Living Better With Less... Waste

Being conscience not to overuse your products is an example of what I mean by living better with less. By only using what you actually need helps you get the most out of what you buy. Liquid cleansers with pumps are easy to overuse since one full pump is usually way more than you need to clean your hands or face. This concept is simple but I've noticed many times friends and clients using multiple pumps to wash their lightly soiled hands but then wonder why they go through it so quickly.

Generally speaking I prefer bar soaps but I do adore the whole Savon De Marseille line. Not only are they gentle and wonderfully scented, they come in a simple but beautiful reusable glass bottle.

Just A Reminder...

A few friends have mentioned they didn't realize that there are links embedded in the posts. Any bolded text has a link.... click away!! And sorry for any confusion :)

Sale Alert NYC

(image from hablecontruction.com)

I just read on Daily Candy that Hable Construction is closing their West Village shop and are selling their wonderful wares up to 50% off. I've mentioned I love their open bins. If you're in NYC it's worth checking it out:

when: now thru feb 28. tues-sat noon-7pm; sun, noon-6pm

where: 117 perry street, b/t hudson & greenwich (877.422.5304)

The Final Touches To Complete Your Closet Make-Over

(click on bolded text for link) Installing a mirror and light to your closet not only makes it more functional but look super chic as well. You can get a full length mirror almost anywhere for about $20. My brother just purchased several from Ikea and I was really impressed with the minimal mounting hardware it came with. Don't forget to install a hook above it.

As for lighting, if you own your place it may be worth having a licensed electrician install one. If you rent, hang one yourself. I prefer plug in lights but if that's not an option for you, use LED battery operated ones so you don't have to change the batteries so often. In the closet above I used a cord kit with a small paper lantern. By placing a small hook on the ceiling then one in the corner (closest to the door) I guided the cord under the door to the nearest outlet.

Adding a thin carpet to the floor of your closet adds the final touch (see pic in shoe storage post). It also helps keep the dust bunnies at bay.

Cheat Your Way To A Neat Closet: Shoe Storage

(click on bolded text for link) OK, first, any extreme weather shoes or boots should live in your coat closet so they don't take any valuable room in your clothes closet. Your remaining shoes should be separated by season and special occasion. The off-season ones can be placed in an underbed shoe bag, stacked in clear plastic shoe boxes, or placed in shoe bags or ziplocks and carefully placed in a box. The clear plastic shoe boxes are great to keep your special occasion shoes handy but safe.

If you don't have off-season shoes (I'm in NYC so I tend to forget some of you don't have seasons), you could use any of the previously mentioned pieces if you don't have room in your clothes closet. If you do have room, depending on how big your closet is and how many shoes you have, I love the simple ones (two stacked) shown in the first pic. I like the fact that the shelves are solid instead of the open wire ones which are good for men's shoes but not necessarily for women who wear heals. What I don't like is the space between shelves is not high enough for my taller heals and I'm only a size 6 1/2. But this is a simple enough design to make on your own to your specific dimensions.

Over the door ones aren't my first choice since they can be bulky and I like to have a mirror and hook on the door instead. But if you must, the one in the second pic is a new favorite for those who have 30 pairs of current season shoes. The canvas over the door ones are ok but only store one shoe per pocket so only hold about 12 pairs. I also like this one in black fabric.

If you have a lot of shoes I love the idea of using a bookcase for shoe storage. I also love these drawers and the software to print out your own labels. Or these ($$$) boxes which come in many colors and have a slot on the front for you to put a picture.