Are you ready to transform your living spaces and conquer clutter once and for all? In this highly anticipated episode, we dive deep into the world of home organization with none other than the “stars” of professional decluttering themselves – Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, the brilliant minds behind The Home Edit. Renowned for their vibrant, aesthetically pleasing, and highly functional organizing systems, Clea and Joanna have revolutionized how we approach tidiness, even taming the pantries of celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow. They’ve also recently partnered with Target, making their expert advice and distinctive style accessible to a wider audience. Join us as they reveal common pitfalls people encounter in their organizing efforts, offer invaluable tips on selecting the perfect baskets and bins, and demystify the art of labeling without feeling overwhelmed. This episode isn’t just about decluttering; it’s about creating systems that bring calm and efficiency to your daily life.
But the insights don’t stop there! Our hosts, Sherry and John, also share some exciting updates. Sherry unveils two new (and absolutely free!) sources of design inspiration that have captured her imagination, offering fresh perspectives for your next home project. John confronts the surprising realities of our collective online shopping habits, prompting a thoughtful discussion on consumer behavior. And, in a crucial revisit, we tackle a persistent question in real estate: is it truly free to use a buyer’s agent when purchasing a house? This comprehensive episode is packed with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and essential information for anyone looking to improve their home and lifestyle.
You can easily download and enjoy this enlightening episode from your preferred podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. For direct listening, simply use the player embedded below. As you listen, feel free to reference this page for all the links, notes, and photos mentioned in the discussion. If you’re accessing this content through a feed reader, you might need to click through to the original post to view the integrated podcast player.
What’s New in Our World and Yours
We kick off this segment with a lighthearted look at life outside the podcast studio. Just two best friends, Sherry and the incredible Katie Bower, caught in a perfectly normal moment at the entrance of a vibrant Mexican restaurant. Their long-standing friendship, nurtured through years of blogging and shared life experiences, continues to be a source of joy and creative inspiration for many. For those curious about the early days of their online connection, we invite you to revisit a true blogging relic: the Reader Redesign Katie shared way back when. This post offers a fascinating glimpse into the nascent era of blogging in 2008, painting a unique picture of how online communities and collaborations first began to blossom.
Continuing our journey down memory lane from our recent visit with the Bowers, you won’t want to miss the utterly charming kids’ bookstore they introduced us to. This gem is not just a place to buy books; it’s an experience, a magical space designed to ignite the imaginations of young readers and delight parents alike. Its unique design and curated collection make it a must-see for anyone interested in creative spaces for children.
We’ve heard your enthusiastic requests loud and clear about having Katie on as a dedicated podcast guest, and we truly appreciate your excitement! While our recent family trip with the Bowers was primarily for relaxation and friendship, and we didn’t want to transform it into a work engagement, rest assured that an interview with Katie is high on our list for the near future. In the interim, for a dose of Katie’s insightful perspectives, we highly recommend revisiting Episode #20. In this popular episode, Katie shares her compelling arguments on why white walls, despite their popularity, might not be the universal answer for every home and homeowner. Her nuanced take on design choices is always refreshing and thought-provoking. For those using a feed reader, please click through to the full post to access the embedded player for Episode #20.
And for our fellow tea enthusiasts, if you’ve ever wondered about that elusive tea Sherry can only procure from Amazon, the mystery is solved! It’s this delightful Yogi Tea blend. Thankfully, she can still effortlessly acquire her current go-to favorite caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties, ensuring her morning ritual remains uninterrupted. However, the one blend that has unfortunately become out of reach since we opted out of our Prime membership is this specific flavor. It’s a testament to how even small changes in shopping habits can impact our favorite comforts!
Important Updates and Real Estate Insights
In our ongoing commitment to providing valuable information, we wanted to draw your attention back to a crucial topic: selling your house by owner, often referred to as FSBO (For Sale By Owner). This strategy can be appealing for those looking to save on real estate agent commissions, but it comes with its own set of challenges and considerations. If you missed our initial comprehensive discussion on this subject, we encourage you to listen to Episode #56. In it, we delve into the intricacies of navigating a home sale independently, covering everything from pricing and marketing to legalities and negotiations. For those reading via a feed reader, please click through to the post to access the embedded podcast player.
Further supporting our discussion on FSBO, Marianne mentioned a highly relevant study conducted by the National Association of Realtors. This authoritative resource provides invaluable statistics and insights into the real estate market, including specific data points on FSBO transactions towards the bottom of the page. Understanding these trends and figures can equip you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions, whether you’re considering selling your home yourself or working with an agent.
Mastering Organization with The Home Edit
This episode’s highlight is undoubtedly our deep dive with the phenomenal team behind The Home Edit. Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin are not just organizers; they are lifestyle architects who believe that organization should be both functional and beautiful. You can explore their inspiring world further by visiting their blog or following them on Instagram, where they consistently share a wealth of organizing inspiration. Their portfolio includes famous celebrity spaces, such as (one of) Gwyneth Paltrow’s meticulously organized pantries, which vividly illustrates their signature “rainbow bright” aesthetic and highly practical systems.
Their expertise hasn’t gone unnoticed. As Target’s new home organization experts, Clea and Joanna are expanding their reach, bringing their innovative tips and tricks to a broader audience through Target’s official blog. This partnership signifies a major step in making professional organizing advice more accessible and inspiring for everyone.
Following our engaging interview, The Home Edit team thoughtfully created this delightful blog post, offering their unique breakdown of our conversation. What makes it even more special is the inclusion of a video featuring Clea’s real-time reactions and play-by-play as she listened back to the podcast. It’s a fantastic, almost meta experience, akin to the fascinating commentary tracks once found in the bonus sections of movie DVDs – a nostalgic nod to a format we dearly miss! #RIPDVDs
Sherry faced a tough choice when trying to select just a few favorite posts from Clea and Joanna’s extensive collection, but a few stood out as truly exceptional. For an abundance of visual “eye candy” and aspirational organizing, look no further than this incredible round-up of celebrity spaces. It showcases the immaculate closets of style icon Rachel Zoe and the perfectly ordered pantry of Vanessa Lachey, providing endless inspiration for sophisticated storage solutions.
Beyond the glamour, The Home Edit excels at practical, everyday solutions. We particularly loved the invaluable tips shared in this cord-wrangling post. In our increasingly tech-filled homes, managing unruly cables is a universal challenge, and their ingenious methods, which yes, involve more labeling, offer a clear path to a tangle-free existence.
Another inspiring project highlights their ability to transform even the most well-known spaces. They famously helped Elsie from A Beautiful Mess organize her iconic kitchen, demonstrating how their systems can enhance both functionality and aesthetics in a busy, creative hub. They documented the entire process, offering a detailed breakdown for anyone looking to replicate similar success.
As promised during our conversation, Clea and Joanna generously shared their top three favorite organizing products that they believe are essential for any home seeking order and beauty. These versatile tools are game-changers:
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Divided Turntable: “This is one of the most versatile products we recommend, capable of transforming organization in nearly any room of the house. It’s our absolute go-to item, incredibly effective for containing art supplies in a playroom, neatly arranging tea and coffee essentials in the kitchen, streamlining cleaning supplies in the laundry room, and organizing pharmacy and first aid items in the bathroom. Its spinning mechanism makes everything easily accessible, preventing items from getting lost in the back of cabinets.”
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Natural Baskets: “High-quality storage baskets are an utterly essential staple for every single room in a well-organized home. A beautiful seagrass basket, in particular, effortlessly complements nearly all styles of home decor, from modern farmhouse to coastal chic, adding a touch of natural elegance. More importantly, it provides an incredibly effective and stylish way to neatly contain all those various odds-and-ends that can quickly accumulate and create visual clutter.”
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Huggable Hangers: “If you’re looking for the single most impactful thing you can do to immediately transform your closet into a more organized and aesthetically pleasing space, it’s investing in a good set of uniform hangers and committing to tossing out any mismatched or flimsy ones. These slim, non-slip hangers not only ensure your clothes are properly cared for, preventing stretching and slippage, but they also create a visually cohesive and streamlined look. Your closet will instantly appear refined, polished, and far more spacious.”
For those eager to discover even more of their highly recommended organizing essentials, you can explore their curated selections and shop their full range of favorite products directly on The Home Edit website.
What We’re Digging Right Now: Inspiration & Fun Finds
In our popular “We’re Digging” segment, Sherry is particularly excited to share her latest design obsessions. If you’re anything like Sherry and thrive on visual inspiration, you absolutely need to explore the catalogs she’s been devouring (and saving!) for years. These aren’t just ordinary catalogs; they are beautifully curated treasure troves of interior design ideas. You can now conveniently browse them online: discover stunning furniture and decor from Arhaus, and find timeless elegance with Williams-Sonoma Home. These digital catalogs offer a fantastic way to spark creativity for your next home project.
Speaking of Arhaus, Sherry couldn’t stop raving about a specific picture that had her utterly “drooling”: an image of a breathtaking staircase from their catalog. This particular feature showcased their exquisite wallpapers, including a standout shibori design, demonstrating how a well-chosen pattern can elevate a simple architectural element into a true statement piece. It’s a perfect example of how small details can make a huge impact on a home’s overall aesthetic.
And for those of you who were playfully disappointed that our elaborate novelty sock venture wasn’t a genuine business endeavor, fear not! We have found the perfect solution to fulfill all your whimsical sock desires. Introducing Say It With A Sock – a fantastic subscription service that delivers fun, unique socks directly to your door every month. It’s a delightful way to add a pop of personality to your wardrobe and, yes, it’s officially mom approved!
Finally, for those moments when you recall a past recommendation but can’t quite pinpoint which episode it was from, we’ve got you covered! We’ve meticulously compiled a master list of everything we’ve been digging across all our previous episodes. This comprehensive resource is your go-to guide for revisiting all our favorite finds and inspirations, making it easier than ever to track down that perfect item or idea.
And lastly, a heartfelt thank you to Thomas Avenue Ceramics for graciously sponsoring this episode. They offer an exquisite selection of beautiful tiles that can be delivered directly to your doorstep, making your renovation projects a breeze. We invite you to head over to ThomasAvenueCeramics.com/YHL to explore their stunning collections and to specifically view Sherry’s personal top 10 favorites, some of which are beautifully showcased below. As a special treat for our listeners, don’t forget to use the exclusive code YHL20 at checkout to score an amazing 20% off your very first order. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring high-quality, stylish tiles into your home.
Thank you for tuning in and being a part of our wonderful community, guys! We hope you found this episode both inspiring and incredibly useful for your home organizing and design journeys.
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