Interview - Douglas Schwartz of Endurance House

I recently went into Endurance House to speak with Doug about bike organization for a client's garage, but I also learned a lot of cool things about what they do there. 

Why is the store called Endurance House?

We have 16 stores nationwide. While I did not come up with the name myself I love the name.  Endurance is about training longer and a House is a welcoming place for everyone. We focus on runners, tri-athletes, swimmers, bikers and walkers.

What is the process for people who want to try on shoes?

The process is called PMP, performance - mobility - profile. We give the client a pair of socks and minimalistic sneaker.  They then walk or run on our treadmill as we film a 15-second video.  After review, we can see their impact zones where they hit the treadmill and we get three pairs of ideal sneakers that will fit them. Finally, we redo the 15-second test process until we find the right sneaker.  The PMP evaluation is always FREE!

How are you involved in the community?

We try as much as we can.  We offer free Runs and Walks on Tuesday nights, a Wednesday night pub run, a Thursday night run, plus Thursday & Saturday bike rides. We support local charities and try to give as much as we can to our community.  We are happy to donate time or a product to your fundraising event, just let us know.

In terms of organization, bikes always present a challenge, what is new in the world of bike racks?

Our KUAT racks offer the latest in bike rack technology.  They are functional, easy to use and feature a lot of cool bells and whistles such as locks, bike stands, and easy quick release.  We also have an easy bike storage rack from Velo Grip that hangs bikes with Velcro and makes them easy to swivel in any storage area so nothing gets scratched, dented, damaged or broken.

If I am intimated by physical activities where should I start?

At Endurance House we cater to everyone from “your never haves to seasoned pros”. Our free walks, runs and bike rides are for all abilities and are conducted as NO DROP! So everyone stays together and no one is left behind.  We welcome anyone who is into a Healthy Active Lifestyle!

Product Review - HangerJack

Organizing products typically over promise and are often simply too good to be true. Keeping that in mind we also dislike anything that hangs on doors or sticks out.

However, HangerJack’s Gator rack is a welcome solution for awkward items. We see a lot of challenges in the laundry room, especially in the drying area. Since hanging items aren’t cleaned all the time the normal solution is usually temporary, the drying rack. Yet, the drying rack still needs to live somewhere when not in use and it is not a great shape for storage. The Gator mounts to the wall and extends only when needed. Holding up to 50 pounds the arm goes out 24 inches. They mention areas of use including garages and decks, but I feel the Gator offers an easy solution in the laundry room. We see a lot of small spaces like NYC apartments or condos without laundry rooms and anything that creates space quickly is a welcomed improvement especially if it is easy to use. At the end of the day if a product isn’t easy to use you won’t. As an aside, while I was writing this I just figured out while it is called the Gator.

Interview - Bethany Armstrong

Often people aren’t sure exactly what a Professional Organizer does sometimes they even confuse us with interior designers. Bethany Armstrong of Hue Designs helped us shed some light on the differences.

Most people may think they know what an interior designer does, what exactly do they do? Interior design has a wide scope that goes far beyond paint colors and throw pillows! It actually is rooted in a mood, feel, and emotion of a space. Combine that with technical aspects that are extremely important like balance, scale, flow and function, interior design is an art form that takes skill and patience.  Without one of these aspects falling into the perfect harmony, a room will feel off. Even worse, it won’t be functioning properly. It’s a discipline that involves listening to a client’s wants and needs then interpreting those artistically for the result that will accomplish those important goals within a budget. Last but not least, interior design involves working with various trades and sourcing materials in the best interest of the clients while providing excellent management of the overall project, time constraints, budget requirements, and installation issues.  And yes, sometimes there can be a bit of marriage counseling involved when there are different design aesthetics that need to come together for a happy mix that the family can enjoy!

For you, what does it mean to be an interior designer? For me, to be a designer is a humbling and important role. People invite me into their homes and lives to help them solve design dilemmas that will ultimately improve their environment. This isn’t something I take lightly. It’s an obligation to keep the client’s best interests at the forefront so the best quality products are installed by highly qualified tradespeople. There’s a tremendous trust that comes with being an interior designer because clients are looking to you for advice, education, guidance, and knowledge. I find that it’s extremely important to be upfront with my clients and manage expectations throughout the entire process. It’s inevitable there will be hiccups along the way in a renovation project but I always communicate options that are available. I also work with an amazing team of experts and professionals in various areas.

What project or projects have you worked on that was the most fun? That’s a tough one! Every project is fun because I get the opportunity to work with great people bringing beauty into their lives in ways they weren’t expecting. Yes, everyone can buy furniture but my value comes from kicking it up a notch! Every project should be unique and truly tailored to the client. Fun for me is hearing, “wow I didn’t know I was going to like that!” It’s important to let your designer expose you to new ideas you might not have been open to previously. It just might surprise you what transforms when you come out of your comfort zone a bit!  

If clients ever have a vision that may not make sense in the real world, how do you steer them back on track? I’m a huge believer in being upfront and honest even if it’s not the news that’s easy to give. My promise to my clients is that I will always keep your best interest at heart so if I tell them something isn’t going to work it’s for a reason that I will explain. I will give options and provide information for decisions. There are times where I will take a version of the client’s vision to adapt it into a workable solution whenever possible. That’s a challenge I enjoy!

Is it hard to keep up with changing styles or are some looks timeless? With social media, it’s definitely easier to see more of what’s happening in design worldwide but it can be overwhelming. I find you can never go wrong with a strong foundation rooted in good design and layer that with styles that might be trendy. Those layers are accents that can easily be transitioned out when tastes change but the overall design concept remains. It’s hard to resist what’s trending at times but if it’s the only aspect that’s holding up the design, it will look out of date quite fast. My design style is one that is inspired by the client’s needs and then layered for added interest.

Check out the Hue Designs Instagram feed.

Is it Hot in Here?

Things that should not be stored in a hot attic

Clients often ask us, when we begin our ascent to the attic if it is okay to put things up there. Typically, most items fair fine in the attic, but there are a few categories that should not be put in a hot attic.

Pictures

One thing we see a lot with clients is film and photos. Heat and humidity can ruin the film and also can make pictures stick together. They don't need to be in the deep freeze, but somewhere climate controlled with no moisture. VHS & Cassette tapes don’t fair well over time either consider having them digitally converted.

Meltable

Candles and certain makeups like lipstick can melt for obvious reasons and should be stored in a cool area of the home. Additionally, some people feel that perfume and cologne last longer when kept cool or even in the fridge.

Stickies

Office supplies like envelopes and stamps will seal themselves shut in warm temperatures and best stored in cool place. Also, heat makes the fluid in batteries deplete and they should be kept cool, again some people even put them in the fridge.

Forget the Heat

Mice and water can also be issues in an attic. Storing items in cardboard boxes can lead to trouble. Plastic bins are not waterproof but should survive a burst pipe or leak. Remember the bigger the bin the bigger the headache since someone needs to carry it up and down. Try a medium bin that can easily be carried up and down by one person.