Newsletters

Beth Zeigler

    11 Places to Get Moving Boxes Free of Charge
    Never pay for cardboard again.
    Beth Zeigler
    Sep 16, 2023
    Prepping For The Movers
    To save time (and money) we want moving day to go as smooth as possible. We’ve booked a recommended service by the hour so it’s super important for us to be prepped and ready to go once they arrive. Here are some of the things we plan on doing to ensure an efficient day–and don’t forget to let us know your helpful tips in the comments.Label boxes clearly We like to label our moving boxes on a top corner, and on the long and short side of each box.
    Beth Zeigler
    Mar 21, 2022
    Manners, Style and Occasions: Etiquette Books By Kate Spade
    We’ve always been fascinated by the rules of etiquette. Maybe it was our families love of entertaining that led us to own five plus books social formalities. From handwritten notes to hostess gifts, we love following protocol. When we learned that Kate Spade had written her own rules on the subject, we hurried over to Amazon and purchased all three.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jul 18, 2020
    5 Ideas for Sliding Mirror Closet Doors
    Not all sliding mirror closet doors are created equal. For example, our new home is equipped with mirrored sliding doors, and while they’re not awful, we definitely want to revamp them (or take them out altogether). Our 5 ideas for dealing with sliding mirror closet doors (and don’t forget to weigh in with your suggestions). Apply vinyl decals like these or these to distract from the look of mirrored closet doors.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jul 18, 2020
    5 Ideas For Dividing Up A Small Living Room
    We have big dreams for our new living room that include; dividing it up to make room for a pedestal table with chairs next to the faux fireplace. A reading/eating nook is just the thing that will cozy up our space and make our house feel like a home. And although we plan on making our dreams a reality, our challenge is making it all work in a small space.Rugs We plan on using a rectangular rug underneath the couch and a smaller rug (perhaps circular shape) paired with the pedestal table.
    Beth Zeigler
    Mar 11, 2020
    How To: Organize A Bulletin Board
    Right now, we’re looking at our blank bulletin board. It has one final step (a coat of white spray paint) before its ready to go back in our office. It used to be covered in fabric from IKEA (a busy pattern) but we wanted to go with simpler look for 2009. The previous bits of information on the bulletin board happened to be quite cluttered as well. Everything from inspirational tear-out pages from design magazines to a spare set of car keys were scattered about on our bulletin board.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jun 19, 2019
    Couroc: A Collector’s Item
    We were back east this summer when our grandparents moved into smaller living quarters. We were allowed to have items that were considered extraneous and knew exactly what to call our own–this vintage Courac Tray. We had no idea it was a collector’s item until yesterday… Pardon My VintageWhen we were in Santa Monica yesterday having lunch with a friend, we wandered into Poolside, a vintage store carrying a tray similar to our newly acquired tray from grandma’s house.
    Beth Zeigler
    May 9, 2019
    Recessed Lighting: How To Change The Bulb
    Yesterday, our friend Abbey posted this pic on her Facebook page along with the following text, “I need help changing this light bulb. Seriously. Anyone?” She went on to explain“It doesn’t pull out, there’s no way (that I can figure out) to get the bulb through the fixture, it’s totally attached to the ceiling…????” We can totally empathize with Abbey and her frustration with home repairs.
    Beth Zeigler
    May 8, 2019
    How To Heat Up The Water at Home
    One of our home indulgences–taking scalding hot showers (especially when the temps drop outside). So you can imagine our frustration when we jumped in the shower after a long day of moving only to discover lukewarm water. A quick email to our handyman delivered a quick and easy how to for this problem.1. Locate your hot water heater. At our old apartment, our hot water heater was underneath the house (that only the landlord had the key to unlock).
    Beth Zeigler
    May 8, 2019
    How To Clean An Old Frame
    Since we haven’t gotten around to hanging any of our artwork in our new apartment, we’re literally tripping over everything. For example, this frame used to hold an antique print–but it fell and broke. After we took it apart and removed the broken glass, we took the opportunity to clean up the very old frame.Ingredients [OR] MaterialsMild dishwashing soapWhite VinegarWood Oil ToolsToothbrushQ-tipsSoft cloth 1. Wipe any dust and dirt off of your frame with a clean, soft cloth.2.
    Beth Zeigler
    May 8, 2019
    Just Say No To Owner’s Manuals
    Most of our clients hold onto paperwork they think they’ll need someday. Usually those pieces of paper come in the form of owner’s manuals stuffed into filing cabinets. We didn’t realize that pretty much everyone holds onto these cumbersome guides until we held our organizing bootcamp last weekend. We’ve come up with a couple of solutions on how to handle the paper load after the jump.
    Beth Zeigler
    Feb 20, 2019
    An Inspiring 64 Square Foot Bedroom
    Most bedrooms are twice the size but don’t offer near as much sex appeal (black floors) combined with a neutral softness that would attract both genders. Lots of big ideas for such a small space, let’s break them down after the jump.Lighting Isis (of Paper Flower Girl) does a fabulous job of keeping the space open and airy. She does this with sheer curtains hung effortlessly with a wire and clips.
    Beth Zeigler
    Mar 15, 2011
    Scott & Jessica Merge Their Styles With Ease
    Name: Jessica & Scott O’BrienLocation: Robertson / Pico area — Los Angeles, CaliforniaSize: 750 square feetYears lived in: 3 years — rented From my own experience, moving in with your significant other can be tricky, especially if your decorating tastes are not aligned (we’re polar opposites). But what I absolutely loved about Scott and Jessica’s home is how they seamlessly managed to display one another’s interests through the decor.
    Beth Zeigler
    Oct 20, 2010
    10 File Boxes To Display
    A recent project has us working with a client, helping her set up a home office space. It’s the second level of a large loft where we’ve had to create storage spots for paper and office supplies. And while there are plenty of good looking file cabinets out there, we opted for a combo of open shelving and file boxes for housing paperwork. Portable and quite attractive, these file boxes are a great solution for when you really don’t need a two-drawer filing cabinet.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jul 29, 2010
    Prepping The Guest Room With A Luggage Stand
    After the big to-do we made prepping for our most recent guests, we failed to have a convenient spot for them to house their suitcases in the bedroom. We ended up having to create a make-shift spot on the vanity–but the location was less than desirable.For future house guests, we’re definitely going to pick up a luggage stand (or two). Not only do they fold up to save space, they make items in the suitcase super easy to access.1. Vintage Refugee (Etsy), Vintage Luggage Rack; $302.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jul 26, 2010
    Organizing and Storing Mementos
    Compared with the ease of organizing an office space, the task of processing and sorting mementos is actually a tough nut to crack. When working with clients, we frequently find that those hard-to-let-go personal trinkets are surprisingly hard to keep track of. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up our all-time favorite ways to keep cherished memories accounted for and accessible. We keep a hanging file folder in our file tote for items like cards and family photos.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jul 6, 2010
    4 Cleaners, 1 Success Story: Getting Tile Grout Clean
    When we moved into our apartment five short months ago, we hit the ground running with decorating our new digs. But lately, it seems we’ve been paying closer attention to the little things. Take for instance our bathroom floor (white tile which is classic and goes perfect with our decor). Unfortunately, the dirty grout is trumping our style.So we set out this weekend to attempt to clean it with supplies we already had on hand.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jun 29, 2010
    5 Favorite Wall Vases
    Instead of getting glass put back in our empty frame after it broke, we decided to just hang it on the wall. A friend of ours suggested hanging a wall vase (or two) inside the empty frame and we were happy for the advice. Having fresh flowers in the bedroom is a luxury–and we love that our cat can’t reach them.1. Pottery Barn, Simple Wall Mount Vase (Set of 2). We purchased these from Pottery Barn not less than a month ago and unfortunately they’re no longer available.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jun 17, 2010
    Curing Your Couch of Cat Scratch Fever
    Our old couch was in dire need of a pick-me-up. Torn to pieces in some places by our cats, we were finally in a place where we could afford to get it reupholstered. Our newest concern–keeping the pristine couch free from our cats clawing ways. Check out how we’re approaching it, after the jump. When we were in the first stages of picking out a fabric, we knew to swear off any type of tweed material.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jun 7, 2010
    Cameron & Matt’s Bright and Chic Modern
    Name: Cameron Saless & Matthew AllardLocation: West Hollywood, CaliforniaSize: 1,600 square feetYears lived in: One year We vividly remember the day when we were forwarded pics of Matt and Cameron’s home. We were in the midst of a frenzied loop of Facebook, GoFugYourself and Dlisted, when we immediately stopped what we were doing. Our eyes were drawn to the blend of beautiful modern pieces mixed with playful colors and a cozy touch that can’t be beat.
    Beth Zeigler
    May 26, 2010
    Annie’s Earthy Nest In Echo Park
    Name: Annie RocchioLocation: Echo ParkSize: 700 square feetYears lived in: 10 months We were thrilled to find out that Annie lived in our backyard of Echo Park (making this House Tour right around the corner). As we strolled up to her complex, we instantly felt like we were in Palm Springs, 1962. Thanks to the management company that owns Annie’s building, they overhauled it, taking it back in time (but in the best way possible).
    Beth Zeigler
    Apr 2, 2010
    6 DIY Kitchen Islands
    image:6de690eee0a337426e40abbd63054691d6b9b63c w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" We’ve said it before, the prep space in our kitchen is minimal to say the least. One of the first purchases we’re making this weekend will be a kitchen island which will make cooking time (if you can call it that) so much easier. And even though we’ve got our eye on this guy from Target, we also wanted to check out the DIY options out there.
    Beth Zeigler
    Mar 4, 2010
    Display Idea For Large Decorative Bowls
    We’ve previously shown our love for displaying large, decorative baskets in the bedroom. So we were stoked to find another way to display similar, oversized pieces. Just last week, we were taking pics for Paul and Tyra’s House Tour (coming tomorrow) and we noticed their unique display idea.An ordinary, round coffee table with a glass top gets a major upgrade with Tyra’s large circular patterned bowl in the center.
    Beth Zeigler
    Mar 2, 2010
    Quick Tip: When Disassembling IKEA Furniture
    In our preparation for the movers this upcoming weekend, we decided to go ahead and disassemble our two pieces of IKEA furniture. But we first needed to find the assembly instructions so we could work backwards. A quick sort through our “home file” uncovered the instructions to our kitchen table–but the how-to guide for our HEMNES bed was not to be found.Fortunately for us, IKEAFANS came to the rescue.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jan 29, 2010
    Renters: 7 Things To Do Before Moving Out
    Getting the deposit back after moving is something we always look forward to. To us, it’s kinda like “found money” and can be quite useful to balance out moving costs. Here are 7 things we do before moving out which helps ensure our deposit check is in the mail.Patch up holes Once you’ve taken your artwork down, remove nails and screws and patch with spackling paste. Don’t forget to sand each spot for a smooth wall that your landlord can easily paint over.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jan 19, 2010
    How To: Remove Privacy Film
    We spent the better part of the holiday season getting our apartment ready for a big move next month. The first item on our to-do–removing the privacy film from the bedroom windows. But before doing anything, we headed over to Home Depot to pick up the supplies for making this project a success.1. Steel Wool 2. Goo Gone3. Heavy Duty Scouring Pad4. Glass & Tile Scraper We spoke to a few folks at Home Depot and they all recommended Goo Gone and a glass scraper.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jan 4, 2010
    How To Make Homemade Drawer Organizers
    Drawer dividers aren’t a necessity for some folks but we love how they make undergarments and accessories a cinch to find. We have our favorite products from Container Store which sort and divide dresser drawers but after seeing Pia’s DIY solution—we’re thinking it’s a great alternative. Cardboard, a measuring tool and an X-Acto knife is all you’re going to need for this DIY. Measuring the correct height of each drawer will be key to getting the correct fit.
    Beth Zeigler
    Nov 17, 2009
    Making The Bed: Pillowcase Ends Facing Inside Or Out?
    Traveling back to LA last week from our road trip out of town, we took advantage of the hotel’s free newspaper service. We attempted the crossword puzzle, perused the business section and finally, read Dear Abby. In this particular article, a husband writes in wanting Abby to solve a debate between him and the wife. The couple is at odds with pillowcase end placement on their king size bed.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jul 29, 2009
    Cleaning Tip: Putting Things Back Where They Belong
    Lately, we’ve had a few visitors stop by our home and the comment we keep hearing over and over is “your house is so clean.” We’re always flattered by the observation because we don’t clean 24/7…Our maintenance plan is to always put things back where they belong. After we’re done working in an area, dishes go directly to the sink and papers get stashed in their appropriate spot on the desk.
    Beth Zeigler
    May 27, 2009
    House Tour: Dave and Shyla’s Eclectic Loft at The Brewery
    Name: Dave Lefner, artist and Shyla Marlin, actress and writer Location: The Brewery Art Colony in Downtown LASize: 2,000 sq. ft. Years lived in: 8 years >> We have to admit, when we walked into Dave and Shyla’s downtown pad, we felt like we were walking onto the set of “BIG”. The huge loft is a mixture of eclectic fun (and like their friends claim–we could have stayed all day looking at everything).
    Beth Zeigler
    May 8, 2009
    AT On… Organizing Reusable Bags In The Kitchen
    Recently, we found ourselves in the reusable grocery bag dilemma–too many bags and where to put them (not to mention figuring out a good way to remember bringing them with us to the store). Our tips and helpful hints after the jump! First, we needed to take an inventory of our reusable bags. Once you have all of the bags in front of you, count to see how many you have. We had somehow accumulated twenty reusable bags (way too many for our simple lifestyle).
    Beth Zeigler
    Mar 18, 2009
    Look!: Alexis’ DIY Spice Rack
    We were having girls night at our friend Alexis’ house last week when we spotted her DIY version of a spice rack. Her kitchen occupies quite a small space, not to mention her husband is a chef (meaning they have every spice and cooking utensil known to man). Since they were out of space but needed a handy spice rack, Alexis to matters into her own hands.Picking up a handful of drawer dividers from The Container Store, Alexis went to town.
    Beth Zeigler
    Mar 6, 2009
    Forgetting Items When You Leave The House?
    At a networking meeting yesterday, the speaker forgot their notes for the presentation she was about to give. We immediately felt the stress and anxiety they were feeling (in the past we’ve been known to forget a thing or two). We’ve come up with our own systems to keep us from experiencing another disaster after the jump. We recommend these nifty organizers to friends and clients. It’s the last place you’ll see before exiting the house (and a great reminder).
    Beth Zeigler
    Feb 19, 2009
    Small Space Design Tip: Use A Round Rug
    Round Printed Peacock Rug From Urban OutfittersWe’re always on the lookout for the best design tips (and even better if we can translate them to work in small spaces). So when we stumbled upon Traditional Home’s top 10 list of designer tips, we knew we had to take a closer look. Our favorite tip in action after the jump.Our favorite tip from Traditional Home’s Top 10 list is to use a round rug to open up a space.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jan 22, 2009
    Organizing Tip: Create Zones In Your Home
    Lack of space planning can cause any organizing endeavor to head south. Your space requires specific zones (which essentially means grouping items together that serve a particular purpose). We’ve got some tips on creating zones to keep your life organized after the jump. You’ll first want to track your habits when creating zones. If you always drop your laptop bag, keys and sunglasses at the same spot, figure out a way to make that area the incoming/outgoing zone.
    Beth Zeigler
    Jan 21, 2009
    How To: Find A Lost Object
    When we were growing up, a certain someone (we’ll call her “mom”) used to blame us on a consistent basis for losing her items. The truth is that she would usually find the particular misplaced item (which she had lost). While we may have been responsible for some of those items that went missing during our childhood (those times were few and far between). What is frustrating is losing items–period.
    Beth Zeigler
    Dec 5, 2008