Exclusive Behind the Scenes Peek of my New Book
An Insider's Look at the Making of Organized Living
Organizing Wisdom From Across the Globe
My new book Organized Living is just a few weeks away from publication, and I wanted to give you, my loyal insiders, an early sneak peek inside.
I wrote this book because, after nearly fifteen years in the industry as an organizing expert, I wanted to promote the belief that organizing can (and should) look different for everyone. If the widely popularized version of home organizing (rainbow color-coded pantries! plastic-bins for days!) isn’t your jam, there are soooo many other ways to organize.
To bring this concept to life, I traveled the world with my friend, and longtime collaborator, Vivian Johnson. We met twenty five different organizing experts, learned about their lives, toured their homes, and soaked up the techniques they implement in their own spaces. We met minimalists, maximalists, small-space dwellers, zero-wasters, nomads, and everything in between. Each expert house tour and interview provided fresh ideas and inspiration. I couldn’t write fast enough…
![The 300 Square Foot Vancouver Studio of Fiona Nurse](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc8552e5d-cbec-42a1-a28e-73ad67272eab_5342x8009.jpeg)
![The 300 Square Foot Vancouver Studio of Fiona Nurse](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52e87725-d126-409e-b369-aa44c6d28a1d_5255x7878.jpeg)
How I Selected the Featured Experts for the Book
Selecting the 25 experts who would be featured in the book was no small undertaking. I posted a global call for submissions on Instagram, asked colleagues for recommendations, conducted research online, and even enlisted one of my organizer friends, Tinka, who speaks multiple languages, to help me interview experts in other countries.
After reviewing hundreds of applications, I selected a diverse group of organizers who were kind enough to let me snoop around their homes and ask a lot of very personal questions: What’s in that box on top of the fridge? How many towels do you own? Can I peek inside your medicine cabinet? No question or space was off limits.
I’m still shocked (and deeply honored) that this collection of perfect strangers from all across the world were willing to invite us into their homes and let us peek under their beds and inside their medicine cabinets.
![Laura Cattano's Curated 300 Square Foot Brooklyn Studio](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F485cf999-f592-49e7-a44c-b7869a489081_5464x8192.jpeg)
![Laura Cattano's Curated 300 Square Foot Brooklyn Studio](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf152086-dd2c-461f-87db-ed92ba25799e_5464x8192.jpeg)
![Sachiko Kiyooka's Feng-Shui Inspired Home in Montreal](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc694001f-957a-47df-a0a1-1bf501296616_8192x5464.jpeg)
![Sachiko Kiyooka's Feng-Shui Inspired Home in Montreal](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dcdbe4c-9a65-4c8d-8ec7-8b089a22a615_5464x8192.jpeg)
Let There Be…Color!
While I personally prefer living in a minimal home with a neutral color palette, it was a real treat to include a range of organized homes that were layered, colorful, and full of art and personal objects. I was delighted and inspired by each and every one of them. Could neon art be in my future? Anything is possible.
![Tinka Markham Piper's Colorful Montreal Home](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb19eafc6-23d9-490d-8e4a-aa69635c9497_5395x8089.jpeg)
![Tinka Markham Piper's Colorful Montreal Home](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F25ee1242-5b44-4c12-b2bc-68ce4e258239_8192x5464.jpeg)
The Cover Story
Selecting a cover image for a collaborative book like this was no easy feat. We reviewed hundreds of photographs and narrowed them down to a limited selection which had to be approved by my publishing team. The decision was so difficult that we ended up with two different covers - one for the US and Canada, and one for Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. My London publishing team felt that the image on the bottom right was a better fit for their market and preferred aesthetic - which one is your favorite?
![The US Book Cover (L) and the UK Cover (R)](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F924dc9a1-c1d0-4e89-b40b-7088266a4d2c_1108x1406.png)
![The US Book Cover (L) and the UK Cover (R)](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb4cbf5a5-37e9-4bb9-96b0-9ad222b70471_2290x2760.png)
What goes into selecting a cover you might be asking? Here are the primary factors:
The cover should represent what reader’s will see inside the book. This was especially difficult since Organized Living features the homes of 25 different people all with their own styles.
The cover should have mass appeal - there were many images I loved but was told were too intimidating or unattainable or stark or minimalist or kid-focused like the selection below.
The cover image must work with the overall cover design which needs to include the book title, subheading, and author name.
Ultimately, I’m thrilled at where we landed and especially love the back of the book which featured images from multiple organized homes. Below: a few of my favorite images from the book that didn’t get selected for the cover.
![Alternate Cover Options and the Back of the Book](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F339c04e1-2268-47e9-96d1-eb3ff05905fb_1366x2048.jpeg)
![Alternate Cover Options and the Back of the Book](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff01122e7-6887-442a-a8c0-7a2970007ad3_926x1206.png)
![Alternate Cover Options and the Back of the Book](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc0dd8253-e39b-488e-a31a-a549cae9fc71_5464x8192.jpeg)
![Alternate Cover Options and the Back of the Book](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5e266f7a-9275-43be-ace9-256f9361f53d_2290x2760.png)
Photoshoots, Pastries, and Sooo Many Plane Flights
Producing a book that featured 25 people from 25 different cities required a tremendous amount of coordination. I interviewed each expert via Zoom in advance of their photoshoot, and we mapped out which areas of their home would be most engaging for the readers. Vivian and I batched our photoshoots by locations - our longest trip was two weeks in Europe, and our shortest was a ten minute drive to Oakland, California. We traveled from from the west coast to the east coast, from Vancouver to Montreal, into Mexico City, and across Western Europe. We packed in tiny carry-ons, hauled camera gear around, and crossed our fingers we wouldn’t get stuck in another country during the frequent international Covid-19 shutdowns (we didn’t).
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F32686617-bec0-4df1-b0fc-3a6a189721ae_3024x4032.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fea79b9d4-696d-425b-9c45-c62545afb092_3024x4032.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf216b4f-993e-429f-8a43-0f4a6b37e2d5.heic)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b8f9178-a0b8-4195-975e-38bc505df97a.heic)
We ate buttery croissants in Paris, Swedish meatballs in Stockholm, and poutine in Montreal. We stayed in beautiful hotels, as well as a few questionable (read: scary) roadside motels. We experienced every type of climate - from snow to rain to heat waves, and we learned so much from the people we met along the way.
The project was a massive collaborative effort, and I am forever grateful to all of the experts who welcomed us into their lives so we could share their very inspiring homes, tips, and stories with all of you.
I’m so proud of what we created, and can’t wait you all to be able to read it. Creating this book was truly the adventure of a lifetime, and I hope you love having it as much as I loved making it.
___
Pub day for Organized Living is right around the corner, and you can order a copy from your favorite bookseller right here.
If you’d like a signed, personalized copy, you can order through my favorite small independent bookshop, Mrs Dalloway’s right here. You can even order one as a gift and note in the comments exactly what you’d like me to write. Fun!
Photography Credit: Vivian Johnson