Get two cars into a two-car garage

Chicago Tribune Home Section
Barbara Peskin Cooke

There are people who will organize your closets, your papers and now, your garage. Richard and Sally Schulman got tired of hedge clippers, bicycles and tennis rackets falling on them every time they opened their garage, so they started a firm called "White Rabbit" to put order where chaos once reigned. "Our garage was a mess, so we put in some shelves and cabinets and we got tons of compliments every time someone came over," said Sally, who formerly sold computer software to Fortune 500 companies. Having been in business for almost 20 years, White Rabbit has de-cluttered thousands of garages. They will sit down and determine your storage needs and build cabinets and shelves. Most jobs take a day to install and prices start at about $1,300 depending on the amount of storage needed. For information, call 847-272-7878.

Be wise and organize valuable garage space
Pioneer Press

Whether you dread or look forward to those first days of spring cleaning, it's a necessary chore which inevitably leads to a feeling of real accomplishment.

This year, in addition to going through those clogged closets and drawers, consider treating your garage to a thorough cleaning and utilization analysis. The benefits will be enormous.

"Most homeowners have no idea of the hidden value of a well designed and organized garage," said Richard Schulman, president of White Rabbit.

"The way to really become acquainted with your garage is to set aside time for a spring cleaning. After you have sorted through your garage-stored items, ask yourself if you are maximizing your use of space.

"I'll bet if people sit down and really give it some thought, they will determine that there is much to be gained by an organized garage," Schulman said.

"We have evidence that if you treat your garage with the same respect you give your bath room or kitchen, the return on your investment will be substantial." To add comfort and valuable space to your home, many of the items in those overstuffed closets and cabinets can be safely stored in your garage, he said. Free up space by transferring vacuum cleaners usually taking up room in a front hall closet to the appropriate garage storage. Also consider moving cleaning supplies, rags and bulk items such as pantry type items to the garage.

"Often the garage serves as the entryway into your home," said Schulman. "Moreover, because the garage door is sometimes left open, it is the one room in your home that all your neighbors can see. This means that it can create a first impression of you and your home.”

"By the same token, it can create a lasting impression," he added. "A realtor recently told us that after showing a potential home buyer a group of homes for sale, the client distinguished her favorite by saying she wanted to revisit 'the home with the beautiful garage.”"

White Rabbit Garage Organizers offers the following tips for creating a garage that serves as an integral part of your home.

• The first crucial step is to get rid of things you have not used in the past three years. During this process, try not to get sentimental. Give what you can to charity and toss the rest.
• Store as much as possible off the floor using shelf space and pegboard for hanging items. That leaves the floor space available for bulky items as well as allowing sufficient room to safely maneuver and park your cars.
• Bicycles take up a disproportionate amount of floor space and often restrict the ability to freely open car doors. With proper planning, including consideration of the best route in and out, bike racks are most efficient. In fact, depending upon available wall space, you can store four bikes using only the floor space of one.
• Garage analysis shows that the left wall is usually the worst location for shelving or bike storage; the space is needed by the driver parking on the left side. The back and right walls tend to be better suited for storage.
• Since shelving can be floor-based or suspended above the floor, be sure to have sufficient floor-based shelving. If there is storage needed for children's recreational items, plastic or wire baskets are also an effective means of allowing kids easy access to their toys.
• Shelving can be deep or shallow depending upon the size of stored items and the depth and width of the garage. Shallow shelving has the advantage of avoiding stacking and reaching to the back. Deep shelving permits more storage space.
• Pegboard is an effective, non-intrusive storage material for yard tools. Most important is that it can be stored on almost any wall. However, it pays to invest in the thicker, more stable pegboard hooks so they aren't constantly shaking loose out of the holes.
• Should you be using two recycle bins, consider placing one above the other on a shelf about 24 inches above the ground as close as possible to the door from the house to the garage. You are now taking up half the floor space you did before.
• Be sure that anything protruding from the garage walls does not impede daily traffic routes and the opening of car doors. The dreaded nicks and dents will be successfully avoided.
• Respect your garage as you would popular rooms in your home. Proper care will add benefits you never dreamed of. For more information, call White Rabbit at 847-272-7878. Or visit their Web site at www.whiterabbitinc.com.

ARE YOU AN OFFICE SLOB?
Business Week
Kate Murphy

Justin O'Brien's office used to be so littered with papers and products that he couldn't walk around without hurting himself. But the CEO of SunFun Corp., a sporting-goods catalog business in San Carlos, Calif., has for the most part cleaned up his act. O'Brien claims he tossed away 750 pounds of unneeded stuff. Conquering clutter has not only saved O'Brien's shins and elbows. The time it takes him to process a customer order has also fallen from two weeks to two days.

American workers are messier than ever, according to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), an outfit that grew from five office straighteners a dozen years ago to more than 800 today.

PAYING PROS. Yet O'Brien and other "recovering chaotics" have seen what a little neatness can do toward tidying up a company's bottom line. Rather than drown in a sea of spreadsheets and sticky notes, many "messaholics" are paying $20 to $200 per hour to hire professional organizers whose effectiveness varies as widely as their fees.

But imposing order may not require professional help. With a little resolve and a lot of trash bags, even a slob can do it.

This may be the age of computers and digital scanners, but a decidedly low-tech approach is the first step toward combating clutter. "Learn the art of waste basketry," says Barbara Hemphill, a professional organizer in Raleigh, N.C., and author of Taming the Paper Tiger ($13, Kiplinger Books). In her experience, 80% of office clutter belongs in the trash. "Take no prisoners," Hemphill says. Pitch items that are not time-sensitive, that are available elsewhere, or that have no tax or legal implications.

Next, place papers in one box and objects such as staplers, punchers, souvenirs and the like in another, advises Karla Jones, a professional organizer in San Mateo, Calif. Sort through the boxes with a 30-gallon trash can at the ready, and if you find yourself agonizing over whether to keep a file or a report for very long, you can probably deep-six it. Although it sounds severe, pare down family pictures and personal items as well. "More than one memento equals clutter," says Jones.

If raking everything into two piles seems unwieldy, "start with just a comer of your desk, and when you get to a clear spot, start working on another part," says Stephanie Winston, author of Stephanie Winston's Best Organizing Tips ($11, Simon & Schuster). Organizing can be done in stages. Try dedicating just 15 minutes a day to the cause.

A decent filing system helps too, of course. File by project, date, or even color (red folders for bills, blue for clients, etc.) If your system results in file folders that contain only a page or two, you're being a bit overzealous. On the other hand, files with more than 30 pieces of paper should be broken down into subcategories. Stamp a date on documents so it's easy to tell if the information is fresh. Whenever handling a file, check if there are papers inside that can be tossed.

Schedule time to purge files at least once a year. Two possibilities are the period between the yearend holidays or on slow Fridays in the summer.

Think also about novel ways to store the stuff you feel compelled to keep. Stacks of neatly labeled cardboard boxes or milk crates will often suffice. And standard shoe bags, draped over the side of a cubicle or hanging from a wall hook, can provide numerous nooks for storing envelopes, computer disks, and other office necessities. "People really don't consider the storage possibilities of walls," says Sally Schulman, who specializes in maximizing space as owner of White Rabbit Home Offices.”

To unclutter further, stop jotting down thoughts, to-do lists, or phone numbers on the backs of envelopes, sticky notes, or other bits of paper. Instead, consolidate jottings in a daily planner or spiral notebook. Personal information-management software programs (Lotus Organizer, Starfish Sidekick, Day-Timer Organizer) also provide a paperless means for storing notes and phone numbers. Take a pair of scissors to all those magazines piling up and clip out articles of interest. "Stash them in a file that you can grab on your way to catching the train," says Stephanie Denton, an organizing consultant based in Cincinnati.

After things are thrown out or put away, remember that remaining orderly is a never-ending battle. Managing office clutter is like weeding a garden, says O'Brien, the SunFun CEO. "You've got to stay on top of it because clutter, like weeds, just keeps on coming." The trick is to yank it up before it spreads.

Chicago Home Book

Published by The Ashley Group

WHITE RABBIT, Richard Schulman: "In our space organization business, we see change in two areas - the home office and the garage. Because of the proliferation of PC’s, the increase in communication devices, the need to save time and reduce expenses, and the desire to be with the family, today's business person often does significant amounts of work in the home, in a home office. I believe the home offices will be in greater demand. They must be efficient and inviting. They must beacon and reward you. They must be ergonomic and be specifically designed for the physical aspects of your work situation. The garage? It's not 'just the garage' anymore. Homeowners say it's the primary entrance to their home. It's the most visible and neglected room in the home. With today's continuing tendency to accumulate things, it has become increasingly important to maximize storage in an organized fashion. The garage is typically 400 to 600 square feet of prime storage space."

HOME OFFICE PLANNING
When you're designing a home office, it's a challenge to effectively separate and integrate work and home, As you plan a home office, ask yourself these questions:

How do I work best? Close to the action or tucked away where it's quiet?

How much space do I need? More than one desk, space for computer equipment and other technology, or reference books and files? Space for seeing clients?

How many phone lines are needed? (It may be a good idea to get more than you currently need,)

Do you like a window view? Consider natural light as well as well planned artificial light.

How will you furnish the office? Will the space also serve as a library or guest room?

Spend some time testing desks and chairs for the most comfortable fit Top quality office furnishings are now being produced in "scaled down" versions for home use, Make the space attractive and comfortable by using accessories and personal touches.

FURNISH YOUR ENTRYWAY… THE GARAGE!
Although your front door may be the symbolic entrance to your home, the everyday entrance is through the garage. More Chicago area homeowners are investing in making the garage functional, attractive and super-organized. Through good, professional design, they not only get organized, but they're able to stay organized.

When making the decision to invest the time and resources to organize a garage to streamline your lifestyle, consult an expert in garage space planning, like those included in the following pages. Their expertise in space management will translate into a good design that simplifies life for homeowners and their families. The main goal of a garage organization project is to get things off of the floor and onto the walls, via shelving, pegboard or cabinet systems. By having items more visible at eye level, homeowners will be able to see what they have, and where the items are to be stored. Not only does clearing the floor promote organization, it also increases safety.

Think about how your garage functions. Beyond sheltering your cars and bicycles from the elements, there are many other items stored there. Do you need the space for holiday decorations, extra office supplies, bulk grocery items, sports equipment, tools? What else would you like to move into the garage from your indoor living space? Would you like to be able to use the garage for other purposes, like block parties? Would you like to include a workbench, or, in a heated garage, a "mud-room" type area?

When a garage planner comes for an interview, plan to spend at least two hours discussing your needs. Be sure you ask about warranties.

The organization systems will be installed after the garage is painted. An average garage remodel, either a one- or two-car garage, is approximately $2,500.

Organizers Can Turn Garage to Wonderland
AROUND THE HOUSE
Chicago Sun Times
By: Les Hausner

Another concept from California is encroaching on the Midwest: professional garage organization. The idea behind this trend is that same homeowners need help in putting everything in its place.

The furnishings shown in a brochure from White Rabbit Garage Organizers are an impressive array of custom-made storage racks, cabinets and shelves.

I called White Rabbit to ask how much it would cost to reorganize my garage. "I am doing a 2.5-car garage in Lake Forest for $10,000, but I may be able to do yours for as little as $1,300, depending upon need, available space, and budget," said Sally Schulman.

"The Lake Forest garage will have custom-made cabinetry, a sophisticated work bench and slat wood peg boards, which have a more sleek look than ordinary peg board." Schulman said.

She got into the business about 18 months ago after she and her lawyer husband decided to do something about their "awful looking" garage. "We organized it with shelves and cabinets. Our friends said it looked great and before long 1 got the idea of going into business. I named the business 'White Rabbit' to' symbolize that the garage can become a wonderland," Schulman said. She does not charge a consulting fee. "Almost everyone has things they should throw out or give away. The first thing we have to know is the percentage of what is stored there is going to be kept.

"Without this information we cannot make an assessment or help them." she said.

She has worked on 2- and 3-car garages. "I haven't done a 1-car garage but that could become an important part of this business. Many people who live in town houses or condos are squeezing a lot of stuff into 1-car garages, Schulman said. She also could have mentioned that condo owners do not have basements or room for a garden storage shed. That could be a reason why professional garage organizing probably began near San Francisco and Los Angeles where there are many residences without basements.

In this part of the nation almost every house has a basement or a crawl space. If Schulman wants a real challenge, I can introduce her to an unusual garage. When a neighbor enlarged his house to fashion more room for his 10 or 11 children, he took most of the space from the garage.

If you roll up the garage door all you will find is a three-foot-deep space for storing bikes.

A clean garage takes organization
Pioneer Press
Todays New Homes
Expert Advice Column

Q: Our garage is cluttered with everything from soccer balls to holiday decorations. I can't face another winter of tripping and banging the car door into his stuff. Many of us treat our garages like oversized junk drawers and shove all kinds of things into any spot we can find. The c1utter is not only disorganized, but it is also dangerous. Tripping over lawn tools or putting a ding in the car door by opening it into a lawn chair is typical garage accidents. Losing a fishing pole or pair of shoes to the garage is not uncommon.

With a well designed plan you can get organized, and stay organized. Your everyday entrance to your home, (through the garage door) will be more welcoming, your home can be cleaner, and your possessions will be easier to see and reach. To help you in your planning, we talked to Sally Schulman, co-owner of White Rabbit Garage Organizers in Deerfield.

“First you need to determine what you are trying to accomplish,” said Schulman. “You may want to add features, like a work bench or a mud-room or make the space workable for block parties or band practice. Or you may be trying to condense your possessions through the organization process.

“We encourage people to really look at what’s in the garage and decide what should be disposed of. We suggest a three pile strategy: Put everything you don’t want in one pile, put everything you need or want to keep in another pile, and put all the things you’re just not sure about in a third pile. The things that land in the third pile go in a box that’s sealed and dated. If it hasn’t been opened in a year, just get rid of it. Never open it again.

“Once you’ve determined what stays in the garage, planning the space is the next step. I come out to help you determine what’s possible and what’s practical,” said Schulman. “We make an assessment of what’s actually in the garage. Some are so full. I find that most things in the garages are utilitarian like lawn chairs, gardening tools, sports equipment. Space is needed for those items more than for storage.

“A key area to plan is the space night by the door. That’s prime real estate in the garage. Some people like their recycling bins set there. It’s easy to toss things out from the inside of the house. Some people want the bins down by the garage door, so they’re easy to put out for the truck.

“A seating bench with adjustable shelves underneath is also popular. You can change your boots, pull on the rollerblades, or stash dirty shoes underneath before entering the house. It’s a great way to keep the dirt out of the house.”

Schulman stresses the importance of vertical storage. Go as high on the wall as possible so you can get things off the floor. Sweeping, not to mention walking, is much easier.

“Promoting the garage to a new attractive, well organized status does come at a price. People are surprised at the price. Probably because it’s a new segment of the industry,” says Schulman. “Just remember, you’re talking about outfitting a really large space.” The average price for fully organizing a garage ranges from $2,500 to $3,500. “If your plan outruns your budget, you can put your cabinet up this year and wait until next year to put up cabinet doors, or do one wall at a time,” advises Schulman.

Chicago Tribune
Home and Garden

Problem: How do I store more than 12 complete sets of china, plus dozens of dessert, tea, demitasse, and chocolate sets and be able to get at any piece with ease?

Solution: For Raphael, eight laminate cabinets lined across a wall in the basement family room was the way to store nearly a thousand pieces of china and glassware. She worked with White Rabbit, a Deerfield storage company to design 24-inch deep by 29-inch wide built-in ceiling-to-floor cabinets. Raphael has one rule for storing china: she must be able to reach for any set or individual piece in one easy motion, moving only one set piece out of the way. Her systems success relies on the use of risers, plate racks, lazy susans, and zippered, vinyl quilted china protectors.

Clutter organizers gain control
Deerfield Review
By Craig Shaw

Richard Schulman isn't just the co-owner of White Rabbit Garage Organizers. He's also a customer.

In fact, Schulman was his own very first customer. Whipping his garage into shape back in 1988 gave him the idea to start a business performing the same service for others.

"1 went into the garage to look for something and it was like stumbling into a cavern," said the Deerfield resident. "It was dark and cluttered and 1 couldn't find anything."

A strong dose of shelving, cabinets, and heavy-duty pegboard solved that problem. Bikes, skis and golf clubs went on the walls. Boots and skates went into cabinets. Balls went into sliding wire baskets.

Today, the Schulman garage remains the company prototype, and Schulman and wife Sally oversee a staff of 13. Both left corporate jobs: Richard was an attorney, Sally was in marketing - to run the business. The result: more than 1,200 happy customers.

Sue Jacobson turned last month to a garage organizing firm because the clutter was getting out of hand, making it hard for her husband to even open his car door.

"With four kids, we have a tremendous amount of sports equipment, bikes, toys - you name it, we have it," she said.

The Levin's garage was unorganized before the clutter pros took over. So she called Storage Doctor, a Wheeling firm that performs surgery on garages as well as closets, basements and utility rooms.

In Jacobson's garage, they installed cabinets, bike racks, and a work station.

"It looks very good," she said.

Garage organizers face a double sales pitch: convincing people they need to get organized, then convincing them to spend money for it. But that's nothing compared to convincing pack rats to throw things away.

"We find people have so much difficulty purging," said Sally Schulman. "They need support and guidance to decide what to keep, what to throw out, and what to donate."

Schulman goes a step further: after the first year, move the item to a box in the garage or basement. If you still don't touch it for six or nine months, then dump it.

Costs

So how much will it cost to get some organization into your life?

Prices vary widely, from several hundred dollars for a simple garage cleaning to several thousand for a full set of cabinets and shelves.

Many decide it's worth it. Riverwoods resident Judy Levin has no basement in her house, because of its proximity to the Des Plaines River. She could have used an extra bedroom for storage, but she and husband Stephen wanted it for a recreation room instead.

So she called White Rabbit.

"It's ideal for me," Levin said. "I don't like clutter."

Before, that clutter was stored everywhere from metal utility shelves in the garage to the top shelf of the kitchen pantry.

Now, the family's ice skates, rollerblades, holiday decorations, deck chairs, and rarely used dishes, along with plenty of other stuff, is tucked away in laminated ceiling-size cabinets that keep them dry and dust-free.

White Rabbit even built her a small cabinet to cover up the garage's electrical outlets and panels.

It's enough to make a homeowner want to leave the garage door open all- day, instead of sneaking the car in by night and hoping neighbors won't see. Or worse, parking in the street because the car won't fit inside.

"People have called us and said they have a two-car garage and can't even get their cars inside," said Schulman.

Of course, it's the car that creates the space crunch in the first place. "You're confined to using the wall and ceiling for storage."  

Garage organizers will even install a parking guide, like you'd see in the grocery store lot, so you don't hit the wall with your bumper.

Customizing

Custom work is also part of the bargain.

For a customer who kept horses, White Rabbit built a closet to hold saddles, with multiple cubbyholes for related gear.

For an artist, a customized drying cabinet was designed to hold canvases. And for avid bridge players, closets were created large enough to tuck card tables and folding chairs out of sight, yet within easy reach.

White Rabbit builds individual storage lockers for kids, so hats, mittens and schoolbooks can go behind closed doors, instead of on the hallway floor. Garage organizers agree the garage is seen more and more as 'an extension of the house, rather than just a place for cars and bikes. Schulman says one customer uses her garage as a back-up summer party area in case it rains.

"Instead of a messy storage space, it makes it a real part of the home."  

And organizing your garage has another benefit, one everyone can appreciate: boosting the home's resale value.

"It becomes a very distinctive feature," Schulman said. "It separates you from the rest of the pack."

Ooh La Garage
Experts offer five tips for making your most neglected space into a room of its own.

North Shore Magazine

Maggie Allen

Like outer space and the Wild West, it looks like our homes have a final frontier as well. And it's the… garage? As mundane as these oil-and-mortar outposts might seem, companies that specialize in "garage enhancement" think this space could be prime real estate. Installing everything from custom-made stainless steel cabinets to plasma TVs, HGTV-style "garage room" upgrades are becoming as ubiquitous as the outdoor kitchen you just read about. In other words, the pedestrian garage (formerly partner in crime with the plebian basement as receptacle for a family's accumulated junk) is about to get "livable," Here are five expert tips for what you can do with your garage, none of which include the phrase "put more things you don't use in there."

The Extended Kitchen
The basement has long been a common place for people to keep an extra refrigerator or the overflow of Costco goods, but having an extended kitchen in an attached garage can give you extra storage, counter and cooking space in a more convenient location. A recent project at Sally Schulman's White Rabbit Garage Organizers added an oven, refrigerator and "tons" of extra counter space to create a supplementary kitchen in a North Shore garage space. "With an attached garage, it's easy," Schulman says. "You're utilizing space you already have. Plus, it's usually in a prime spot next to or near the kitchen."

The Mudroom
A natural haven for slushy snow boots, muddied cleats and backpacks abandoned in haste, mudrooms are a perfect example of a space best suited for the garage. By adding a wall-mounted coat rack for hanging items and lockers for storage, jackets become easy to find and gym bags don't lie in wait to trip you by the door. In particular, individual lockers and shelves at easy-to-reach levels encourage kids to put their things back where they belong. "If kids have their own space for their own stuff, it tends to get there," Schulman points out. Here's hoping. Most people redo their garage with the simple goal of making it cleaner and more organized.

THE PARTY PALACE
Every football season, a battle rages between women who want to keep their home free of the stink of cigars and the men who want to smoke them. Frigid January temps make backyard banishment seem cruel, but ... that really is an awful smell. The solution? Man World. According to Schulman, one man, when not allowed to smoke cigars in the house, turned his heated garage into a testosterone mecca - complete with chairs, a plasma TV and a beer tap. "It's a great space for the winter; when the Bears are playing," says Schulman.

Capture the Overlooked Space in your Garage

North Suburban Living

When your home has "stuff" stuffed in closets, under beds and just stacked in the hallway, isn't it time you took the next step and began utilizing all that wasted space in your garage? Of course, we already know that the garage is also packed to capacity and there's no way it could handle another box of anything, much less a car. Or could it?

The fastest way to simultaneously de-clutter your home and garage is to order garage cabinetry specifically designed with you in mind! With an expert designer, you can have cabinetry with special sections for luggage, vacuum cleaners or oversized, seldom-used kitchen equipment like roaster ovens and electric meat slicers. Ask for an area for camping equipment, tents and coolers, and another for sports equipment like golf clubs, skis, balls and bats. Stash your holiday decorations safely in their own compartment. Give the kids open bins for toys, mom a gardening and scrap booking storage section, and still have room for tools and a work table!

Once your cabinetry is installed, tidying up the inside of your home will be a snap! Not only will you be enjoying the benefit of additional storage for years to come, but storage space in a home is just what today's home buyer wants. Be aware that while white cabinetry is the number one choice of many homeowners, you can choose to have wood grain, if you wish. The interior shelving is adjustable mid strong enough to hold heavy items. Hidden european hinges add to the high-end, custom look of the cabinetry.

White Rabbit Garage Organizers is the company that brought the garage cabinet concept to Chicago land nearly 20 years ago. They have been the leader in garage storage systems since 1988. They give lifetime guarantees. Their business philosophy can be summarized in one word: Quality. A company designer will perform a "white glove inspection" two weeks after the cabinetry installation with a second inspection 6 months later to ensure total customer satisfaction. You can call White' Rabbit at 847-272-7878. www.whiterabbitinc.com

Organize If you have the need or inclination, your garage has just the challenge

Chicago Tribune
Home Guide

Mary Umberger

You may not be able (or inclined) to do anything about the placement and outward appearances of your garage, but what's inside is another matter. If you're building or remodeling, consider it the last frontier: space.

While the rest of us are waiting for that "someday" to arrive when we get organized, an admirable few are already there.

Not content to have their closets under control, they have looked upon the detritus within their garages and declared war.

Garage organizers have arrived. Moving the concept of closet organization a step further, White Rabbit Garage Organizers will take charge of the patio umbrella, the four basketballs, the bike with one flat tire and all manner of smelly household chemicals and find a place for them, preferably out of sight but not out of reach.

White Rabbit designs and installs white laminate cabinets, pull-out wire shelving and finished walls that are ready for painting. The transformational effect can be startling, sort of like encountering a hospital linen closet where the Weed-B-Gone used to lie spilled in a corner.

Richard Schulman, a lawyer by training, decided to develop such a service after tinkering with the storage in his own garage.

"Considering the efficiency I attained and the compliments that I got, I decided to make a go of it," he explained. "I thought I had invented the wheel [as a garage specialist], but I found out that it's a concept that's widely accepted in Arizona. California and Florida, probably because so many people there don't have basements."

This year, he and his wife, Sally, expect their firm to do about 180 such installations, primarily on the North Shore. No surprise geographically, as the service can cost a tidy sum.

"We start at about $1300 and go up to $5,000 or $6,000, but I’d say $2,500 to $3,500 is average," Schulman said, noting that the built-ins have proven to be a selling point when clients' houses have gone on the market.

Plus, the kids can retrieve their rubber duckies themselves when they're heading for the pool, and. all sorts of Seldom-used paraphernalia (card tables, Christmas punch bowls and obsolete golf bags) that used to clog the hall closet find a home.

Some closet organizing firms point out that they can do essentially the same thing, and do-it-yourselfers probably can find most of what they'd need for the undertaking at home centers.

Besides being freed from the daily stumble over the rototiller, homeowners and builders can benefit in other ways from rethinking the utility of their garages. Need a three-car garage in a two-car space? Hydraulic lifts, such as those by a firm called Backyard Buddy Corp. of Niles, Ohio. Its standard model ($2,650) hoists the car, leaving a six-foot head clearance underneath for parking a second vehicle.

Claim some playroom space in heated garages by carpeting an area for the kids. The Little Tykes playhouse will fit right in. but also consider secured areas for pesticides, etc. In planning a home's plumbing needs, consider running water hookups and drains into the garage.

Not only could you stick your washer and dryer there, some homeowners use the space to wash the car. Then it won't rain. Promise.

It's not 'just a garage'... it's the entryway into your home
Daily Herald
Spring Home Furnishings & Improvements

Although your front door may be the symbolic entrance to your home, the everyday entrance is through the garage. Since spring is the natural time to clean up, it is an excellent time to get the garage in shape. More Chicago area homeowners are investing in making the garage functional, attractive and organized. Through good, professional design, they not only get organized, but they're able to stay organized.

When making the decision to invest the time and resources to organize a garage to streamline your lifestyle consult White Rabbit Garage Organizers. White Rabbit is the premiere garage organization company in the Midwest. They have designed organization systems for thousands of garages in the Chicago suburban area and their expertise in space management will translate into a design that simplifies life for homeowners and their families.

White Rabbit also provides a premium garage floor protection. It is an epoxy resin that is applied to the floor and is very different than paint. This floor system is non-slip, durable, and attractive. It will protect your garage floor from road salt, gasoline and motor oil and is easy to clean. Because the garage floor stays clean, you eliminate the dirt and dust that gets tracked into the house.

The main goal of a garage organization project is to get things off the floor and onto the walls, via shelving, Pegboard or cabinet systems. By having items at eye level, homeowners will be able to see what they have, and where the items arc stored Not only docs clearing the floor promote organization, it also increases safety.

Think about how your garage functions beyond sheltering your cars and bicycles from the elements. There are many other items stored there. Do you need the space for holiday decorations, extra office supplies, bulk grocery items, sports equipment, tools? What else would you like to move into the garage from your indoor living space? Would you like to include a workbench, or, in a heated garage, a mudroom - type area?

When White Rabbit gives you a design consultation, plan to spend at least one hour discussing your needs. The design consultation is free and White Rabbit will leave the garage organization plan with you. An average garage organization ranges from $2,500 - $3,500 depending upon what you want to accomplish in the garage For more details, call White Rabbit Garage Organizers at (847) 272-7878.

Organize your "Way out of garage, basement clutter”
Home Marketer Monthly

Many homeowners routinely treat their basements like a landfill, says Richard Schulman of White Rabbit Garage Organizers, dumping items wherever they find space. They vow to get things in order in the spring, but rarely follow through. "When spring comes, they focus their energies on the upper floors. Next, they tend to the lawn and garden. During the precious weekends remaining, they would rather relax on a lawn chair than shovel out the basement."

Schulman acknowledges that basements are even less inviting in the cold, dark winter months, especially if the floors are covered with dirty boxes and miscellaneous junk that you imagine are hiding places for small creatures.

However, if the laundry machines are in the basement, and kids play down there, it's worth the effort to clean up.

Richard Schulman says basements are more usable and more attractive if things are kept off the floor. Schulman operates White Rabbit, a Deerfield company that installs specially designed cabinets, shelves and workbenches in basements as well as in garages.

"Most basements have small or no windows, so use that valuable wall space for storage," Schulman says. "You can hide messy things behind cabinet doors, and keep important things visible on shelves. White laminated cabinets will brighten up the room, and you might consider additional lighting."

Keeping things off the floor will make the floor easier to clean, he adds. Cabinets that are attached to the walls, or on legs at least four inches from the floor, will also reduce the chances of water damage if a basement has a seepage problem during heavy rains.

Steps to take to make your home clutter free:

Toss things. Walk through the basement and haul to the trash anything that is broken, not needed, or unlikely to be used again, Set aside useful but unwanted items to give to friends, relatives, or charity.

Categorize. Consolidate similar items, making separate piles for sports equipment, toys, books, tools, etc. If related items are stored upstairs or in the garage and are rarely used, add them to the appropriate piles in the basement.

Estimate your needs. Look at your piles, and decide what should go in cabinets and what can go on shelves. Companies such as White Rabbit will design a plan for you at no cost, helping you determine how many shelves or cabinets you need to supplement what you already have.

Stay organized! Make sure all family members know where each category of items belongs.

Cleaning the clutter
The News Sun
Business Section
By: Denys Bucksten

Few homeowners are looking for a garage floor clean enough to eat off, but the truth is, now it's doable.

Hard on the heels of the scads of folks billing their services in the yellow pages as closet organizers, are the garage-organizing people. Sometimes, they're one and the same.

If you've organized a large closet area reconfiguring space, adding rubber-coated, user-friendly hooks, white laminated shelving and out-of-the-way cabinetry - chances are you can do the same in the garage. Most companies guarantee the work will be done in one day.

Rose Sherry, who along with husband Mike owns Closet Care near Lockport, said doing garages was a natural extension of organizing a closet and making a basement safe enough to descend into during a storm to find the fuse box. "Closets, basements, garages," said Sherry. "Anything that needs to be organized. We did garages from the very beginning, when we started in 1987. A lot of times if we're doing the bedrooms and the rest of the house, we also do the garage, so everything is organized."

Part of new homes

Sherry said much of Closet Care's new business is' coming from new home construction, or major remodeling jobs.

"Now it seems a lot more people are doing this right off the bat," she said. "I think it's just a need for more space, even with two- and three-car garages. If they have that third space open, they're trying to get everything up off the floor and out of the way, hoses and ladders and bikes, anything that can go up on the wall and out of the way.

And the use of all the new hooks, shelves and cabinets is the key. "In the winter the sleds and winter toys come down," Sherry said, "and everything is rotated. The patio set moves in, making it functional for year-round storage. You have to think year-round."

But, there are garage organizers and there are garage organizers. White Rabbit, in Deerfield, are the folks who'll set you up with that floor you can eat off of - for a price. Owners Richard and Sally Schulman's business was born in their own garage five years ago.

"I went into the garage to look for something, and it was like stumbling into a cavern," Richard said. "It was dark and cluttered, and I couldn't find anything." With three athletic children and a sports outlet's supply of balls, bikes, skates and athletic equipment, Richard had a vision.

"A light bulb went off in my head," he said. "I went out and bought heavy-duly pegboard, shelving and doors, and everything fell into place." The idea for White Rabbit was born, and today the Schulman's garage remains the company showroom.

In addition to the shelves, bike hooks and specialized sports equipment wall holders, there are cabinets with clearance for a 90-gallon garbage receptacle below, and near the interior door to the house, large shelves for boots, athletic shoes and in-line skates, as well as a bench for the kids to sit on while they change.

Richard, a corporate attorney, left his law practice and pursued what he saw as a golden opportunity. Sally left the corporate world to run the sales and marketing arm of the business.

Richard Lieberman said the garage of the Winnetka home he and his wife Tina have owned for 10 years had become progressively scarier.

"Like most people, our garage was in total chaos," he said. "We think we have a pretty nice house, but the garage looked like a slum.

"White Rabbit came in, put together a plan to redo the garage, painted everything white, put in very ingenious and beautifully designed pieces of hardware and shelving units, and literally everything we had was hung (or shelved) in an organized state."

The trick would seem to be keeping the newly organized garage clean and uncluttered, but it's not, say people like Lieberman.

"But once you're set up, you no longer throw things in a comer," he said. "It's very easy to place things in a spot that's either specially designed for those items, or where they would fit. We used to put a lot of dry and wet grocery items in the garage, sitting on a shelf exposed. Now it's all contained behind white cabinets." White Rabbit, which caters mainly to the upscale homes on the North Shore, will organize the typical garage for between $2,500 and $3,500.

"But there are times," said Richard Schulman, "when we do a five-car garage and they have plenty of space and very little need, and it costs $1,000. Then again, a one-car garage and there's no basement, and they might be in more need of storage space and it's a $3,500 job."

And, as for the floor one could eat off, White Rabbit recently began offering a product called FloorCoat, an epoxy resin mixed with colored quartz granules. The covering comes in two grades - two coats, single color for $3 per square foot, and three coats with multiple colors.

And even if it isn't a matter of materials and know-how, said Richard Schulman, "sometimes the wife says she just gets tired of waiting for her husband to get off his you-know what and go out and do it."

It's a place with a place for everything
Evanston Review
By: Carol Mueller

Attention neatniks, lovers of order and other organized types. You are not alone, you are not neurotic and now you can come out of the closet (although your closet is no doubt a very orderly and pleasant place).

Still, it cannot possibly compare to a closet so big that it has four windows, so orderly that it has his and her sections so organized that it has built-in tie racks and velvet-lined partitioned jewelry drawers.

But then, this closet is contained in a house so order oriented that it has a place for everything - everything!

No wonder they call it the Organization House

This nirvana for '90s neatniks is located in the Thorngate development in Riverwoods. The brainchild of Orren Pickell Builders, The Organization House is a 5,024 square foot, 11 room French Country style home that was custom built for a family of five.

"The house was custom designed for people who do casual entertaining. They have three children and want their home to be comfy and relaxing," said Wendy Cohen of Orren Pickell Builders, "These are people who are detail oriented and want everything in the right place. They like to be in control of their life," Indeed, order and control are built into the house literally. Built-ins and pullouts abound in the four bedroom, three bath, two powder room home that has a formal dining room but no living room, Instead there is a large library and a great room/family room.

An enormous amount of storage space is contained in the house, both in large closets equipped with space efficient organizers and in window seats and cabinets with abundant capacity.

There are even lockers for each member of the family. They are built into the family workshop, the nerve center of the home containing a laundry station (space-saving euro-style washer and dryer); a laundry chute from upstairs where there is another laundry station; a sink for hand washing; a recycling bin; a desk, computer and message center; a key rack; a gift wrap station; and a craft center with a pull-out table.

In the adjoining three-car garage, "Dad's stall" is separate from the other two and provides special spaces for his golf equipment and tools, The other side of the garage has a niche for bikes and storage space for toys and sports equipment. The White Rabbit Garage had wonderful spaces for all of the stuff that is typically stored in a garage.

Conveniences abound throughout the house in such features as a stow-away serving cart and pull-out pantry in the kitchen and a built-in coffee station in the master bath.

But appearance was not sacrificed for the sake of order" and convenience. The house looks great - spacious, bright and appealing, with elements of both traditional and contemporary design.

And the price? The house (minus lot) can be built for a base price of $660,000; $760,000 with deluxe features.

The Organization House will be open as a model until November, For more information, call 816-7773.

The Organizers
Chicago Tribune
Tempo Lake Section
By Leslie Jacobs

For people who hate spring simply because the word often is followed by the word "cleaning," there is help, whether for the home or office.

The tragedy in this is that the people who most need the following information are an hour or two from misplacing it forever, and the people who least need it will clip it and file it under "0" for organization.

Professional organizers abound in and around Lake County, and they'll organize everything from closets to finances quickly and painlessly.

Consulting with the pros, however, can add up:
Most charge $40 per hour for their services. Yet those determined individuals who have conquered their clutter with the help of a pro seem to agree that their newfound peace of mind and tidy surroundings are more than worth the investment.

"Eileen Parelman saved my life," said Christine Shaw of Lake Forest. "During the two years our home was being remodeled, I was drowning in paper and totally overwhelmed with bills, magazines and junk mail. Eileen helped me sort out everything. We worked together deciding what to save and what to throw out." Leroy Finch of Palatine also discovered how to get organized with Parelman's help. An industrial and commercial real estate investor based in• Elgin, Finch said Parelman set up his computer files. She also showed him how to create labels and keep his business organized by creating special file folders, called action files.

"Labeled 'to do' and 'to read,' among others, these files save time and have helped me immensely," Finch said. "But it takes discipline _ to put everything back where it belongs when I'm finished with it. Staying organized is a relearning process."

"Use it or lose it," advised Parelman, who brings 15 years of office-managing experience to Everything in Its Place, her organization business in Wheeling. In addition to private consulting, she teaches three organization courses at Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest.

Acknowledging that die-hard savers may find it difficult to discard everything they're not using, Parelman suggests a "halfway" box for such items. That box can be stored in the attic or basement, space permitting. "If you don't go into the box for six months," she suggested, "it's time to give it away."

Jan Obrand of In Working Order, also in Wheeling, believes That everyone needs a friend or buddy when it comes to getting organized. And with 15 years of experience in the organizing field, that's her forte.

"People don't know where to start," Obrand said. "Often seniors and others don't have anyone to delegate to or can't handle such tasks as paying bills," she said. "The same holds true for small business owners, doctors and lawyers who are passionate about their area of expertise but don't have the time or inclination for paperwork or filing. I become their right hand. I also act as a resource. If I can't do the job myself, I'll find someone who can."

Beth Rosen of Buffalo Grove is the founder of Mom Talk Radio, a weekly program that airs on WCBR•FM 92.7 in Arlington Heights. The mother of four children under age 6, including 2 year old twins, Rosen launched the show last May amid carpool scheduling, business meetings and, her kids' after school activities.

"I was disorganized; it's part of my nature," Rosen acknowledged. "But Jan Obrand gave me the inspiration to wade through a room filled with newspapers and magazines I'd collected for my show. She set up a filing system and a database and also acts as my business manager. Jan has been a great help."

"Something usually stands in the way of getting organized," said Nicole Ireland, who started An Organized Woman in Highland Park seven years ago after a stint as a TV producer. "People buy every 'how to' book on the subject, but they can't implement what they've read because there's an emotional content to this work.”Many of my clients have experienced an extraordinary event, having a baby or starting a new job, and they find themselves overwhelmed without the skills to bring their environment under control.

Debbie Gulbrandson, a physical therapist who lives and works in Cary, gave herself the gift of organization on Valentine's Day 1995 "Nicole asked me about my life style before helping me organize the clutter, which included professional magazines, periodicals, plus my kids' school papers. I was terrified that If I put something away I would lose it altogether. Nicole set up a filing system that works with my calendar, and now is at my fingertips. Gail Glink's ProMediClaim business in Buffalo Grove takes a specialized tack in the field, concentrating on organizing health claims exclusively. Her clients have had surgery or other medical procedures and may not have the energy or ability to file their claims. So they turn their paper¬ work over to Glink, a 14 year claims veteran, and she organizes It and deals With the insurance companies.

"Our clients pay us to be persistent and assertive, "Glink said. Sometimes a procedure may not be covered, but we want to make sure why. In addition to taking the worry out of paperwork, we send our clients a medical benefits summary at the end of the year for tax purposes and often get them benefits they weren’t expecting. She said. It’s very rewarding.

Five years ago, my husband had a brain tumor, said Julia Schopeck of Oak Park. It was an upsetting time and I couldn’t deal with it. Gail simplified my life and made the insurance company live up to their end of the bargain. I found her invaluable. Kathryn Smith pf H.O.P.E. (Home & Office Planning and Execution) in Lake Forest helps small businesses get organized. "Entrepreneurs are motivators for their own ideas but don't necessarily think about organization in an efficient manner," said Smith, who has 20 years of organizing experience. "Once their offices are set up, they're easy to maintain."

Jackie Renwick called on Smith to set up a logging system at Green Shutters Home Shop, her wallpaper and fabric store in Lake Forest. "Kathryn inventoried our sample books, which number in the hundreds," she said. "Then she put them in order by manufacturer's name and streamlined the process of checking out a book. She also advised us on time management. Her help was crucial."

"Now you see it, now you don't" is the philosophy of White Rabbit Garage Organizers in Deerfield, according to owner Sally Schulman, who has been in business four years. "Traditionally, homes are immaculate, and the garage is a dumping ground and an eyesore," she said. "We work to get things up off the ground. Some homeowners want an attractive look. Others want storage and easy access to folding chairs, coffee urns and out-of-season clothing. Depending on budgetary restrictions, we build shelving and closed cabinets." Do-it-yourself types and those with more time than money have other options when it comes to getting organized. Shelving units, baskets and myriad storage items for kitchens, closets and offices are now available at area Bed Bath and Beyond stores, Pier 1 Imports, Kmarts. community hardware stores and the recently opened Container Store, just south of Lake-Cook Road on Skokie Boulevard in Northbrook.

"There really is a place for everything, and everything has a place," said Ireland of An Organized Woman. "Our mothers were right." A good resource for finding professional organizers is the National Association of Professional Organizers. Its hot line for professional organizer referrals is 512-206-0151.

Otherwise, here is a starting point among some local organizers: Gail Glink, ProMediClaim, Buffalo Grove, $55 an hour, 847-634-6212. Nicole Ireland, An Organized Woman, Highland Park, $40 an hour, 847-433-5291. Jan Obrand, In Working Order, Wheeling, $40 an hour, 847-541-3324. Eileen Parelman, Everything in Its Place, Wheeling, $50 an hour, 847-541-8585. Sally Schulman, White Rabbit Garage Organizers, Deerfield, costs range from $2,500 to $3,500, 847-272-7878. Kathryn Smith, H.O.P.E., Lake Forest, charges start at $50 an hour, 847-615-1268.

10 tips for finding a method in the madness

Here is a list of 10 tips from professional organizers in the Lake County area.

1.       Whether it's bikes, clothing or pots and pans, decide what you need easy access to and put those items in one spot

2.       Designate the purpose of the room you want to organize, and then eliminate anything that doesn't belong there. Find a place for the remaining items.

3.       Always have a calendar in front of you when making a date or other commitment.

4.       Make lists; they're a god• send. Plus it feels good to cross something off a list.

5.       A clean, neat desk at the end of the day makes tomorrow easier to deal with.

6.       Set aside a specific amount of time for organization and use a timer. When it goes off, you're done for the day.

7.       After each successful "Sometimes a procedure may not be covered, but we want to make sure why. In addition to taking the worry out of the paperwork, we send our clients a medical benefit summary at the end of the year for tax purposes and often get them benefits they weren't expecting," she said. "It's very rewarding." "Five years ago my husband had a brain tumor," said Julia Schopeck of Oak Park. "It was an upsetting time, and I couldn't deal with it. Gail simplified my life and made the insurance company live up to their end of the bargain. I found her invaluable." Kathryn Smith of H.O.P.E, organizational task, gives you a reward.

8.       Have a waste basket at your side when opening the mail and use it.

9.       When a piece of paper crosses your desk, do it, ditch it or delegate it.

10.    Put a new check register in your checkbook at the beginning of the year. Put the old one with your tax receipts.

A Perspective on Garages
Inside Illinois
Industry Partner Spotlight
Sally Schulman,
White Rabbit Garage Organizers

The value of a well-designed, organized and dean garage is often underestimated. The kitchen has long held the title of hardest working room in the house because of the many roles it plays in our lives - restaurant. convention center, home office, study hall. But that's true only if you don't count the garage.

Granted, we don't ordinarily live in the garage, but, attached or not, a garage is still a critical part of our domestic environment. Like a kitchen, a garage is a multipurpose space, if only by default. Garages inevitably turn into warehouses for all sorts of things we don't want or can't fit into the house. It is the equivalent of a kitchen Junk drawer with walls and a roof.

Here are some of the important questions that need to be addressed in order to provide an excellent design for the garage: If you look around, how much of the stuff that you see would you dispose of if you had the time to do a thorough clean-up? Which items in the house would you like to store in the garage if you had the space to do so (chairs, vacuum cleaner, bulk goods, large pots, holiday decorations etc.) Would you like a workbench or potting area in the garage or an area to just set things down as a convenience? Do you entertain often? Do you need a counter for entertaining? Is your goal to get things out of sight or just off the floor and organized? How many bikes and how often do you use them? How often would you like to use them What kinds of sports equipment do you use Where do the kids put their sport or school bags Would you like to keep coats, shoes or winter boots in the garage Would you like a shoe bench? Where do you store patio furniture?

An attached garage usually serves as the entryway into a home. It's a room that you are in and out of many times during the day. Because the garage door is oftentimes left open, it is the one room in the home that all the neighbors see. This means that it might very well create a first impression of the homeowner and the home. By the same token, it can create a lasting impression: realtors have suggested that it is not unusual for a client to distinguish a favorite home by describing it as "that home with the beautiful garage".

Many homeowners resolve every year to get the garage cleaned out once and for all. Few will succeed. For the garage to actually earn its hardest working-room-in-the house title, it needs to be approached like its chief competitor, the kitchen. To exploit a garage's potential for storage and performance - and it is vast - you have to get serious. You have to recognize that the garage is premium real estate. Done right - that is, intentionally, deliberately, consciously and carefully - a garage actually can improve the quality of your life.

About White Rabbit

White Rabbit is the company that introduced the idea of organizing the garage to the Midwest back in the late 80's. Having designed over 20,000 garages in the Chicagoland area, White Rabbit has the largest and most diverse combination of organization and storage solutions. Specially trained staff designers and carpenters work to transform a garage into an organized, efficient and attractive space which serves as an integral part of the home. White Rabbit guarantees a total commitment to maintaining the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry and providing lifetime guarantees for all workmanship and all materials White Rabbit also has an exciting and very generous bonus program for designers, architects and builders. For a complimentary design consultation, call White Rabbit at 847-272-7878.

Talking To The Boss
Profile

Richard Schulman, White Rabbit Garage Organizers
3192 Doolittle Dr., Northbrook 847-272-7878
 

"I went in to the garage to look for something and it was like stumbling into a cavern. It was dark and cluttered and I couldn't find anything, A light bulb went off in my head. I went out and bought heavy duty pegboard, shelving and doors and suddenly everything fell into place. White Rabbit was born. I left my job as an attorney to pursue this opportunity. My wife, who's worked in programming, management, marketing, and sales, left her job and now she handles the sales and I handle the rest. The ' process starts off with one of our design consultants meeting with the homeowner. Then we ask all types of questions, like 'What is stored in the garage?', 'What will you be throwing out?', 'What else would like to store in here?' Then we calculate the square footage and custom-design the space to suit their needs. The work is completed in a day and it's, guaranteed for five years. In most homes, the garage is the most neglected, poorly organized part of the house. Yet it's also the most visible, and is used increasingly as the primary entrance to the home. One customer even uses her garage as a ' summer backup party area in case it rains. More than one realtor has told us that a well organized garage adds greatly to the property's value. People seem to remember the house with the nice garage."