Get Organized!!! No Time like the Present!

Hello Forgotten Shanghai Blog Followers!! We are pleased to present Annika Lindner, a professional organizer as our guest blogger! She has been organizing for almost four years and we are honored to have her as a lunch speaker next Wednesday November 17^th @ noon.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to becky@forgottenshanghai.com as space is limited! Follow this link for details…http://www.bizzy.com/pub/business/664564/communication/1842239

Annika Lindner is a professional organizer and interior design stylist for many Bay Area residents and businesses. She has helped clients organize, design, and style spaces. Most clients need help finding clutter-free systems that work for them. She looks forward to the challenges of small apartments in San Francisco that must be organized, functional and stylish.

All I want for Christmas is to give my mom the gift of a clutter-free home. My mom has been holding onto everything--from paperwork to baby clothing--for the past 30 years.

When I talk to my mom about why she saved all of these things, she said that since she never knew whether or not she would need one of the items later on, she just held onto everything. Over the years, she was a full-time mom, a graduate student, and a full-time worker. She could never find the time to go through her paperwork or prune her collection of our childhood books and clothes--she was constantly on the go.

Many of us are in the same situation. In these busy times, we all have jobs, kids, social lives, and errands that are more important than an organized home. Our things start to pile up, and while we tell ourselves that we will deal with it at some point, we usually never find the time. This is where the services of a professional organizer (like myself) can come in.

When I start with a new client, I like to find out how he or she goes about their daily life; for example, where are the mail, keys, or other small items kept? If there are children, is there a place for the kids' toys and artwork? There are many more questions I ask, and all of these help me create more functional systems for them. My clients find that once they get rid of the clutter and start to live in a more organized way, they can be more relaxed when they're at home. I can even help my clients feel as though their small San Francisco homes are more spacious.

In a new space, I will often start the client on whichever room they feel is the worst. Then we begin to deconstruct the room into individual, manageable, bite-sized sections. For many clients, when they look at their overall space, they have a tendency to feel overwhelmed -- when we break down the room into smaller chunks, and go drawer-by-drawer or shelf-by-shelf, the process becomes almost easy. And with each section, there is a small victory; the client begins to see their clutter disappear, and as more and more space becomes available, the process becomes easier and easier and the client more and more satisfied.

After their space or home has become completely clutter-free, I can then help to build systems to help keep them from collecting clutter again. Each system is designed with the client in mind. Sometimes, a system can be as easy as an in-and-out box on a desk, or a rack on the back of the front door for keys, coats, and purses. Other systems involve the client giving up their own time to go through their mail every Sunday at a specific time, or doing their laundry and hanging their dry cleaning.

I know this sounds great in practice, but does it actually work?

Well, try it yourself: pick the most over-crowded bookcase in your home, take the top shelf, and go item by item. Ask yourself if you really need the item, or are you holding onto it just because you don't know what else to do? You will almost certainly find that there are quite a few items that you don't really need or want, but it was just easier to leave them where they have been for months or even years. But it's perfectly okay to discard them, especially if the act of discarding can itself be a positive thing: as a courtesy to my clients, I will bring whatever items are appropriate to their local Goodwill free of charge after a session, helping them understand that their "stuff" can find new life and new value with someone else.

When I think about all the stuff my mom has collected over the years, I am happy to think about clearing it all out, and giving her a space that she will enjoy coming home to at the end of the day that is functional and clutter-free.

Overall, getting rid of clutter is easy. You may have to give up some time on a Sunday afternoon, or whenever it fits into your schedule, but tackling a small section each time will grow into a clutter-free home.

Hope to see you Wednesday!

-Annika

http://www.lifestyleorganization.com

The Altar Table

A signature and versatile piece is the Chinese Altar table. Traditionally they were used for the rituals that were a part of everyday spiritual life. Symbolic offerings were placed on the altars, to bring generosity, compassion, equanimity, concentration, wisdom and mindfulness to the devout.

Today in western homes they stand out in their simplistic beauty. From a TV console to a hall table they aren't just good looks.

Modern Design with a History

With modern design – clean is in, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice interesting and unique. One of the things that make a home special is the story it tells. A home can tell many stories, about its inhabitant's lifestyle, personality or places visited. It is a great medium to express one’s individuality-the place where you spend most of your time and entertain your friends and family. Modern design can really highlight your favorite heirloom pieces. The juxtaposition of the traditional and the modern can add depth and highlight the difference of each making both more special.

Chinese antique furniture blends amazingly well with modern aesthetic. It has a charm that can light up any space and yet the sophistication to balance the most pristine aesthetic. The master craftsmanship that goes into the construction and design of traditional Chinese furniture is what makes each piece able to last generations. There are no nails or screws needed as the joints are individually carved to fit into one another like wooden locks and keys. These pieces in turn exude warmth and tradition, quietly telling the story of their past. Their construction and clean and simple form have allowed these pieces to physically and aesthetically stand the test of time.

*Photos courtesy of China Living sold at Forgotten Shanghai.

Chinese Moon Festival

September 22^nd is the Chinese Moon Festival that celebrates the full moon and the end of harvest. This is a celebratory time of year as the crops have all been gathered and the heavy work in the fields is over. This is one of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture. Families gather on this special day when the moon is at its brightest and roundest of the entire year to enjoy moon gazing in the garden with mooncakes and pomelo slices.

Mooncakes are a Chinese Pastry filled with Lotus seed, red bean paste or golden salty yolks in the middle representing the full moon. We will be hosting a mooncake and tea tasting in our showroom on Wednesday, September 22 to get everyone inspired the nighttime event. You can find these delectable little cakes in almost any Chinese bakery at this time of the year.

Also take advantage of our Moon Festival Discount this month and get 20% off on any of our in-stock garden stools. We look forward to seeing you soon!!

To see our full selection of Garden Stools check this link to our website!!

http://forgottenshanghai.com/standbe.html

Sitting on Clouds

This month at Forgotten Shanghai we are celebrating the Chinese Moon Festival that falls on September 22^nd. In honor of this traditional outdoor gathering to watch the moon we are featuring our garden stools. Come in and buy them this month and receive 20% off your price when you mention the Moon Festival Discount.

Glazed Porcelain garden stools have been an integral feature of Chinese garden scenes since they first appeared in China in the 17th century. Garden stools are not only beautiful but functional indoors or outdoors when used for seating arrangements or tables. They are produced with intricate low relief symbolic carvings that add depth to any design. One of the most popular designs is the CLOUD pattern representing the heavens, good luck and everlasting fortune. The Chinese word for cloud is pronounced "yun", meaning luck or fortune. However you choose to incorporate the classic garden stools into your project, they are guaranteed to endure with the test of time.

To see our full selection of Garden Stools check this link to our website!!

http://forgottenshanghai.com/standbe.html

Interview with Margaret Currivan

Margaret Currivan, the owner of Forgotten Shanghai, has been collecting Asian antiques for over 10 years. She has traveled all over Asia to seek unique pieces to add to her showroom collection.

Q: What inspired you to bring Chinese antique furniture to San Francisco?

Margaret: I lived in Asia for two years and fell in love with Asian furniture craftsmanship. What amazed me the most was the details. Pieces are typically constructed with tongue and groove rarely using any nails, yet they can last for hundreds of years.

Q: The collection at Forgotten Shanghai is a mix and match of the old and new, how do you select what pieces to bring into Forgotten Shanghai?

Margaret: I just FOLLOW MY SENSES! I buy what I like, and luckily most people like them also. I visualize the pieces that I am interested in and see whether they fit into the collection. It's not all glamorous, many times I travel to dark and desolate warehouses to uncover real hidden gems.

Q: Do you have a favorite design or style?

Margaret: Hmm, that's a hard one. I have to say the designs from Shanxi province is one of my favorites. Shanxi designs are simple but exquisite at the same time. They have less extravagant engravings but more inlays of stone and porcelain which work well with Western styles.

Q: How do you ensure the authenticity of each piece you buy?

Margaret: Since I buy most of the pieces in their original condition, it is easier to discern their authenticity based on their existing materials, patina, joints, etc. Also, I always follow my intuition, usually you will sense if something is off.

Q: Any advice on how people can incorporate Asian designs into their space?

Margaret: Asian furniture is versatile with it's simplicity and style. Asian designs are TIMELESS, they can be incorporated into modern designs effortlessly. Accessories like silk is a great addition to any space. It can really soften up the hard edges of the furniture and bring texture to a design. Also, a blend of old and new style is what makes a well-balanced design.