Interview - Craft and Sprout

At House to Home Organizing some of our clients have expressed a desire to live a more minimal lifestyle. What could be more minimal than a tiny home? We spoke with Ken Pond of Craft & Sprout to learn more about the tiny home philosophy.

For the busy person, what is the best way to describe Craft & Sprout?

Our company, Craft & Sprout, builds tiny houses on wheels. In our area, Fairfield County, they have been primarily used as accessory structures, pool house, in-law cottage, office, and man/woman cave. We also build them for people to live in full time.

What is the company's origin story?

Our tiny home company was born from my construction background, owning a remodeling company for 20 years in CT, and Tori’s design background, working with our clients in residential remodeling over the last 8 years. The “Craft” part is due to the fact that our houses are handcrafted, and the “Sprout” part is a nod to our four sons, aging 10, 7, 5 and 1.

Can you explain how the trailer works?

Our houses are built on custom made trailers specifically designed for Tiny homes. They never come off the wheels. This keeps us in the RV/Camper world and not in the world of building permits. Every township has different laws regarding what can be placed on the property. Since these are not a permanent structure they do not fall into any building code guidelines. 

What are some things that people assume about tiny houses, but are wrong?

Regarding misconceptions of tiny houses, the actual size of the space is foremost. Until you come into a Tiny house and realize, hey I could do this, you just don’t know how they feel. Tiny houses are custom from the wheels up, which is one of the best reasons to build. The client is literally involved in every aspect of a build. Tiny homes are are built to travel well. Our model has over 6000 miles on it and by the end of the summer of 2018 will have another 4000.

Every house you build is different, can you discuss some of the more interesting designs you have done?

Our model has a Nantucket Beach House feel to it. We really enjoy the coastal vibe we put into this build, our model is also our pool house when it’s at home in Greenwich. We just delivered a 32’ goose-neck or "fifth wheel type" Tiny home to Burlington, VT that will be featured on HGTV this summer. That particular build had some really great amenities like a fold up desk that converts into a dining table, a dishwasher, washer/dryer combination unit and a lot of room. The cedar siding we used gave it a really classic Vermont fell as well. The ingenuity and creativity is what drivers us to keep pushing the limits for storage, minimalistic living and just plain old fun. For the most part everyone that comes into a tiny house smiles. What’s better than that.

Interview - Libby

Many of our clients love books. And when people love books they tend to have a lot them. We spoke with Adam at Libby about solutions to free up space in your home.

For the busy person, what is Libby?

Libby is a reading app that provides access to thousands of eBooks and audio-books for free through your public library. It works with 95% of U.S. public libraries and enables you to borrow books from any library you have a card for right on your phone or device anytime, anywhere.

What types of media can I borrow?

eBooks, audio-books, and (coming at the end of June) magazines.

What devices are supported?

Any internet connected device works with Libby including apple and android products. Libby is also the only digital library lending app that is compatible with Kindle.

What do I need to use Libby?

Libby is the perfect app for anyone interested in finding ways to read more in their life. You can borrow audio-books to enjoy in traffic, while doing chores or walking the dog. You can enjoy an eBook on the train or while relaxing in bed. Libby connects you to countless books and stories even if you can’t get to the library and you never have to worry about late fees or losing the books. You’ll find everything from bestsellers and classics to nonfiction, children’s books, romance, self-improvement and so much more.

What are some of your favorite books?

I will read anything by Neil Gaiman and I also love modern fairy tales like Uprooted by Naomi Novik. The last collection of short stories by Denis Johnson, The Largesse of the Sea is a beautiful reflection on the different lives we all lead and I adore N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Fantasy series.

You can learn more about Libby and download the app by visiting meet.libbyapp.com or by searching for it in your app store.

Time to De-clutter

Life is stressful. We are all constantly juggling many tasks. Children, aging parents, work, financial commitments, exercise and healthy eating, to name a few. Trying to manage it all effectively and keep your living spaces organized can be daunting. After a long busy day the last thing most people want to do is come home and clean and organize their home. Usually we want to put up our feet and just relax. However, letting things slide for a long time is not great. Clutter can pile up quickly. Once it gets out of control it takes longer to fix, and time is something none of us have to spare.

Here are some signs that you may need to start de-cluttering:

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Anxiety

Coming home makes you anxious. When you enter your home you should feel calm and stress-free. If it feels more like a junk yard and less like a peaceful relaxing environment it is time to take charge.

Unpacking

You still have boxes from a previous move that have not  been unpacked. You meant to unpack them 5 years ago but never had the time. Now you may be moving again and wish you could remember what was in them. Keepsakes? Photo’s? A box of half-full cereal or canned food? (gross).

Lost

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You can never find what you are looking for. Whether it be a battery, clean underwear, headphones or earbuds, chargers, car keys, you should be able to find things with ease. When one can’t find something they tend to buy it over and over again. At House to Home Organizing we go into living spaces which often have a multitude of items like batteries, tape, wrapping paper, and pens. Over buying is usually due to people not being able to find what they already own.

Socializing

Friends prefer you to come to their house or meet at a restaurant. Spaces that are filled with clutter are uncomfortable to relax in. You may have gotten used to the clutter, but other people are uncomfortable. Having a clean and organized living and entertaining area will help your friends and family relax and have fun.

Need help? Contact a professional organizer. Professional organizers are trained to help people de-clutter without stress. Organizing properly takes time. A professional organizer can help you organize quickly and efficiently, so you will have more time to spend with the people in your life that you love. Additionally, you will be able to find what you are looking for and relax with friends in your clutter free space.

Interview - Toss 21

At House to Home Organizing, we often see the same items in our clients homes. The same disposable items. We encourage our clients to seek out quality (possibly local) items that will be used more than once. We spoke with Andrew from Durham, CT's Toss 21 Cornhole game system to learn about something new. 

For the busy person, what is Toss 21?

Toss21 is a fully engaging digital gaming system. This means that you physically play a game but at the same time can control the content and atmosphere of the gaming platform. This means you get to watch live TV, connect and play live with friends and family in different parts of the country, change lighting and display settings. You can play a game in total darkness and experience a fully immersible experience that has yet to be done - (glow bags, led board and TV display).

What is your origin story, how did Toss 21 get started?

Toss21 was started when I had first-hand experience of people struggling to keep score, remember the score and not be able to play the game successfully at night (lack of sunlight). So, I thought why not make all those issues a thing of the past and give people a way to hang out and socialize by combining led lighting, a digital display, internet connection and sensors to score into a single unit. All the problems that were expressed and that I encountered were now taken care of. 

Does the game work outside?

The Toss21 gaming system works outdoors and indoors. It has the ability to be powered by battery, battery with solar panel  or into an electrical outlet. This allows the system to be portable and usable pretty much anywhere. The system is also weather resistant. This means that spilled drinks or quick rain/snow showers are of no threat to the board or its functionality.

What are the age requirements?

Age requirements are from 3 years old to 100 years old. And I have already had players of both those ages. The system is child proof, adult proof and even environment proof. The system is built to withstand a grown adult stepping on it, which means that kids jumping and sliding down the board cause no issue.

For those who are not tech savvy can they still play?

If someone can turn on a TV and use a remote they are good to go. The system is made for ease of use. Its about playing and socializing first, so we made the platform extremely user friendly. This doesn’t mean that you can’t go crazy and really utilize all of the features, we had the abilities and desires of tech savvy people in mind as well.