Digging through cabinets and drawers. Sifting through cluttered pantries. Rebuying items not found only to locate them later. Human possessions have a way of getting cluttered in people's physical spaces, causing mental clutter that takes time and energy from happiness. Luckily, there are ways to sort out those developments and turn them into more functional spaces. Brentwood Lifestyle asked Kemble Land, owner of Simply Contained Nashville, about how her detail-oriented, Brentwood-based organizational company helps others create peace with their possessions.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO PROFESSIONAL HOME ORGANIZATION?
"After spending over a decade working as an executive assistant for top executives at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, and at a Record Label in Nashville, I decided that when my long-time boss retired, I’d make a career switch. I thought about getting back into museum studies, but I chose instead to trade organizing people’s work and travel schedules for organizing their homes."
HOW DO YOU DECIDE THE BEST WAY TO SERVE A CLIENT'S HOME ORGANIZING NEEDS?
"I think it’s so important that if I’m entering someone’s most intimate space, their home, I take the time to get to know them. Clients and I will talk about what their day looks like, what the traffic patterns of their homes are, and where their problem areas are. Organizing isn’t about pretty containers, although if pretty is what they want, we’ll make it happen. Instead, it’s about finding solutions that fit their needs and lifestyle— what works with their priorities. We love finding realistic, functional, and appropriate solutions that match our clients’ personalities."
WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
"I love it all, but two parts of my job make me come alive as a professional organizer. I’ve always been a puzzle lover, and I enjoy the challenge of problem-solving. I enter each job like working on a puzzle, figuring out how to put the organization pieces together for a beautiful and purposeful result. I admit I lay awake sometimes thinking about the best solutions for a project. Another part of my work that fulfills me is the big reveal day. Seeing someone’s mouth drop and then watching a wide smile and a sigh of relief come over them is priceless. When I see my clients’ reactions, it affirms that my business is adding value to people’s lives, and that makes me feel good."
WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
"We're a full-service professional organization company offering a variety of services. Some clients contact us because they want to set up a new home correctly from the start. Others would like to reclaim or repurpose a home space. We organize small areas like pantries, linen closets, and larger spaces like offices, hobby rooms, and whole houses. Organizing those small home areas can make a big impact in our clients’ daily lives and often motivate them to tackle the bigger projects they have. We also help people declutter and release items that no longer hold value and donate those items that might serve another with our complimentary donation drop-off services."
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT THOSE THINKING ABOUT ORGANIZING THEIR HOME TO KNOW ABOUT SIMPLY CONTAINED?
"I would love for them to know I feel so grateful to do work I love. There is no judgment or job that surprises us. We’ve seen it all, and we’re also here for it all. Then, when the job is done, we’ll ensure our client feels educated and confident to maintain their organization. If a client needs us again, we’re just a call or an email away. It’s our goal to help people create welcoming spaces that help them live and breathe easier."
Simply Contained is a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals. Services include home organization, new home setup, maintenance organization, reclaiming spaces and holiday décor removal and storage.
Requests for consultations can be submitted online.