MISS MOOX: Lee Kleinhelter

For those of you that don't know me or have just started reading, I am an interior designer AND a professional organizer (weird pairing?...perhaps). As far as blogging goes, I have been spreadin' the design love but have neglected the organizing love a bit. Soooo, one of my goals for this new year is to make every Wednesday an "organizing" themed post. I plan to show inspiring images of organized spaces, provide organizing tips, illustrate do-it-yourself organizing projects, feature some of my personal organizing projects as well as my client's and much more. But I need your help! Let me know if there is anything specific that you would like me to blog about...just leave me a comment or shoot me an email sidney@eclectic-idg.com. Thanks in advance for your help!

Today, I want to show some creative ideas for storing kid's toys. I know there are a million types of "kid themed" baskets, bins, etc. out there but why not do something a little more stylish? Take some cues from these inspiring images...

via http://mybluehydrangea.blogspot.com/

Domino

Real Simple August 2008

Designer Lee Kleinhelter
Cottage Living Nov 2007

House and Garden

Domino Feb 2009

Designer Candice Olson
Home Magazine

Unknown

I find that the earlier you start training your kids to stay organized, the more likely they are to maintain the order. And be sure to make the organizing process kid friendly-incorporate labels with pictures (instead of words) from their favorite book. Or better yet, have them draw out the images for the various bins like trains, books, dolls, etc. so they will feel a sense of entitlement in their space! Are your kids still resisting? Try making it fun for them...create a game to see who can pick up their stuff the fastest every night before bedtime. Whoever wins gets a gold star. The child with the most gold stars at the end of each month earns a prize (money for their piggy bank, TV privileges, a special day out with mom or dad, etc. ) And with that I say...GOOD LUCK!
(Remember, I don't have children so I can suggest all of these things with ease.)

Admittedly (see, I got it now!), I am not the biggest fan of the holidays. I mean of course I love Christmas and all the parties and spending time with family-laughing, sharing fond memories, partaking in some spirits, eating good food, watching my nephews ruthlessly tear open gift after gift-but it is also super stressful! I mean this is the busiest time of year for my business then you add decorating clients homes for Christmas (which I love because I rarely get to do my own!) and then there is shopping for presents and traveling and making everyone happy and blah, blah, blah. But I am really trying this year. Really! I hope to be more like this...

Thanks for letting me vent :)

Now I am going to talk about some of the things I really dig as far as Christmas decorating goes. I was at a friend's house the other night and she had those lights on her tree that alternate between clear lights and colored lights. How have I never heard about these before? Brilliant. Totally solves one of life's many debates. [For the record, I am pro clear.] I am also loving anything natural and earthy-driftwood, paper whites, birch, seashells, garland, burlap, moss, boxwood...oh my.

Love.

Not the biggest fan of things that scream Christmas.

Unless you are going to an ugly Christmas sweater party.
Who came up with this idea? I want to be your best friend. If you are a guy, I might want to be more than friends.

And red is my least favorite color (except when it comes to the GA Bulldogs) so I tend to go for the creams, golds, silvers, greens and even, perhaps, a Tiffany blue. Typically, I love when you can incorporate holiday decor into your normal, everyday decor. Like this...

The brilliance that is Suzanne Kasler. You go Atlanta.

Here are some other images that inspire me...

Let's face it, pretty much everything she does kicks ass.

Ditto for Ruthie. Love the atypical color scheme!

Eddie Ross you are a rock star.
This makes me want to take back my red comment.

~Images: 1-2) Google ? 3) via MFaMB 4) ? 5) via Toby Fairley's blog 6 and 7) Cottage Living 8) eddieross.com

I am loving that anything goes in upholstered headboards these days! You can get as custom as you want with the shapes, fabrics and decorative details. What a great way to break up a room full of straight angles and all wood furniture. Hallelujah!

Try a Custom Shape...

Or a Bold Pattern...

Or with Nailheads...

Try Adding Tufting...

Or Try Thinking "Outside the Box"...

~Images: 1) Nate Berkus 2) House Beautiful Oct 2009 Designer Alessandra Branca 3) Everything Leb 4) Domino May 2006 5) Celerie Kemble 6) Tom Scheerer 7) Elle Decor 8) Southern Accents July/Aug 2007 9) Unknown 10) Unknown 11) Lee Kleinhelter 12) Tom Scheerer 13) Unknown

I love finding driftwood on the beach! I wonder what its story is- did it come from a broken down dock, or an old shipwreck or perhaps petrified tree from far away? In some areas, driftwood is so plentiful that it can be a nuisance but in actuality, it provides nutrients when decomposed, shelter for wildlife and oftentimes forms the base of sand dunes. Each piece is so unique with its knots and gnarls. Some are bleached out from time in the salt and sun. Regardless or its origin, the sculptural quality of driftwood truly makes it a work of art. Designers have been using driftwood in interiors for years and recently manufactures jumped on board creating lamps, mirrors and furniture out of this natural beauty.

As lighting...

As furniture...

As a mirror...

As is...

~Images: 1) Designer Anthony Cochran 2) Unknown 3) Tom Scheerer 4) House Beautiful Aug 2008 5) Unknown 6) Designer Lee Kleinhelter's home 7) Unknown 8) House Beautiful March 2009 9) West Elm

A friend of mine's husband just built her a daybed suspended by chain on the porch off of their master bedroom. It is heavenly (well, it will be when the weather is cooler)! We were discussing ways to "dress" the bed and the idea of covering the chain in rope came up, much like designer Suzanne Kasler did in the Watersound showhouse pictured above. It got me to thinking of all the cool uses this heavy, nautical inspired rope could be used in decor...

I am not sure if they originated the idea, but I know Lee Kleinhelter of Pieces Inc. and Kay Douglas of South of Market, both use the rope to cover electrical cord when converting items such as baskets into light fixtures. I especially love the raw, texture mixed with industrial pieces!

The guru of creative thinking Martha Stewart has many ideas for using rope in decor. On her site you can find tutorials on creating a nautical inspired lamp and barstools. I have also seen rope used to cover the arms of a chandelier, as the "frame" for a mirror and wound around a cyclindrical table base. [I don't have time to search for these images but I promise to attach later on if I come across them. My apologies!]

And if you aren't excited by the raw look of the rope, try painting it! You can get the wonderful texture while achieving a much sleeker look! Do you have any other creative uses for rope in interior design? If so, let's hear it!
~Images: 1) Coastal Living Oct 2007 2) Suzanne Kasler 3) Pieces Inc 4 and 5) South of Market