Say Hello to Kellye

Having watched Help You Dwell grow for the past five years, and now as part of this team, I can tell you that there’s a heartbeat to what we do. Yes, we may pack boxes and organize pantries, but the core of who we are is relational. We know each homeowner has a unique story, and we seek to empower them to navigate seasons of transition well and to organize and order their spaces in a way that reflects who they are.

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It’s this beat that brought me to Help You Dwell — it speaks to the core of who I am as a person. If you and I were to look back on the jobs I’ve had since my first at 12-years-old, we would find that there are two distinct attributes that vividly mark my work life:

One, I will always make my work relational.

Whether I’ve been crafting hot lattes, ghost writing a book, speaking to hundreds of high school students, or managing social media accounts, I’ve always asked the question: How can I connect with people here? There is something beautiful about taking a thing that could be very transactional and making it relational. It surprises people. It blesses them. It ushers light and color into a moment that would be dull and grey otherwise. There’s nothing better than that!

I come by this honestly as the fourth born (of seven!) to the single-most relational people I know. My sweet parents, Joe and Mary, daily model what it looks like to really see people, to listen to their stories, and to encourage them. And that’s more important to me in my work life than any particular task I may complete.

My not-so-little family at Thanksgiving this year - My parents, their seven kids and four spouses, and four little grandkids. Family is incredibly important to me.

My not-so-little family at Thanksgiving this year - My parents, their seven kids and four spouses, and four little grandkids. Family is incredibly important to me.

It’s important in all other areas of my life as well - when hosting women in my home, spending time with my family, writing, and serving my little church family here in Knoxville.

And two, I thrive when I am supporting those around me.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a middle child or it’s just the way God made me, but I’ve found I am aware of and quick to notice others’ needs. That comes in handy when you’re in a supportive role like mine.

As the office manager / jill-of-all-trades at Help You Dwell, my goal is to both support our team in a way that allows them to do their jobs well, and to care for you, our clients, as you work with us.

I may rarely set foot in one of your home’s, but I am caring for you in my own unique ways: creating systems and processes that provide you with a seamless experience, serving as a point of contact as you navigate the work we are doing in your home, caring for our team so the team can, in turn, care for you.

I prefer to organize spreadsheets, invoices, and schedules, but I’ll confess: I do love a good gallery wall in at least one space in my home!

I prefer to organize spreadsheets, invoices, and schedules, but I’ll confess: I do love a good gallery wall in at least one space in my home!

I am pretty lucky. I’ve joined a team that values the two things that are at the core of my work life: relationships and care. I prefer to organize spreadsheets, invoices, and schedules, and I get to do so while nurturing connections and supporting those around me.

As we start a fresh year, I’m thankful to be a fresh face here. I hope to “meet” you over the phone soon, as you schedule your next organizing session or big move. To serve you will be my pleasure!

A different kind of new year's resolution

The new year is often full of new goals, healthier habits, and resolutions. All of those things are good, but we have a different idea in mind for you as the year begins.

What if this year, instead of making your list of top 10 radical life changes, you decide to do one thing?

You decide to practice “waiting”.

Wait on committing to a bunch of new classes, groups, activities, or habits. Wait on that big purchase. Shoot—- wait on the little purchases. Wait before you dive into that new diet or that new habit, and make some time to take inventory.

Set aside an hour to reflect back on your year. Where have you been over the course of 2018? What did you love about it? What did you hate about it? What are you looking forward to, and what are you thankful to leave behind? Take some time to press pause, and give yourself one instruction. Not sure where to begin in that reflecting process?

Wait.

Oftentimes, those hurried decisions, the ones we fail to think through in a moment of new year ambition, actually complicate things. There is so much pressure to solve all of your year’s problems by starting out on the “right foot”. Yes, having a fresh start can be nice, but we encourage you to intentionally enter into that.

Press pause, and take some time to breathe. Rest. Regroup. Take a nap. Process. And after, yes, AFTER you wait, think in terms of intentions rather than resolutions.

Image by Ann Voskamp

Image by Ann Voskamp



Merry Christmas and a great new way to begin 2019!

“We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

We hope your holiday season is full of love, laughter, and peace.

Image by TexturePhoto

Image by TexturePhoto

As a way to make it easier for you to move forward with getting your home organized, we’ve come up with a new starter package! 2019 is just a few days a way and you are probably still recovering from the hustle of the Christmas season. We would love to help you start your year right, by bringing peace & order to your home and family.


Click on the image above to get the process started!

Myth busters: organizing edition

We’ve noticed something….

Somewhere along the way, some marketing genius discovered how to convince people that purchasing containers and organizing products would magically cure their clutter problem.

Well folks—this is a myth. In fact, we’ve found that of all the homes we’ve been in over the past several years, it’s often the ones with the most baskets and bins and organizing products, that need the most help getting organized.

It makes sense if you think about it— if you struggle with clutter or with letting things go, it’s easy to convince yourself that if you just had a “neat” way to store your items, it wouldn’t be an issue.

When we go out and buy bins, it gives us permission to then fill them with items that we might not actually even need or want anymore, but because they are contained, it feels like organization.

In the process of getting organized, purchasing containers is rarely where we begin. Most often the process of pulling out, sorting, and purging items informs whether you even need to go purchase containers to hold your stuff.

You can have a room full of baskets, bins, crates, and totes and still have disorder and chaos. In fact, sometimes having all of those containers creates even more chaos than there would be without them.

Organization is ALWAYS easier when you have less stuff to begin with. Items do not magically jump into crates once you buy them. Organization is about regularly purging and changing your habits. We would love to help you with the whole process from start to finish. Most importantly, we’d love to help create systems in your home that will make your life easier and your world less chaotic.



Help You Dwell's Katie Martin Family Home Tour

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For several years now we have invited you into the homes of many Knoxvillians. A few months ago it dawned on us — We should invite you into our own homes too! We are excited to share with you a few thoughts on home and a glimpse into one of the HYD owners homes this week. Without further adieu…

Welcome to the home of Katie and Andy Martin!

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Katie and Andy moved into their home on May 28th of this year! As first-time home buyers, they were really excited to establish some roots and make this house their home. Fun back story— I (Caroline) have an unreasonable obsession with house hunting for other people. No, I’m not a realtor, but when I heard that one of my friends was putting her house on the market, I immediately thought about Katie and Andy and connected them with the sellers, thus resulting in this match made in heaven :) Moving along…

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When I asked Katie what home means to her, she immediately responded, “A place where you can exhale — a place where you can rest.” She went on to share that not only is their desire for their home a restful place for she and Andy, but also to be a place where they can share their space and that feeling with everyone who comes by.

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On the style and design front, Katie loves neutrals, coziness, and simplicity. She’s never really pinned a name to her style but knows what she likes. Style has evolved for her over the years and she’s quick to add that getting married significantly shifted the way she thought about decor. Before, she often focused on aesthetics where as now she’s intentional about functional decorating and paying attention to what is important to Andy as well. Thankfully, they share many of the same stylistic leanings, which has made the process of nesting together pretty seemless.

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“Lots of the things that we have were given to us, so they serve as sweet reminders of those folks. We’ve collected things from trips we’ve taken together so we have lots of items that remind us of good memories— trivets, ornaments, rugs. I love the things that have a story or carry memories the most. The moment we first saw the house it felt like us— it didn’t feel too fancy but it felt classic—old and well taken care of— with a history.”

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In terms of making interior purchases, Katie tends to go with her gut but also pays attention (especially with furniture) to quality and versatility. Katie is a self-proclaimed lover of classics and sucker for trends, so she often works to blend the two styles in a way that is cohesive.

A beloved hand lettered copy of the lyrics to “Home at last” by Josh Garrels- artistry by Old City Mailroom. Katie had this made for Andy for their first anniversary.

A beloved hand lettered copy of the lyrics to “Home at last” by Josh Garrels- artistry by Old City Mailroom. Katie had this made for Andy for their first anniversary.

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One thing I was curious about was whether or not being involved with Help You Dwell has changed her perspective on home or decorating. Katie pointed out that it’s exposed her to so many more styles than she would have encountered otherwise. It’s made her want less but treasure the things she has more.

She remarked that “it’s empowering to watch people let go of so much. It reminds me that I don’t need to hold on to everything. I also don’t have the option of keeping a lot of extra items because we don’t have much storage in our house. Because helping people purge is what we do, I’m a pretty consistent purger in my own home. I used to be a pillow and throw blanket hoarder, but I’ve purged a lot.”

This pew was purchased from an HYD client at our bi annual Flea and is one of Katies favorite pieces in their home.

This pew was purchased from an HYD client at our bi annual Flea and is one of Katies favorite pieces in their home.

As for their favorite parts of the house?? They love the backyard and screened in porch. When it’s nice out, they love spending time outdoors or sitting around the fire pit with friends. The living room is pretty incredible too. With all of the large windows It almost feels like you are up in the tree’s because the house is set up on a hill.

Thank you so much, Katie and Andy, for sharing your lovely home! And a big thank you to TexturePhotographics for all of the pictures!!

Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Experiences

Tickets to The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby

Rock climbing @ River Sports

Photo Session with Carrie Jo Savage, of Texture Photo

Yoga passes @ Glowing Body 

Rhythm & Blooms Tickets

Blue Apron Meal Subscription

Ice Skating on market square

Pottery Class @ Mighty Mud

Bullet Journaling Workshop

Knox Brew Tour

Progressive dinner- visit 4 different downtown restaurants and walk between courses

Cooking classes and a 4 course meal with Chef Cedric. See this article for more info.

HYD Jump Start to the Ordered Home

 
Image from The Hive

Image from The Hive

Image from Knoxville Holidays on Ice

Image from Knoxville Holidays on Ice

Image from River & Rail Theater Co.

Image from River & Rail Theater Co.

Image by Artifact Uprising

Image by Artifact Uprising

Image by Pretentious Glass

Image by Pretentious Glass

Join us @ Consign to Design tonight!

We’re so excited to gather at Knoxville’s very own Consign to Design this Thursday night at 6:30 pm. We will be presenting “The Ordered Home”. Kristi and her team have graciously invited us to come some organizing know-how in their beautiful shop of high end consignment furniture & decor pieces. We love their shop and their mission to give quality furniture & decor new life in new spaces. Whether you are already organized or overwhelmed by the thought of organizing, this is for you. We’ve come up with some practical and inspiring tips and tricks to share with you. You’ll leave refreshed and empowered, we promise. We are excited to meet you & share our evening with you. We will be taking questions & discussing all things related to home and dwelling. Invite your friends!

There may even be a giveaway….

See you tonight!

6:30 pm @ Consign to Design
9329 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922

Happy Thanksgiving

Image via Shutterstock

Image via Shutterstock

for our families, our employees, our clients, our homes, our city, our country, our friends, our neighbors, our health, our lives…

we are thankful.

It doesn’t have to be the
blue Iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot..
just pay attention, then
patch a few words together..
this isn’t a contest, but the
doorway into thanks…

– Mary Oliver, Praying

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Help You Dwell.

why we gather around the table

Last week, our HYD team (14 of our 15 amazing women) gathered around the table to enjoy a potluck feast. To be honest, not a ton of planning went into this evening. We had a few hopes for the night: we would each bring something to contribute to the meal, and we would each show up with our own story. It was a really simple & at the same time, meaningful evening together.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

“They broke bread in their homes & ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”

Home made cooking & enticing smells made their way through the door while we poured wine into glasses, as everyone showed up one by one. The dishes were varied and unique, like the gals that brought them. When everyone is responsible for bringing “something” - it takes the burden off of the host to provide everything. This was also a fun way to get to enjoy a variety of foods without too much work for anyone. It was like the “Greatest Hits of Thanksgiving” from 15 different family traditions.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

When the meal began, we started sharing conversation around our experiences as organizers. It wasn’t a forced discussion about “work”, rather, it was one of the rare instances where we are all gathered together in the same room to share stories. Our team is made up of some women who have been organizing for Help You Dwell for over 4 years and others that have only been with us a month or so. We heard stories about surprising connections with clients, vulnerable moments, and light hearted, funny encounters. While HYD is a team, we often function individually as we work with clients to help them pack for a move, get organized, or settle in after a transition. It was so rich to share stories & what we’ve learned about ourselves in the field. We also each bring our own “flavor” of personality to the table, which adds a fun social dynamic as we connected and laughed and listened.

 
Photo by Texture Photo.

Photo by Texture Photo.

 

Our desire in sharing about our evening with you is to encourage you to gather. A shared meal doesn’t need to be fancy or stressful. Don’t put all of the pressure on yourself, but invite your guests to participate and spread out the responsibility. Use what you have & get creative. Whether it’s with family members, neighbors, friends or strangers, we are so much better together than we are on our own. If we don’t make time to connect and listen to those around us, we limit ourselves from the beauty, story and depth that others have to share.

These 5 Things : November 2018

Image by Laurey W. Glenn

Image by Laurey W. Glenn

There are so many blogs and columns out there that it can be overwhelming and hard to find the good stuff. We’ve gathered a few of our latest favorites to share with you below. What blogs do you read regularly? We’d love to know your go-to’s!

  1. Have toy rules

  2. 15 finds from schoolhouse for a well ordered home

  3. Home Keeping 101

  4. 5 ways I keep my life and mind organized

  5. 7 things to get rid of now so you’ll have more storage space for the Holidays

5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Organizer

Texture Photo.

Texture Photo.

1 - You are likely a busy person

When you hear the word “busy”, you might quickly assume that this is a negative word… not necessarily. Depending on the family members you have, social groups you are a part of, church you attend, or organizations you support, there are so many events, demands, projects and opportunities you could participate in. This is a wonderful dilemma! To fill our lives and schedules with meaningful encounters and engagements is a luxury. Instead of blocking off a whole day or week of your time to get your home in order, allow us to come help you with the task. We can free you up to be able to participate in all of the things you love, without the weight of a disordered or cluttered home. If “getting organized” is merely an item on a long to-do list, it’s probably going to get overlooked and pushed down the list week after week. However, if you have a scheduled appointment, you are much more likely to make it happen. We are ready to help, and we can hold you accountable to your goals. We can even work on your space while you aren’t home if that works best for your schedule. Fill your time with the things that bring you life, and let us handle the rest!

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2 - You have too much stuff

Over time, the items in your closet, dresser, cabinets, pantry, basement, garage and attic have accumulated and expanded. That’s a lot of places for excess to pile up. At some point you may have had “just” what you needed to live well and enjoy your space, but chances are, you have more than enough now. This “more than enough” is taking up precious real estate in your space. It might even be causing you to waste time and energy, while also costing you more money and stress than you intended. You might have to climb over excess to find specific items in storage areas. You probably spend too much time filing through hanging clothes to find that one top you are looking for. Before a system of order and simplicity can be implemented, there must always be a purge. This is sort of like taking inventory of all of your belongings, touching them and making an intentional decision on whether or not each item stays or goes. We do our very best to inform our clients about where to donate specific items that will be put to good use. Purging is not for the faint of heart. You often need a second pair of eyes to make decisions— we highly advise you to not do this alone.

3 - You are emotionally attached to your stuff

Texture Photo.

Texture Photo.

We’ve all lived through painful experiences and losses. Sometimes belongings are are passed down from a loved one that we aren’t sure what to do with. Not knowing the monetary value of items can also cause confusion in the decision making process around what to keep and what to let go of. We all grieve and process transitional life experiences differently. Give yourself grace here. There is no “right” way to do this. Gifts can carry such heavy sentimental value, while at the same time serving no real functional purpose. We are able to impart this foundational truth to many clients while sifting through emotionally difficult items - letting go of an object does not erase or eliminate the memory associated with said item or the person who gave it to you. Think 50 years down the road - do you want your friends & family to feel weighed down by any gifts you have given them that they simply keep because they feel guilty getting rid of them? Or, do you want them to feel the freedom to cherish memories without holding onto every single gift or trinket?

4 - You aren’t sure where to start

When it’s your own clutter you’re trying to tackle, it can be personally overwhelming and debilitating. (This is even true for us, the professionals). We oftentimes start small, because the sense of success and accomplishment from one organized area, is what will fuel you through the larger more labor-some areas of your home. When getting to know our clients, we always listen first - this allows us to make a prioritized plan of what spaces should be organized first and in a way that serves you best. We ask questions to find out what matters most to you, what is valuable to the people in your home, and what you hope the overall outcome of organization in your home will look and feel like. We are mindful of the fact that each space affects other rooms in your home and take that into account when coming up with a plan. This allows us to be more efficient with your time, energy, and resources. Although you live day to day in your home, we enter in with a fresh perspective because it’s all new to us. Most importantly, your clutter doesn’t scare us - we see the potential from the get go! Once we’ve hit the “reset” button on your home, you’ll be more able to keep up with the rhythms and routines of organization.

Texture Photo.

Texture Photo.

5 - You’re facing a life transition

Life is always shifting and changing. Just when we settle into one season, the next one is creeping up on us. Sometimes sudden life altering events come crashing in with no warning. From small changes to sudden or tragic ones, all changes leave us needing to re-settle and reinstate order so that we can press on and adjust. Sometimes an urgent move or job shift creates a pressurized demand for changes to happen quickly in your home. We often are just the compassionate helpers and additional hands you need to finish a looming project. Welcoming new people into your home such as a baby, an aging parent, a foster child, or a relative for a temporary or extended stay, can create a list of to-do’s that can feel impossible. If you’re facing complex or challenging life transitions like divorce or death of a loved one, we are able to help you find a path forward. We make it our mission to help make practical and manageable plans to help our clients through these difficult situations. In such chaotic and painful times, we strive to bring a spirit of hope and peace of mind all the while, getting tasks accomplished.

It’s been a privilege to work with our clients over the past 4.5 years. Everyone has a unique situation and it’s our greatest joy to listen and learn how we can best serve you.

Pineapple Consignment

Fall is here! The weather is finally getting cooler and the leaves are starting to turn and now is the perfect time to do a house purge. While that may sound intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. Turn on some music, grab a hot tea and take a walk around your house. Walk through each room and take the time to notice what’s around you. Look at the items hanging on the walls, the lamps, the items sitting on surfaces, the furniture, and the rugs. Take the time to open cabinets and drawers and just take a peak at what you’ve got. Often life is so hectic that we stop noticing what’s around us and don’t even remember what we have. We have two tips to help you make decisions about what to keep and what to let go of.

  1. Ask yourself, “Do I love this item?” If not, is it at least serving a practical purpose? If you don’t love it and you don’t “need” it, let it go.

  2. The most helpful question for me is “If you saw this in a store today, would you purchase it?” Often times, it’s hard for me to decide whether or not I love an item but much easier for me to know whether or not I’d pay money for it. Sometimes, we hold onto things because we’ve had them forever and don’t even see them anymore or because someone gave them to us and we feel guilty getting rid of them. These are not valid reasons to give an item valuable real estate in your home.

Here’s the best part, once you’ve done your house purge (don’t forget to check closets and attic/basement and garage spaces— these typical storage spots are house purge jackpots) sign up for Pineapple Consignment and make some money on all those items that you are letting go of.

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What is Pineapple Consignment?

Pineapple is a weekend long (October 26th-28th) consignment shop where you can earn up to 75% commission, and consignors get to shop early. The pictures above are just a few of the items that will be for sale! Want an even better deal? Shop the half off portion of the sale on Sunday the 28th from 8-12.

You set your own prices, and Pineapple’s online system makes tagging and managing your inventory super easy. At the end of each sale day, you can check earnings, and they’ll pay you via PayPal within 10 days. For more information on signing up as a consignor or to see what items they accept, check out the participation page. Sign up now because registration (and the ability to enter inventory into the system) ends on October 21st!

Here is your opportunity to make some easy money on your home decor items without putting the time and energy into a garage sale or making a million online postings.


Megan & Austin Church.

Megan & Austin Church.

Who started Pineapple Consignment?

The lovely Megan Church! Want to know more about her and where the idea for Pineapple came from?

Here’s what she has to say…

Nice to meet you (virtually at least)! I grew up in Virginia and Indiana, but Knoxville has become my forever home. I’m wife to one, mom to three, and stylist to many. Life is full to bursting right now, so the only logical thing to do is start a business, right?!?!

This Pineapple dream started earlier this year. I was selling an ottoman on Facebook, and six or seven people said they wanted it. “Awesome!” I thought. I scheduled a time to meet the lady who had responded first. Later, I packed up all three kids and drove to the rendezvous point. The lady stood me up. In fact, I got stood up FOUR TIMES IN A ROW, and I vowed, “NEVER AGAIN.” So here we are!

I happen to be one of those crazy people who loves consignment sales, and over the years I’ve saved a ton of money by up-cycling my clothes, as well as my kids’. Ever since I had my first baby and quit my day job, I have been needing a creative outlet. Hospitality is really important to me, and I’m passionate about bringing women together.

So, now you see how this whole thing got started, the Pineapple seeds. Pineapple Consignment combines many of my favorite things: styling events and creativity, secondhand shopping and bypassing Facebook/Craigslist weirdness, and of course hospitality and making my family’s home beautiful and comfortable. 

I certainly hope you love being a part of Pineapple Consignment! If you have any questions abut consigning, volunteering, or shopping, drop me a line at megan@pineappleconsignment.com.”


If you don’t have items to sell, you can still shop!

Want a shot at first dibs on an item? You are in luck, the sip n see is Wednesday (Oct 24th) evening from 6-9pm. For just $5, you will be entered into the raffle to reserve an item and get to join in on a fun evening with friends. Come for a drink and be one of the first to see the items for sale. Along with shopping some pretty amazing previously owned home decor and furniture items, Pineapple will have several local artists and makers selling their creations at the sale.

Announced Vendors Include:

Alex Jaynes: custom furniture

Rob Scott: art

Matthew Peters: furniture maker

Sarah Moore: art

Spencer Ratliff: furniture maker

Kristen Wasik: art

Erica Beck: art

Knox Wood creations: frames featuring prints from Native Maps & Paris Woodhull

Ashley Addair: art

Highline Coffee


For more information and to stay up to date on the details and announcements, follow @pineappleconsignment on Instagram, RSVP to the event, and like Pineapple on facebook.

Phillips Family Home Tour

Meet the fabulous Phillips family! Dan, Brooke, their 4 kids and their awesome dog. I sat down with them a few weeks ago and had a great conversation about life, love, and making a home. This home tour is a bit different than our usual tours because in a few weeks they will be moving to a new home. We wanted to capture a small piece of the beauty and love in their fixer upper before they said goodbye to it. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into their life. All photos were taken by Haley Kennedy.

How long have you all lived in this house?

We bought the house in November of 2016. (It’s a wild story!—read more about it here on Brooke’s blog.) The home had been sitting empty for about six years and we affectionately coined it the “Phillips Family Fixer Upper” and set to work making this gem of a home into all it could be. We did a major overhaul on the kitchen by removing a wall, adding the island, new countertops, and open shelving. We took it back to the bare bones and simplified. It’s made me realize how freeing it can be to have only what you need. Aside from the kitchen, we restored all of the floors, resurfaced just about every wall in the house, added ship lap in a few rooms, and created a breezeway in order to make the office and master bedroom wing function better. We strategically added walls to create a better flow and layout for our family. We did a lot of the work ourselves with the help of family and friends.

How would you describe your style of decorating?

Brooke: It’s collected. I don’t really know how to describe it other than by saying I don’t follow trends. If anything, I look back to what history has shown us is beautiful. If it was beautiful 100 years ago and still is today, then great! I look around and look for natural textures and use them collectively. I don’t like synthetics or reproductions. It’s more true when it’s been found and discovered rather than copied. When I’m working with a client I always say “Tell me about YOU! You don’t want a carbon copy of a Joanna Gaines’ house. Tell me about YOU! Let’s see what you love and figure out how to use it in a tasteful and beautiful way.” In order to have the richest experience in your home, an item either needs to be useful, beautiful, or sentimental. Ideally it would have all 3, but at least 2 or you shouldn’t have it.

Another major thing I use help create a space is that I want to touch on all the senses when decorating. I pay close attention to the textures felt, the sounds heard, the mood they want, the smells that create memories. Did you know that smell is the only sense that’s initially processed in the brain and the limbic system? Smells can cause a feeling! Dan helps me think through what’s really functional. He grounds me. He comes up with the best ideas because he’s so logical. I think of myself as the creative but he is creative too, just in a different way. He takes my dreamer self and helps me make it a reality in a practical way that’s so much better once it’s been thought through.

Dan: My style is practical and comfortable. If it makes me decompress— that’s my style. I don’t like things to be too put together. I like things that make me exhale. I like dark woods, brick, masculine and earthy things—with a touch of woman— got to have a woman’s touch.

Backstory on how Brooke got into design:

When I was a little girl and my friends were buying toys, I was buying antiques. For my first job I painted horse fences and I took all of the money I made and bought an antique. It was a settee to go at the end of my bed. I’ve loved design for as long as I can remember. Jumping ahead in time— while my friends were in college, I was having babies and Dan was a pastor. I have always decorated peoples homes— but I did it for free. I did big homes and small homes and operated an art boutique for a period of time. When we moved to Knoxville and Dan transitioned from full time ministry to teaching and coaching football he said “Babe, you are going to have to get a job or charge people for what you do.” I went and got a job as a barista at a local place in Knoxville. One day the manager looked at me and said “Brooke— what are you doing here? Why are you serving coffee?? Go do what you do!” So I started my company 3 years ago. It started with one friend and then a few more friends hired me and now here I am!

You have some really amazing pieces in your home, what is your relationship to your belongings?

As sentimental as I am, I don’t hold on to things just because it was my grandmothers or because it has some memory attached to it. However, I love to hold on to things that are sentimental and use them in artful ways. Most importantly, I want my belongings to tell our story. I want reminders of where I’ve been or what I’ve been through. But I also have 4 kids and dog— a million things have been broken and I can honestly say I don’t get mad when things break—it’s just not worth it. I’ve either glued them back together and put them right back up or tossed them and moved on.

Do you have a style or home philosophy?

Everything here is rescued. Whether we spot a chair on the side of the road or hunt estate sales for the perfect armoire, there is a frugal-ness to what we do. You don’t have to spend a million dollars to make a beautiful space. You also have to remind yourself that a home is not built over night— its built over time. Without patience there is constant frustration— allow a space to be empty and wait for the right pieces.

So how do you decide what to purchase?

Wait! wait! wait! Certain pieces can change a room and are worth waiting for. Ask yourself, “Is this something that’s going to be with my family for years or generations?” If it is, it’s worth the investment. Build around your investment pieces frugally. Over the years I’ve found that it’s very difficult to buy good quality new furniture— the good quality pieces will cost you. Good quality new items are outside of 99% of the budgets that I typically work with. You have to look beyond the furniture store. I’ve learned to use furniture in a lot of different ways— ask yourself how versatile a piece is when you are considering it. Stay away from synthetics and go for things that are real. Do you love it? After a week are you still losing sleep of the dresser that you didn’t buy? If you are then go get it!

I will say this—As women, we look at magazines, Pinterest, and Instagram and either we live in envy over it and don’t have peace or we say forget it and give up. Often times people are in one of those camps. Have you given up and stopped caring about your home? Have you gotten obsessed with perfection and constantly worry about things getting messed up? Wherever you find yourself, there is a medium between those two extremes— that sweet spot where you find contentment. The goal is for your home to work for you and your family- it doesn’t have to be perfectly decorated. A home that you love and enjoy is easy for other people to love and enjoy.

What does home mean to you?

Dan: It is my refuge. It’s where I recharge, get encouraged, decompress. I don’t function well when I don’t get enough time at home. Home is where love happens. Everything I love about this home is because I love the people who live here.

Brooke: Home is a place where you receive love so you can give it. Just the physical home itself gives off that feeling. We’ve lived so many different places and they each served such a purpose. Not all of them were pretty… but they were all a home. When I came to this house- I could feel love.. I could feel that there had been a family here.

When people come into your home, what do you hope they feel?

Dan: Creating spaces that people want to be in is Brooke’s specialty.

Brooke: Our house is an emotional place for people. I want them to feel like they belong here and can be comfortable here- be themselves. All their problems, all their quirks, can just be here— you don’t have to become something or someone else to walk in our door.

Thank you so much Dan and Brooke for welcoming us in and sharing part of your story!

mixing old with new

Sure, we all love and can appreciate a well designed, styled home such as a Scandinavian-styled home, Modern, Country Chic, the list is truly endless. But a certain style we can all agree on is mixing old pieces with new.

An easy way to mix old with new is to cater to the homes architectural features. Incorporate pieces around the same year your home was built, then add in a geometric rug, updated lighting, and pops of color into the mix to create a collected look!

Image: mydomain.com

Image: mydomain.com

Image: apartmenttherapy.com

Image: apartmenttherapy.com

When it comes to decorating around a family heirloom don’t be afraid to add abstract art around or above the piece, or even place the piece in front of a colorful wall. If the family heirloom is something small, place it on top of statement coffee table books, or have fun mixing it in with styled bookcase!

Image: Emily Henderson

Image: Emily Henderson

Image: alexanderwhite.se

Image: alexanderwhite.se

If mixing your old pieces with pops of color and geometric rugs isn’t your thing, keeping your space neutral is a great way to mix in your antique treasures. By adding in a great rustic piece with a more subtle color palette, the piece will not only look and feel unique, but will also have a sense of belonging in the room.

Image: mydomain.com

Image: mydomain.com

Image: theglitterguide.com

Image: theglitterguide.com

Mixing and matching creates livable and inspiring rooms. It’s a perfect way to mix things up and fall back in love with items you may have owned forever or simply pull a room together!
What are some of your favorite way to mix old with new? We’d love to hear from ya!

Sip N Shop is Tonight

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Tonight at 7pm we will have our first ever Sip N Shop! We are so excited to see you all and give you a first look and an oppotunity to win the drawing to shop before the crowds roll in on Friday morning. Aside from the shopping, we will be giving away a $50 Help You Dwell gift card, one of our canvas tote bags, and an HYD t shirt and hat.

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Thank you guys for saving our backs and making the moving and set up process a walk in the park!

Thank you guys for saving our backs and making the moving and set up process a walk in the park!

We will have coffee from Remedy during the Flea and are conveniently located next to Central Filling Station (they’ll be closed Friday for a ticketed event— The Black Lilies Album release party! but open on Saturday!) which always has a great selection of food trucks throughout the day!

Below you will find some of our featured items and a few shots from our day yesterday moving all of the items over from the warehouse. A HUGE thank you to Moving Time who helped us out and made our day so smoothe despite the rain!

Architectural salvage custom made lamps by White Station Archetectual Salvage

Architectural salvage custom made lamps by White Station Archetectual Salvage

Beautiful detail and tons of character

Beautiful detail and tons of character

He has a limited supply but can make custom lamps on special order!

He has a limited supply but can make custom lamps on special order!

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Rugs on Rugs on Rugs (we have even more than what you see in the picture!)

Rugs on Rugs on Rugs (we have even more than what you see in the picture!)

We have so much art this year that we covered the wall and ran out of room! Vintage, modern, original paintings- modern and traditional, lithographs, knoxville prints etc

We have so much art this year that we covered the wall and ran out of room! Vintage, modern, original paintings- modern and traditional, lithographs, knoxville prints etc

Hand carved 17th century chest!

Hand carved 17th century chest!

Beautiful detail work on a 400 year old piece!

Beautiful detail work on a 400 year old piece!

Even the nails holding it together are made of wood!

Even the nails holding it together are made of wood!

See you tonight!



the HYD flea is a week away!

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We are gearing up for our bi-annual Fall Flea on September 28th and 29th and we can’t wait to share these amazing finds with you! The Help You Dwell Flea originally started as a local makers market where we provided a place for our Knoxville artist and maker friends to sell their goods. As Help You Dwell grew and other makers markets popped up, we transitioned into pop up flea markets twice a year as a way to encourage our clients to purge while making money for the items that no longer served a purpose in their homes. We curate the flea with items that you can’t just walk into a place like Target and purchase. Over the years our items have been a mix of vintage, antique, gently used, and always unique. We have a whole new spread of furniture and home decor to pass along to new folks.

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This year we’ve come up with a way for you to get a sneak peak of the items that will be for sale and one lucky winner will get the chance to purchase or hold an item of their choice. On Thursday September 27th at 7pm we will have a Sip ‘N Shop! $5 gets you in the door, a glass of wine and enters you into the drawing. Come hang out with us and get a first look at what we will have for sale this year!

We will post more pictures as we get set up but for now, here are a few things you will find…

This year we have more lamps than ever before-everything from high end-brand new, to vintage, to hand painted and custom lamps— even light fixtures! We’ve got art coming out of our ears— Original paintings, botanical lithographs, and Italian mirrors too! We’ve got rugs of all sizes and lots of different styles and colors. We’ve got Americana pieces, hand painted furniture, antiques, mid century, farm house, and glam. We’ve got candle sticks, vases, planters, bed linens, and serving pieces. We’ll have armoires, bed frames, end tables, statement chairs, book cases, ottomans, bar stools, kitchen tables, historic salvage and more.

If you’ve never made it to one of our sales before, we hope to see you next week! Check out our slide show of previous fleas to get an idea of the kinds of things you can expect to find at our next sale!

What's with all the pressure to be organized??

If you keep up with blogs, or honestly, any form of social media, you've probably observed this obsession with being organized that has surfaced over the past few years.

Let's talk about this trend.

If I'm being honest, all of the lovely pictures that grace the pages of magazines, Instagram streams, and blog posts make me swoon. They also make me less content with that I currently have and how my home currently looks. I often feel frustrated when I see the perfectly color coordinated kids rooms, the toys that are set exactly 3 inches apart from each other lining a shelf, the immaculately folded linens in a closet--these things are not realistic for me. I totally understand wanting a well designed and well organized home and the desire for things to look nice. What I do want to acknowledge is that I am a professional organizer, and my home will never look like those pictures unless I've specifically staged it for pictures (which would last all of about 30 minutes).

What I've been thinking about and trying to embrace lately is that being organized means different things to different people. The value of being organized is different for every person. I know for myself that if my house feels out of order, I feel distracted and overwhelmed--but my definition of "out of order" is not the same as everyone else’s definition. For example, I like for things to generally have a designated place, I like having clean surfaces, I don't like to store much on my counters, and I like things to be contained. Some people love to have lots of things on every shelf, and that's totally fine. For many, that doesn't feel disorganized or overwhelming at all. The truth is, we hope you never feel pressured by media, fashion, trends, friends, or family to become a version of "organized" that doesn’t work for you.

You may have noticed that many of our “before and afters” do not feature “after” pictures that look perfect- this is purposeful. Many of our clients are looking for practical help, things that can easily be maintained. Sometimes we complete a job where our client really values uniformity and a more picturesque final product, and we are happy to provide that result, but we never want to leave a client with something that doesn't feel realistic to their every day life. We realized that organization looks different for each person and we want to customize our work in a way that leaves each client feeling good about moving forward and maintaining their newly achieved order.

We love to help people who feel overwhelmed by their belongings, who want to let go, have the desire to purge, rearrange, re-invision their space etc. We've found that a very real sense of relief often comes when you purge and get more organized. Our greatest desire is that you feel content and able to enjoy your space without feeling burdened by it!

 

Organizing your time

Image by CloudsAesthetics

Being organized doesn't just apply to your home, it also applies to your time. We live in a "yes" culture where too many people are too over committed. If you are feeling overwhelmed or like you are a slave to your schedule, we have created an exercise to help you figure out where your priorities lie and how to evaluate the best use of your time.

1. Make a list of your daily, weekly, and monthly commitments. Focus on the thing that reoccur-- not one time appointments. (examples: monthly book club, weekly counseling appointment, small groups, quarterly board meetings etc)

2. Make a list of the people in your life that you see, talk to, or spend time with regularly. Include long distance relationships if phone calls, skyping etc with them are part of your regular routine. Include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouse, children, partner, and friends, etc.

3. Make a list of activities, groups, or people that you don't currently have time for but would like to make time for or wish you had time for.

4.  Take a look at the three lists you have made and evaluate your commitments. What commitments and what people are life giving to you and which of them are draining. Are you committed to certain things for seasons? Can you delegate any of your current commitments that are no longer working for you? Is it time to redefine relational boundaries with someone in your life? Take the time to go through the information you've written down to see the big picture of what and who you are giving your time to.

 

Webb Home Tour

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In the 1950's, a government-created flat top house was a hot commodity in Oak Ridge. Hugh Webb, a UT college student in 1952, bought one for a whopping $900 and had it moved to a plot of land in North East Knox County. Our home tour today offers a glimpse into the crafted home of two artists who have created a masterpiece of a home that started as a prefab box. Barbara and Hugh Webb have lived in their home for 60 years and they have redesigned, reconfigured, and revamped their home into a one of a kind oasis. With 10 acres, horses, and incredible vision, they have truly made a home for themselves.

   Early on they decided that, rather than moving around over the years, they would use their money to travel and work on the home they already had. They set a goal to take their children to every state in the US and to travel internationally as often as they were able. Whenever they got the itch to move, they would re-imagine their space and transform it to meet their needs. Barbara would draw up the plan, and Hugh would bring it to life.

   Barbara's mother was Finnish and her Scandinavian style carried over in a natural way. Barbara has always been drawn to clean lines and minimalist decor. With muted tones and lots of neutrals, Hugh claims that if he sat still long enough, Barbara might paint him to match the rest of the house. With a mix of family antiques and carefully curated decor, their home is like a gallery in and of itself. Barbara is one of the founding charter members of the Foot Hills Craft Guild and hasn't missed a show in 50 years! 

   When I asked Barbara what her secret to creating a home was, she said " We enjoy our home and we enjoy each other. That’s the main thing about everything—— enjoying each other." If you spend any time with Hugh and Barbara you quickly realize that they are an incredible team. They love to dream and create together and the results of their teamwork are visible all over their home and in their children and grandchildren who come by the house almost daily to feed the horses or stop in for a chat. Hugh and Barbara enjoy more than making art together, they go dancing every Monday night. She says, "I could Waltz across Texas with Hugh".

Enjoy these scenes from the Webb's home. 

The front door of the Webb Home

The bookcase is a family heirloom from Barbara's grandparents. The birds sitting on top were hand carved by Hugh.

The Living room with a portrait of the Webb's daughters done by Barbara

The Living room with a portrait of the Webb's daughters done by Barbara

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The tea party room.

Kitchen details

Vintage breadbox

Vintage breadbox

Breakfast room and view onto the back porch where Hugh and Barbara take a break from creating every day at 3pm for cake and coffee.

Barbara's studio

Miniature paintings by Barbara Webb

Barbara's studio

Master bedroom

guest bedroom details

guest bedroom

portrait of the Webb's daughters by Barbara

These 5 things

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Every other month or so, we take our blog-writing hat off and point you in the direction of content that already exists out in the world. There are thousands of blogs, podcasts, books, documentaries, tv shows etc out there and we don't want to bombard you. We take a moment every now and then to distill down a few of the things we've read over the past month to some of the most helpful or most meaningful and here they are! Our goal is to provide tools through the words and pictures of other good folks that have encouraged us. We hope you enjoy!

 Simplicity as a spiritual practice: Declutter for deep personal growth

Life is easier with a capsule wardrobe

How to clean your kitchen whether you have 15 minutes or all weekend

Greeting Card organization

Need a solution to trying to do it all?