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    a fresh start

    Houston organizational expert shares 8 tips for reducing clutter

    Emily Cotton
    Jan 10, 2025 | 4:32 pm

    Welcome to 2025! Each new year ushers in a different set of hopes and goals for the coming months, but one in particular continuously tops the list: becoming better organized.

    With the holiday season firmly in the rearview mirror and children back at school, now is the time to get started. For some, tackling organizational challenges is easier said than done, and oftentimes just not even knowing where to begin may make the project feel overwhelming. Recognizing this, Houston organizational expert Carroll Cartwright of Neatly & Co. has some tips and tricks for getting organized, as well as sharing her local go-to spots for her favorite organizational accoutrements.

    Neatly & Co Carroll Cartwright

    Photo by Rachel Manning

    Neatly & Co. founder Carroll Cartwright.

    Cartwright founded Neatly & Co in 2020 when — like so many others — she found herself working her corporate job from home. What started as a personal quest to declutter her own cabinets and closets has grown into a business with 10 employees that serviced 158 clients in 2024 alone.

    “It turns out that I really love it,” Cartwright tells CultureMap. What’s more — she’s great at it. Her thoughtfully-designed and practical storage solutions put Cartwright on the radars of top interior designers like Kara Childress and Benjamin Johnston, the likes of which consult Neatly & Co. during the planning stages of their new builds and remodeling projects to ensure that clients receive truly bespoke solutions that align beauty with functionality.

    “Most clients want to feel like they’re walking into The Four Seasons Hotel when they come home,” Cartwright says. It’s this epiphany that led Neatly & Co. to offer end-to-end move management in addition to their organizational services. These stress-free transitions are what clients have come to expect from working with top interior designers, and Cartwright and her team blend seamlessly into that turn-key realm. Organizing, packing, and unpacking ensure a chaos-free experience for clients during what could otherwise be a stressful experience — and Cartwright is a pro.

    Here are Carroll Cartwright’s top eight steps to getting organized in the new year:

    • Start with a Plan: Write down every area in your home. Identify spaces that feel the most stressful or daunting to tackle. This is your task list!
    • Pick Your Priority: Assess how much time you have and choose a project you can complete in that timeframe. Thinking you can do your house alone in one day is not realistic! When getting started, go for an easy win! Starting small (like under the sink or a single closet) can help you build momentum to then continue tackling other areas of the house.
    • Create a Centralized Sorting Zone: Before taking on an area, designate a spot for the purge AKA items you’re donating, selling, or throwing away. Once you’re done with one area, handle those piles before moving on.
    • My Foolproof Method for Organizing Any Area:
      Purge – Start by removing everything from the space and letting go of items you no longer use, need, or love.
      Categorize – Group similar items together to understand what you have and how they fit into your space. Now that you have your categories, do a second sweep and reduce any extra duplicates you don’t need. Of course there are exceptions, but you really don’t need more than 1 or 2 of any single item!
      Consolidate – Combine like items to streamline your belongings, ensuring everything has a clear home.
      Curate – Thoughtfully choose which items to keep and arrange them in a way that feels functional, intentional, and visually pleasing.
    • Complete Each Area Fully: Always finish one area before moving on to the next to avoid feeling overwhelmed and leaving areas undone.
    • Make It Functional: Organization only works when it makes sense for your lifestyle and daily needs. Keep frequently used items in logical spots. For example, your cutlery drawer should be near the dishwasher for easy unloading. Create designated areas for common clutter areas like countertops and mail.
    • Use Dividers and Organizers: Compartmentalize drawers and cabinets using dividers to group items by category for easy access.
    • Daily Maintenance for Clarity: End each day by tidying surfaces like countertops and desks. This ensures a mentally clear space for the next day. Beginning the day with a clean environment boosts productivity!

    If bespoke cabinet, closet, and drawer inserts aren’t in the budget, fun, off-the-shelf items work great.

    “Depending on what you’re looking for, I love Rejuvenation, Restoration Hardware, Kuhl-Linscomb, and The Container Store,” she says. “It’s more fun to be unique when looking for product! I also always look at home stores like Biscuit Home for fun storage items or antique stores around town for bins or, like, an antique drip-dry for a laundry room! Makes it more bespoke and sets you apart!”

    Regardless of whether one chooses to repurpose items from around the house or pop around town for fresh, new (or antique) finds, one thing is for certain — the only way to finish a project is to start one. Good luck!

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    more than floors

    70s revival and layers of style lead design expert's top tile trends

    Emily Cotton
    Jan 16, 2026 | 11:00 am
    Home design trend tile wall Floor & Decor
    Courtesy of Floor & Decor
    In 2026, bold statement tile is reaching far beyond kitchens and bathrooms.

    Year after year, trend forecasting is all the rage come January. From bold flooring to cream-colored kitchens, a pair of themes ties all of 2026’s home design trends together — organic materials and vintage vibes reign supreme.

    This week, economical designer and DIY-weekend-warrior favorite Floor & Decor released its four top style predictions, plus its 2026 “Tiles of the Year.” Interestingly, tile is extending its reach beyond the typical wet space parameters. Think bold statement walls in dining and living rooms, and fun textures and patterns splayed across tabletops. When it comes to tile, 2026 is shaping up to be the year of “why not?!”

    Trends this year draw from a wide range of influences — vintage eras, natural elements, and inventive material combinations — allowing homeowners and designers to reimagine kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces in distinctive ways.

    “We're craving the comfort of nostalgia. Vintage-inspired tile is surging, especially styles that nod to the 70s with warm tones, textures, and patterns,” Ashley Biscan, design and trend expert at Floor & Decor tells CultureMap. “What makes this revival feel current is the balance against clean lines and modern installation, so it feels intentional and pays homage, as opposed to feeling dated.”

    As far as application is concerned, Biscan points out that tiling walls in dining and living rooms is more in line with a renaissance than a revelation. “Although wall tile might seem unconventional in a dining room, it's more traditional than some might think and harkens back to charming design eras,” explains Biscan. “This year, style is all about curating personal statements through layers of texture, pattern, and color in key gathering spaces. Every dinner party needs a conversation piece, after all.”

    Trendy Houstonians and Round Top regulars — arguably cut from the same cloth — have no doubt taken notice of tiled tabletops popping up everywhere from top shops to the see-and-be-scene patio at the new Hotel Daphne in The Heights.

    “Seeing tile used in unexpected places like tabletops or coffee tables reflects a broader shift toward material-driven design and handmade craftsmanship,” says Biscan. “There are durable options that work really well in these formats that are both functional and beautiful and truly one of a kind.”

    Looking to incorporate tile into an unconventional room or furniture piece, but can’t seem to commit? Mixing and matching new tile trends into somewhat of a quilt or tapestry design is not something to fear.

    “Mixing and matching tile is a clever way to enrich a space, add character, and make it personal,” shares Biscan. “To keep an eclectic look cohesive, layer tiles within the same color palette. A popular example with warm neutrals is the combination of depth and texture through natural stone and ceramic zellige combinations.”

    "This year's design trends celebrate both nature's richness and the joy of personal expression," says Biscan. "From earthy palettes and textured materials to layered patterns and tailored combinations, every space can feel thoughtful and dynamic. The Vetta Elements Collection in Luxe Earth captures this spirit perfectly, offering versatile ways to mix colors, textures, and formats for interiors that are both sophisticated and uniquely personal."

    Biscan has named Luxe Earth from the Vetta Elements Collection as the Floor & Decor Tile of the Year. A versatile porcelain tile designed to elevate any space, its rich, earthy tones bring warmth to both indoor and outdoor settings, providing a welcoming foundation. With a mix-and-match approach, homeowners and designers can experiment with sizes, colors, and patterns to craft a personalized look that is durable enough for high-traffic areas yet refined enough for feature walls. Vetta Elements demonstrates how design-forward style and practicality can coexist seamlessly.

    As promised, here is Floor & Decor's 2026 Design Trends Forecast, showcasing interiors that are bold and full of character.

    Retro Rhapsody: 70s Revival with Modern Edge
    Warm nostalgia meets contemporary polish as the spirit of the 1970s reenters the home. Saturated hues, sculptural forms, and rich wood finishes create spaces that feel expressive yet intentional. Deep ambers, soft burgundies, and smoky neutrals pair with geometric patterns, curved silhouettes, and tactile materials to bring depth and personality to kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas. When balanced with clean lines and refined finishes, these retro influences feel inviting and distinctly current.

    Crème Brûlée Kitchens: Warm Neutrals Reimagined
    The classic white kitchen is being refreshed through toasted neutrals, with layers of vanilla, eggshell, and Swiss Coffee bringing warmth and depth to the heart of the home without sacrificing brightness. Subtle tonal variation across cabinetry, surfaces, and finishes creates a cohesive, elevated look that feels timeless yet indulgent.

    Lush Landscape: Organic Depth and Texture
    Natural influence is taking a more textural, tonal form. Colors drawn from earth, sand, and sky are interpreted through layered finishes and pronounced surfaces, adding richness and dimension to interiors with material-driven spaces and an emphasis on depth and organic continuity.

    Eclectic Artistry: Personalized Layers of Style
    Mix eras, textures, and patterns to create bold and unexpected combinations that tell a story with nods to the past. Intentional combinations of color and material create spaces that feel layered and unmistakably personal.

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