renovation

Managing Your Home After Unexpected Circumstances

Early one morning, a client of Help You Dwell awoke to an unexpected and distressing sound—water gushing from her ceiling and flooding her basement. The basement, filled with cherished furniture, important paperwork, and various personal items, was quickly becoming a disaster zone. Panicked and unsure of what to do first, she immediately reached out to us. We sent out a team of our girls ready to help mitigate the damage and restore some order to the chaos.

Upon arrival, our team of professional organizers sprang into action. We assessed the situation, quickly prioritizing the most vulnerable items, and started removing furniture and belongings from the path of the encroaching water. Our systematic approach ensured that vital documents were safely relocated, while waterlogged furniture was moved to minimize further damage. Through our swift and coordinated efforts, we were able to save many of the client's possessions and prevent additional harm to her home.

This experience highlights the unpredictable nature of home disasters, such as flooding, water damage, mold, and fire. These unforeseen circumstances can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming, but with the right support, you can navigate them more smoothly. 

In moments like these, every second counts.

When disaster strikes, time is of the essence. Our team is trained to respond quickly and efficiently, ensuring that your belongings are protected as much as possible from further damage. We offer immediate assistance, helping you to salvage important items and minimize the chaos that often accompanies home emergencies.

In the aftermath of a disaster, the task of organizing and documenting your belongings can feel daunting. Our professional organizers are skilled in cataloging and sorting your items, creating an inventory that can be crucial for insurance claims and the renovation process. We ensure that everything is accounted for, making the recovery process more manageable.

While it’s impossible to predict when a disaster might occur, being prepared can make a significant difference. Help You Dwell offers preventative planning and organization services to help you safeguard your home and belongings. From creating emergency plans to organizing important documents and valuables, we help you take proactive steps to reduce stress and potential damage in the event of an emergency.

When emergencies cause significant damage to your home, renovations often become necessary to restore your living space. During this time, Help You Dwell can assist with comprehensive move management, ensuring a seamless transition through each phase. In the case that you are living in your home during the renovation. We are able to help set up a temporary living space within your home, making it as comfortable and functional as possible while renovations are underway. Additionally, we can prepare and organize a storage unit for your belongings, ensuring they are safe and easily accessible.

Our team handles all logistics and organization, ensuring a seamless transition and allowing you to focus on the renovation process. With our comprehensive support, you can navigate the challenges of home renovations with less stress and greater peace of mind. Check out our renovations page for more information on how we can help you dwell during your renovation projects. 

At Help You Dwell, our mission is to provide you with the support and expertise you need to keep your sanity and experience less stress during home disasters and renovations. We are committed to helping you restore order and peace of mind, ensuring that you and your home can recover and thrive after any unforeseen circumstance.

If you find yourself in the midst of a home disaster, remember that you are not alone. Reach out to Help You Dwell for the compassionate and professional support you need to navigate these challenging times. Together, we can turn chaos into calm and help you rebuild your sanctuary.

By sharing this story and the ways we can assist, we hope to offer reassurance and a sense of preparedness to those who might face similar challenges. Your home is your haven, and we are here to help you protect it.

Our professional organizers were equipped to properly pack all items to be moved away from disaster. Trust that Help You Dwell’s disaster recovery strategy focuses on taking great care of your items. We will protect your precious possessions to minimize financial loss. 

Upon renovation, Help You Dwell will assist you from pre-reno to after everything is finished. View our blog post on “5 Ways Help You Dwell Can Streamline Your Home Renovation” to learn more about what Help You Dwell can offer you during your homo reno. 

At Help You Dwell, we're more than just a service provider – we're a source of support during life's most challenging moments. Let us help you navigate this crisis and restore a sense of normalcy to your home.

We can connect you with trusted contractors and arrange meetings. From planning the renovation to setting everything up after it’s complete, Help You Dwell is here to help you during this stressful time. 

Streamlining Your Home Renovation with Help You Dwell

Anyone who has ever renovated their home knows the overwhelming chaos that ensues when the project begins. Regardless of the size, any renovation to your living space will require extensive forethought and planning and we've witnessed firsthand how stressful the entire process can be.

Planning an upcoming home renovation? Avoid the overwhelm and chaos with Help You Dwell’s expert Organizing and Move Management services. We specialize in the detailed planning and organization needed to make your renovation as smooth and stress-free as possible.

We understand the challenges of keeping your belongings safe and organized during a remodel.

Our services are designed to streamline the renovation process and make it as stress-free as possible for you. Here are a few ways our team can help you dwell during a renovation!

Pre-Renovation Prep

Before any renovations begin, it's essential to make a plan and evaluate your space. This might mean taking some time to purge or declutter the rooms you're renovating. For instance, if you're about to tackle a kitchen renovation, sorting through your existing items may save you a lot of time, effort, and money!

You might realize you don't need everything you have, which could even influence your new kitchen plans. Our experienced team of professional organizers are here to guide you through the entire process. We'll help you determine which items are essential and which ones can be stored or donated. By decluttering, you'll create a more manageable space for the renovation work and make it easier to organize everything once the project is completed.

Packing and Storage Solutions

There’s no avoiding it, renovations can get messy! Oftentimes this means you’ll need to move furniture and belongings out of the way. The headache of having to clear out your space before it becomes a construction zone can be overwhelming. It’s not just about packing boxes; it’s about ensuring your items are safe and organized, finding temporary storage solutions, and coordinating the logistics of moving everything out and back in again.

If you find yourself needing to move your things out of your home, we are happy to help you set up a storage unit for the duration of your renovation. Our Move Management team will help you coordinate the move and work with you to determine which belongings can be moved off-site. We make sure your possessions are protected from dust, damage, and loss, giving you peace of mind during this transition.

Creating Temporary Living Arrangements

Living through a renovation can be incredibly disruptive for you and your family. If you plan to stay in your home during the process, it's crucial to prepare temporary spaces to maintain your daily routine. We can assist in setting up temporary living spaces within your home to minimize stress and keep things running smoothly. Whether it’s creating a temporary kitchen so you can still whip up your favorite meals or carving out a cozy living area to relax in, we’ve got you covered. Our goal is to make your renovation as seamless as possible, so you can focus on the exciting changes ahead.

Coordinating with Contractors 

Managing a home renovation oftentimes involves constant communication with contractors and various workers. Our move management team is equipped and able to act as your liaison, coordinating schedules, and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. We help keep track of timelines, deliveries, and installations, so you don’t have to worry about the day-to-day logistics.

Post-Renovation Unpacking and Organization: 

The work isn’t done when the renovation is complete! Once the dust settles and the renovation is finished, we’re here to help you transition back into your new space seamlessly. We assist with unpacking, organizing, and placing your belongings in a way that maximizes your new space’s functionality and aesthetic.

Imagine walking into your beautifully renovated home with everything perfectly in place and organized just the way you like it.

We’ll work with you to create a personalized organization system that suits your lifestyle and preferences, ensuring that every item has its place. Our goal is to help you settle in quickly and comfortably, turning your newly renovated house into a home.

Renovating your home doesn't have to be a stressful experience. With Help You Dwell, you gain a partner dedicated to making the process as smooth and organized as possible. From the initial planning stages to the final touches of organization, we are here to help you every step of the way. For more information on how we can help you dwell during this process, check out our renovations page here!

Let us help you create a serene and organized environment so you can focus on the exciting transformation ahead. Whether you need assistance with planning, organizing, or managing the move, we’ve got your back every step of the way.

Kitchen Renovation Survival Tips

When I think of a “kitchen renovation” my mind immediately goes to the fun finishing details like cabinet hardware, decor, and the blissful feeling of a “new” kitchen. We’ve saved funds for it, so let’s do it! Admittedly… embarking upon a full-scale kitchen renovation brought about a lot more to decisions and considerations than I was prepared for. If you’re about to begin a project at home, here are a few things I’d encourage you to think through before beginning.

  • How can you prepare yourself (and whoever you share your home with) to live “well” during the transformation?

Kitchen- Ask your contractor up front and direct questions regarding how long you’ll be without cooking appliances or functionality. Get creative and consider alternative cooking methods - gas or charcoal grill, camping stove, a neighbors airbnb (we have the most generous neighbors in all the land), microwave set up in a different room, your basement, etc. You don’t have to eat out every meal to survive this, although a few takeout meals are entirely allowed.

Bathroom- Can you and your family members agree to share 1 bathroom for a period of time? Create a rhythm or rough schedule of shower times and who will need the space for what time each day. Create a makeshift “get ready” spot in another room of the house with a mirror, outlets, and natural light. Remember- this is not forever!

  • What are the MOST important features of your project that you aren’t willing to budge on?

There are so many ideals when we consider a home project - gaining more space, adding storage, increasing functionality, improve hosting capabilities, etc. My husband and I narrowed down to 2 main priorities for our kitchen which provided good guardrails when making small and large decisions. We wanted to increase functionality and create a kitchen we could host in. Everything else was second-tier. This prevents everything from feeling like the most important thing when prioritizing budget and choices. If we were stuck on a specific detail or question- we could ask ourselves “Does it add functionality or improve our ability to host?” and if the answer wasn’t an obvious yes, we decided that was a low priority and cost decision to make which helped bring a little simplicity.

  • Who can you trust to help you make decisions?

I personally found it tempting to want to google or create a poll for the whole world to chime in on some decisions, however, I’m so glad I didn’t. Do we really need the ideas and opinions of strangers guiding the decisions we make about our very own sacred home? No thanks. What I am glad I did, was invite a few close friends to speak into the project. I first shared my vision, the pain points, and our plans then asked if they see any gaps or have any suggestions. Select a very few trusted folks to do this with… too many voices can cause mental clutter and indecision. If you have a favorite designer or brand that you follow, stick with that for inspiration - not every influencer, trendsetter, or mom blog will be your vibe and that’s ok. Think of actual real places you’ve been and what you loved about those homes and consider what concepts you can take from them. Ask a friend in a season of life ahead of you what they wish they would’ve done differently in their own home.

  • How will you adapt as timelines, budgets, or plans change?

Inevitably things change… due to supply chain issues, weather, product availability, etc. When things change there is often a cost (involving literally money and also time). Be prepared for this. Your contractors and designers cannot anticipate EVERYTHING. Especially if your home is older, there may be unexpected plumbing or electrical issues that need to be resolved. One thing you could consider is to aim to schedule the demo portion of your home project while your family (or even just children) will be out of town. Do you have friends or family you could “house sit” for while they are away? Get creative (if your budget allows) with where you spend your days and nights during renovations.

  • What do you hope to feel/experience in your new space?

Start with the end in mind. What memories do you hope to make in your new space? How will the space be used day in and day out? Build from that vision. If warmth, coziness, and comfort is important to you- carry that through your color choices. If simplicity, clean lines, and minimalism is your style- let that guide your decisions around new items that will fill your space. If character and story are vital, then take your time to collect and hunt for the right pieces to fit your new space. Take your time and remember that things that are worthwhile, can take time.

  • What are some ways you can save your sanity amidst the chaos?

The biggest secret I’ll let you in on is this - HIRE THE EXPERTS. Seriously, most anyone “can” pack up their kitchen and unpack after completion… but what if there’s a better way? I’m talking about getting fresh eyes, extra hands, and thoughtful organizational experts to make suggestions on how to best utilize your newly improved space. On my own, I would likely just put everything back as close to the way I had it previously. However, when the HYD gals stepped in I was given fresh perspective and new ideas about how to best set up my space in a way that improves functionality and eliminates wasted space. We talked through how our space is used, what items I grab most, and the flow of our kitchen throughout the day. With minimal expense of new “organizing supplies” - we were able to give everything a spot, create zones, and implement systems that I can utilize every day.

A few other ways to save sanity- adjusting your regular routine from nightly baths for your kiddos to every other night - everyone will survive. Pick up pizza or Chick-fil-a more than normal, that’s ok too. Remember this is a season and it will end. Making some adjustments to our normal day-to-day can save a little time, sanity, and effort. I can personally say I don’t recommend (your husband) trying out a new diet (Whole30) while trying to expand your infant’s exposure to new foods in the middle of a kitchen renovation- but, we survived. Shamelessly, we used a lot of paper plates (apologies to the environment, we promise to be better as soon as we have a working sink).

We are nearing the completion of our kitchen renovation and we are already LOVING our new space (literally we gained square footage). So even though everything isn’t quite “finished”- we have functional appliances and beautiful cabinets and floors… aka we are finally cooking! Seeing the vision that lived in your head, come to life is a pretty rewarding experience. I’m so glad we lived in our home for a year prior to making any major changes like this. And it feels pretty darn good to know that we are utilizing our space well, thanks to the help of the experts. Everything in the kitchen has a “home” and the best part is, everything is accessible and functional.

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A renovation home tour

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Before

After

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of interviewing Abby Jones and got a tour of the lovely home that she and her husband Stuart renovated. We are so excited to share pictures of their home and the transformation that took place in the 8 months of hard work that it took to make this house their home. 

After several years of renting, Stuart and Abby took the plunge and bought a house from a friend. The house was a project. With a rumored condemnation order on the house, graffiti covered walls, and an unpleasant smell, it was quite the undertaking. Abby shared that walking through the house for the first time, they were quickly able to envision a restoration. It had good bones, french doors, "disney princess" windows, and buried under the muck, some beautiful floors.

Original French Doors

Original French Doors

Before

After

One of the biggest selling points for them was the lofted bonus room that they have designated the Prayer Room. Abby and Stuart share the prayer room with their community as a way to offer a space to rest, pray, or worship. 

I asked Abby what home means to her and she shared that to her, home means rest. Abby's desire is to cultivate a space where people come in and feel that they can be themselves. As Abby and Stuart are small business owners, work is busy, stressful, and can become consuming--home is where they unwind and get away from the daily grind. Abby said it perfectly when she said, "our home is a facilitation of community and relationship". They chose their home for many reasons but one being that several of their friends are now their neighbors. One habit they have started is meal sharing with those neighbors. After realizing that sharing the work and only having to cook one night a week would benefit everyone, they came up with a plan. 6 nights a week, a meal is cooked by one of the neighbors to feed 12 people. Each neighbor takes a night and cooks a simple healthy meal. Often times everyone ends up eating together but some nights the food is disbursed between everyone. It's become an awesome tradition that makes it easier to spend intentional time with those they love and share life with.

Here are a few of the questions I asked Abby in reference to her home.

Dining room looking into kitchen

How would you describe your style of decorating?

I would say that it has changed over the years. In 2012, when we first got married, I was more into the cozy, antique look. When we started designing this house I realized that I actually gravitate towards clean lines and more modern elements. We don't have much storage at this house and I knew I didn't want to clutter it up so we have kept things pretty minimal. One of the best decisions we made with this house was to wait to fill it. We took the time to figure out what we really wanted and saved for more quality items. We still have some antique items incorporated into our home along with our new purchases. Our dining room table was gifted to us by my parents. It was my grandmothers and I ate all of my meals around it as a child. We love pieces that have a story and meaning but also have discovered that we love to buy new things together.

What is your relationship to your belongings?

It's a bit of a mix. Some pieces have been in my family for generations. For example, I have a quilt that was my grandmothers when she first became a mom. I love the deep significance of items with a story. It's all about casting vision for what you enjoy--marrying the pieces of deep meaning with the pieces that you just really like. I love the idea of passing pieces to my own children one day. Stuart and I have been really intentional about what we keep and about what we buy so our furniture and belongings really mean something to us. 

Before

After

How do you balance working from home with your home being a place of rest? (Abby is a food blogger) 

I do all my recipe testing, recipe development, pictures and video in our home. It doesn’t feel like work at this point, it mostly it feels like creating. I think I’ve tried to keep it that way because I don’t want it to feel like a chore. For me, cooking/baking is my creative outlet, it’s how I get my alone time. Creating great tasting and beautiful food is restful for me. When we lived in the old city, Stuart worked from our studio apartment but as we are both introverts, we realized that separate time is really good for us. Stuart now has an office away from home which helps us draw the boundary of being able to leave work at work and rest at home. Having the two separate spaces has been really life giving. 

How is your home an extension of yourself or your family? 

I love hosting and I love creating. Our home allows me to do those things on a daily basis. We have great lighting for being able to shoot for my food blog, we have a prayer room that is designated communal space for our friends and neighbors and we have a layout that is conducive to hosting our people. Our home, specifically, our prayer room is a reflection of what our heart is- to provide space for community, creativity, and rest. 

Thank you Abby and Stuart for letting Help You Dwell share your renovation journey and your beautiful home with our readers!

*All photos were taken by Stuart and Abby Jones