get outside!

We love this time of year. Watching everything come back to life after the long (wet) and dark winter is so refreshing. The change of season can bring shift in our perspective and revival to our spirits. With the start of spring comes excitement and ample opportunities to enjoy beautiful east Tennessee.

Image from Visit Knoxville.

Here are a few ways we encourage you to get outside & welcome the new season…

Explore Knoxville’s tree-based adventure park, Navitat, at Ijams Nature Center, or take a hike on one of the Center’s trails.

Pack a picnic lunch and bring a blanket for a sunny feast at Sequoyah Hills Park.

Sweep off porch and patio areas. Make them more inviting with a new welcome mat or strand of lights.

Enjoy a beer with a friend at the Bearden Beer Market to support Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful.

Celebrate EarthFest’s 20th year anniversary at SoKno Taco Cantina.

Image from Outdoor Knoxville.

Enjoy a Signature Spring Wildflower Hike at Norris Dam State Park.

Participate or cheer on participants downtown for the Covenant Health 5K & kids run.

Instead of going to the gym, head to Lakeshore Park and traverse the loop at any pace you please.

Begin preparing your gardens and attend Easy Vegetable Gardening seminar at Stanley’s Greenhouse.

Make a bonfire & invite new neighbors to enjoy it with you.

Guardian of the Adventurer: A world traveler’s home tour

“Guardian of the Adventurer” protects loved ones on their journeys and guides them safely home. Made by Mary Ennes Davis of Crow River Studio. Mixed media made from a cupboard door, banister railings, coat hanger, rulers, letter press, coins, sterling compact, chopsticks, and beach glass beads. Purchased by Susie at the Smithsonian Craft Show.

One of the many beautiful things adorning the walls of Susie’s home is a special piece of art titled “Guardian of the Adventurer”. I can’t think of a better way to describe the entirety of her home. Walking in, I immediately felt safe and welcome and like I had just stepped into a treasure trove. Susie herself is quite the adventurer, and her home is a perfect capsule of the many places she has been, the loved ones she has experienced life with, and the beautiful art she has both collected and created herself along the way.

An antique wedding chest from Germany circa 1815.

Formal dining room with an AMAZING German folk art cupboard circa 1843 at the head of the table

Susie’s collection of Gaudy Welsh

Antique samplers and another beautiful German folk art cupboard circa 1806

A native of Oak Ridge, Susie spent many years with her husband, Carl, living abroad and in the D.C. area. When she returned to Tennessee in 2015, she settled into her home and has transformed her space into a wonderful collection of stories and past and present memories. With a fondness for where she’s come from and an excitement for what the future holds, her sense of adventure is contagious.

Copper Luster from England and treasured books

Collection of Ink wells and Turnbridge ware collected from England

A German wedding box which says “When two hands are joined as one”.

“Mother and Child”by Jacque Parsley of Louisville

A collection of Dala horses and other treasures from Sweden passed down from Carl’s side of the family

When I asked Susie what home means to her she described it as her nest, her safe haven-- and one that she can open up and extend to others as well. Home is her happy place, and it’s filled with the stories of her life. When people come into Susie’s home, her desire is that they feel loved and welcome. She loves creating a comfortable place that evokes curiosity and invites questions and storytelling.

Susie had the wonderful idea of replacing the panels of several of her upper cabinets with glass fronts to lighten up her kitchen.

A wonderful sun room that Susie converted from a screened in porch to be able to use year round.

Antique stained glass collected from a church in Aberdeen Scotland and framed to fit her space. We love the creative ways that Susie has customized her home.

Susie’s decor leans toward traditional with a deep love for antiques (including some incredible European pieces) and a bit of quirkiness thrown in. One of her go-to spots for furniture and home decor was Westwood Antiques of Knoxville, which closed in 2018. The owner, Scott Bishop, now has a booth at Bearden Antique Mall. A self-proclaimed lover of all things hand made, she has a special love for created items. Artwork of all sorts graces her home, including carvings, sculptures, quilts, paintings, antique samplers, lithographs, and mixed media pieces. Susie shares that she’s had a good sense of her design leanings for as long as she can remember. She’s always loved antiques and folk art and has always gravitated towards certain colors.

Round Robin quilt made by Susie and 5 friends from England

Hydrangea guest bedroom

Antique depression era quilt hanging on wall. Quilts on bed are Lone Star variations made by Susie

I was intrigued by how travel had influenced Susie’s decorating, and she shared that early on in her marriage, while they were living in Europe, they would purchase a piece of artwork in each place they visited. Sometimes it was a print or a lithograph and sometimes it was an original painting, but they always brought back a memory. As an Army wife, she was heavily influenced by the people she met and the places she visited in their travels.

If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

William Morris

Susie shares, “The above quote has always been my mantra for creating the 13 homes I’ve lived in as we’ve moved all over the world. As an Army family who had to relocate often, it was very important for Carl and I to make each place special—unique, our own, no matter if it was an Army-furnished set of quarters with generic furniture, a temporary apartment, or our dream home.”

Hydrangea quilt made by a dear friend of Susies. Jenny Harris is a British quilter who won prizes for her creation.

In the same way, Susie’s own creativity and art has influenced her home. She has beautiful quilts, sketches, and other crafted creations throughout her home. She considers her home a large- scale photo album of her life.

Susie’s craft and art room

Vintage pencil box

Quilting closet. Every quilter needs a palette

Collection of miniatures from special places and adventures

Collected vintage and antique toys and children’s books from all over the world

In the same way that Susie has collected art and artifacts, she’s also collected people and brought them into her clan, blending and connecting beautiful things and friendships in new and synergistic ways. Thank you so much Susie for opening up your amazing home and sharing part of your story with us!

Susie and Carl in Suffolk, VA in December 2012

Tunes for your Spring Refresh Organizing

Before tackling that bedside table drawer, or kitchen junk drawer… check out our Spring Refresh playlist we’ve put together for you.

Photo from Schoolhouse Electric.

Some fun music, an open window & an eager attitude will take you a long way as you refresh your space this spring. Schedule out some manageable chunks of time to focus on one area or project at a time. Celebrate the success of finishing each small project. Bit by bit, your space will be refreshed.

A playlist featuring LÉON, Brandi Carlile, Bahamas, and others

What are some of your favorite tunes to listen to while cleaning, purging or organizing?

Paper Organizing Tips

From junk mail, bills, and cards, to kid artwork, schoolwork, and other miscellaneous files, paper can be overwhelming. While technology has eased some of the physical load paper brings, it certainly cannot (and I’m not sure ever will) eliminate paper in our lives. So… what to do? 

Here’s a few tips:

• Treat your paper piles, filing cabinet, desktops just as you would your closet.

  • Purge before organizing. This may sound painful, especially if you have a lot to go through, but it’s so important if you really want to get a handle (and more space in your house!) on your paper.

  • Going though every single piece of paper in your house may be too overwhelming right now, but in the meantime, you want to get control of what’s coming in.

• Handle the mail every day.

  • Don’t bring the mail in until you can go through it right then.

  • Sort the papers into trash, recycle, and keep.

  • The “keep” category would include anything that requires action — bills, RSVPs — or anything you want to read — cards, newsletters. Put the “keep” mail in one place, preferably some sort of basket, bin, or box (not a pile).

• Sort through other incoming papers daily into trash, recycle, and keep.

  • The stacks that come home from work or school can add up, so be sure what you’re deciding to not trash or recycle is truly worth keeping.

  • Encourage your kids to help choose which projects or artwork stays, and which ones to let go of.

• Set one time a week to go through the “keep” bin.

  • Pick a time that makes the most sense for your schedule — Sunday afternoon might work for many, or maybe you have a morning or afternoon that’s typically free of other obligations. It’s all about creating new rhythms and habits to stay on top of the paper beast with a simple system.

• Questions on how long to keep files?

Happy birthday to HYD!

Thanks for celebrating our birthday week with us by participating in our daily giveaways on Instagram & Facebook. We’ve loved getting to share some of our favorite products from local companies with you. Thank you to our daily giveaway providers: Third Creek Coffee, Providence Road Pottery, Stanley’s Greenhouse, Pineapple Consignment, Back Porch Mercantile, and Origami Day.

As we celebrate our 5th birthday as a company, we’ve reflected a bit. Here’s a few things we’ve learned and milestones we’ve achieved…

• Expanded our team from 2 Co-Founders to 12 people.

  We are so much better together, than on our own.

• Written and shared over 260 blog posts.

  Enjoy a look back at our top 5 most viewed blog posts:

  • Personal Trainer turned Organizer

  • Social Worker turned Organizer

  • A look inside the home of downtown Knoxville’s “Elvis Artist”

  • The Prettiest Little Dish Shop You Ever Did See

  • Have you heard about Backroads Market?

• Grown our following to 3,600+ people on social media.

• Taken 600+ donation loads to local nonprofit organizations.

• Hosted 5 flea sales, re-homing our client’s furniture and decor.

• Assisted with 60+ moves, from packing and unpacking to estate transitions.

• Spoken at 18 community events and gatherings in the greater Knoxville area.

• Served 400+ clients in need of organizing services in their homes or workspaces.

• Worked with lovely clients near & far: Knoxville, Maryville, Farragut, Strawberry Plains, Oak Ridge, Powell, Asheville, and Atlanta.

• Helped 40+ clients on a monthly basis.

Thank you for celebrating with us! We cannot wait to see what the next 5 years hold. We’re committed to being your guide as you reclaim your home through our organization and move management services. It’s our hope to free you up, to do more of what you love.

Sharing some lovely updates

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Photo by Texture Photo.

We are excited to announce our fresh, new website design, featuring new home organizing packages, exclusive HYD memberships, and other services. Take a look around!

We’ve created a round up of our favorite local resources for donation spots, consignment locations, and service providers.

Did you know that HYD offers presentations and workshops? We can create a customized presentation for any specific group.

Looking for a last minute gift card for a loved one? We’ve got them!

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Also, we wanted to remind you that our 5th birthday giveaway is still open! Don’t miss your chance to win - enter before next Thursday 2/21 at 11:59 PM. The lucky winner will be announced on Friday 2/22. Celebrate our birthday with us next week by participating in daily giveaways on Facebook & Instagram.

Explore our updated website here!

Why we love coming home…

My favorite thing about coming home is the people... whether it be my family, neighbors, or folks dropping by, it’s the place where we get to connect with our people, hopefully creating a space where everyone feels welcome.
- Taryn

Items from a guest, a child & the garden.

I love coming home because our house feels like a comfortable blend of where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going as individuals and as a family. I’m a sucker for anything unique and old and I love that our home feels like a giant patchwork quilt: pieces of memories, people, and inspiration sewn together in a way that somehow all works.
- Caroline

Bookshelf of collected treasures, photo by Texture Photo.

Coming home feels like a big exhale to me. Our home is comfortable and simple, a place where we feel free to rest & play. We hope it can be that for everyone who comes in & out of our door.
- Katie

Morning light through the dining room.

I enjoy coming home because I have such a cozy space! My house is small & the main room is used as an entryway, living room, dining room, game room, homework area/office, TV room, weekend sleepover area, etc. When I walk in the door, all the future plans & past memories are there to greet me. And Stella. She’s always there to give me a warm welcome home as well.
-Kathie

Main room, featuring Stella.

Some of my favorite things are LOTS of sunlight, real plants (now that I’ve learned to keep them alive), candles, and good coffee.  At the moment, my family is living in a temporary residence that really doesn’t feel like home to me.  But I’ve still got my plants and coffee and I’m eager to get back into a space I can make all mine again!
-Rheannon

Plants and good coffee.

What do you love about coming home?

What we're reading

We just finished a great read & wanted to share our thoughts with you. There are a lot of “organizing” books out there, and most of them are highly focused on the practical and tangible aspects of the process. New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living has so much more to offer than just the “how to” organizing info. It feels like they speak our language, when it comes to listening and understanding a client’s specific needs before prescribing what to do and how to do it.

“The key to making the decluttering process feel easy and light is to exercise gratitude. We focus on gratitude because it helps root us and makes us feel calm as we enter this process. It is an antidote to anxiety, fear, and shame. Guilt dwells in the past. Gratitude grounds you in the present.”

- New Minimalism, Cary Fortin + Kyle Quilici

They offer a framework of 4 Archetypes that expound on how individuals personally relate to their possessions. The archetypes are used to help express why it’s hard for a particular person to declutter, while keeping the focus on the positive side of how we relate to our things. This framework can be such a helpful tool when learning your own archetype or the archetype of people you live with.

Here’s a real brief overview of the archetypes:

We love the way they offer a process and plan for helping folks declutter and organize, but they do it in a fluid and flexible way that is tailored to each specific client. In our five years of experience, we find this way of organizing is helpful for clients — there is no one right way for everyone to simplify their lives.

Here’s a few other excerpts we loved from the book:

“Here is the place where we can’t help but expound on one of our favorite philosophies: the myth of choice. Somewhere in our cultural evolution toward a consumer heavy lifestyle, some great advertising goddess came up with the brilliant idea that more is better. This idea has become so ingrained in our American ethos that we believe having more options liberates us and allows us to be our most fulfilled and most creative selves. Even that language - liberty and creativity - is at the very core of what we’ve always held to be the cornerstone of enlightened civilization. Yet it has been proven that having more choices does the exact opposite of giving us freedom. It leads us to feel overwhelmed, unsatisfied, and confused.”

- New Minimalism, Cary Fortin + Kyle Quilici

Cary + Kyle

The gals who wrote this book have a deep appreciation for being conscious consumers, as well as kind to our environment. They even venture to say “ the choices we make in the kitchen, just like the choices we make about our wardrobes, echo through our day and our communities”. We couldn’t agree more with the idea that our choices effect much more than just our own lives and well being.

In regards to mail, they preach the same message we’ve been empowering clients with for a long time… “Make sure that as soon as you get your mail from your box or front door, you open all important pieces, then shred & recycle them once they are no longer needed. If you don’t have time to open your mail, we would recommend leaving it in the mailbox until you do have time, rather than bringing it in and not sorting it. Otherwise piles start to grow”.

We really appreciate the way these women highlight and credit other professionals in the organizing realm, like Marie Kondo & Karen Kingston. This collaborative posture is one we can totally support.

At their best, our homes are a reflection of our hopes, our current values and our history. While having meaningful objects from our pasts can be beautiful, we need to achieve a fine balance, lest we become rooted in our history and unable to move forward into our future.

- New Minimalism, Cary Fortin + Kyle Quilici

This read is chock full of wisdom about making thoughtful decisions and shifting your perspective. We found ourselves nodding our heads and underlining so many pages. If you want to be encouraged and equipped to live more simply and intentionally, we highly recommend grabbing a copy.

We are cheering Cary and Kyle on as they continue to serve clients in the San Fransisco area. Follow them on Instagram to see glimpses of what they do! Grab a copy of their book and stay tuned for their second book, New Minimalism Guided Journal, set to come out in early 2020. They also have a wonderful blog.

meet our friends: brooke & lara

HYD recently moved into a new office space. The space is made up of an old craftsman home with a church attached to it, right off of Lyons View Pike. We are slowly but surely making it our own. We are lucky enough to share our new workspace with two other talented small business owners. These gals happen to also create beautiful art and spaces. Meet Brooke, of Brooke Phillips Designs and Lara, of Studio L. We did a little Q+A, so that you can get to know them… so settle in and enjoy hearing their stories.

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We’ll start with Brooke…

Q- Where did the inspiration for your company come from?

A- My husband always told me I had a gift for creating spaces that people love to be in, way before I was paid for it. And my creativity was born out of what I lacked. I studied because of a passion that I just couldn’t get enough of.  What I learned is that I was able to have a beautiful space by understanding what materials were good, what was real. Woods, metals, leathers, textiles that were natural and timeless are staples in a well thought out space. I had a few homes growing up that modeled that timelessness and were a big source of inspiration for me. But over the years, I realized how healing a home can be to a soul. And that is largely the reason I decided to be brave enough to start my company. And we needed to. I was pushed in my spirit to the point that I couldn’t say “no” anymore. 

Q- What are your favorite projects to work on?

A- I am a stylist. I love helping folks use things that have meaning to them in new and un-heard of ways. I want the spaces I style to tell a story about who lives and breathes in them. We can do that with sounds, sights, textures, smells and beautiful things. When everything is new, it just doesn’t seem as authentic to me. Coco Chanel said, “fashion fades, but style endures.” I agree with that. And my favorite projects are those that evolve over time and ones that give me an opportunity to curate a space. 

Q- What is one job/piece you are most proud of?

A- I am most proud of the restoration of our 1930’s colonial home and guest cottage in South Knoxville. It wasn’t perfect, and we didn’t have the opportunity to fully finish the project, but it had this wonderful feeling and made you want to sit a while and tell stories in it. It felt like home. 

Q- What does "home" mean to you?

A- To me, “Home” is a sacred space where the ones you love feel safe. It doesn’t revolve around “decorations” as much as it revolves around “intentionality”. Do your sofas invite you to sit? Your tables? Does the kitchen island invite you to gather around it? To share? 

Q- What is one book / podcast / song / piece of art that has moved you recently? 

A- I was recently by a piece of art my husband brought back from Israel. It was a photo of graffiti on an ancient exterior wall in Jerusalem. The wall is cracked down the center. And on the cracked wall, was a symbol and painting of “AHAVA”, the Hebrew word for Love backwards forwards, formed in a circle. It is the symbol for perfect love. I think the artist wanted to communicate that perfect love is only possible by loving the imperfections of others. I was inspired because it is on the backdrop of our cracked walls and imperfections that we can love well. 

Q- Favorite thing about living in East TN?

A- I love the seasons of East TN the most. It’s such a beautiful backdrop for rhythms of life. And I love that it’s so full of opportunity and talent and creativity. We lived in Florida for 13 years, and moved back about 5 years ago. I can truly say I’ve met the most talented, creative people here in Knoxville.

Q- What's one thing you'd encourage other small business owners to do? 

A- Collaborate with other like minded businesses! Owning a small business is gruesome work. And I felt like I was on an island for so long, especially as a mother operating a small business. We are expected to work as if we don’t have kids, while being a mother as if we don’t work. That is a hard balance to strike and one that I fail at often. But my saving grace has been like minded women in business who are kindred spirits to walk alongside. We can do anything together. I believe with my whole heart that we are meant for community for each other and with each other. Personally, and in business. 

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Now, we gladly introduce you to Lara…

Q- Where did the inspiration for your company come from?

A- “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…” I, Lara Periut, was a college art student searching for a job. I served at two restaurants until I stumbled into custom framing and have been involved in it ever since. After raising two children until their time was mostly managed by themselves and I found myself with little to occupy mine, an aunt was looking to give her little frame shop to someone in the family. I took that location over two and a half years ago, changed absolutely everything to suit my needs and met many amazing locals in between. I need to point out that about 2 years ago I met Brooke Phillips while on my first child-free-non-framing creative venture on a grand scale: a week long floral and event prep for an elaborate birthday party held at Blackberry Farms. Being grunt workers we didn’t earn much, but sometimes money isn’t the most valuable gift God provides. I learned that I didn’t need to limit my creativity to framing and Brooke’s talents were so inspiring that we absolutely needed to be in each other’s lives. Since then, she has pushed me outside my comfort zone to learn many new things. I have painted, plastered, built and created under her direction and I feel like I wouldn’t be the same person I am today without God planting her firmly in my path. Brooke recently convinced me to uproot my little shop – formerly named Karns Frame & Art but now Studio L - and I am now looking forward to sharing space and inspiration with her and the Help You Dwell crew.

Q- What are your favorite projects to work on?

A- I adore a challenge so my favorite frames to assemble are shadow boxes that require attention to detail, dedication to the process and design so they are visually interesting. Over the years I’ve framed necklaces, antique Victorian purses, full sized Kimono’s, military medals, Roman artifacts, Civil war artifacts, curling tongs from the 1920’s, drum heads, mechanical instruments…so many things can be preserved through custom framing and it intrigues me to figure out how to do just that.

Q- What does "home" mean to you?

A- Anyone can own a house to showcase the newest and finest money can buy, but a home reflects the comforts, creativity, warmth and hospitality of the inhabitants. A home is a safe zone where one can unwind from a busy day and surround themselves with things that they love. Mine is currently a mess, but then dogs and teens aren’t super helpful when it comes to cleaning up!

Q- What is one book / podcast / song / piece of art that has moved you recently? 

A- At a friend’s suggestion, I have been listening to Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged while I work. As an avid reader (or listener as the case may be), the details and literary nuances used to exemplify the authors ideals absolutely boggles my mind! It is easy to empathize with the characters because the values explored by Ayn are parallel to today yet was observed close to a century ago. It proves that there is nothing new in the world today, it’s simply a matter of how we view it. Out of 63 hours of audio, I’m only about 10 hours in so I don’t feel knowledgeable enough to hold an in-depth conversation about the morals of her story, but I will admit that I am in awe of Ayn Rand.

Q- Favorite thing about living in East TN?

A- I was born and raised here in Knoxville, TN and our family Bible documents generations back born within or nearby its boundaries. Where I don’t enjoy the allergies intrinsic to being snuggled in the valley of the mountains, I can’t even imagine living anywhere without those strong arms wrapped around me. The flat places of the world I visit and with McGhee Tyson airport expanding with an international terminal what more could one ask for? In a nutshell, for me Knoxville is where my Dad tills up a huge garden in the spring that feeds way more than our family could ever hope to eat, we live minutes from hikes in Big South Fork that my dog can join us on with breathtaking views at every turn, we have 4 seasons that are mild compared to most, and there are what I call “Twilight Zones” (like Karns where my home is) small enough that everyone knows when their neighbor sneezes yet it’s large enough that I can still find a back road I have never driven on before.

Q- What's one thing you'd encourage other small business owners to do? 

A- Since the industrial age the production of goods have been mechanized and businesses are required only to sell those items in a cold and corporate manner. That’s perfectly fine and I’m not knocking that, but after more than 100 years people are rediscovering the values and imperfections of hand made items with a loop missed here or a chink along the edge of products made in someone’s home. If I am to offer any sort of business advice it would be, “If there is a need, fill it!” Go out and begin to do what you do best, what makes you happy might just be the balm for another in need. The simplest things don’t even require a loan to begin! God has gifted you everything you need and it’s inside you, so take baby steps and the rest will fall into place over time.

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We are so thankful to call these two incredible women our friends.
They are also incredible resources and talent we hope our HYD clients take advantage of!

Say Hello to Kellye

Having watched Help You Dwell grow for the past five years, and now as part of this team, I can tell you that there’s a heartbeat to what we do. Yes, we may pack boxes and organize pantries, but the core of who we are is relational. We know each homeowner has a unique story, and we seek to empower them to navigate seasons of transition well and to organize and order their spaces in a way that reflects who they are.

It’s this beat that brought me to Help You Dwell — it speaks to the core of who I am as a person. If you and I were to look back on the jobs I’ve had since my first at 12-years-old, we would find that there are two distinct attributes that vividly mark my work life:

One, I will always make my work relational.

Whether I’ve been crafting hot lattes, ghost writing a book, speaking to hundreds of high school students, or managing social media accounts, I’ve always asked the question: How can I connect with people here? There is something beautiful about taking a thing that could be very transactional and making it relational. It surprises people. It blesses them. It ushers light and color into a moment that would be dull and grey otherwise. There’s nothing better than that!

I come by this honestly as the fourth born (of seven!) to the single-most relational people I know. My sweet parents, Joe and Mary, daily model what it looks like to really see people, to listen to their stories, and to encourage them. And that’s more important to me in my work life than any particular task I may complete.

My not-so-little family at Thanksgiving this year - My parents, their seven kids and four spouses, and four little grandkids. Family is incredibly important to me.

It’s important in all other areas of my life as well - when hosting women in my home, spending time with my family, writing, and serving my little church family here in Knoxville.

And two, I thrive when I am supporting those around me.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a middle child or it’s just the way God made me, but I’ve found I am aware of and quick to notice others’ needs. That comes in handy when you’re in a supportive role like mine.

As the office manager / jill-of-all-trades at Help You Dwell, my goal is to both support our team in a way that allows them to do their jobs well, and to care for you, our clients, as you work with us.

I may rarely set foot in one of your home’s, but I am caring for you in my own unique ways: creating systems and processes that provide you with a seamless experience, serving as a point of contact as you navigate the work we are doing in your home, caring for our team so the team can, in turn, care for you.

I prefer to organize spreadsheets, invoices, and schedules, but I’ll confess: I do love a good gallery wall in at least one space in my home!

I am pretty lucky. I’ve joined a team that values the two things that are at the core of my work life: relationships and care. I prefer to organize spreadsheets, invoices, and schedules, and I get to do so while nurturing connections and supporting those around me.

As we start a fresh year, I’m thankful to be a fresh face here. I hope to “meet” you over the phone soon, as you schedule your next organizing session or big move. To serve you will be my pleasure!

A different kind of new year's resolution

The new year is often full of new goals, healthier habits, and resolutions. All of those things are good, but we have a different idea in mind for you as the year begins.

What if this year, instead of making your list of top 10 radical life changes, you decide to do one thing?

You decide to practice “waiting”.

Wait on committing to a bunch of new classes, groups, activities, or habits. Wait on that big purchase. Shoot—- wait on the little purchases. Wait before you dive into that new diet or that new habit, and make some time to take inventory.

Set aside an hour to reflect back on your year. Where have you been over the course of 2018? What did you love about it? What did you hate about it? What are you looking forward to, and what are you thankful to leave behind? Take some time to press pause, and give yourself one instruction. Not sure where to begin in that reflecting process?

Wait.

Oftentimes, those hurried decisions, the ones we fail to think through in a moment of new year ambition, actually complicate things. There is so much pressure to solve all of your year’s problems by starting out on the “right foot”. Yes, having a fresh start can be nice, but we encourage you to intentionally enter into that.

Press pause, and take some time to breathe. Rest. Regroup. Take a nap. Process. And after, yes, AFTER you wait, think in terms of intentions rather than resolutions.

Image by Ann Voskamp

Merry Christmas and a great new way to begin 2019!

“We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

We hope your holiday season is full of love, laughter, and peace.

Image by TexturePhoto

As a way to make it easier for you to move forward with getting your home organized, we’ve come up with a new starter package! 2019 is just a few days a way and you are probably still recovering from the hustle of the Christmas season. We would love to help you start your year right, by bringing peace & order to your home and family.

Click on the image above to get the process started!

Myth busters: organizing edition

Image by Organized for Life

We’ve noticed something….

Somewhere along the way, some marketing genius discovered how to convince people that purchasing containers and organizing products would magically cure their clutter problem.

Well folks—this is a myth. In fact, we’ve found that of all the homes we’ve been in over the past several years, it’s often the ones with the most baskets and bins and organizing products, that need the most help getting organized.

It makes sense if you think about it— if you struggle with clutter or with letting things go, it’s easy to convince yourself that if you just had a “neat” way to store your items, it wouldn’t be an issue.

When we go out and buy bins, it gives us permission to then fill them with items that we might not actually even need or want anymore, but because they are contained, it feels like organization.

In the process of getting organized, purchasing containers is rarely where we begin. Most often the process of pulling out, sorting, and purging items informs whether you even need to go purchase containers to hold your stuff.

You can have a room full of baskets, bins, crates, and totes and still have disorder and chaos. In fact, sometimes having all of those containers creates even more chaos than there would be without them.

Organization is ALWAYS easier when you have less stuff to begin with. Items do not magically jump into crates once you buy them. Organization is about regularly purging and changing your habits. We would love to help you with the whole process from start to finish. Most importantly, we’d love to help create systems in your home that will make your life easier and your world less chaotic.

Help You Dwell's Katie Martin Family Home Tour

For several years now we have invited you into the homes of many Knoxvillians. A few months ago it dawned on us — We should invite you into our own homes too! We are excited to share with you a few thoughts on home and a glimpse into one of the HYD owners homes this week. Without further adieu…

Welcome to the home of Katie and Andy Martin!

Katie and Andy moved into their home on May 28th of this year! As first-time home buyers, they were really excited to establish some roots and make this house their home. Fun back story— I (Caroline) have an unreasonable obsession with house hunting for other people. No, I’m not a realtor, but when I heard that one of my friends was putting her house on the market, I immediately thought about Katie and Andy and connected them with the sellers, thus resulting in this match made in heaven :) Moving along…

When I asked Katie what home means to her, she immediately responded, “A place where you can exhale — a place where you can rest.” She went on to share that not only is their desire for their home a restful place for she and Andy, but also to be a place where they can share their space and that feeling with everyone who comes by.

On the style and design front, Katie loves neutrals, coziness, and simplicity. She’s never really pinned a name to her style but knows what she likes. Style has evolved for her over the years and she’s quick to add that getting married significantly shifted the way she thought about decor. Before, she often focused on aesthetics where as now she’s intentional about functional decorating and paying attention to what is important to Andy as well. Thankfully, they share many of the same stylistic leanings, which has made the process of nesting together pretty seemless.

“Lots of the things that we have were given to us, so they serve as sweet reminders of those folks. We’ve collected things from trips we’ve taken together so we have lots of items that remind us of good memories— trivets, ornaments, rugs. I love the things that have a story or carry memories the most. The moment we first saw the house it felt like us— it didn’t feel too fancy but it felt classic—old and well taken care of— with a history.”

In terms of making interior purchases, Katie tends to go with her gut but also pays attention (especially with furniture) to quality and versatility. Katie is a self-proclaimed lover of classics and sucker for trends, so she often works to blend the two styles in a way that is cohesive.

A beloved hand lettered copy of the lyrics to “Home at last” by Josh Garrels- artistry by Old City Mailroom. Katie had this made for Andy for their first anniversary.

One thing I was curious about was whether or not being involved with Help You Dwell has changed her perspective on home or decorating. Katie pointed out that it’s exposed her to so many more styles than she would have encountered otherwise. It’s made her want less but treasure the things she has more.

She remarked that “it’s empowering to watch people let go of so much. It reminds me that I don’t need to hold on to everything. I also don’t have the option of keeping a lot of extra items because we don’t have much storage in our house. Because helping people purge is what we do, I’m a pretty consistent purger in my own home. I used to be a pillow and throw blanket hoarder, but I’ve purged a lot.”

This pew was purchased from an HYD client at our bi annual Flea and is one of Katies favorite pieces in their home.

As for their favorite parts of the house?? They love the backyard and screened in porch. When it’s nice out, they love spending time outdoors or sitting around the fire pit with friends. The living room is pretty incredible too. With all of the large windows It almost feels like you are up in the tree’s because the house is set up on a hill.

Thank you so much, Katie and Andy, for sharing your lovely home! And a big thank you to TexturePhotographics for all of the pictures!!

Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Experiences

Tickets to The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby

Rock climbing @ River Sports

Photo Session with Carrie Jo Savage, of Texture Photo

Yoga passes @ Glowing Body 

Rhythm & Blooms Tickets

Blue Apron Meal Subscription

Ice Skating on market square

Pottery Class @ Mighty Mud

Bullet Journaling Workshop

Knox Brew Tour

Progressive dinner- visit 4 different downtown restaurants and walk between courses

Cooking classes and a 4 course meal with Chef Cedric. See this article for more info.

HYD Jump Start to the Ordered Home

Image from The Hive

Image from Knoxville Holidays on Ice

Image from River & Rail Theater Co.

Goods

Coffee from 41 & Change Coffee Co.

Dwell candle

New Minimalism: Decluttering and design for Sustainable, Intentional Living

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave

Origami Day 2019 Planner

Brass Easel Photo Desk Calendar

A set of hand made glasses from Pretentious Glass Co.

A best seller from Union Ave Books

A plant from Stanleys Greenhous

Image by Artifact Uprising

Image by Pretentious Glass

Join us @ Consign to Design tonight!

We’re so excited to gather at Knoxville’s very own Consign to Design this Thursday night at 6:30 pm. We will be presenting “The Ordered Home”. Kristi and her team have graciously invited us to come some organizing know-how in their beautiful shop of high end consignment furniture & decor pieces. We love their shop and their mission to give quality furniture & decor new life in new spaces. Whether you are already organized or overwhelmed by the thought of organizing, this is for you. We’ve come up with some practical and inspiring tips and tricks to share with you. You’ll leave refreshed and empowered, we promise. We are excited to meet you & share our evening with you. We will be taking questions & discussing all things related to home and dwelling. Invite your friends!

There may even be a giveaway….

See you tonight!

6:30 pm @ Consign to Design
9329 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922

Happy Thanksgiving

Image via Shutterstock

for our families, our employees, our clients, our homes, our city, our country, our friends, our neighbors, our health, our lives…

we are thankful.

It doesn’t have to be the
blue Iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot..
just pay attention, then
patch a few words together..
this isn’t a contest, but the
doorway into thanks…

– Mary Oliver, Praying

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Help You Dwell.

why we gather around the table

Last week, our HYD team (14 of our 15 amazing women) gathered around the table to enjoy a potluck feast. To be honest, not a ton of planning went into this evening. We had a few hopes for the night: we would each bring something to contribute to the meal, and we would each show up with our own story. It was a really simple & at the same time, meaningful evening together.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

“They broke bread in their homes & ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”

Home made cooking & enticing smells made their way through the door while we poured wine into glasses, as everyone showed up one by one. The dishes were varied and unique, like the gals that brought them. When everyone is responsible for bringing “something” - it takes the burden off of the host to provide everything. This was also a fun way to get to enjoy a variety of foods without too much work for anyone. It was like the “Greatest Hits of Thanksgiving” from 15 different family traditions.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

When the meal began, we started sharing conversation around our experiences as organizers. It wasn’t a forced discussion about “work”, rather, it was one of the rare instances where we are all gathered together in the same room to share stories. Our team is made up of some women who have been organizing for Help You Dwell for over 4 years and others that have only been with us a month or so. We heard stories about surprising connections with clients, vulnerable moments, and light hearted, funny encounters. While HYD is a team, we often function individually as we work with clients to help them pack for a move, get organized, or settle in after a transition. It was so rich to share stories & what we’ve learned about ourselves in the field. We also each bring our own “flavor” of personality to the table, which adds a fun social dynamic as we connected and laughed and listened.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Our desire in sharing about our evening with you is to encourage you to gather. A shared meal doesn’t need to be fancy or stressful. Don’t put all of the pressure on yourself, but invite your guests to participate and spread out the responsibility. Use what you have & get creative. Whether it’s with family members, neighbors, friends or strangers, we are so much better together than we are on our own. If we don’t make time to connect and listen to those around us, we limit ourselves from the beauty, story and depth that others have to share.

These 5 Things : November 2018

Image by Laurey W. Glenn

There are so many blogs and columns out there that it can be overwhelming and hard to find the good stuff. We’ve gathered a few of our latest favorites to share with you below. What blogs do you read regularly? We’d love to know your go-to’s!

1. Have toy rules

2. 15 finds from schoolhouse for a well ordered home

3. Home Keeping 101

4. 5 ways I keep my life and mind organized

5. 7 things to get rid of now so you’ll have more storage space for the Holidays

5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Organizer

Texture Photo.

1 - You are likely a busy person

When you hear the word “busy”, you might quickly assume that this is a negative word… not necessarily. Depending on the family members you have, social groups you are a part of, church you attend, or organizations you support, there are so many events, demands, projects and opportunities you could participate in. This is a wonderful dilemma! To fill our lives and schedules with meaningful encounters and engagements is a luxury. Instead of blocking off a whole day or week of your time to get your home in order, allow us to come help you with the task. We can free you up to be able to participate in all of the things you love, without the weight of a disordered or cluttered home. If “getting organized” is merely an item on a long to-do list, it’s probably going to get overlooked and pushed down the list week after week. However, if you have a scheduled appointment, you are much more likely to make it happen. We are ready to help, and we can hold you accountable to your goals. We can even work on your space while you aren’t home if that works best for your schedule. Fill your time with the things that bring you life, and let us handle the rest!

2 - You have too much stuff

Over time, the items in your closet, dresser, cabinets, pantry, basement, garage and attic have accumulated and expanded. That’s a lot of places for excess to pile up. At some point you may have had “just” what you needed to live well and enjoy your space, but chances are, you have more than enough now. This “more than enough” is taking up precious real estate in your space. It might even be causing you to waste time and energy, while also costing you more money and stress than you intended. You might have to climb over excess to find specific items in storage areas. You probably spend too much time filing through hanging clothes to find that one top you are looking for. Before a system of order and simplicity can be implemented, there must always be a purge. This is sort of like taking inventory of all of your belongings, touching them and making an intentional decision on whether or not each item stays or goes. We do our very best to inform our clients about where to donate specific items that will be put to good use. Purging is not for the faint of heart. You often need a second pair of eyes to make decisions— we highly advise you to not do this alone.

3 - You are emotionally attached to your stuff

Texture Photo.

We’ve all lived through painful experiences and losses. Sometimes belongings are are passed down from a loved one that we aren’t sure what to do with. Not knowing the monetary value of items can also cause confusion in the decision making process around what to keep and what to let go of. We all grieve and process transitional life experiences differently. Give yourself grace here. There is no “right” way to do this. Gifts can carry such heavy sentimental value, while at the same time serving no real functional purpose. We are able to impart this foundational truth to many clients while sifting through emotionally difficult items - letting go of an object does not erase or eliminate the memory associated with said item or the person who gave it to you. Think 50 years down the road - do you want your friends & family to feel weighed down by any gifts you have given them that they simply keep because they feel guilty getting rid of them? Or, do you want them to feel the freedom to cherish memories without holding onto every single gift or trinket?

4 - You aren’t sure where to start

When it’s your own clutter you’re trying to tackle, it can be personally overwhelming and debilitating. (This is even true for us, the professionals). We oftentimes start small, because the sense of success and accomplishment from one organized area, is what will fuel you through the larger more labor-some areas of your home. When getting to know our clients, we always listen first - this allows us to make a prioritized plan of what spaces should be organized first and in a way that serves you best. We ask questions to find out what matters most to you, what is valuable to the people in your home, and what you hope the overall outcome of organization in your home will look and feel like. We are mindful of the fact that each space affects other rooms in your home and take that into account when coming up with a plan. This allows us to be more efficient with your time, energy, and resources. Although you live day to day in your home, we enter in with a fresh perspective because it’s all new to us. Most importantly, your clutter doesn’t scare us - we see the potential from the get go! Once we’ve hit the “reset” button on your home, you’ll be more able to keep up with the rhythms and routines of organization.

Texture Photo.

5 - You’re facing a life transition

Life is always shifting and changing. Just when we settle into one season, the next one is creeping up on us. Sometimes sudden life altering events come crashing in with no warning. From small changes to sudden or tragic ones, all changes leave us needing to re-settle and reinstate order so that we can press on and adjust. Sometimes an urgent move or job shift creates a pressurized demand for changes to happen quickly in your home. We often are just the compassionate helpers and additional hands you need to finish a looming project. Welcoming new people into your home such as a baby, an aging parent, a foster child, or a relative for a temporary or extended stay, can create a list of to-do’s that can feel impossible. If you’re facing complex or challenging life transitions like divorce or death of a loved one, we are able to help you find a path forward. We make it our mission to help make practical and manageable plans to help our clients through these difficult situations. In such chaotic and painful times, we strive to bring a spirit of hope and peace of mind all the while, getting tasks accomplished.

It’s been a privilege to work with our clients over the past 4.5 years. Everyone has a unique situation and it’s our greatest joy to listen and learn how we can best serve you.