Living/Dining Room Declutter

Professional organizer Pedro Lima is ready to help them organize their living and dining room into spaces that function independently.

First, he clears up the artwork leaning against the walls at the entry by deciding which of Joel's paintings are to be hung downstairs and which go upstairs. He explains how to carry paintings by the hanging wire rather than the frames so the painting won’t loosen in the frame.

Next, he helps the Zicklers organize the piles of magazines. Old catalogs and magazines older than three months get recycled. The rest are stacked or stored in a binder.

The dining table, which should be a tranquil place to decompress at the end of the day, is home to a pile of clutter that is simply shifted around to make room for food. A computer/office area takes up part of the dining room--another reason the space is undefined and stuffy.

A computer/office area takes up part of the dining room--another reason the space is undefined and stuffy.

The dining area--now used just for dining--is accented with red curtains, one of which hides a bike that is hung on the wall. Baby toys are stored in the stack of cheerful red boxes.

Joel rides a bike to work each day and stores his bike behind the couch so baby Eli can play with the pedals. They give the room a very collegiate feel.

A new wall with cutouts is added to create a sense of entry in the living room.

The foyer wall is now painted a dramatic red on the living-room side and has cutouts for guitars, in-season coats and shoes.

Another change from the reorganizztion includes creating a usable closet.The coats of each family member are stuffed into one tiny closet. Out-of-season coats are moved upstairs and only in-season coats are kept handy downstairs.

The former cramped closet now houses the computer and paper storage. A bright red cabinet holds art supplies.

Sherwin-Williams paint colors used:

Botticelli Red #SW1581, eggshell finish
Artemesia # SW1184, eggshell finish

Products from Levenger:

Daylighter Table Lamp
Leather Arc Lamp in Black

Products from The Container Store:

Milano magazine files #10004723
Milano pencil cup #10014
bookends--rectangle in chrome #618803
clear-color techno pneumatic lift chair #10015855
Milano address file #1001477
paper tray stacker #10008106
legal-size walnut trays #383110
disk box #410310
Milano desktop file box #10014183
red leather storage boxes
legal size #10021162
12 hanging files--letter size #506110
cube shelves--natural wood 9" x 3.75" deep #734411, chrome
self-adhesive hooks #10007087
all-purpose rolling cart #448900
bike hanger posters # 554040
silver shelves, 18" x 24", Intermetro #483084
silver posts 74 1/2, Intermetro #483022
casters with brake, gray 3" #483077
red holiday storage box, large #10022525
8.5" x 11" 24-page art portfolio #332200
small document frames 11" x 14" #734460

Products from Cliff Young Ltd.:

Red Lacquer plasma stand, Salvatore (81 wide by 24 deep by 64 high)
60-knot Tibetan wool rug

Products from Sure Fit:

Cotton Duck floor pillows
red 18" brushed fringe pillow