With over 15 years of experience in family and home management, Grace Sullivan, founder of Southern Grace Homes, finds joy and purpose in taking the extra stress off families' plates so they can focus on what matters. She serves clients in Belle Meade, Green Hills and Oak Hill, as well as anywhere in Nashville and the surrounding areas.
Belle Meade Lifestyle asked Grace how she got started in the organizing business. "I was a career nanny and worked with an agency here in Nashville. I worked for my last family for seven years and am still very close with them. The parents were dual Vanderbilt physicians, and I began to take over the daily homeowner projects they didn't have time for. Whether it was picking out a new dryer, finding a locksmith to fix the front door, or being there when the painter or the plumber came by – I began to see a real need for my business. I enjoy finding the right service, fixing problems and being the middleman between homeowners and service providers. The bottom line: when someone gets home at the end of the day, they want to enjoy that time with their family. My business allows them to do that."
Unsurprisingly, Grace's services are in high demand during the holiday season. "With the surge of online shopping, we do a lot of in-store pickups and at-home drop-offs. Christmas wrapping is a popular need as well. The last thing parents want to do is wrap presents after they get their kids in bed. Santa wrapping is a novelty service we love! As kids get older, they get smarter. Why does Santa use the same tags as Mom and Dad? We solve that problem with separate fun Santa wrapping and even use different handwriting for tags. That was a huge draw last year."
Families love creating community with friends and relatives far and wide through Christmas cards and photos, and the organization of that task is another popular holiday service Grace and her team offer. "We help families keep track with a shared Excel spreadsheet, edited and updated every year, keeping our clients up to date with name changes, moves and return addresses. At the end of the season, they can hand over their returned cards, and we will make any necessary changes. We can also handle envelope addressing, stamping, and mailing. It's that easy!
"In addition to wrapping and cards, holiday reorganization is a big need. We organize pantries, refrigerators and freezers to help clients reset before they host friends and family for the holidays," Grace continues. "For clients with children, clearing playrooms and bedrooms are often necessary tasks before Santa arrives. We help families throw away, donate or consign gently used toys. Donating is a great way to get kids in the Christmas spirit while helping those in need."
Once the holidays are over, returning homes to normal can be overwhelming. Grace has options to help clients with that as well. "From reorganizing gift wrap to taking down décor, we offer a wide variety of help. Closet organization, pantry resets, playroom organization and general home resets are popular services at the start of the year. We try to help bring a little peace after a chaotic holiday season."
Grace and her team offer services beyond the holiday season, benefiting families and homeowners year-round. "Basic home management is probably the biggest need. Families are busy. Whether clients work from home or go to an office, they don't have time to find a plumber, get multiple estimates, wait for a locksmith, meet up with a contractor, or even make phone calls to find a needed service." That's where Grace and her skills come in. "We have a list of vendors we trust and will give people multiple options and estimates so they can make the best decision for their household. Whether a small job or a large-scale project, we depend on our relationships to provide our clients with the best service possible."
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"I enjoy fixing problems. When someone gets home at the end of the day, they want to enjoy that time with their family. My business allows them to do that."
"In addition to wrapping and cards, holiday reorganization is a big need. We organize pantries, refrigerators and freezers to help clients reset before they host friends and family for the holidays."