Open a window and let the breeze in as you let organize your home this Spring. Keep reading to see the 4 steps to get you started! We're also excited to tell you more about a local nonprofit organization (Knoxville Habitat for Humanity ReStore) your donations can help impact.
Let's Celebrate Galentine's Day
A special blog post just to cheer on some incredible women running businesses here in Knoxville. We are honored to be among so many women owned businesses and to work alongside our own team of over 26 unique and talented women. We love the services and products these companies offer.
So here’s to women doing great work!
Gather / Beth
Sherwood Media / Elisa Trentham
One Stop Commercial Cleaning / Becca Stone, co-owner
Sanctuary Day Spa / Kati Goodner
Statemint Pop Up Consignment / Sarah McAffry
Treetop Coffee / Courtney and Rachel
Printing Image / Cassie Bailey
A few ways to celebrate friendship with your gal pals:
Host a clothing (and accessories & shoes) swap
Schedule a girls night out at Zero Zero, Knoxville’s natural wine bar
Invite a few friends to participate in a pajama “secret santa” party where everyone brings a pair of jammies & goes home with a new pair too
Challenge each other to let go of a few household decor items, send photos in a group text & “shop” each other’s goodies
Bring a bottle of wine or unique cheese to a happy hour tasting event with your neighbors
Take a friend second hand shopping at Statemint West Knoxville’s sale (Feb. 13-16)
Happy Galentine’s Day to you!
Environmental Wellbeing: Summer Wellness Series
At Help You Dwell, we strongly believe that wellness begins with the spaces we inhabit.
Last week, we had the pleasure of joining Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique for their Summer Wellness Series, where we explored the intersection of environmental wellness and personal well-being.
Nestled in the heart of West Knoxville, Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique offers a haven of relaxation and rejuvenation. With luxurious spa treatments and a curated retail boutique, Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique provides a refreshing and holistic approach to wellness.
During our session at the Summer Wellness Series, Taryn shared insights on creating clutter-free and stress-free environments that nurture both the mind and body. She emphasized practical strategies for decluttering living and work spaces, transforming them into serene and productive sanctuaries.
Our goal is always to empower you with the tools to maintain a clutter-free lifestyle, enhancing your overall well-being.
The event was a delightful blend of education and relaxation, allowing attendees to learn firsthand the transformative power of an organized space!
Guests of the series were able to engage in one-on-one discussions with our experts, gaining personalized advice tailored to their unique needs.
"We were honored to participate in the Summer Wellness Series at Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique, it was inspiring to see how our insights resonated with guests who are eager to enhance their lives through creating intentional and nurturing environments in their homes."
- Taryn
During the event, we also had the privilege of hearing valuable insights from Kati, the spa owner. Kati emphasized the importance of being conscious about what we bring into our homes, highlighting how our environment can significantly influence both our bodies and minds as well. Making healthy switches in our living environments can have a transformative effect on our daily lives. From choosing non-toxic cleaning products to opting for a high-quality reusable water bottle over disposable plastic ones, these conscious decisions contribute to a healthier and more sustainable home for everyone.
Small changes can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kati and her dedicated team at Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique for inviting us to be part of their Summer Wellness Series! Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat or planning a group event, Sanctuary Day Spa & Boutique offers a sanctuary where wellness meets luxury. Check out the full list of their services here!
One Stop Commercial Cleaning: Knoxville's Premier Cleaning Service
At Help You Dwell, we love all things organization and cleaning, so we had to share this story with you.
Attention all Knoxville folks! One Stop Commercial Cleaning has officially opened for business, and we got the chance to hear all about the services they offer from their Co-Founder Becca Stone! We sat down to chat with Becca about the recent launch and what hopes One Stop has for its future. Becca shared that when she and her sister started the company, their goal was to "build a business from the ground up to help provide the life we want for our families while serving our community at the same time.”
Their vision for One Stop goes beyond cleaning.
“We believe that your environment impacts your experience, productivity and health. We strive to serve our community through providing an enhanced experience through a clean, pristine home or commercial property.”
Discover All That One Stop Commercial Cleaning has to offer!
Move-In & Move-Out Cleaning
Post Construction Cleaning
Commercial Cleaning
Deep Cleaning
Window Cleaning
They provide a range of services, specializing in move-in and move-out cleans for both residential and commercial spaces. For office and commercial cleaning, they offer flexible scheduling with daily, weekly, and monthly options. One Stop is also active in all phases of post-construction cleanup for residential, remodeling, and commercial projects.
Recently, One Stop worked with a client going through a big remodeling project. Working to fill both the construction company’s needs and homeowner’s needs was the main goal.
“To be able to sit down and help customize a cleaning solution to fit the needs of his client that he could present was the best! WIN-WIN! Not only will we successfully serve his client, but our services will also benefit the construction company and crews to be able to work more efficiently, and keep their project moving forward on time.”
The business holds tremendous importance for Becca and her sister, as it is central to their personal and professional lives. Balancing the demands of running One Stop with other aspects of their lives is crucial. Becca explained, "My sister and I help each other big time with this! We are a great tag team and are in different seasons of life with kids, so this really helps. We also have very different roles in the business, so we divide and conquer well. The things that steal my energy are her specialties and vice versa! This is KEY for us when it comes to balance and efficiency, and keeping the fire going."
You can contact One Stop for all your residential and commercial cleaning at:
info@oscommercialcleaning.com or 865-224-3812
A Decade of Help You Dwell
10 years ago, Caroline and I sat on these two stools in the newly opened KBrew and talked about what we wanted to do next. Little did we know that 63 HYD staff members, 4 different office locations, 16 consignment sales, 500+ volunteer hours of work, and more than 3200 clients in 5 different states later, we would be celebrating a decade of working alongside incredible clients to help them reclaim their homes.
Our shared love of homes and serving the folks who live in them is even greater today than it was in 2014 when we started this journey. We have learned so much from each other and from our clients about how to create order and peace in homes - and there’s still so much more to come!
We are thrilled to begin this next decade with a dedicated, experienced and growing team full of ideas and energy to bring into your homes as we help you love where you live.
And just for fun, enjoy these pics from the incredible journey we’ve had so far!
Sweet Summertime and These 5 Things
Summertime is near and we are so excited about the change of pace that comes with it. There is so much to see and do in and around Knoxville and we wanted to share these 5 things with you!
Photo Credit: Paris Woodull
Paris Woodhull: Even if you don’t know her name, you have probably seen her art around town. Paris Woodhull has made a career out of creating illustrations that celebrate Knoxville, mental health, and all things colorful. She has a brick-and-mortar shop in Market Square and does custom artwork as well. Learn more about her art and products here!
Riverview Family Farm: This farm (and fellow Scout Guide member) has been a working farm since 1801. The 7th generation of the family now runs the farm and solely produces Black Angus beef. Their market also sells locally made honey, cheeses, and more! They have a 6,000 sq. ft barn you can rent for weddings and events. In the summer they also have delicious ice cream at the market to enjoy. If you've never been to an event or sale there, go visit and enjoy the beauty and peace farm life can bring.
Rhinestone Fest: Dolly Parton is an icon. Knoxville will celebrate her June 2-4 during this festival in the Old City. This celebration (formerly known as Dolly Fest) is a family-friendly event that will celebrate all things Dolly, and it’s FREE to attend. Put on those cowboy boots and dress up in your Dolly-best for a weekend of art, music, history, food and fun celebrating Dolly!
Dixie Lee Fireworks: Light up the sky this summer with fireworks from this family-owned fireworks stand. This year they celebrate 75 YEARS of business when they open NEXT WEEK, which makes them pretty legendary, too.
Take a Selfie! Did you know Knoxville has over 40 murals? Take a walking tour downtown and see some of the amazing creations done by local artists. The Top 5 are listed here and they are a good place to start. Don’t forget to tag #knoxrocks if you post them on Instagram!
For the love of East TN in April
Meet our Friends + their Super Cute Knoxville Shop!
The Painted Perch & Company has over 30 vendors offering goods such as antiques, painted furniture, Haitian artwork and handmade pieces that all proceeds go back to Haiti, new and repurposed furniture, gourmet food, hand crafted textiles, gourmet pet items, boutique adult and children clothing and jewelry like Myra bags, Fusion paint, reclaimed wood pieces, gift items/baskets and so much more!
KnoxFill- Reusable, Refillable, Reimagined
More than Memories
Somewhere in the back of one of your closets or in the basement, there might be some boxes of cassette tapes, slides, and more just waiting to be taken out and remembered. The problem is, we have made so much forward progress with technology, that we might not have a way to actually listen to or watch those tapes!
Wil Davenport is the man with an answer to that exact problem while also helping you invest in yourself, friends and family with his company More than Memories (MTM). Wil works to do three things— Preserve, Create and Communicate.
Preserve- MTM will digitize and enhance old media such as home movies, slides, printed photos and documents, 8 and 16mm film reels, cassettes, records, and more.
Create- MTM also makes video slideshows for all kinds of occasions including Memorials, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Church events, Retirements, Christmas, and Easter.
Communicate- MTM also interviews people to help them communicate their values, faith, and stories to those they care for and love.
PC; Texture Photo
Wil is a one-man team, and works hard to “give folks back a better treasure than they started with.” Wil has several sample videos on his webpage and Facebook page that show just how much time he puts in each and every memory.
He finds his work the most rewarding when he can help people share what’s most important to them, and spark meaningful conversation from videos and memories. He says: “Without a doubt, my favorite part of the job is getting to know new people. I love it!”
““Without a doubt, my favorite part of the job is getting to know new people. I love it!””
Help You Dwell absolutely loves sending our client’s Wil’s way. So often we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to sorting through memorabilia. They are precious memories, but so often they remain in their box unwatched, under-appreciated and, frankly taking up space we need for other things!
Wil can bring all those memories to light, while also helping us keep them organized in a way we can actually get them out and appreciate them. (And the digital copy takes up much less space!)
“If you want to know what Wil Davenport strives to be known for, it can be summed up in three short phrases: integrity filled, a great encourager, and kind. The husband of Celeste Davenport and the father of Kaleb, Elise, and Nika, Wil seeks to serve and exceed the expectations of his customers. He is also an avid Duke basketball fan.” —More than Memories Webpage
What Wil does is more than memories, it’s about human connection and celebrating life every day! He loves helping you be the family hero who took the time to get those precious memories preserved and enhanced.
If More than Memories sounds like it might be just the thing you need, or a perfect gift for a loved one, Wil would love to hear from you! You can call More than Memories at (865) 414-3954 or reach him by email at MoreThanMemoriesTn@gmail.com.
Doing Dishes with Flanders - Knoxville's Dish Shop
Doing Dishes 1912 Washington Pike Knoxville, TN
If you’re a new friend of Help You Dwell or new to Knoxville, welcome! Let us introduce you to one of our incredible local resources… Doing Dishes, a pretty little shop selling vintage, antique, and collectable china by the piece.
One of our favorite parts of owning and running a company is working with other small businesses around town! We’ve been so amazed by the local companies and business owners we’ve met over the past 7 years. It is so important to us to partner with folks who serve our clients needs. We were delighted when we discovered Doing Dishes and have grown quite fond of owner Flanders Setchel and Lola Marie- the shop pup!
We sat down over the weekend to learn more about Flanders and her journey to quickly becoming Knoxville's dish queen.
With one of the most interesting career paths of anyone I've ever met, Flanders has been a florist, gardener, server, real estate agent, jewelry shop owner, certified egg handler on a chicken farm, horse trainer, organic veggie farmer, and was a singer in the band the "Red Hot Mammas and Sultry Ladies" that covered torch songs from the 30's and 40's. Flanders came to Knoxville in 2012 by way of Rough and Ready, CA (yes--- that's really the name of the town!!). Doing Dishes became a reality about 1.5 years ago and has quickly become Help You Dwell's go-to spot and highest recommendation to clients who are looking to sell china and dishware. Flanders has been collecting china since the mid 80's and started selling it in '92 to support her dish buying habit. She comes by her love of dishes naturally-- her mother Doris (who you can often find in the shop) designed a line of china for the Carmel Valley Ranch Resort in the 80's. If you think Flanders sounds interesting, you should ask her mom about the time she almost adopted an elephant.
When asked "Why dishes?" she says "For the sake of entertaining. I have a deep affection for feeding people. I love gathering a few friends and setting a beautiful table. The different textures, colors and flavors set the mood for an unforgettable event." Flanders states that she always has 5 sets of dishes at the house at any given time in order to host a variety of different kinds of meals. There's a great quote that she stands by, "I'd rather eat a hot dog off a beautiful plate than beef wellington off an ugly one."
Flanders hosts at least 2 dinners a month and enjoys gathering an eclectic group of people for a beautiful meal and an exchange of ideas. She loves hosting conversations between people who might not ordinarily sit down at the same table- people with different ideas, political views, and backgrounds. For Flanders, setting a beautiful table and using beautiful dishes is a celebration of hospitality. In fact, she mentioned that she ended up selling some of her living room furniture to accommodate a larger dining room table so that she could host larger crowds. Her largest dinner party ever? She recalls a large party back in CA where some 250 people showed up--and who can blame them: her dinners sound idyllic!
So what is "Doing Dishes"? It's a little piece of dish-heaven on earth. If you are looking to buy or sell China, this is the place to go. She offers dishes for every price range and even has a dollar table. In addition to beautiful dish ware, Flanders stocks locally and regionally made goods like soap, stained glass pieces, and other gifts. She will be crafting gift baskets for Mothers Day as well! You can find out more about Doing Dishes on the Facebook Page or you can stop by the shop: 1912 Washington Pike Knoxville, TN 37917 (open Thursday-Saturday).
Flanders and DorisWe can help!
Ready to get organized?
If you have china or other vintage and collectible dishes you’d like to part with? We can help!
Celebrate with us!
We are humbled and overjoyed by the work that we’ve been able to do over the past 7 years. It really doesn’t get old - the honor of entering a client’s home, to face whatever is weighing them down and and guiding them to reclaim their home (whether it be an organizing project, or preparing for a move, or handling an estate transition).
Telling More Stories | An Interview with Meg Davis
We are excited to share a little Q&A we had with Meg Davis. She is passionate about storytelling and just recently launched her own business: Telling More Stories. We always strive to honor the story of our client’s lives & their homes, so we were eager to chat with her to learn more about why storytelling is so important to her. Her posture of valuing connection and relationship is one that we so admire.
enjoy our Q&A with Meg
Q- Can you give us a bit of background on who you are?
A- I grew up in Knoxville and have lived here on and off my whole life, it’s home. I went to UT and studied Psychology and English, never envisioning that those two would coincide into any kind of career. I always knew I wanted to be a writer in some capacity. After college, I worked at the Knoxville News Sentinel where I was interested in telling stories with a social justice angle, trying to amplify voices in the community that were seldom heard from. After my time at the Sentinel, I met Kreis Beall, who founded Blackberry Farm back in 1976. She had an incredible story and she herself was a beautiful storyteller. For five years, we worked together to write her life story in the form of a memoir. Her book, The Great Blue Hills of God, came out in February of 2020 with Penguin Random House. The process of telling her story is what prompted me to start my business, Telling More Stories. I discovered how powerful, and even healing, the process of owning and telling one’s own story can be and I knew that was something I wanted to elevate in others and be a part of. It’s an incredible privilege to take part in helping tell another person’s story. Outside of writing, you can find me dreaming up plans of converting an RV into a mobile office to travel around the country telling stories, hiking, forcing my dog to snuggle with me, or exploring our city. I’m a classic Enneagram 9, which means I am also a huge proponent of nap-taking and good old fashioned conflict management.
Q- Why is "story telling" important to you?
A- Storytelling is important to me, because I think it’s the way we understand not just ourselves, but the world and our place in it. I believe that throughout history, stories have been the primary way in which we are able to interpret the complexities of life. I also think that stories are the great equalizer towards understanding one another, especially those who have differing world views or experiences. One of my favorite quotes is from Michelle Obama, she says, “It’s hard to hate up close.” I think this is the power of storytelling. Once we know someone’s story, where they came from, what shaped them, and the experiences that informed who they are, it changes the way we view that person and has the capacity to soften and change the way we relate to one another.
Q- What are some of your favorite stories you've read?
Follow @megcdavis
A- My favorite stories, in any form, are always the ones with complex, and often broken, characters. I love a good story with a strong, female lead and anything historical fiction.
Q- What have been some of your favorite stories to write?
A- In terms of my own writing, I love when I get the chance to amplify voices of people and communities and to help them tell their story in a way that makes them feel seen and heard. I love a good journey too - individuals who have overcome brokenness or hardship. I also love having a chance to build up and support other women through storytelling when possible.
Q- What is most challenging to writing & telling stories?
A- I have a difficult time writing stories that I don’t feel some element of connection to. Writing can also sometimes feel like a very solitary process which can be a challenge, which is why I enjoy what I get to do, which involves so much interpersonal interaction. Relationship for me is at the heart of everything, so it’s nice to feel like I can make what has the potential to be a lonely job, into something that feels more connected.
Q- What do you find most rewarding in telling stories?
A- What I find to be most rewarding is watching how impactful the process can be for the person telling their story. It is truly a powerful thing to watch.
Q- What do you love about calling Knoxville home?
A- I love living in Knoxville because it has such a vibrant, creative, and community feel to it, while also having such a diverse range of urban growth and outdoor accessibility. It feels like it is always growing, and that has been a fun thing to watch and take part in.
Q- If you could live anywhere in the world for a time, where would it be?
A- I have always wanted to live abroad for a season, somewhere in South America or Southern Europe.
Thank you Meg for sharing with us! Telling More Stories offers a few packages if you’re interested in the storytelling process for yourself or someone you love. Feel free to pass along this interview or share Meg’s website with your friends!
Here’s to the stories we are living today & to the ones we will tell for years to come!
Back Porch Mercantile: Save the Date
This week, Taryn stopped by one of our favorite local shops to get the scoop on their holiday collection. Jenny and her team at the Back Porch Mercantile have created an intentional and magical winter wonderland in the shop. The classic sentiment, “I’ll be home for Christmas” has never been more true. With less events and travel this year, people are focusing on creating a cozy and intentional place for family in their own homes.
Outdoor Gear Revival
I was so excited when I heard that Knoxville has a new second hand outdoor gear shop! Outdoor Gear Revival is in Bearden in an unassuming shopping center near Sonic. How had I passed this countless times without knowing it was there? This kind of shop was one of my favorite places to visit when I lived briefly in Asheville, and when I worked for two summers in Vermont leading crews of young people building hiking and mountain biking trails.
COVID Clean-out Guide
We’ve all spent more time at home these past few months than we may have planned or intended to. While we don’t have many places to go or activities outside our homes to attend, it’s a great time to tackle the clutter in our homes. You can do it & we can help. Many of our clients, friends and followers have reached out with questions about where to donate or get rid of household items they are ready to purge.
