises donating or packing away toys not actively played with, emphasizing that children adapt well without an excessive number of possessions. Sarna-Jones recounted a case where a child's closet was used for overflow adult clothing, which was rectified by decluttering the master bedroom and returning the child's closet to its intended purpose, creating a sense of spaciousness in both areas. Ultimately, staging closets effectively contributes to a buyer's perception of overall space, organization, and the care taken in maintaining the home. #ClosetStaging #HomeSelling #NYCRealEstate #StorageSolutions #HomeOrganization #ApartmentStaging #Decluttering #InteriorDesign #RealEstateTips

Many individuals experience disorganization within their homes, often struggling with cluttered drawers or cupboards that lead to wasted time in searching for items. For those seeking to improve their home organization, starting with a small, manageable area like a single drawer or cabinet is recommended. This approach helps in building momentum and preventing overwhelm, as advised by decluttering experts Mindy Godding from Abundance Organizing and Kenika Williams from Tidied by K. For bathroom organization, easy-to-clean drawer dividers, such as the iDesign Linus drawers, are highly favored by Godding due to their simplicity and functionality. Stackable clear bins from mDesign are suggested for under-sink storage, allowing easy access to items despite plumbing obstructions. Williams recommends The Container Store's Multi-Purpose Bins for their versatility and economic value, suitable for any area in the home. In the kitchen, matching spice bottles, like the Aozita Glass Spice Jars from Amazon, help create a uniform look and encourage buying in bulk. Lazy Susans are considered essential by both experts for pantries and kitchens, enhancing accessibility. For spice drawers, the Ikea Uppdatera Spice Rack provides an efficient organizational solution. Pantry bins and baskets, available in various materials such as metal, acrylic, or natural fibers, aid in containing items that don't sit flat, contributing to an aesthetically pleasing pantry. Door-mounted racks, like the Elfa Utility Pantry Over-the-Door Rack, and adhesive bins, such as iDesign Affixx, maximize vertical storage space in pantries and under sinks, respectively. Bamboo drawer organizers are also highlighted for their eco-friendliness, aesthetic appeal, and modular design, allowing for flexible and stackable storage within drawers. Bedroom organization benefits from honeycomb organizers, which are ideal for sorting small clothing items like socks and underwear. For children's rooms, durable bins from The Container Store, like Our Tidy Box or Poppin Storage Bin, are recommended, with Williams suggesting labels that include both pictures and words to encourage children's participation in tidying. Multi-purpose furniture, such as the Article Maribo Storage Ottoman, offers hidden storage solutions. Display-worthy bins, like The Container Store's Brentwood Bins, can be utilized in various rooms for both storage and aesthetic purposes. For closets, an over-the-door shoe organizer is versatile for storing non-shoe items like accessories or pet supplies. Baskets made from natural materials, including water hyacinth or seagrass, are noted for their functionality and beauty, aligning with a growing trend towards natural home decor. Stackable shoe shelves, such as the Costway 31-Inch Stackable Shoe Rack, provide stable and reliable shoe storage. In the laundry area, three-compartment laundry sorters with sturdy frames and casters are advised for separating clothes efficiently, helping maintain an organized space even with dirty laundry. The experts emphasize key organizational principles: start with small projects to gain confidence, declutter by donating or repurposing unused items, utilize existing household items for storage, and invest in multi-purpose products that can adapt to different spaces and needs. These strategies aim to transform living spaces into more functional and sanctuary-like environments. #HomeOrganization #DeclutteringExperts #HomeStorageSolutions #BathroomOrganization #KitchenOrganization #BedroomOrganization #ClosetOrganization #LaundryRoomOrganization #OrganizationalProducts

The article profiles Thomas Lollar, a ceramicist, teacher, and avid collector, and his 500-square-foot one-bedroom apartment in a prewar building near Columbia University. Lollar, who has been on the faculty at Columbia University’s Teachers College since 1988, is known for his extensive and eclectic collection of utilitarian objects and historical artifacts. His apartment, which the author describes as an “orderly jumble of all manner of curiosities,” houses items ranging from Roman keys and a traveling sundial to silver Italian Futurist objects and a Georgian English Paul Storr tureen. Lollar’s collecting passion began as a teenager when he discovered a 1706 silver medallion. Since then, he has amassed nearly 400 medallions in bronze and silver, alongside a diverse array of other historical items. His collection is not merely for display; Lollar frequently incorporates pieces into his studio art classes at Columbia, using them to inspire students to consider the historical context and meaning embedded in the objects they create. He emphasizes the stories these everyday objects tell about the lives of people from different eras. Among the notable items mentioned are a 2,000-year-old bronze strigil, an ancient Roman grooming device, and Etruscan hand mirrors. Lollar highlights the different cultural significance of reflection in the ancient world, noting the rarity of seeing one's own image before the advent of modern mirrors. His own artistic work, created in collaboration with Ricardo Arango, draws inspiration from these ancient hand mirrors and is slated for exhibition at the Venice Biennale. Despite the small size of his apartment, Lollar continuously finds space for new acquisitions. The article details various areas of his home, including a living room adorned with a Charles X secretary, a French Empire painting, and a Jim Dine silver Venus sculpture. The kitchen, described as a galley kitchen, remains unused for cooking, while the bathroom walls are covered with Fornasetti plates, and the ceiling features a hand-applied fragment of a 1748 Nolli map of Rome. His bedroom is custom-fitted to maximize space, with every inch of wall utilized. The article concludes by illustrating Lollar's ongoing fascination with historical objects, citing his recent discovery of a working 18th-century French lock that quickly found its place among his collection of ancient keys. #GreatRooms #DesignHunting #ThomasLollar #NewYorkMagazine #ArtCollector #InteriorDesign #Ceramicist #HistoricalArtifacts #NYCArchitecture

Maintaining a neat and organized home is a common desire, and to assist in this endeavor, professional organizers have shared their top recommendations for storage and organization products available on Amazon. These expert-approved solutions address various household challenges, from decluttering kitchen counters and optimizing cabinet space to tidying up bathroom vanities. Key products highlighted include the Homkula 3-Tier Ceramic Fruit Bowl, praised for its vertical space-saving design that allows for organized produce storage, preventing items from piling up. For drawer organization, the Utoplike 4-Piece Bamboo Kitchen Drawer Dividers are recommended for their spring-loaded mechanism, which creates tidy compartments for snacks, tea, or utensils and is gentle on drawer finishes, adjustable, and reusable. The Rebecat 3-Tier Rolling Utility Cart With Drawer offers a portable and versatile storage solution suitable for almost any room, providing ample space for office supplies, toys, or bathroom essentials. The Spaclear Stackable Water Bottle Organizer is presented as an effective way to manage unwieldy water bottles, keeping them tidy, visible, and preventing them from toppling over in cabinets. To combat cluttered bathroom counters, the Acliys Bathroom Counter Organizer, with its clear acrylic design, helps keep daily essentials accessible while blending seamlessly into the decor. The Ybm Home Bamboo Nonskid Spinner is identified as a fundamental organizing tool for hard-to-reach cabinet spaces, providing instant visibility and access to items like oils, sauces, and vitamins. For smaller items, the Stori 4-Compartment Plastic Cosmetics Storage Organizer is a durable and versatile option for makeup brushes, remote controls, or office supplies. The Aozita Caddy Organizer With Handle serves as a portable mini-cart for consolidating messy categories such as makeup, gift wrap, first aid supplies, or crafts, with divided sections for easy access and a sturdy handle for mobility. Jarlink 18-Pack Mesh Pouches are recommended as versatile, everyday items for storing various small objects, from pencils and travel vitamins to kitchen electronics and game components. The YouCopia StoreMore Adjustable Bakeware Rack helps eliminate the problem of stacked baking sheets by providing vertical slots for cookie sheets, trays, cutting boards, and platters, maximizing cabinet height. Smartake 16-Piece Drawer Organizers, with their straight sides, are suitable for nearly any drawer type, preventing items from shifting and optimizing surface area in bathrooms, kitchens, and offices. The Utoplike In-Drawer Knife Block addresses the need for clear kitchen counters by safely storing knives out of sight and reach, protecting blades and freeing up valuable counter space. SpaceAid Bamboo Drawer Dividers are suggested for larger drawers, creating designated spaces for extra-long utensils or small appliances, and can also be used for organizing clothing. The Fullclean Wall-Mounted Vacuum Cleaner Accessories Storage provides an organized parking spot for vacuum attachments, keeping them visible, off the floor, and readily accessible. MDesign Plastic Vertical File Folders offer a sleek solution for paper storage in deep drawers or office cabinets, with a clear design for easy identification of contents. Finally, the Omystyle Purse Organizer Insert is presented as a practical accessory for maintaining an organized purse, saving time, and facilitating easy transfer of essentials between bags. #HomeOrganization #ProfessionalOrganizerTips #AmazonDeals #KitchenOrganization #BathroomStorage #DrawerDividers #StorageSolutions #Decluttering #HomeProducts