I’m Helen, Christchurch born and educated. My maternal grandmother travelled the world in her 60s and I must have caught the bug as I have travelled the world too since I was 19, but keep being drawn back to Christchurch. I still remember the day I walked into a friend’s new apartment in London to find it was fully furnished from IKEA – I was mesmerised! Living in London taught me about living with less – moving flats via the underground allowed for a backpack and suitcase maximum!
I grew up with clutter and disorganisation. While the general overview of the home was tidy and clean (we had a cleaner), cupboards, wardrobes, and under the bed told a different story. My parents believed everything needed to be kept as it would have a use, one day. When the day came, the item either couldn’t be located or was to be saved for another more important day. I didn’t learn how to be organised, or how to sort or store items.
I tried in my own way when I left home but was never really satisfied with my results and in hindsight had not moved on from my ingrained and learned behaviours around belongings and space.
My true revelation occurred in 2006 while in the USA on a business trip with my husband. I found a book on Organising and Decluttering and I was hooked. I learned that Professional Organising was a career and I knew this was what I wanted to do. Then Marie Kondo burst on to the world stage and enlightened us all.
I was a convert. I read extensively on decluttering and organising. I put what I read into practice first in my own home and then in the homes of friends and family. I constantly tried new ways and ideas. I helped friends and family with their clutter and disorder and they kept saying – you are so good at this – you should turn it into a business. The result: Neat Spaces officially became a business 3 years ago.
I’m passionate about organising and decluttering. Folding and storage. Systems to make life easier and more enjoyable. Removing what is holding you back and keeping what brings you happiness.
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What People Say
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Walt Disney
In my tidying lessons,… I fire off questions “When do you need this?”, “How long have you had it?”, How often do you go back and look at it?”
Marie Kondo
I focus on one of the simplest, quickest, and inexpensive ways to create space, get organized, and save time: folding.
Janelle Cohan
Neat Spaces 