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Archives for December 2018

colour+ trends

Decorating with Coral—Have Fun with Pantone’s Colour of the Year

coral, grey, and gold at the Interior Designers Institute of BC’s booth (by Cutler Design) at the Vancouver Interior Design Show in 2017
coral, grey, and gold at the Interior Designers Institute of BC’s booth (by Cutler Design) at the Vancouver Interior Design Show in 2017

Inside: Decorating with coral in 2019.

My grandmother Mildred could rock coral.

Growing up in the 70s, her style fascinated me. Her outfits couldn’t have been more different than the hippie togs sported by my parents’ artsy crowd.

So when we visited my grandparents every summer, I would study her look.

She was always impeccably groomed with flattering makeup and a ‘do. Her quality clothing was well tailored. She wore lots of light-coloured neutrals, and never black. But she wasn’t afraid of colour. I remember coral jewelry, coral lipstick, a jaunty coral scarf.

Many decades have passed since then, and coral is due for a serious comeback.

Desert Coral and Vintage Coral Behr paint colours (drawing by Uma Kesting)

2019 is coral’s year

Pantone has declared Living Coral the Colour of the Year for 2019.

I think we can agree that Ultra Violet didn’t make the expected impact in 2018. Coral will be different. I expect to see lots of it in fashion, media, and home décor.

This is what Pantone has to say about Living Coral:

Vibrant, yet mellow [coral] embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.

In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of [coral] welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, [coral] embodies our desire for playful expression.

Representing the fusion of modern life, [coral] is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media.

hanging crib with pillows with coral walls
coral plays nicely with blonde floors and Finnish graphic and folkloric designs | Johanna Gullichsen pillows with the woolen Bombroo rug designed by Klaus Haapaniemi at Tikau

I find it fascinating that Pantone’s colour choice for 2019 offers us warmth, stimulation, and comfort. These were also prominent themes in the Finnish design trend showcase that I recently posted about.

So let’s talk about coral in the home. As a warm accent colour, it has a lot going for it. It’s less aggressive than red, less sugary than pink, and less garish than orange.

coral shiplap feels breezy with green lawn chairs, a rattan settee, floral curtains, and a tile floor | home of a tobacco farmer in Cuba
coral walls in breezeway
more Cuban style: coral shiplap, rattan and white chairs, floral curtains, and the sweet string light draped over a mirror

Decorating with coral in your home

I pulled together a Pinterest board for you, with lots of coral interior inspo. Check it out and remember to follow me on Pinterest!

pinterest board

Some of the fun ways that designers are using coral as an accent:

  • paint a wall, a door, or a baseboard
  • transform a table or chairs with coral paint
  • add some coral cushions
  • go all out with a printed or solid coral sofa
  • add some art featuring coral
  • use coral patterned fabrics for curtains, tablecloths, upholstery, or bed linens

More reading about Living Coral

Although there are some amazing rooms bathed in coral, most interior experts are recommending small doses of the colour:

  • Domino shared some great tips on decorating with coral
  • Apartment Therapy got designers’ takes on the new colour of the year

I’m looking for a way to add some coral to my home. I’m thinking some form of block printed fabric? Or maybe something more restrained that my grandmother would approve of.

What about you? Does your home need a pop of coral? Tell me in the comments!

December 30, 2018 / Leave a Comment

decluttering+ organization

Had Enough of Paper Clutter? This Is the Best System

paper clutter in basket
Find your zen when it comes to paper.

Inside: Conquer paper clutter and go paperless in your home.

I poked at the piles of paper in the fire, willing them to burn. Only a few reluctant flames appeared within the choking grey smoke.

After a marathon sorting session, I had packed a box full of paper clutter to get rid of. My genius idea was to burn it in the campfire on a family vacation. I pictured a raging inferno, but my plan failed. Surprisingly, piles of paper do not burn well.

Paper clutter happens

Oh, paper clutter. Documents. File folders. Reports. Brochures. Manuals. As a mom—and a professional biologist who works from home—I’ve had to deal with my share.

There’s the constant influx of mail, school notices, and children’s art. I had a behemoth of a four-drawer filing cabinet full of old business and personal files. Boxes held memorabilia and kids’ scribbles. And there were the piles that “needed sorting”.

In our small home, paper was taking up a surprising amount of real estate.

But even a small stack of paper can be overwhelming.

Should I sign my son up for this basketball program? Oh right—I have to review this insurance policy. Awww, here’s the card that my daughter made me. I thought I already filed these receipts for taxes! Hmm, will I need this later?

Handling papers can be exhausting. It seems like every piece of paper needs a decision. Did you know we make poorer quality decisions when we make too many? Decision fatigue is a thing.

But I was determined to power my way through the paper in our home.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Fujitsu ScanSnap, tool for dealing with paper clutter
My ScanSnap is an indispensable tool for taming paper clutter.

The perfect paper decluttering system

I finally figured out a paper decluttering system that:

  • saves space in our small home
  • is quick, with few steps
  • avoids the dreaded decision fatigue
  • lets me find documents effortlessly
  • ensures my documents are safe
  • allows me to tackle a small pile of paper, or much more.

This is how it works.

Every tool you’ll need to conquer paper clutter


Here’s a list of supplies you’ll need for this system.

  1. Inbox: I use a simple basket from IKEA that can sit on a shelf. Papers get tossed in there until I have time to process them.
  2. Fast duplex document scanner: I love the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. And I hardly ever love electronic devices, so that’s saying a lot. Scanning of documents is fast and effortless. Put up to 50 sheets in the scanner, press a button, and the document is saved as a PDF on my laptop. The ScanSnap is definitely a splurge, but it’s earned its keep.
  3. Computer: I use my laptop for everything. Working on professional contracts, following recipes in the kitchen, and blogging. My tech-savvy husband picked the HP Spectre for me and I couldn’t be more pleased with it. The specifications are beyond what I need. It also stands up well to my multitasking lifestyle. The touchscreen and metal body are sturdy and wipe-able. With sleek lines and rose gold accents, it never looks out of place.
  4. Paper shredder: You’ll need an eight-page (or more) paper shredder (this one is similar to ours). Don’t be tempted to buy one that is tiny or only shreds one sheet at a time.
  5. Online cloud backup: I use IDrive for daily automatic backups of my laptop files. This is a must. Anything can happen to a laptop—damage, theft, or malware. No matter what, I still have an up-to-date backup of all my digital files in the cloud.
  6. Small file box: The one I’m using isn’t fire-proof, but I’m planning to upgrade to this one.
  7. Art portfolio: You’ll need one for each member of the family. They are perfect for art and large format memorabilia (this one is similar to ours).
  8. Photo boxes: You’ll want boxes for storing loose photos and small memorabilia. These ones are acid-free and simple.
  9. To do list: Google Keep is simple and it syncs between my phone and laptop.
  10. Calendar: Google Calendar has worked for me for years. My multiple calendars—some shared—are always available on my phone and laptop.
  11. Notebook: I couldn’t resist the Leuchtturm1917 notebook with dotted pages
  12. Staple remover: Mine is similar to these ones.

Start organizing paper clutter

1. Set up cloud backup

This step is essential. Set up an online cloud system that backs up your computer files on a daily basis. Your digital files will be safe—even if your computer is lost, damaged, stolen, or corrupted. I’ve been happy with the cost and reliability of IDrive for years.

screenshot of IDrive online cloud backup software
IDrive—the online backup system I use and recommend

2. Create a workspace

Set up a temporary or permanent workspace for dealing with paper. The dining room table does the job for me.

  1. Sit with your computer, Scansnap, and staple remover on your work surface.
  2. Pick a pile of papers or files (don’t worry about whether they are sorted or not).
  3. Have the shredder and recycling/waste bins handy.
  4. Have the ScanSnap set up to scan documents in duplex mode, with the one-button “save to PDF function”. Select the default folder to scan to.

3. Paper organizing workflow

Take one piece of paper or document at a time. Handle each one according to its category:

  • papers that need to be scanned
    • this is the default category unless the ones below apply
    • instead of deciding whether to scan something—just scan it! (it’s faster and less stressful)
    • for multi-page documents: remove bindings or staples, then scan up to 50 pages at a time—they will be saved as a single PDF file
    • combine multiple 50-page PDFs into a single PDF if you have a long document to scan
    • if you know you’ll need the document in the future: immediately move the digital document into the correct folder on your computer as soon as you scan it (e.g. tax receipts, reference documents, etc.)
    • if you don’t know if you’ll need the document in the future: save time and leave the digital document in the default folder on your computer (you can always find it there later)
    • check with your tax jurisdiction to determine if you need to keep hard copies of tax receipts (digital is fine in my jurisdiction)
    • shred or recycle as you go (when you’re 100% sure your scanning and backup systems are working!)
  • manuals
    • download the online version (if available) and recycle the hardcopy one
  • papers that are definitely not needed
    • shred or recycle
  • papers associated with events
    • enter the event into the calendar
    • scan only if needed, otherwise, shred/recycle
  • papers associated with tasks that need to be done
    • enter the item into a to-do list like Google Keep, your bullet journal, or whatever system you use
    • scan only if needed, otherwise, shred/recycle
  • papers that must be kept in hardcopy
    • few papers fall in this category
    • keep hard copies of papers like diplomas, deeds, identity documents, legal papers, etc.
    • scan (so you have a copy on your computer), then store in the small fireproof file box
  • large format artwork or memorabilia
    • file these in an art portfolio (one for each person)
    • we’re just putting these aside here—don’t overthink this
    • evaluate and purge these as a separate project
  • photos and small memorabilia
    • file in photo boxes
    • we’re just putting these aside here—don’t overthink this
    • photo organization should be a separate project

4. Maintenance

Keep a paper inbox handy—mine is in a central area in the kitchen. I put mail, school notices, and all incoming paper there.

Carry out the paper organization workflow frequently.

Control the proliferation of paper:

  • avoid using sticky notes or bits of paper to record lists, tasks, or calendar items
  • develop a calendar habit (wall calendar or digital)
  • use digital reminders as necessary
  • use a to-do list system to keep track of tasks
  • if you like paper for writing down notes, lists, etc., use a notebook to keep things in one place
  • bullet journaling is a great notebook system to try
  • if you love sticky notes, consider putting them in your notebook

My paperless home

Many years have passed since the campfire incident. I no longer struggle to wrestle files into overstuffed drawers.

Today, our home is mostly paperless and we enjoy the space savings.

My 24 years of archived professional files live on my laptop. Tax and household files are digital. Hardcopy papers live in a small file box in a closet. Photos and precious kids’ artworks are set aside for safekeeping.

I’ve found it easier to keep personal, family, household, and business documents organized on my computer. I can easily find things in their folders. And—unlike a filing cabinet—there’s always the search function.

Over to you

Do you have any questions about going paperless? Please let me know in the comments.

December 12, 2018 / 4 Comments

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