The expert lowdown on downsizing
Carol Sheridan is an expert in designing spaces for life transitions. Her firm, Contemplated Spaces in Germantown, Maryland, helps with empty nesting, starting over, having a baby, retiring, blending families and relocating. Sheridan recently joined staff writer Jura Koncius for an online chat. Here is an edited excerpt.
Q: Last year, I inherited my father’s house and furnishings. He has several pieces of midcentury modern furniture, including Danish rosewood, that I’d like to sell. I found a company that buys and sells furniture. Should I use them? What’s the best way to handle this?
A: I’m sorry to hear about your dad. However, you are in luck that mid-century furniture is in great demand now. There’s an app called LETGO which is very popular (and it’s active in Canada), as well as estate sale companies. As for the company you found, if there are plenty of good reviews I’d give it a try.
I rely a lot on reviews. There are so many resources out there, you can’t know enough about them all. I also rely on local consumer affairs offices, especially if the client needs to make a large investment. You want to know how many unresolved complaints the company has before investing.
Q: Are vignettes still a thing? Should you curate your displays on bookshelves and coffee tables? How do you look at your space with a new perspective?
A: Vignettes will never go out of style, as they often show the history of your travels or collections. You can also move the vignette from a coffee table to a book shelf to a nightstand to get a fresh look .
Q: What are your favourite tips for a high-end look on a budget?
A: Use neutral furniture and add interest with small amounts of bright colour. Find a look you like and copy it. Imitation is the greatest compliment!
Q: My husband has a tendency to hoard. Any ideas for helping him to purge?
A: This is honestly one of the biggest challenges as we get older because needing to lighten up is almost a certainty. Approaching it from the most positive angle possible is helpful. You will need to find an agreeable way to preserve the memory but part with the item. As you may have heard, Marie Kondo has a wonderful book called “Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” Try reading and discussing it together. I also find it helps to set dates and times to work on this project regularly.
Q: As our baby enters, we want to downsize to give him space to grow and play. However, it is difficult to find time to dedicate to this project. Do you have any advice on how best to make time to declutter and downsize, especially when you only have five to 10 minutes a day to yourself ?
A: You are a perfect candidate for a professional organizer. You can explain your needs and let them do what you don’t have time for. You could also find someone who has experience raising children, so they understand the safety concerns.
Q: After parting ways with someone after 10 years, how do you make changes to start over without leaving and throwing everything away?
A: I try to be mindfully optimistic with my clients. What was the good that came of this time? A good barometer to use: does the item bring you joy or pain? You can make furnishings look new with new pillows and throws in a different colour scheme, if you want to keep it.
Q: I bought a Pottery Barn ottoman on Craigslist, but the leather needs a bit of attention. The care instructions say to take it to a professional. Any suggestions?
A: I would try saddle soap, but baby wipes are good since they are gentle.
Q: When my husband’s parents decided to downsize, they sent their items to a local salesroom in England. I’ve wished I had the same option, now that I’m faced with my parents’ furniture and our unused wedding presents from 30 years ago. I am uncomfortable with having people come to our home and would like a middleperson as a buffer.
A: Everyone would like to realize some cash from their belongings, but it can also be very advantageous to donate items to a charity. I had a client who received a tremendous tax writeoff by donating her custom furniture. I am partial to donating to Habitat for Humanity, but there are so many good causes.
Q: I have to travel to help my parents get ready to move from a 3,500-square-foot home into a senior living facility. What’s your advice for what they should/ could get started with before I get there?
A: Look online and see if there are floor-plan options and discuss with your parents how much space they need. If they can help, they could send you photos and dimensions of the things they love most.
Q: What should you do with old, flowered china?
A: I like to hang pretty china in groups on a wall. You can plan a room around it — a guest room, perhaps.