PROBLEM: I’m a visual person and I forget what I have unless I see it. If there is anything behind a door, it is gone from my consciousness.

SOLUTION: Owner Mary Cambruzzi of Found Gallery in Ann Arbor, has a great idea. She takes the doors off of some of her cupboards in order to make the contents visible. Does this solution seem like it might work for you?

HINT: Taking the doors off the cupboard above your refrigerator is especially helpful. This cupboard can be hard to access and by taking the doors off, it can become a place to display pretty pitchers or bowls.

PROBLEM: I need people other than me to know what goes where.

SOLUTION: The TeaHaus of Ann Arbor has the right idea – use labels. Owners Lisa McDonald and husband Marc Hewko not only facilitate easy retrieval and easy put-away with their labels, Lisa and Mark also use pictures, words, and numbers on their labels to efficiently communicate information. Check it out – it’s inspirational.

HINT: They’ve written each label with the same format: number, tea name, another set of numbers, the tea group and a picture. The consistency in labeling allows you to quickly access what you are looking for.

PROBLEM: I can’t keep track of the things that I need.

SOLUTION: Fourth Ave Birkenstock of Ann Arbor has just the solution. Owners Claire and Paul Tinkerhess collected all the supplies they need to help people try on shoes/sandals and put them in one place. They hung two hooks in order to maximize space. On one hook hangs their foot measurer and on the other a bag with test socks. They slide a stool into the remaining space. Nice organizing work Claire and Paul!

HINT: You can apply this principle to keys and purses, lunch bags and backpacks, and leashes and plastic bags.

PROBLEM: I have this old suitcase, which I think is really cool but I’m not sure what to do with it. I have some things that need a home but I don’t want to go out and buy something.

SOLUTION: Heavenly Metal of Ann Arbor has just the solution. Use your old suitcase as a purposeful container. Here, owner Vicki Honeyman displayed reusable shopping bags.

HINT: Other items you could put in the suitcase: magazines, kid’s schoolwork, or gift wrapping supplies.

PROBLEM: I’m not sure what to do with all my baseball caps. I like to look at them and access them.

SOLUTION: Mighty Good Coffee in Ann Arbor has just the answer. They have taken a piece of thick twine and attached it to a screw. Then they attached some “clip it up clips” to the twine. (Clip it up clips have both a clip and a hook.) With the clip attached to the twine and the hat hanging on the hook they developed a perfect way to display their caps.

HINT: Mighty Good Coffee is located at 217 North Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

PROBLEM: It’s hard for me to see what’s inside my shelf and cupboard so I don’t put things away or get things out.

SOLUTION: The Peaceable Kingdom in Ann Arbor has a great solution. Add lights! Notice that the two lamps in their display makes everything visible.

HINT: The Peaceable Kingdom is located at 210 South Main Street Ann Arbor, MI.

PROBLEM: I have sorted and purged my book collection but I still don’t have enough shelf space.

SOLUTION: Robot Supply & Repair / 826 Michigan has a great idea … They have displayed their robot lamps on tables made of books. What a wonderful way to make use of books!

HINT: Robot Supply & Repair / 826 Michigan is located at 115 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor.