Volume 4: April
Spring is the in between of the better seasons – we’re out of the cute sweater weather, but it’s still too cold for summer dresses. Yes, I know the last week has been beautiful, however, per the usual PNW spring weather the rain is coming back this weekend. With all this time stuck indoors away from the cold and rain, it’s the best time of year to get the shit out of the closets.
My least favorite season of the year
I hate Spring
For some, this could be an unpopular opinion but stay with me.
Spring is the in between of the better seasons – we’re out of the cute sweater weather, but it’s still too cold for summer dresses. Yes, I know the last week has been beautiful, however, per the usual PNW spring weather the rain is coming back this weekend. With all this time stuck indoors away from the cold and rain, it’s the best time of year to get the shit out of the closets. Or the pantry. Or under the bed. Or out of the garage. You see where I’m going here.
It can seem daunting and if you’ve done a remodel (I love these any time of the year!) you likely had to pack up items and store them away. For myself, between moving, remodeling, and inheriting family items, I was drowning in memories and ill-stored items. The overwhelm of trying to manage and organize it on my own seemed to push the projects to the bottom of my list, repeatedly. Realizing I knew a professional who could help me attack these projects and create the spaces that I wanted in my home took a while. I’ve had the benefit of working with an organizer while working with clients on different projects in their homes. So why did it take me so long to recognize that I needed professional help and I knew the perfect person?
I thought, “Duh, I know who could help me”, so I emailed her my thoughts and hopes about cleaning out my clutter. I had a rough idea of what I wanted to accomplish, but I was definitely open to her suggestions. We scheduled a date, and I cleared my calendar. I wanted to make sure I was prepared and was going to make the most of the day. Katrina told me how to prep for the day and I was excited to start.
She kicked my butt; it felt as if I’d spent the day working out. I know how much emotional clutter sticks around with the physical clutter and it is heavy. We spent our time working through what I couldn’t manage on my own. I was exhausted and so proud of the work we completed! I went back to look at our work the next day and it was like my birthday and New Year’s Eve wrapped into one – happiness and optimism in looking ahead. Working with Katrina helped me hate spring a little less this year.
Supporting Local Charities
Another benefit of all this spring cleaning? Being able to support local charities by donating to them. Giving back to our local community is one of our values at Kirk Riley Design.
Clothes and accessories were donated to Jubilee Women’s Center where they support women experiencing poverty and help them to build stable and fulfilling futures. All my household goods were taken to the West Seattle Discovery Shop where the funds raised from the sale of donated goods support the mission of the American Cancer Society.