Moving Day... an opportunity to start over.

Image by: Texture Photo

A new place to call home can be such an exciting time as you dream of how you want your new space to look and feel.


It can also be a bit overwhelming when you think of packing up and toting it all to your new home, especially when you have items you really don’t want to bring.


This is why moving is such a great time to take inventory and consider your current season of life and pack only those items that honor this season and/or inspire you as you look to the future.

Have you started a new job and need to update your wardrobe?
Do you have a new creative outlet or hobby?
Have your kids outgrown their toys, clothes, or room decor?
Is it time to let go of handed-down furniture and decor that is no longer serving me well?

These questions are a great place to start when you begin planning for life in your new home. Once you’ve taken a moment to do so, you’re now ready to get started! Check out our helpful moving guide below and feel free to share with others preparing to move.

Celebrate Mom

There’s a song by the Band Perry called, “If the World Had a Mother Like Mine,” and every single time I hear it, I find myself in a puddle of tears. My mother is simply the most amazing person I’ve ever known. I could list accolades for pages and pages. Anytime I had to write about who my hero was during my years in school, it was always my mother. I truly believe that the world can learn so much from them.

I recently read a book called The Eternal Mark of a Mom (by Linda Weber) and it really resonated with me. As mothers, the work we do is impactful and important, and that work will leave a mark on the next generation forever. Being a mother is also a very tough job. It seems with every passing year, there is some new phase to navigate with our children, and there’s no rule book for us to follow. And if we’re being honest, we are all just doing the very best we can in hopes that we get it right most of the time. If we lived in a perfect world, we could protect our kids from being hurt and disappointed, we’d always know the right thing to say when they are fearful or nervous, and we’d never fight.

Mother’s Day is a day set aside for us to celebrate mom, or any other woman who has been a mother figure in our lives. When we sit down and think about those women, there are probably countless lessons they’ve taught us and many things we probably catch ourselves doing or saying that we learned from these amazing women. I am grateful for the lessons and advice my mother shared with me, and I’m blessed that she’s still here with me, giving advice or a listening ear when I need it.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I hope you will reflect and share with the women who helped shape you just how grateful you are. I also love the idea of giving clutter-free gifts that would allow those special women to have some pampering or an experience you can share with them. Here are some great ideas for that special lady in your life:

If you’re lucky enough to still have your mom, we hope you celebrate Mother’s Day with her in a big way this year.

Estate Transitions

THERE OFTEN COMES A TIME IN ALL OUR LIVES OR OUR LOVED ONE'S LIVES WHEN WE HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE PLACE WE'VE CALLED HOME.

Estate Transitions are not easy. The loss of a loved one or helping aging parents move to a new living situation can be overwhelming. Often, you are facing decades worth of memories and items that have accumulated, and the thought of downsizing and packing everything up becomes a monumental task with many hurdles. A parent's home filled with memories, trinkets, collections, photographs, furniture (both valuable and not), and years’ worth of things that are so overwhelming to go through.

Those of us at Help You Dwell understand that estate transitions are no small task. Our team is not only equipped with knowledge and experience, but with kindness and consideration. Every transition is personal, and we love getting to know our clients and their specific needs so we can serve them in the best way possible.

If you hire us to help with an estate transition, here are some things it will include:

  • inventory of belongings/packing and labeling of items

  • assisting with the decision-making process of which items would be most conducive to a new space

  • recommendation of service providers (moving company, real estate agent, handyman, etc.)

  • estate sale planning

  • consultation with family regarding disbursement of excess items to other family members, donation centers, or others in need

When we come in to help, we go through every cabinet, dresser drawer, bookshelf, box, closet, trunk, and room to categorize, label, box up, and create order so that when the time comes, you can easily decide what to keep, what to sell, and what to donate.  HYD feels honored to be trusted with such an important job which is why we take such care with each object we touch, paper we read, photo we categorize, and memory we help to preserve. It all stays confidential, and our clients can feel safe knowing that we will find the right home(s) for any items they choose not to hold on to.

If you have any questions or interest in learning how we might help you or a loved one with transitioning into a new home, please don't ever hesitate to call or email us at 865.245.9080 or info@helpyoudwell.com.

We've also updated our website in a few places to describe in more detail how and what HYD can assist with, especially related to estate transitions and organized moving and unpacking.

We would love to get to know you and your specific needs so we can serve you in the best way possible.

Move Managment

Spring is here and at Help You Dwell we say that it is also the beginning of moving season! There’s no question that moving can be one of the most stressful things in our lives because moving usually means change is happening in other areas of life, too. Change is hard, but change can be good.

Maybe you just got a new job or are moving in with your new spouse. Perhaps you are moving to accommodate a new little one or you are beginning a remodel so that your current house better suits your needs. Whatever the situation, even if it’s for exciting new adventures, moving can be very stressful. While we can’t promise a completely stress-free move, we can recommend ways to keep the stress from becoming overwhelming.

One service we offer at Help You Dwell is Move Management. We can help you through the process in a variety of ways. We offer several services that are helpful when you find yourself planning for a move. We offer pre-move services like decluttering and packing. We think it is best to declutter and purge before moving. There is no reason to move junk you haven’t used in years, or worse, things you still haven’t unboxed from your last move. We can come in and help you declutter and purge so that none of those things move with you. We can even take your donations and see that the appropriate organization gets them!

Once your home is decluttered and is ready to be put on the market, we can help with staging to sell. We can come in and help you use the decor items you already have to create an inviting space that is free of clutter and ready to show. We have interior designers on staff who are experts in this area!

Help You Dwell does packing, too. We can bring boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and paper to your home. Our team can pack boxes so you are free to do other things that keep you busy when moving. We have a Move Management Coordinator who is an expert in all things moving related.

We also offer moving-day coordination. We can be present to help coordinate service providers and serve as a point person during the day of your move. Moving day is usually the most stressful day of the move, so why not allow us to help ease that stress?

One of our most popular services is post-move unpacking and organizing. Once you’ve moved into your new home, you are left with rooms full of boxes and new spaces you’ve never lived in before. Let us come in, unpack, and organize so that your new home serves you well.

Here are a few more tips that will make your move easier:

  • Create To-Do Lists: Make a list of everyone you need to contact and places you will need to notify about your change of address (utilities, schools, banks, driver’s license, USPS, etc.) so that you will not be caught off guard or fall behind with bills.

  • Make Space for You: Designate one spot for trash and boxes that are broken down after you’ve moved so that every room doesn’t feel chaotic.

  • Schedule Childcare: Make sure if you have little ones, they have a place to go on moving day. Finding a friend or grandparent who can help watch them will free you up to focus on the move.

If you are preparing for a move or even a new phase of life, we would love to help! Reach out for a move management consultation today.

Organizing with HYD

Help You Dwell was established nine years ago because we love helping others. Every week our team members have the pleasure of meeting new faces and hearing new stories, which brings us lots of joy.  But often, when we walk into a new client's home, the first thing we hear is "sorry."  We want you to know that you never need to apologize for your home!  Your home is part of your story, and we all have a story, too. We never judge you and want you to know that we are always compassionate, professional, and respectful

So, what does an organizing session with us look like? Well, it begins with understanding that together, we are a team. As we walk through our plans to help you find order and peace in your home, we want to hear the story that brought you to where you are.  Our organizing sessions are really a four-part process: listen, plan, declutter, and organize.

At Help You Dwell we begin every organizing session by listening to your needs. After we have learned more about you and your home, we will begin walking through a plan for your space. There is no “one size fits all” approach for us. Our company understands that being organized means different things to different people, and we hope you never feel pressured by trends on social media and television, friends, or family to become a version of "organized" that doesn’t work for you.

When we are ready to spring into action, the first thing we do is help you declutter. You must declutter before you can organize. Decluttering means sorting and purging items. If we don’t declutter first, we are simply moving items around and spinning our wheels. When we declutter, we make space. When we make space, we can easily organize.

So how do we declutter? We like to put items into 4 categories: keep, donate, trash, and relocate. Remember, we are a team! We are there to help you make tough decisions about things you may be holding onto for varied reasons. Often when you have a teammate beside you, decisions are easier to make, and you feel “lighter” when you can be free from some of the clutter in your life. There are several organizations here in town that we love to send donations to. We can also take your donations if you don’t have time, or the task seems overwhelming.

Once we have decluttered, we can begin organizing! We will create systems that keep you organized, as well as discuss routines that work for you specifically. Doing this will free you up to spend more time being with the people you love doing the things you love.

We want you to be yourself, just with less stuff and more you.  You are worth the effort. 

A Mid Century Love Nest

As the saying goes, "You can't judge a book by it's cover", and that is exactly the sentiment behind today’s home tour. When you pull up to SK and Kevin's south Knoxville apartment building, it doesn't look much different than any other apartment you may find in Knoxville--- however, when the door to their unit opens it feels like you've been transported into the mid-century flat of your dreams.

Full of character, well picked vintage furniture and decor, and with an all-encompassing sense of coziness, SK and Kevin have transformed a cookie cutter apartment into a magical home. They've somehow managed to create a cozy, sultry, low key party vibe in the sense that it's easy to imagine that it's often filled with friends, fancy cocktails, and jazz music. Everything feels thought out and intentional.

There's a love story involved- and you can feel that in the house. SK and Kevin met at the beginning of the pandemic and fell fast. It's apparent that SK and Kevin think the world of each other and inhabit their space in a way that honors the desires and preferences of each of them. They make a great team, and while SK is the mastermind behind the decor, Kevin certainly has an eye for flair as well.

With a desire for everyone that enters to feel welcomed and invited, they've styled the space with a nod towards comfort and moveability. There is a natural flow between rooms in part due to paint colors and blips of black and white spread throughout the colorful prints and patterns.

SK, originally from Asheville, grew up treasure hunting with her mom. She's quick to point out that her style is pretty different than the style of the home she grew up in but that she's always had an appreciation for beautiful spaces. While her childhood home was more formal and antique heavy, she’s always gravitated towards more modern, minimal, vintage pieces and decor.

Painting by Cindy Walton

One of the first things I noticed in their home was all of the incredible art. SK is a big proponent for supporting collegiate artists- (if you’ve never been to one of the UT College of Art and Design sales, you are missing out) and noted that she bought several pieces from friends in her former undergraduate art program. As I continued to ask about art, I found out that SK is quite the artist herself! With paintings, sketches, and photographs of her own adorning the walls as well, SK brings creativity and beauty wherever she goes.

Aside from the design and decor elements that make up a home, there are practical things to think about as well. One of the things that HYD strives to help clients figure out is how to make each person’s home work best for them specifically. SK knows herself well and knows that in order to feel peaceful and really enjoy and feel at ease in her home, she needs and loves order. She created drop zones for things like keys, wallets, papers and mail etc. Having a bin and a specific spot for these items reduces the visual clutter that inevitably ends up on a coffee table or countertop when there isn’t a designated home for an item. She’s quick to note that having systems in a small space can make all of the difference.

One of the biggest challenges in a small space is storage. SK and Kevin are pretty mindful about the items they bring into their home. They always ask themselves before a purchase, where will this item live? Am I willing to give something else up in order to have this? etc. She’s also learned to get creative about holding on to really special pieces. If she doesn’t have space for something that she’s not ready to let go of, she will often loan it out to a friend until it works in her space again. Being smart about multi-purpose furniture is super helpful when you don’t have a lot of closet space. She has touches of black and white in every room and notes that having a neutral color that connects everything helps things feel more cohesive. If she’s a collector of anything, it’s mid-century bar and glassware. She’s sold or parted ways with the bulk of her collection over the years but it’s her weakness when it comes to treasure hunting.

Painting by SK

Another great use of space- this drop leaf table can quickly be expanded for a proper meal.

Tips for customizing an apartment? SK recommends talking with your landlord to see what the limits are. She gave their kitchen a major upgrade by painting the cabinets, switching blinds for curtains, and adding in her decor and art. Any time you can swap a light fixture, change cabinet hardware, faucets, shower heads, paint, or add to the property value in general it’s always a win. Make sure to keep the old fixtures so you can take yours with you when you move out.

On finding your style: Not everyone has a strong sense of personal style, but if you want one, pay attention to what you resonate with. SK started collecting furniture when she was still in college and living at her parents’ house. Her style hasn’t changed with the trends because she’s always bought what she loves- so it always stays relevant to her.

Having grown up in Asheville, some of SK’s favorite places to shop for furniture and decor are Regeneration Station, Screen Door, Atomic Furnishings, and WNC Bridge Estate Sales.

Kevin, Bruno, and SK. SK recently painted the modular black and white mural on the wall.

Thanks so much SK and Kevin for inviting us into your beautiful home!

Meet Our Team!

The Help You Dwell story began in 2014. Since then, our team has grown from two into a team of twenty-four. With our unique backgrounds, we realize that our experiences nurture in each of us a capacity to empathize with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations. We are committed to listening well and working together to create a space you will enjoy. Our intention is to help free you up to do more of the things you love. We are at your service to create beautiful, organized, and livable spaces where you can reclaim your home and use it the way you’ve always dreamed of.

These incredible women are some of the newest faces behind the hard work and unique presence of our services here at HYD. What a gift to bring to you the diversity of style, backgrounds and personal touches that each woman offers.

We proudly introduce you to…

Lori

Lori is a Knoxville native who shares her home with her husband and teen daughter. She was an educator for 20 years and loves that her work with Help You Dwell still allows her to help others. She has always been a minimalist and loves structure and organization in her home and in life. She thrives when she can make a to-do list or spreadsheet and then accomplish those tasks. She loves helping people find peace and joy in their homes. In her opinion, less is more! She hopes that when she’s in a clien’’s home, they feel accepted and free to share their story. She loves that Help You Dwell doesn’t have a “one size fits all” approach and truly creates plans and systems that are unique to each individual. In her free time, she loves to read, write, and travel.

Renee’

Renee is originally from Kansas City but has lived in the Southeast for 24 years.  She’s been married to her best friend and father to their seven children (and one “rat” dog) for 35 years! Her children range in age from 30-16, and she also has two beautiful granddaughters. Before working with Help You Dwell she was a HS Youth Director and then a full-time mamma for many years. Next to being a mom, she is most passionate about the work that she does with Haiti Child Sponsorship. She helps provide education and nutrition to children in Pele, Haiti. She loves that working for HYD still allows her time to work for the children of Haiti. Her favorite part of working with HYD is the PEOPLE!  She loves meeting and getting to know clients, and she loves working with the other HYD staff members. She loves to see the relief and joy that order brings to people’s lives. When she’s not working, she loves to be outdoors in the sunshine, mountains or beach (or anything in between)! She loves spending time with family, playing games, cooking, or watching movies!

Brittany

Brittany is originally from Kingston, TN. She is a wife and a proud momma of a beautiful daughter who is 11 years old. She also has a fur baby, Beau Chesney, who completely runs her household. Before starting HYD she worked as a front desk receptionist and front desk supervisor at Children’s Faith Pediatrics for almost 10 years. She says the best part of working with HYD is helping our sweet clients. She loves to see them smile, be happy and refreshed! When she’s not working, she enjoys working out, being on their family’s boat, golfing and being her daughter’s biggest fan as she is a competitive cheerleader! Brittany is also a HUGE TN VOLS FAN and loves watching football in the fall, too.

Andrea

Andrea has moved around a lot, but loves calling Knoxville home. She loves the energy and location that our great city has. She shares her home with her husband and two daughters. She found Help You Dwell through a friend on social media. She’s extremely organized and spent most of her career as a teacher. She confesses that she’s always wanted to be a professional organizer! HYD is her dream job. She loves being a part of a team of people who are always eager to help others and work efficiently and joyfully together. When she’s not working, she loves exploring small towns and hiking or having a picnic with her husband. Game nights with friends and family are some of her favorite ways to spend free time.

Ally

Ally is originally from Wisconsin and moved to Knoxville with her husband Mike and two kids a few years ago. Her background is in interior design and health coaching, both of which she uses to help clients at Help You Dwell. She understands that everyone has a part of their life that could use refining and change to reduce their chaos and stress. She believes in being very intentional with what she does and thrives when she’s busy. In her free time she loves to explore and do design projects around the house, and her favorite way to spend a weekend is camping and exploring with her family.

Laura

Laura was originally born in England, but claims Knoxville as home now. She has three dogs- Brooklyn, Boss, and Bindu. There are all crazy rescues with wild personalities, which lead to their IG account @brooklynandboss. Boss is a therapy dog that works with HABIT at UTK.  Laura is a full-time school counselor and has also taught yoga and pilates for over 15 years. She loves getting to help people when she is working for Help You Dwell. She says it's so rewarding working with families to make their lives better. She loves helping organize, unpack, and assist families with difficult transitions. Laura has a BIG heart.

Katherine

Katherine is a Knoxville native but has lived all over: from college in VA to Aspen, Colorado, and then grad school in London. She shares her newly renovated home with her cat, named Idgie (as in Idgie Threadgoode from "Fried Green Tomatoes"). Before working for Help You Dwell, she was a 5th grade teacher. She loves working for HYD because she thrives on being able to help people find peace in their homes and freedom from the stress they have because of clutter. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking, traveling, seeing new places, eating new foods, and meeting different people. She is a sunrise enthusiast who craves adventure. 

Rachel

Rachel was born and raised in Kentucky and moved to Knoxville from Birmingham about nine years ago. She shares her home with her two kids, Ramsey and Elliot, husband Alex, and a 60-pound puppy named Ruthie. Before working for Help You Dwell, she taught special education. She says the best part of working for HYD is seeing the smile, relief, and excitement cross people’s faces after making a space more livable, more enjoyable, and more functional. She also loves getting to meet new people and says an unexpected bonus to this job was getting to work with (and for) a strong, unique, amazing group of women, many of whom are now friends. In her free time, she loves to be with her family. They spend a ton of time outside, and every time the sun is shining, you will find her family at the lake! She also loves to cook new recipes, decorate, and of course, organize!

Colleen

Colleen is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and came to Tennessee to attend UT in 1997. She shares her home with her husband, Danny, and her two boys Talan and Bentley. Before HYD, she stayed at home with her two boys while running her two small businesses, Cakes by Colleen and Spoiled Dog PupCakery. She loves that her work with HYD allows her to run her business as well as spend time with incredible people, clients, and coworkers. One of her favorite quotes is “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” In her spare time, she loves to bake and do anything crafty, as well as work in the yard and exercise. She’s recently started reading more, which she says she never thought she would enjoy! She has found that reading now helps her relax and find peace.

If you are interested in scheduling a session with our amazing team members, please reach out! We look forward to being able to help you dwell.

Schedule Services

These 5 Things

It’s hard to believe we are halfway through the first month of 2023. The holidays are over and kids are finally back in school. Take time to rest, enjoy the calm, and consider these 5 things.

  1. Cork and Cover is an amazing bookshop in downtown Clinton. Set a reading goal for yourself and then go visit!

  2. Embrace winter and learn about Hygge.

  3. There are so many benefits to this simple task and here are some great reasons you should consider journaling. This quick video has some great ideas for this creative practice.

  4. Enjoy cup of hot cocoa. with this recipe from Downshiftology.

  5. Start a blessings jar for 2023. Whenever you recognize a “blessing” in your life throughout the year, just write it on a piece of paper, fold it up, and stick it in the jar. On New Year’s Eve, dump out all the blessings from the entire year and read them aloud.

Meet Our Friend Ali + Her Cute Shop

We are excited to introduce you to our friend Ali Daugherty and her cute shop called Reece! Ali is an East Tennessee native and a graduate of the University of Tennessee. She has a background in graphic design and photography, but has always had a love for design. That love for design, which she jokes may have begun with her mother dragging her to countless antique stores as a child, is what fueled her dream of one day having a shop of her own.

Ali + Shop Reece

Ali started Reece, her son Beckham Reece’s namesake, back in 2019 as a pop-up shop right before the pandemic hit. However, the pandemic made it difficult for a pop-up business to thrive, so she pressed pause on her dream. In the fall of 2021 Ali decided to re-launch Reece and has been overjoyed at the shop’s success.

Products

Shop Reece offers thoughtfully sourced textiles and collected vintage pieces such as art, rugs, pillows, accents, and furniture.

Ali’s hope is that her clients walk into their homes and feel a sense of peace and calm. She believes you should be comforted by the objects that surround you and feel joy when you are in your most sacred space-your home. Many of her products are inspired from memories she has from years of traveling the world, and she approaches design through feelings and emotions that are tied to memories.

Ali loves to source products from artisans all over the world, and she feels it is important to have a relationship with each person who makes the products she sells. Her pieces are unique finds she would not be able to offer were it not for each artisan’s creative talents and abilities. Each piece Ali selects for her shop is thoughtfully chosen and reflects her unique style and skilled eye for design.

Services

Ali can source custom vintage and antique products if you are looking for something unique for your space. She also offers stying sessions if an area of your home is in need of a refresh.

We are so glad we were able to share our friend’s wonderful business with our Help You Dwell family. Head over to her website and check out her shop. Keep an eye on her social media for events and new products. We know you will love her as much as we do!

Mention Help You Dwell when you shop to receive 10% off any item (some exclusions apply).

New Year, New Perspective

Happy New Year! Now is the the time for making all those resolutions that are so frustrating and hard to keep. Why do we do this to ourselves year after year? What if we approached this new year with a different mindset? What if we start 2023 by looking at ourselves in the mirror and saying, “Hey, you’re doing just fine.”

Our culture tells us that if we invest in this diet plan, have a perfectly styled home, update our wardrobe, or try this anti-aging serum, that we will be satisfied and fulfilled. Clever marketing and social media have really done a great job convincing us that the next new thing is all we need to make us happy. What if this year we just said no to all that?

This year make a shift in your mindset. Re-evaluate what is important and don’t seek out new things to bring you joy. Are there small revisions you can make in your daily routine? Are there ways you can start making better use of what you have? Take time this year to refine who you are, not reinvent who you are.

When you sit back and reflect on the things that truly bring you joy, what comes to mind? Most often it will be memories of people and places, not things. It may even be the satisfaction you felt when you straightened your pantry or cleaned out your closet! Creating order and peace in our homes is something we all strive for, it reduces stress and makes our home a place of refuge.

As this new year begins make a list the things you love about yourself, your home, and your relationships. Take inventory of what you have. Often our desire for “more” and problems with our self-esteem come when we start comparing ourselves to others. Don’t let comparison be the thief of your joy! Evaluate what you truly desire for your life. It’s probably not new things, but it might be new routines, more calm, and less chaos. Set reasonable expectations for yourself and know there are people around you that can assist you along the way. Our company is called Help You Dwell for a reason. We are here to help you find peace and order with the things you have. We would love to cheer you on, help you with overwhelming tasks, and remind you, “Hey, you’re doing just fine.”

Reach out and let us know how we can help you.

Call 865.245.9080 or email info@helpyoudwell.com

Edenvale: A Holiday Home Tour

Every home tour is unique and wonderful in its own way, but this one is extra special. I was able to sit down with Bill and Chris Alley (Taryn’s lovely parents) to talk about their home and what it has meant to them over the last 46 years that they have lived in it.

The original structure of the home was built in 1857 and sold a year or so later to Samuel Shannon McCampbell and Sarah Smith McCampbell. In 1899 an addition to the back of the house took place and the original entrance to the home was shifted to the other side of the house. The accompanying 50 acre farm was registered in 1927 and was formally named Edenvale. In the 40’s or 50’s a recreation room, an apartment, and a garage were added to the side of the house. Bill and Chris purchased the home in 1976 and did some renovating in the 90’s to remodel the kitchen and open it up a bit more. Just being in the house, it’s clear that its owners over time have loved and cherished the home. While the house itself is full of history, the contents of it are equally rich in story and history.

Historic Edenvale

Samuel Shannon McCampbell and Sarah Smith McCampbell

The real estate listing from 1976 when the Alleys purchased the home.

Without further ado, we will give you a glimpse of what home means to the Alleys,

What does home mean to you? What do you hope people feel when they come into your home?

Home is a warm place, a place of comfort, a place to relax and enjoy family. We always hope that people feel comfortable and welcome when they come over. We are not very formal — in fact the sitting room gets used only a handful of times a year. We always invite people into the living room.

Bill on the back porch

Over the years we have loved hosting parties. Some of our favorites have been 4th of July parties by the pool and annual New Years Eve parties. One year we went all out and all of our friends wore tuxedos and formal gowns. We jump on any excuse to have people over. I (Chris) am also a part of several groups that have met at our house over the years— a stained glass group, sewing group, etc. Having our home full of people is one of our greatest joys.

Chris and Bill Alley

How would you describe your style of decorating? Has your decorating style changed over time? Eclectic. We love antiques — mostly primitive and informal pieces. Most everything here has a meaning or a story. Many pieces have been passed down from family members. We’ve been collecting since we were young — if something wasn’t an antique when we bought it, it probably is now. We actually met when we were both living abroad in Greece and several pieces of art and decor were purchased from our time there. We love to hunt and love finding unique pieces to add to our space.

Chris found this framed tapestry in Greece and fell in love with it.

Stairway Detail

Do you have a favorite room in your home?

Our favorite rooms are probably the family room and kitchen. It’s where we spend the most time and where we entertain.

How about a favorite piece or item?

“Each other.” (It’s fine, it’s fine- I’m just over here crying at how cute the Alley’s are!)

We could find something we love in every room. One of our first purchases was the large chopping block in the kitchen. It holds a lot of meaning to us. The green and red cupboard in the kitchen is also a big hit — it gets decorated differently depending on the season.

What is the most challenging thing about your home?

Cleaning and maintaining. When you are a collector, it becomes much more time consuming to clean. Living in a house for a long time, while wonderful, also gives you lots of time to notice all the little imperfections. Because we’ve been here for 46 years we haven’t had the natural purging process that occurs when you move.

Dining Room Mantel

What kinds of things have you all collected over the years?

I (Chris) make stained glass pieces so over time the pieces I’ve made have become a collection of sorts. We collect Santa Clause figurines, snowmen, pitchers, and we have a really neat little medicine cabinet in the bathroom with all kinds of vintage and antique medicine bottles and apothecary items. I (Bill) love playing golf and a friend of mine and I made a life goal to play the top 100 courses. We’ve played 50 of them and 9 of the top 10. I have collected hats and bag tags from each of the courses.

Bill’s golf tag collection

Vintage medicine cabinet filled with collected items

How is your home an extension of yourself or of your family?

It’s old and we’ve grown into it. Most people who know us can’t separate us from the house. It’s definitely become a part of us.

A huge thank you to Bill and Chris for sitting down with me to tell me about and show me their beautiful, memory filled home.

For more tips on how to make your house a home, subscribe to our blog and sign up for our newsletter. If you’d like us to help you in your own home, please call 865.245.9080 or email info@helpyoudwell.com.

We can’t wait to help you dwell!

Photography by Katie Norrell

1 Year Later

Our azaleas were showstoppers this spring.

One year ago my husband and I moved into our current home. A whole year later, I am flooded with gratitude as I reflect on the past year of living here.

I am obsessed with old houses, character, charm, quirks, etc. And our (old) house has lots of that, but what I’ve realized is that my gaze has shifted from the house itself to the life we’ve lived in it. There are so many moments I want to bottle up and remember forever, and they have less to do with the stuff and more to do with the people. That may sound obvious, but I am someone who LOVES to create a place (think- decor, pillows, candles, music, etc.) and it’s taken adding our baby girl to the mix for me to see how much less those things matter than I thought they did.

View from living room into dining room.

Back deck.

A safe, cozy, inviting home is still important to me. But some of my favorite meals of the past year have been eaten on paper plates at our ottoman in the living room or on our patio table we found at a yard sale. The shelves in the laundry room are not as tidy as they were when I was intensely nesting, and I’m ok with that. I’m learning that I can be settled and enjoy a place (our home) even when things are unsettled (think- unmade beds, chaotic refrigerator shelves, leaves on the floor in the entryway, piles of baby clothes to name a few). We all have heard that perfection isn’t the goal, and I’m just here as an honest control freak to say it again. Let’s enjoy our homes, the people in them, the neighbors on our street, and the smell of your favorite fall candle.

View from back of the house.

A year into living in this home, I’m more convinced than ever that we have the best neighbors in the world. In a culture of individualism and society filled with so much division, there is nothing sweeter than a kind neighbor. I wish everyone could have even just one neighbor like the ones we’ve gotten to know over the past year. They’ve checked our mail, cut our grass, brought us food, dropped fresh flowers at the door, shared yard tools, passed down baby clothes, taught us how to trim rhododendron bushes, made us cocktails, invited us onto their porches, laughed with us, held our baby, and so much more. The gift of good neighbors is one we did not anticipate and it’s been the sweetest surprise. Knowing you have people around you who care, is no small thing.

If our walls could talk… they’d tell stories like these:

There were a lot of poopy diapers, but even more baby giggles.

Learning about the parts of our HVAC unit on chilly days with our favorite handyman.

Eating takeout on the living room floor because hand washing dishes is not for the faint of heart.

Hosting our first Easter and Mother’s Day on my husbands great-grandmother’s table.

Smoking lots and lots of meat and brewing too many pots of coffee.

Taking daily walks and learning the names of neighbors and their dogs.

Watching Premier league soccer on Saturday mornings.

Cleaning up baby food off the floor below the highchair.

Gathering friends to watch Wimbledon and eat breakfast casserole.

Pulling weeds and borrowing the neighbors lawnmower.

Having a glass of wine on the porch after the baby goes to bed.

Pots of soup and chili made in an outdated kitchen.

Folding laundry on the living room floor while baby girl does tummy time.

Making and remaking the guest bed for lots of family visits.

Inviting friends over to help us choose where to hang art on our walls.

This is the good stuff. It’s not perfect and not always easy. But I am so grateful for the beauty and meaning and abundant life we’ve experienced in this home over the past year. Now the same leaves we watched grow in the Spring, are falling to the ground and so it goes. Thanks for coming along for my reflective journey. Cheers to many more meaningful days in the places we call home!

Holiday Gift Guide

We’ve created this Holiday Gift Guide in hopes that it will help with your gift giving this year. Here you will find a carefully curated selection of our favorite places to find gifts that are personal, thoughtful, and Unique.

Experiences:

  • Wake Foot Sanctuary: Give someone the. unique experience of a specially formulated herbal soak and rejuvenating massage that is sure to de-stress and re-energize.

  • Plaid Apron: Gift someone a meal or gift card at this great eatery in our community that prides themselves on bridging the gap between farmer, restaurant, and mouth.

  • Top Golf: Give the sports lover in your life a gift certificate to Knoxville’s newest entertainment venue. The bays are climate controlled all year long and even if you aren’t a golfer, it’s a great way to spend a few hours having fun!

  • Help You Dwell: Give the gift of HYD’s services to a friend, loved one, family member or neighbor. Our services are a wonderful way to show love to a new mama, a transitioning homeowner, or just someone you love. This gift card can be used towards organizing, packing, and/or unpacking services.

Goods:

  • Reece: This is one of our favorite shops for one-of-a-kind pieces! They have thoughtfully sourced home goods from all around the world and offer services to help you style your space and can also source custom or antique pieces that will be unique to your home.

  • Happy Envelope: We love this shop for so many reasons! They offer luxury letterpress wedding invitations, custom stationery, art prints, and gifts that will make your heart smile.

  • Minimal Optimist: This shop is a lifestyle boutique that specializes in sustainable, eco-friendly, and nature-inspired goods and unique gifts. They also have great gifts for your plant-loving friends!

  • Union Avenue Books: Downtown Knoxville's locally-owned independent bookstore with a great selection of the newly published titles. They also host a variety of local, regional and nationally known authors for readings and book signings. We love to support local shops as well as local authors!

Unique Seasonal Items:

  • Bradley’s Gift & Home: In addition to hundreds of handmade sweets, you can find unique home goods and special gifts for any occasion. We love all the different ornaments, candles, and decor they have for sale during the different seasons of the year.

  • Fig & Co.: FIG exists as an avenue to provide unique and one-of-a-kind goods for the home, including accent decor, art, furniture as well as gifts. Their selection of holiday decor and gifts is amazing!

  • Back Porch Mercantile: This shop is a unique space that offers specialty finds for baby, home, gift items and accessories that are inline with a modern farmhouse aesthetic and southern hospitality. Their seasonal merchandise is beautiful and like no other.

  • The Painted Perch & Co: This market has over 30 vendors offering goods such as antiques, painted furniture, Haitian artwork and handmade pieces (all proceeds go back to Haiti), new and repurposed furniture, gourmet food, hand crafted textiles, gourmet pet items, boutique adult and children clothing and jewelry like Myra bags, Fusion paint, reclaimed wood pieces, gift items/baskets and so much more! They have a huge selection of holiday items that would be great for anyone on your Christmas list.

Local Holiday Markets:

  • Stanley’s Greenhouse-Located across the river south of downtown Knoxville, Stanley’s is a locally owned greenhouse and plant farm. Shop with them on Small Business Saturday (November 26), or visit on Sundays in November and December for their Holiday Marketplace for one-stop shopping for gifts and decor.

  • Riverview Family Farm-Located in West Knoxville, Riverview Family Farm is holding their annual Holiday Barn Sale on Friday, December 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, and Saturday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by and see local vendors with a variety of goods.

  • Ijams Holiday Market-Located on Island Home Avenue, go celebrate the holiday season by supporting local artisans and makers at the ninth annual Ijams Holiday Marketplace on not one, but two dates this year: Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 from 10 am-3 pm! You'll find crafty delights, including beautiful jewelry, all-natural body products, glass, pottery, apparel, local food trucks, a beer garden, hot drinks, and so much more!

  • Foothills Holiday Market-Located in the Smithview Pavillion in Maryville, this market is going to be open Saturday, December 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a variety of gifts and items from local vendors, as well as food trucks for snacks and lunch.


Happy Shopping Friends!

Thankful Hearts

It is November, and for many of us it’s a time for reflection, being grateful, and thinking about our many blessings. During this season many families will gather around a Thanksgiving table and spend time sharing things that they are thankful for. This is wonderful – focusing on the positives in our lives rather than the negatives is important, and we as humans don’t practice thankfulness enough.

As we approach this season of thankfulness, our team at Help You Dwell wants you to know our hearts are overflowing with gratitude and love for you, our clients and friends. We are overjoyed that so many of you have allowed our team members into your homes during the past year. We have laughed with you, cried with you, celebrated with you, and hopefully served each of you well.

Our Thankful Team

We hope you can set aside some time to pause and reflect on your many blessings during this season of thankfulness. Take time to tell those that you love how much they mean to you. You mean so much to our team and we have truly been blessed by helping you.

There’s no better time than now to get started organizing your home to help create an environment that brings you peace and happiness. Remember, bringing calm and order to your home is a process. We are happy to help you along the way, no matter what challenging situation or complicated transition you may be facing.

CALL US AT 865.245.9080 OR BOOK OUR SERVICES HERE!

Holiday Hosting Made Simple

If you’re like me, it doesn’t matter if I am hosting a small intimate group, my large family, or inviting 30 of my neighbors over to a cookie exchange, hosting can be stressful. Will everyone have fun? Is my house clean? Do I have enough food? Is the décor perfect? The list goes on and on.  All too often, the worrying steals the joy we should feel when we are surrounded by our friends and family.

So, just how do you find calm in all of this chaos? Keep it simple. Focus on 3 main things – a theme, your food and drinks, and décor. Yes, these 3 things can take the most planning, but once you have them in place, the other details will be easy.

1.       Picking your theme - this could be a color, food, or even that holiday sweater you have in the back of your closet-you know the one!  The theme should be something you are comfortable with and easy to build on.  If it is something you love, it will show in all the other aspects of your party and be something you will enjoy as well.

2.        Next let’s plan food and drinks. I love to pick a signature drink and appetizer. Don’t over think this.  Choose something easy to make ahead of time that can be kept out while your guests are there. Think about your famous crock pot meatballs, or a charcuterie board paired with a fun sangria or favorite wine spritzer.  Once you have your staple items, it’s easy to add extra sides. Add some veggies, chips and dip, and always have a non-alcoholic beverage option. Also, never underestimate the stress relieving power of asking your guests to bring their favorite side dish, dessert, or drink to share with everyone.

3.       Now, comes the fun part – decor. One of my favorite ways to bring peace and calm to my space is by using nature. Not only is this a creative way to add fun details to your party, but it is also cost effective!  Pinecones, sticks, leaves and pine branches can make any table come to life!  If you have an area that you plan to have your drinks and snacks, don’t forget to add a few details there are well.  If you are not setting a table for your party, you can use that space as a place for guests to gather and come together.  Keep in mind, when adding décor to your space for a party, less is more. You want guests to feel free to move around and enjoy your home, not feel overwhelmed with a crowded space.

 Remember, holiday parties should focus on bringing people together. If the host isn’t enjoying the party because they are running around, stressed about details others won’t even notice, the guests will feel that. It will be hard for anyone to relax and enjoy spending time together. Plus, if you can’t enjoy the party too, was it worth it?

Yes, holiday hustle and bustle can sometimes get the best of us, but having a plan and keeping things simple, can bring calm to the chaos of holiday party planning. Help You Dwell would love to help you prepare your home for your next event. We can help organize a space, decorate, and assist you in creating a wonderful holiday atmosphere in your home.

Schedule Holiday Prep

Laundry Doesn't Have to be SCARY!

Halloween is coming and many of us have decorated our front porches with skeletons and ghosts. Everything looks spooky and scary outside, while inside our homes we often find ourselves closing the door to the laundry room because it can be a scary place, too! When we take a peek inside most laundry rooms we see baskets of clothes, mis-matched socks, bulky boxes of detergent, and cabinets full of random cleaning supplies. We look at laundry as a never ending chore, and for some, the thought of organizing a laundry room is overwhelming.

Here at Help You Dwell we love organizing laundry rooms. Just because laundry is a chore doesn't mean you can't do It In a beautifully organized space. Big or small, there are things you can do to make your laundry room a functional and organized space that meets your family’s needs.

When organizing your laundry room it's Important to ask yourself a few questions:

  • What are the laundry room necessities that you need in this space?

  • Do you fold laundry and iron as well as wash clothing in here?

  • What items do you need to make the space more organized and functional?

Once you’ve determined how your family uses the laundry room, you can begin organizing with storage solutions such as cabinets, baskets or drawer organizers. Remember, it's not about the perfectly labeled container, but how the product serves your needs. Think in general terms of storage combined with maximizing the space to create a laundry area that works well for you.

Here are some great products we love for laundry rooms:

  • Glass Jars-Great if you have limited storage or no cabinets. These keep your soap, dryer balls, etc. looking neat and are smaller than big, bulky boxes.

  • Lazy Susans-Effectively store cleaning supplies in a way that you can easily see what you have.

  • Baskets and Acrylic Bins-Fantastic for items like dryer sheets, clothespins, rags. sponges, and more!

  • Drawer Organizers-Store items like batteries and small tools that you keep Inside, furniture/flooring repair kits, command strips, and all those other things that might be found In your "junk drawer”. Laundry rooms are a great place for these items, and keeping them here can free up space in other areas of your home like your kitchen.

  • Mop and Broom Mounts-If your laundry room or closet is also where you house your mop and broom, these are a great option to get them off the floor and out of the way.

Here are some links to other great products we love for other areas of your home.

Laundry rooms need to be functional, but they can also be aesthetically pleasing. With a few small changes you can give your laundry room functionality AND style. Consider adding cabinets or shelving. Paint an accent wall or use wallpaper behind your washer or dryer. Shop your own home for decorative items and plants you could bring Into the space to give it warmth. You probably have numerous items you could “re-home” in your laundry room.

There are many ways your can change the look and feel of your laundry room. Implementing an organized system into a small space will make It feel much more functional and well thought out. If you need help In this area of your home, don't be afraid to reach out.. We can help with both the design and organization of your laundry room.

Call 865.245.9080 or Email info@helpyoudwell.com

We can't wait to help you dwell!

Garage Organization

Fall has finally arrived here In East Tennessee and each morning we are greeted with cool, crisp air and falling leaves. Fall’s cooler weather means it is time to tackle some projects that were probably neglected during the hot summer months. One of the most requested services here at Help You Dwell is garage organization.

Garages are unique spaces. Not only are they supposed to house our cars, but they also become the catch all place for other items we have no dedicated space for inside our homes. If your garage is cluttered and disorganized it can be very frustrating, making it difficult to find what you need quickly. If you walk through the garage to get inside your house each day, you know what an eyesore it can be when there’s no order. We love organizing garages and can help you make that space neat and tidy so you can spend more time outside enjoying the wonderful fall weather.

We know that everyone uses their garage for different functions. Uses may include storing equipment for hobbies, sports, luggage, travel gear and seasonal decorations. Some prefer a dedicated space for a home gym and exercise equipment or a drop zone for shoes and bags. We even have clients that use their garage as temporary storage for furniture and home decor items during a renovation or transition.

No matter how you use your garage, when you decide it is time to regain control of the space we recommend a couple of strategies to get your started. The first is the four box method. This method of sorting and organizing will help you purge items you no longer need in your garage, as well as help you determine the use and importance of the Items that you wish to keep.

FOUR BOX METHOD

ZONES

Once you’ve purged and determined the categories of items that need to have a place in your garage, you can sort these into zones, which is our second strategy for helping your organize your space. Keeping like items together makes it easy for you to find what you need. Think about proximity and location for the zones of your garage contents. Items less frequently used may be best stored higher up, while sports equipment or items used more often should be in an area easy to access. There’s no right or wrong place for you to store items, but there are more practical and efficient places if you plan correctly.

It might be helpful to have different zones for members of the family as well. If mom is a master gardener, she definitely needs a zone where she knows her items are kept separate from other outdoor items like bug sprays and lawn care products. And if dad is an amazing woodworker, his tools and items need their own zone so that he doesn’t lose track of where they are. Kids need zones, too! Keep their items like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, balls, and yard toys down low where they are easy to access.

Here are some products we love that can help you with your zones:

After you've organized, you will most likely have Items to get rid of. Consider donating items to an organization like KARM, or you could even have a garage sale. Fall is a great time for garage sales in our region! If you have old paint there are a few guidelines you need to know:

  • Residents may take up to 20 gallons of oil-based paint (20 one gallon cans or 4 five gallon buckets full or partially full) or 100 pounds of HHW to the dump per day.

  • Here’s a quick guide for disposing of latex paint from the City of Knoxville.

Here at Help You Dwell we are at your service to help you organize and maintain beautiful spaces in your home. We can help create a plan, sort through items, and implement new systems for sustaining organization. We love working in all areas of the home, and garages are no exception! If you’d like our help, please call 865.245.9080 or email info@helpyoudwell.com

We can't wait to help you dwell!

From Chaos to Calm

Americans are busy. Being busy seems to be the new normal. I never thought I'd miss the slow days of quarantine when we played cards around the kitchen table and read books together cuddled up on the couch. Somehow though, here we are, back In the daily grind and I am missing the calm that once seemed like a burden and inconvenience. Recently a friend told me to remember that there is no reward for being the most "busy" and it really resonated with me.

I began to really ponder the ways I could help bring more calm to our chaotic lives. I realized there are some simple habits and changes a family can implement into their routine that will make a difference in how your home feels when you are there. I know that when my home feels calm, my stress levels decrease. Who doesn't need less stress in their life? Here are some tips for you to try:

Family Calendar: Having a visual representation with everyone's schedule will help keep your whole family on the same page (literally). It will ensure that your family will keep their commitments and appointments, and it will keep everyone from asking you about appointments and practice schedules because there will be a calendar everyone can see. It might be helpful to designate a different color for each person in the family as well. Having a family calendar can also help you plan ahead and not over commit to doing things you really don't have time for (especially if you are a person who has a hard time saying NO). This calendar can help others realize that different people in the family might need help sharing the "load" from one week to the other, depending on each person's schedule. Make sure you post the calendar In a place where everyone can see it on a daily basis. Click on the picture to download and print a family calendar.

Meal Plan: Once you have your family calendar filled in, you can easily see which nights are going to be free and which nights are going to be busy. Let's face it, most families don't have time for dinner together around the table every single night, but if you can pre-plan your meals and be prepared for the week ahead, you might find yourself a little less stressed when you hear, "What are we having for dinner tonight?" Having a plan will also help you stay on budget and be focused when you grocery shop. It's also a great idea to keep track of your weekly menus in a 3-ringed binder, folder, or even online in a working document that all can access from their phones or computers. Take time once a week to have a planning session with your family if they are willing to help out with this task. Many times picky-eaters will be better eaters if they’re allowed to share some ideas for what is being served. You can re-use menus every few months so that you're not always having to come up with new meal ideas. Keep track of what your family loved with a star or heart somewhere on the meal planner, and cross out something that they didn't enjoy. This will save you all kinds of time in the future! Click the meal plan picture below for a printable template you can use.

Take 5: Now that you have your family calendar set up and all meals are planned, hopefully you are feeling more organized and less stressed. A habit that I learned growing up and still implement today is taking just five minutes before going to bed each night to tidy up around the house. We fold blankets, straighten up pillows on the couch, make sure the dishwasher is loaded, and lay out any important items we might need for the next day (dance bag, soccer cleats, etc). If you do this, each day you will leave your house with it neat and tidy, and mornings will be less chaotic because everyone has prepped for the day the night before.

Make a Project List: When you sit down and think about all the projects there are to do in your house at any given time, you might feel overwhelmed. If you feel like you don’t know where to start and you’ll never make sense of your space, CONGRATULATIONS! You are totally normal. Make a to-do list of the areas in your home that need to be simplified or organized. Look at that list and know that Help You Dwell is here for you.

We are a company that is committed to listening well and working together to create a space you will enjoy. Our intention is to help free you up to do more of the things you love. We are at your service to create beautiful, organized, and livable spaces where you can reclaim your home and use it the way you’ve always dreamed of. If you, a friend, or family member does not LOVE organizing or simply doesn’t have the time to nest well, reach out to us! We can help create a plan, sort through items, and implement new systems for sustaining organization.

We also offer an extended consult service in person or over video chat (if you aren't local). One of our experienced HYD organizers will visit your home, listen to your needs, and create a customized action plan to bring order to your home, your upcoming move, or an estate transition that will allow you peace and order for many years to come. This entire session includes 1.5 hours. Part of that time is spent in your home, and the remaining time is spent developing your action plan. Call 865.245.9080 or Email info@helpyoudwell.com

We can't wait to help you dwell!