Seriatim's team of expert organizers can solve even the most challenging organizing quandaries. If you are facing an organizing challenge, feel free to Ask the Expert! Here are recent questions asked of our experts:

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Q. Between entertaining our large family for Thanksgiving and hosting Christmas celebrations for our extended family who will be in from out of town, our home ends up a wreck every year. How can we stay organized from the start this holiday season?

- Kathryn L. and Adam H., Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

A. The holiday season is a special time to be with friends and family. You will make the most of it by starting to organize and prepare early, leaving more time to enjoy your grandmother's stories over her homemade stuffing and decorate the tree with nieces and nephews. Create a schedule now noting important dates such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Visualize the amount of time between today and the holiday and break up your tasks over the course of time allotted so as not to get overwhelmed.

Remember you will want time to relax and enjoy the holidays! For Thanksgiving, allow yourself time to gather all of your cooking supplies including tupperware (rectangular is better than round because it takes up less room in the fridge) and labels (mark the date you put an item in the fridge or freezer) as well as boxes intended for organizing ornaments and wrapping paper.

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Q. "My husband and I have relocated from Los Angeles to Manhattan and had to consolidate the belongings of our three bedroom home to fit into our one bedroom co-op. We are having tremendous difficulties managing time and sorting through our belongings, getting everything in order, and maximizing the space so our apartment doesn't look cluttered. Do you have advice for us?"

- Emily M. and Jonathan M., New York, NY



A.Consolidating a household can be an overwhelming burden made only more challenging by the limited time available to working professionals. I would suggest a tip that New York City's urban planners have learned from: maximize your vertical space. Many pre-war cooperative apartments have gorgeous 14' ceilings. Seriatim can design and install simple shelving solutions which maximize your storage space, making the space feel organized and decluttered without drawing too much attention.

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