growing up a space
when a kid grows up a space needs to as well
aligndwell partners with a
physician and mother of a teenager with not enough free time
and her teenage daughter
The problem I had before I found Erica was that we had a lot of stuff that we had collected as we were raising our daughter and, now that she's a teenager, we didn't need it anymore. We needed to redesign the space.
It felt very overwhelming, because it was 13 years worth of toys collected in a large room, and I just didn't feel like I had that energy to get through it all, even though I knew that we could use the space better if it wasn't there.
(before)
(before)
(before)
The teenager’s take:
I think it worked for me, because I knew I didn't have to get all of it done in the set time. I think if I felt like I had two hours to get everything done, and I had to get it done it would be more overwhelming. But it wasn't because I knew that I could take the time I needed to get stuff done. If I needed a break, I could take a break.
Erica did a really good job. I can find things now. I went and got yarn from there that I didn't fully know I had, 'cause I was making a bracelet and it was nice to be able to go down there and find stuff and use it.
It's a lot easier to find stuff down there. It's more of a functional space. And now there's a place to sit down, and I know it's still a little bit in progress–the hangout area–but the fact that we moved it into the example of what it's gonna be like once we get all the furniture has really helped.
It's pretty easy to be able to start cleaning stuff up once you’re in the mindset, you just need a good starting point. And I think that she’s really good at that, and making things that have previously seemed incredibly difficult really easy. And I think that was really nice. I had a lot of fun, too.
I am able to tackle smaller projects on my own.
I didn't have any hesitations about working with Erica. I could tell that she had the organization skills, motivation, and vision to help me get where I needed to go. It was a great experience. She really kept me focused and actually motivated me to do more in my spare time.
I realized that organizing what I own, and making better use of the space is doable. I was able to tackle smaller targeted projects on my own– like organizing the kitchen pantry.
Now there are three rooms in my house that I feel so much more comfortable and in peace living in.
(before)
