Is there a part of your home that feels like it's stuck?
Maybe a closet, a bedroom a drawer, or a hobby room, that you just aren't sure what to do with?
Maybe it is full of items from a loved one, from a former stage of life, from your kids, from a move, from something you've moved on from, from a busy season, or from a hard time of life, and you'd rather just avoid the area than open up that can of worms?
If this is you, and you are feeling drawn towards cleaning out the space, but not sure where to start--I would love to work with you!
Hi, I'm Kate!
And I love to help people become friends with their spaces again!
With an emphasis on self-compassion, non-judgement, mindfulness, and making space for emotions, I can help you reclaim the stressful spots in your home. Through cleaning-out, decluttering, and organizing your items in a way that makes sense for your brain, the places in your you keep avoiding can be figured out and made useful!
I am passionate about Life Review Cleaning, working with moms (and the mass influx of THINGS that come with having kids), craft/hobby rooms, cleaning-out after or before life transitions, and helping anyone break free from being a prisoner of their own (or someone else's) possessions.
I am not interested in shame-based decluttering--I will never use words that put any moral implication on how clean or unclean your space is. I lead with compassion, space, warmth, curiosity, and reverence for the belongings that make up your story, while also helping you figure out which items do not serve you any more.
I have a lot of natural energy for this work, and would be honored to share it with you!
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More About Me:
I'm a creative, multi-passionate soul who sees meaningful connections between people, spaces, energy, and life transitions. I've had many different jobs in my life: healthcare, agriculture, humanitarian aid, college admissions, hospice care, and volunteer management, to name a few. In all of my jobs, my favorite parts have been working with people, and working with my hands.
I hold degrees in Nursing and Sociology, along with a certificate in Life Stages and Transitions. I ground my work in an understanding that our lives are shaped by culture, systems, trauma, neurodiversity, and the unique journey of each individual. I see myself as a compassionate space holder, an encourager, a creative problem solver, and a steady, hard working presence. I’m here to walk with you as a helper, a buddy, a body double, a witness, and coach on your journey of clearing space, whether that means cleaning out, decluttering, downsizing, or preparing for a transition.
I have helped numerous people clean out spaces throughout my life, it is satisfying and enjoyable work for me, and I’ve always jumped at the opportunity to bring my starter energy to overwhelming tasks. The idea to start Soft Spaces came after reading the book and watching the show "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning," by Margareta Magnusson. Magnusson's book really helped me connect the dots of how our belongings hold stories, grief, pain, joy, etc, and how a space transformation can also be an internal spacial transformation. I specialize in the act of Death Cleaning, which I like to call "Life Review Cleaning"--which is intentionally going through your items now, so your loved one's don't have to later.
After reading the book, I helped a family member embark on the work of cleaning out her basement, which was filled with years of clutter, heirlooms, items from her three children, photographs, toys, clothes, and tubs of supplies from her 25 years as an educator. The items in her basement were memories, stages of life, and items that made up an identity and career, and it felt overwhelming to know where to start. I was so happy to walk alongside her and help her verbally process through figuring out what to keep, what to pass on, and what to let go. It started out as an overwhelming task, but we tackled it little by little until the end! I found the process satisfying and energizing, which affirmed my interest in this area of work!
Outside of my work, I love sewing, long walks with an audiobook, gardening, making cards, hosting friends, writing, and pretty much anything creative. My husband is a musician and songwriter, and I love supporting his work and attending his live shows.
I am not a personal organizer, I am not type-A, I am not someone who believes you need to get rid of everything and live a minimalist lifestyle. However, I do know how heavy physical and emotional clutter can feel, and it can be hard to know where to start, especially by yourself. My hope is to help you gently sort through it all, both physically and emotionally, while reclaiming your space, and opening your hands and heart to what comes next.
On a final "about me" note, I have deep love of aprons. I have a collection of 24 aprons and if we work together, you will get to see me aproned up and ready to work! :)
