Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zyskowski Family

Kuirsta, 33; John, 35; Jack, 5; Drew, 2; and Will, 11 months.

Our kitchen is a dumping ground.
To keep tabs on her three little ones, Kuirsta Zyskowski had long handled the family’s business and social affairs from a laptop while seated at the kitchen island. There, papers piled up, only to get stuffed into drawers when the family had company, which meant endless searching later for that bill, that letter, and even the phone. When husband John prepared a meal, he had trouble finding an uncluttered spot.

The Goal: To create a more functional work area for Kuirsta and free up the island and the countertops for cooking.

The Game Plan: Real Simple turned Kuirsta’s makeshift office into command central with an array of wall-mounted tools: a magnet board, a magnetic calendar, a magazine pocket, a mail bin, and a multislot organizer. A rolling file cabinet (it slides into the adjacent pantry when not in use) keeps paperwork in order. With the surfaces clear, John can use the island and the counter to the left of the stove for food prep.

The Verdict: Kuirsta is thrilled that her papers are sorted and easily accessible. And John is a happy cook: “Before, I’d be cutting an onion on an electric bill — we couldn’t work simultaneously. Now we can.”