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Creative Chaos Clearout

Mission: Organization : Episode MSO-512 -- More Projects »

Kim Millen is an art teacher who was forced to stash her life's work into one small room in her house when her school suddenly closed. Everything ended up in the basement of her home she shares with her husband and their two teenage children. The space is so cluttered and crowded it is impossible to find a needed supply, much less space to create.

Years of collecting art supplies have led to the chaos in this 15-foot square basement.

In spite of ample shelving, the collection of papers, paints and other art supplies is out of control.

With no place to work or to even move around in, Millen wants to purge through the 20-year accumulation of art supplies and transform the space into an efficient space for doing artwork.

Once shelving was removed, this large window was discovered. Not only does it provide a view, but it also adds important natural light for artistic endeavors.

Professional organizer Vicki Norris takes on this daunting task, starting by recommending that the walls be finished with Sheetrock and painted a natural canvas color.

She also wants to stain the concrete floors, have custom shelving installed on all four walls, and have a large work island as the room's centerpiece.

All the art supplies are sorted for duplication (a common problem in disorganized storage) and evaluation, then placed in clearly marked containers so it is easy to see what is available and find it quickly. Anything not directly related to art is removed and stored elsewhere.

This new large center island is full of storage underneath and extravagant work surface on top.

Huge floor-to-ceiling cupboards are filled with supplies that have been sorted into see-through tubs and clearly labeled.

The final result is an open room with improved lighting, lots of work and preparation space and organized storage in a variety of cabinets.

Custom shelving throughout the space provides specialized storage. This corner unit is used to store oversize watercolor paper and flat artwork.

One long wall of counters has storage below, while the cupboards above hold the supplies that are used frequently. The back wall provides a display space for treasured artwork.

Product from 3 Day Blinds:
2" Transitions wood blinds, White
Products from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff:
French easel with storage
Arches-rough
Arches-rough bright
travel box
1/2 oz. bottles
Mi Tenus paper
Products from The Container Store:
storage bins
wastebasket
label maker with case
men's shoeboxes
women's shoeboxes
sweater boxes
boot boxes
accessory boxes
12 deep sweater boxes
12 magazine files
plastic grid basket paper control
The Classifier magazine file
9.75 Zip Can White
Product from Dick Blick Art Materials:
six stools
Sherwin-Williams paint colors used:
Interactive Cream, SW6113
Biscuit, SW6112, satin
Product from We're Organized:

custom cabinets
countertops, Pionite Filleto Marble #MT400

Resources
window coverings--3 Day Blinds
3 Day Blinds
Website: www.3day.com

art supplies--Cheap Joe's
Cheap Joe's Art Stuff
374 Industrial Park Dr.
Boone, NC 28607
Toll-free: 800-227-2788
Toll-free fax: 800-257-0874
E-mail: info@cheapjoes.com
Website: www.cheapjoes.com

organizing and storage supplies
The Container Store
Website: www.containerstore.com

paint — Sherwin-Williams
Website: www.sherwin-williams.com

custom cabinets--We're Organized
We're Organized
Toll-free: 800-676-2230
Website: www.wereorganized.com
Guests
Vicki Norris
President / Professional Organizing Consultant / Speaker / Product Designer, Restoring Order
Website: www.RestoringOrder.com
Also in this Episode

Mission: Organization : Episode MSO-512
•	Creative Chaos Clearout
•	Extra Organizing Tips: Vicki Norris

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Creative Chaos Clearout

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