The Design Collective Group, Inc.
  • Welcome Home
  • Who .
    • Contact Us.
  • In My Humble Opinion
  • What .
  • When .
  • Where .
  • Why .
  • How .
  • Portfolio .
    • Living Spaces
    • Kitchen Spaces
    • Bedroom Spaces
    • Bathroom Spaces
    • Club Design
    • Office Design
    • Other Spaces
    • Recents Spaces
  • Get This Guide
  • Providence Project
  • Condo Project
  • Monte Sereno Project
  • La Quinta Project
  • Rancho Mirage Project
  • An Artful Home Project
  • Testimonials + Awards
  • Client Access
  • mitchscott
  • Project Portfolio
  • thompsonhardesty
  • Alta Residence
  • Phillips
  • Bella Cara Way Residence
  • SilverSands
  • johnstevecabana
  • DunnCapitalFinal
  • NickbargCashen
  • 3D Renderings
  • Makie Residence
  • Sun City Palm Desert
  • 67 Canejo Circle Residence
  • Citrus Renovation
  • WardGade
  • M Bathroom @ Citrus Country Club
  • TrilogyCMCDesignConcepts
  • PCA-Interior Finishes
  • Ledesma Residence
  • Olivier MBath
  • Ritchie Great Room

Making Room For Clutter

4/26/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
Technology has impacted how we work, increasing our productivity, efficiency and ability to manage multiple objectives. When it comes to our homes, technology makes it easy to control our thermostat, monitor the home alarm system, and use our iPhone as a TV remote control.  Amazing, eh?

But with all the tech-stuff comes the challenge of keeping the the cords and the clutter they create under some measure of control.  You know... a place for everything and everything in its place. So here are five fresh ideas to help you do just that. 

Picture
• First Idea: 
Create a charging station within a drawer.  It takes a bit of doing but when you are remodeling a kitchen or adding a home office, this one is an easy one.  And while this works if you only have one iPhone and one iPad, there probably isn't enough electrical outlets to accommodate a family of phones and pads.  So think about making that outlet a plug strip.  That way you are less likely to run out of outlets. 

Picture
• Next Idea:
This one is amazing.  Imagine that your entire countertop in the kitchen or the bath has the ability to charge your smartphone.  Well, imagine no more because there are vendors making solid surface counter materials that can keep our cell phones charged up with out a cord.  Amazing, eh?
Imagine how good this would be if the top to your cocktail or end table had the same feature.  


Picture
• Third Idea:
We first saw the prototype of this about three years ago and knew that it would be just a matter of time before a standard outlet and USB charging port would be combined and in the marketplace.    No more fumbling around for a charging brick.. just plug that pad or phone using a standard USB cable.  Cost will vary but you can generally pick one of these up for about twenty bucks. Installation is easy.  Just remember to kill the power to that old outlet before replacing it with this new one other wise it might be you that gets the charge.   And certainly, a licensed electrician would be a wise investment, especially if you have several installed all thru the house.  

Picture
• Fourth Idea:
This is pretty low tech idea when it comes to other solutions but it works.  Take a series of those large spring-loaded paper-binder clips and mount them at the back or to the side of a desk or countertop.  Weave all those cords thru the "arms" and keep the cords dangling out of sight until you need them.  

Picture
• Fifth Idea:
Sometimes part of the clutter issues are really about not having sufficient places to plug our stuff into.  From Task Lighting comes this angled pug strip that can be easy customized for what ever you want.  Say that in a two foot length, you might want two 120v outlets and three USB outlets.  No problem.  And how about where to place it?  The track is angled and designed to fit under a countertop as in this picture or beneath the bottom of a wall mounted cabinet. 

1 Comment
David
4/29/2014 11:42:54 am

these are great ideas. thanks for sharing. enjoy your blog,

--D

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Michael A. Thomas, FASID interior designer in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ
    ................................................. • Michael A. Thomas, CAPS, FASID is a passionate interior designer that constantly examines the impact design has on the human experience.
    Michael is an award winning interior designer based in Palm Desert, CA. He is a  Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers and a member of the ASID College of Fellows.  

    As a Certified Aging In Place Specialist, he creates smart looking spaces that are safe and secure and create homes for a lifetime.

    And with thirty plus years in the profession, he has honed his humor, elevated his passion for design and sharpened his wit to not take anything too seriously except his design work. 
    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    February 2023
    November 2022
    May 2022
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    June 2019
    September 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    October 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2007

    Categories

    All
    Aging In Place
    Baby Boomers
    Case Study 101
    Design Trends
    Frank Lloyd Wright
    Interior Design
    Kitchen
    Remodeling
    Taliesin West

    RSS Feed

©1996 ~ 2023 The Design Collective Group, Inc. • All Rights Reserved •
​Voice: 760 - 322 - 3784  
 All Photos, Images + Text Are Copyrighted + Cannot Be Used Without First Obtaining Permission.  -- 2022.
  • Welcome Home
  • Who .
    • Contact Us.
  • In My Humble Opinion
  • What .
  • When .
  • Where .
  • Why .
  • How .
  • Portfolio .
    • Living Spaces
    • Kitchen Spaces
    • Bedroom Spaces
    • Bathroom Spaces
    • Club Design
    • Office Design
    • Other Spaces
    • Recents Spaces
  • Get This Guide
  • Providence Project
  • Condo Project
  • Monte Sereno Project
  • La Quinta Project
  • Rancho Mirage Project
  • An Artful Home Project
  • Testimonials + Awards
  • Client Access
  • mitchscott
  • Project Portfolio
  • thompsonhardesty
  • Alta Residence
  • Phillips
  • Bella Cara Way Residence
  • SilverSands
  • johnstevecabana
  • DunnCapitalFinal
  • NickbargCashen
  • 3D Renderings
  • Makie Residence
  • Sun City Palm Desert
  • 67 Canejo Circle Residence
  • Citrus Renovation
  • WardGade
  • M Bathroom @ Citrus Country Club
  • TrilogyCMCDesignConcepts
  • PCA-Interior Finishes
  • Ledesma Residence
  • Olivier MBath
  • Ritchie Great Room