Who is Mess Mgmt?

Well, it’s me! Savannah Demy. I’m a Seattle-based interior organizer that offers customizable organizing sessions with the benefits of in-person consultations, mental/emotional guidance throughout the process, personal shopping, unbiased suggestions and advice on relocating/donating belongings, helping in understanding the root cause of your disorganization, and system implementation to ensure future efficiency and spacial awareness.

I’m not super comfortable talking about myself in the third person, because it’s just me in my office, and that feels a little strange. To get past that, I had my friend (who is a professional journalist, so she’s qualified I swear) ask me some questions. If you want to get to know me and Mess Mgmt, here is arguably too much information.

Where did you come from?

I am West Coast born-and-bred, but my over-active brain, inability to sit still, and youthful ambition took me to Austin, TX for awhile, but now I’m back where I feel most like myself in Seattle, WA. While the youth is fading, the ambition is not.

What were you doing before you started Mess Mgmt?

My desire to try my hand at everything has led me from my first job working in a skate/snowboard shop to being a part of production teams at various music venues. I’ve been an executive assistant to a CEO, a personal shopper in a high-fashion boutique, and I’ve managed cocktail bars over many chaotic nights. It’s because of these particular positions I’ve held across different industries, that I operate the way I do. All of these pursuits have honed my ability to always be thinking a few steps ahead while embracing and incorporating my past experiences in the present.

What made you want to move back here?

The Pacific Northwest is home. It’s in my rain-soaked bones. No better place to re-establish your roots than close to family and friends. Being from here, I am keenly aware of the amount of time we all spend indoors during the cold, rainy season. I want to help make sure that people are able to spend as much time as possible in a relaxing, chilled-out environment on those grey days and to get outside on the sunny ones, instead of dreading the laundry room project that has now spilled into the kitchen too.

Tell us about the process of moving into a brand new house.

My moving process is the same as all of my other ones: one step at a time. One box, one room, one dish at a time. Otherwise you’ll surround yourself with so much chaos and disorder that you’re bound to just slump down on the floor in tears, looking at the mess that is your entire life, er, house and not be able put one foot in front of the other because all you can see is one giant obstacle course preventing you from getting to the bathroom when you really gotta go. Or is that just me?

Best tip? Always keep one room calm and clean while embarking on a large project, that way you have a place to eat your pizza and watch your Netflix in peace until it’s time to get back to work. 

How did you decide what to bring with you during your move?

If it costs more to move it than to rebuy it, I give it away to someone who could use it. I try to avoid having too much stuff taking up space without purpose, which meant that most of my belongings got packed up for the trip back west.

What challenges do you personally face when setting up a space?

My biggest challenge is always attempting (unnecessarily) to get it right the first time. Trying to decide where all the items are going to live before I even put one book on a shelf. Sometimes my mind wants to skip the rough draft and go straight for the final version.

It’s great to have a general outline of where you want things to go, but you won’t get very far if you don’t take it one step at a time. Know that, most of the time, anything you do can be undone just the same. Don’t be afraid to give something a home even if you’re not sure it’ll stay there forever. I’ve moved a dozen times and I’m doing just fine. Your gravy boat will survive the journey.

How do you keep your space feeling good?

I decide what’s a stresser and what’s less of a priority. A lot of things don’t deserve the energy it takes to be upset about them. We have limited energy, and a lot of things in this world vying for our attention and brain space. To keep your space free of the mayhem, you gotta figure out what’s important to you and focus on that. Pay attention to all 5 (or more!) senses and how they make you feel. Never discount the experiences that you may think are strange or insignificant. Try incorporating them into your daily life or living space. They may just be a small piece of a puzzle you felt was missing. For me, personally, it’s just a few simple things that keep my home feeling chill: 

-making my bed everyday

-keeping my coffee table uncluttered

-having incense/candles burning

-playing neo-classical piano music at an almost inaudible volume

-enjoying a small dish of candy next to my computer always

They might be small, but they’re definitely not insignificant.

How does your personal experience relate to your professional process?

My personal experience created my professional process and business. At certain times in my life I felt like there wasn’t space in this world for me to call my own. Whether it was growing up sharing a bedroom and bathroom with my sister, dividing up an old house amongst 3 roommates, or moving into a romantic partner’s apartment--I always felt like I was being asked to make myself small and keep my things out of the way. Then I got a little older, a little wiser, and a lot more aware of the fact that we all deserve space in this world to call our own, and to make that space feel great. I want to help people create spaces that fulfill them.