Antiques in Manchester

Antiques in Manchester's first Saturday market, image via AIM's flickr.

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of visiting the first Antiques in Manchester (AIM) Saturday market. Antiques in Manchester is an upscale, open-air antique market co-sponsored by Micheal Sparks Design, Ghostprint Gallery and Maurice Beane Studios. From AIM's Facebook page, "Located in a covered walkway between period brick buildings, the venue has a distinctly European flavor. Exhibitors will be displaying a wide variety of quality goods including Mid-Century Modern, 18th and 19th century antiques, architectural elements, Art Deco, Primitives, etc." Each Saturday they will be open from 9 am to 4 pm under the covered walkway beside 205 Hull Street in Richmond's Manchester district.

I was excited to check out the market but honestly was skeptical about how affordable any of the items would be. I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of items and relative affordability of most of them. Furniture pieces ranged from $40 to $350, clothing items from $20 to $80, and small antiques were anywhere from $5 to $400. I imagine if you are a better haggler than me, you could probably talk some of these prices down too. There was something in practically every price range and some incredibly beautiful furniture pieces worth saving for. I will definitely be making a trip out there again soon.



Check out AIM's website and Facebook for previews of items they will have available each week.

Christie Thompson

Minimal Clutter. Maximal Life.

It's official! Minima LLC (aka Minima) is my new Professional Organizing business. I have gained a wealth of experience over the past two years contracting and training with some of the best organizers in town. Combined with 10+ years of space planning and design experience, I'm excited to bring a unique skill set to the organizing industry via Minima.

Why "Minima"? Lots of reasons! I consider myself a minimalist, but don't expect my clients to be. Minima is a softer, less threatening term than minimalist. No, I will not make you purge all of your cherished possessions! Minima is also a calculus term that references the smallest value on a function curve (P.S. - I LOVE calculus!). In organizing, I see minima as each client's desired point on the organization curve. It's a different place for everyone. Lastly, I enjoy the plurality of the word minima, also meaning "things that are minimal". Living simply isn't about one thing, such as your space. It's a holistic approach to life and I hope to spread my passion beyond a client's organized home or office.

I'll be taking new clients starting December 1, but feel free to get in touch before then. I am happy to give a free phone consultation. One of my specialities is resale. If you have a lot of stuff, I may be able to sell it for you to offset (or totally cover) the cost of organizing services. I'm happy to craft a service for just about any budget. An uncluttered life should be achievable by all!

Stay tuned for a website and official logo in the coming weeks. In the meantime, contact me at (804) 482-1554 or kziegler23@gmail.com.

Kristen Ziegler

Chop Suey Tuey

This past Friday, I helped one of my organizing clients go through her book collection. We sorted into three stacks:

1. Sell or donate
2. Keep
3. Unsure

Creating the "unsure" pile allowed the process to move fluidly, avoiding hang-ups on tough decisions (a little organizing trick called "shortcutting"). At the end of our sort, she had decided to sell/donate over half of her collection. As part of my service, I took the books over to Chop Suey in Carytown to see what we could sell. They bought about 3/4 of her collection for a grand total of $75! Definitely a nice chunk of change. The remainder of the books were donated to Diversity Thrift.

Chop Suey is a great place to buy or sell used books. The staff is super friendly and the multi-level store is merchandised in a very fun and colorful fashion. I spent about 20 minutes on Friday wandering the stacks and was amazed by the vast selection. Located in the heart of Carytown at 2913 W Cary St, Chop Suey should definitely be Richmond's first stop for book purchasing. I also love anything involving resale - much better for the environment to buy used instead of new!

Kristen Ziegler

New Dress a Day

The task: To make a new fashion piece a day - on a budget of a dollar a day - for an entire year.

Kristen Ziegler

Buy! Sell! Craigslist!

So I've developed a little side hobby/obsession of selling things for friends, family and clients on Craigslist. It's just one of the ways I help people get organized. Less clutter, more money. Definitely a win win in my book! Contact me at kziegler23@gmail.com if you'd like to work with me and we can discuss details. Currently on the docket:

Eastpak "Pinnacle" Backpack in Midnight - $15
Eames DCM Metal Frame - $50
Beatrix Potter Miniature Tea Set - $10
Custom-Built Desktop Computer Package - $300
Monster Super Sweep EB-006 Cordless Vacuum - BRAND NEW! - $15
Thane USA M H2O Steam Mop w/ Microfiber Pads - BRAND NEW! - $50
SteamFast SF-140 Steam Mop w/ Microfiber Cloths - BRAND NEW! - $50
HP Photosmart C4180 All-in-One Printer, Scanner, Copier - NEW IN BOX! - $100
IKEA Sultan Mansken Full Size Mattress - $50
HoMedics Back Pleaser Ultra - NEW IN BOX! - $40

Also, please hit me up if you're interested in purchasing any of the items listed!

Kristen Ziegler

Clothing Consignment

It's almost time to pack up summer clothing and pull out the fall cardigans, scarves, hats, boots... *Sigh*, I do love autumn fashion. With each seasonal change, I like to assess my wardrobe and decide which pieces will make the cut for another year. Going through my threads also allows me to see any fashion "gaps" so that I can spend money wisely filling in my wardrobe. For example - rather than purchasing 10 new ruffled blouses (which I am apt to do), maybe I instead invest in a pair of black skinny jeans or a nice waist belt to tie together some existing pieces.

In any case, whatever doesn't make the cut can either be donated or, better yet, consigned. I save consignment for "gently used" clothing, shoes and accessories and tend to donate my more "heavily loved" pieces to Diversity Thrift. Here is my top 3 list of women's clothing consignment shops in Richmond. Each shop has a different niche, so read below to find yours. FYI, fall clothing consignment typically begins in August and runs through October when they switch to winter.

Reduce. Reuse. ReStore.

(And of course, recycle.)

The Habitat for Humanity's Restore is a retail outlet that sells used and new building and home improvement supplies at substantially reduced prices. I made a trip over for the first time last week and was very impressed with their selection. Not only is it a great place to buy, it's also an excellent donation spot for items that may not otherwise find a good home - used paint, old plumbing fixtures, casework, etc. You can also find bathroom vanities, blinds, doors, light fixtures, sinks, toilets, trim, windows and screens, and a bazillion other building parts in the massive warehouse. If you are doing any sort of home renovation, a visit to ReStore is a must!

They have a small thrift store-like section with furniture as well. I saw some nicely priced pieces - a Mid-Century desk and dresser and a sweet farmhouse kitchen table caught my eye.

I love the ReStore's concept of recycling building materials via bargain resale to the public. It's a win win for sure! Check out the Richmond location at 1901 Roane St.

Kristen Ziegler

Calling All Architects and Designers!

Herman Miller is having a 70% off sale on their Eames molded plastic chair collection for qualifying A&D (Architecture & Design) firms. I have lusted after the iconic Eames Molded Plastic Rocker (RAR) for awhile now and just might use this opportunity to get one. I no longer work for an A&D firm, but I have friends whose orders I can piggyback on (wink wink). So basically, I would be getting this chair for $179 rather than $500-ish after tax.

The most important question is, which color? I have been obsessing all evening, and think I will get the "Greystone". I am not a woman of bold colors. My closet is filled with mostly white, grey and black. It's just who I am. The "Aqua Sky" is alluring, but I worry I would be making a lifelong commitment to that color which I'm not ready for. I like to keep my staple pieces neutral and mix in color via textiles and other accessories. Then when I get bored, I can change it up for cheap! That's my money saving design tip for the day. Over and out.

To get more information on the Herman Miller sale, contact your local representative. For Richmond, that would be Trip Vint with American Office @ (804) 673-8107. He's super nice and was actually the one who suggested piggybacking on a friend's order - very cool!

Kristen Ziegler

At Last!

I finally found the Mid-Century Modern table and chair set that I have been daydreaming about for over a year now! Even better - it was only $400 (with tax) for the whole set, which included 6 chairs and 3 leaves for expansion. The furniture is immaculate, which is rare for this period especially with larger pieces like this one. After selling my IKEA dining table and chairs this weekend for $150, my net is only $250. Not bad!

The place? Goodstuff Consignments in Forest Hill. Right now the entire store is marked down 40% - 50% to make room for new merchandise (hence my table/chair score). I enjoyed some solid conversation with the owner, Peter Burnet, about photography, art and design. The small store was impressively organized and the basswood crates he was using to display merchandise were great. The idea is so simple (which I love) and they had a really beautiful rhythm in repetition. He purchased the crates from the Mennonites at The Green Dragon in Lancaster, PA. IKEA has a similar product that I am a fan of - the IKEA PS Bintje. Surprisingly expensive for IKEA though.

Best of all, the entire table fit into my car (the chairs, admittedly, were a second trip). I'm telling you, EVERYTHING fits in my car. I once fit a full-sized mattress in there...

I am currently in the process of reupholstering the chairs and will post pictures once they are finished!

Kristen Ziegler

My MCM Obsession Continues

So I think I might have a mild hoarding issue...with Mid-Century furniture (especially chairs). Last year I helped a retired architect reach his goal of moving back home to Seattle. He had tried to move many times in the past, but his anxiety about paring down his Eames / Saarinen / MCM collection stopped him in his tracks every time. He literally had 15-20 Eames shell chairs strewn about in his attic (drool). Long story short, I helped him design a decision making process and he was finally able to move. But I can totally see myself with an attic full of Eames chairs 20 years from now. I just can't help it - the stuff is incredibly beautiful to me.

On that note, it's even more beautiful when it's cheap! I had a super lucky thrifting weekend. I found an authentic Eames DCM dining chair for $5 at Diversity Thrift - flawless condition. I am thinking with a price tag of $5, the manager had no idea what it was (the same chair sells for $250 on eBay). Also, I went to the Killer Junk yard sale on Saturday morning and picked up a super cool Mid-Century lounge chair for only $35. All it needed was a good scrub and it looks like new. For a grand total of $40 I have two new pieces I absolutely love! What makes me not a hoarder? I am selling my IKEA chairs that the new ones are replacing. In one, out one!

P.S. - I ran into John Cheski of Free Run Wine Merchants (previous post) at the Killer Junk yard sale. Richmond is a small world. Love it!

Kristen Ziegler

Three Steps to an Organized Moved

With the big spring/summer moving season right around the corner (and the tax credit!), you or someone you know is probably preparing for a transition in the near future. Moving can definitely be stressful, but planning ahead will help simplify and de-stress the process. By avoiding last minute panic, you can make it to that summer barbecue or pool party instead of staying in to pack. Follow these three simple steps and suggestions for a successful and organized move!

1. Make a Plan

Start by taking an hour or so to do a walk through of your home, making a list of general categories of items in each room. For example, "linens, craft supplies, toiletries, books, etc". Don't get overly detailed - keep things simple. After assessing your belongings, determine how far in advance you want to start the process. If you have a lot of free time and very little to pack, a few weeks should be plenty. Conversely, if you have a lot to pack and very little free time, starting two or more months in advance may be ideal. Next, assign a number to each category on your list based on how many days or weeks you have allotted for the project. For example, use numbers "1" through "5" for a five week schedule. Start with the number "1" for essential items that you will need right up until the move date - these are the items you will pack last. From there, assign numbers to your remaining categories based on frequency of use, packing items you rarely access first.

Craigslist

I love to purge and I used to donate everything without thinking twice. More recently, I have turned to selling my no longer wanted/needed items for extra cash. Craigslist is my favorite resource for this. I have literally made hundreds of dollars over the past few years. For me it's a double reward - I am simplifying my lifestyle and making money at the same time. Below are my five steps for a successful sale on Craigslist.

1. Getting Started

Once you have decided to sell something, it's a good idea to determine a staging area where you can store the item(s) until they are sold. By doing so, you can enjoy your newly simplified surroundings immediately rather than waiting until the sale occurs. I have a very small living space, so I use the trunk of my car as a staging area. The only items I keep in the apartment are large or extremely expensive pieces. Other options include a garage, basement or guest bedroom closet. If you are really cramped for space and the car trunk won't do, try designating a corner in one room for sale items. Consolidation is key.

Craigslist has categories. You will want to make sure to list your item under the correct category so that your posting reaches the appropriate audience. I have found that some categories sell extremely well on Craigslist, while others sell better elsewhere. There will always be some overlap, but below is my general advice on where to sell what. There are a few categories on Craigslist that I have not worked with yet. Feel free to share your tips if you don't see them in the list below.