Tanya Hipona-Pereira
Order Designer, Space Planner, Human Battery

I have lived my life making sense of things and bringing order where there is chaos. As a child, my parents would catch me taking everything out of the linen and bathroom closets, pantries, kitchen cabinets, laundry room and garage shelves, secretary desk (even the dreaded attic) and putting it all back in a tidy fashion. And they still catch me doing it! I was also fond of making lists and organizing not only physical objects, but information and schedules as well – anything that needed some sorting out, basically. I was born with a hunger for order and I seek it to establish it every day, in everything I do. It’s an active meditation for me.

Creating and maintaining systems for my home, my time and my money allows me to put my full attention on more important aspects of my life that help me grow as a person. I just cannot make it through the day with a raincloud of disorganization looming over me. And having the opportunity to help a fellow human get rid of their own raincloud is something that stirs my soul. I want to share this ability with everyone and show them how to keep the cloud from coming back.

I am also a self-reformed shopaholic and hoarder of all things practical and sentimental (yes, I still have a nightlight that’s shaped like a tooth from when I was a kid). But I had an eye-opening experience that caused me to rethink my attachment to physical things. When I first came to NYC in 2005, I spent three months living at a friend’s apartment with just a few outfits, a few pairs of shoes, some toiletries and very few personal items. I didn’t miss or remember the things I had in storage. It dawned on me that I didn’t need much at all to live a happy life. By the time I found my own place, in came the boxes of items I had accumulated over the years (a fax machine and roll of fax paper from the 80s – told you I was a packrat) and along with them the burden of finding their contents a home in a one-bedroom apartment. I’ve always found this challenge to be an exciting one. I acknowledge that for the normal person it’s sheer terror.

My mission is to organize all aspects of life – it doesn’t stop with tangible items. Taking a look at the way you spend your time and the steps you take to accomplish certain tasks is a means to creating more free time to do what you love. Figuring out a better way to arrange the flow and use of spaces in your home, office or workshop can make your life much easier as well. Email inboxes, electronic files and other filing systems beg for some kind of hierarchy that can be maintained as your needs change and content grows. You may also need help to establish a monthly budget or create a schedule. Anything that requires some thought and streamlining is what I’m here for.

I hope these words have struck a chord with you. Whether my writing alone has had an effect or I actually get to help you in person, I am a happier human knowing that I’ve been able to make a positive contribution to your life!

Check out “Easy and Effective Home Organizing Tips” on Redfin, featuring a favorite home and office organization tip from Intelligent Organizing