Before and After: Kitchen Cleanup and Organization

Sandy Thompson's kitchen is a wreck. At 9 x 13 feet, every inch of counter space is covered with reading materials, paperwork, food and countless knickknacks. She wants to get this space in working order again, but has no idea where to begin.

That's where professional organizer Deb Lillard comes into the picture. She is called upon to restore order and give Thompson a spacious, functional kitchen, where she can feel at ease.

The first step in making that happen is to sort through all that stuff, removing items that do not belong, deciding what can be donated, and creating piles for bakeware, plastics, cookware and dishes.

Once that's complete, Lillard outlines her plan to whip this kitchen into shape. She suggests a new laminated countertop to open up the space as well as a new dishwasher, reinforced shelving and hanging baskets for storage. Fresh wall paint and new curtains, chandelier and wood tiling in the dining room will add the finishing touches.