1Coach
Learn how to do it yourself.
I help you build the skills, confidence, and practical systems to organize your space and keep it running. You do the work, with a plan you understand and someone in your corner.
Professional organizing & space solutions
Life is messy. Call The Mess Doctor.
No shame. No blame. Just grace and a plan that works for you.
Serving the Greater Ann Arbor Area, MI
Organize
Systems that fit how you actually live.Declutter
Finally, a space you can use.
Stage
Love the space you’re in.Downsize
A lifetime of memories, one decision at a time.
Systems that fit how you actually live.DeclutterFinally, a space you can use.Love the space you’re in.DownsizeA lifetime of memories, one decision at a time.Serving residential & commercial clients
However you like to work
Three Ways to Work Together
Everyone needs a different kind of help. Some people want to learn how to do it themselves. Others want someone working alongside them. And sometimes, you just want someone to take care of it. We'll find the approach that feels right for you.
1
2Collaborate
Work on it together.
We'll work side by side to rethink your space, figure out what works best, and make it happen. I'll bring fresh ideas, practical solutions, and the know-how to help us get it right.
3Concierge
Let me take care of it.
Tell me what you want the space to do, and I'll handle the work. You get a finished space, not another project to manage.
Any service can be done any of these ways, and plenty of projects are a mix. We'll agree on the approach and the scope before I start.
Services
Different problems. Different kinds of help.
A messy pantry, a crowded garage, a room that needs a fresh look, and a parent's downsizing are different problems. Here's how I can help with each.
Organizing
Systems that fit how you actually live.
Pantries, closets, drop zones, and the rooms everyone uses every day. I start with the space and storage you already have, and set it up around your routines, not someone else's.
What you getThings have a home, and putting them back is easy enough to keep doing.
Decluttering
Finally, a space you can use.
Garages, basements, spare rooms, and the projects you keep putting off. We sort through it together at a pace that works for you, and I help the things you're done with find their way out.
What you getRoom to breathe, and a space you can finally use the way you wanted.
Staging & styling
Love the space you’re in.
Getting a home ready to sell, or giving a room a fresh start for how you use it now. I arrange the furniture and the things you love so the space looks good and feels good to be in.
What you getA room that looks put together and that you actually enjoy spending time in.
Downsizing & life transitions
A lifetime of memories, one decision at a time.
Moving to a smaller home, settling into a new one, or helping a parent through a big change. Possessions with stories attached deserve care. We take it one decision at a time, and those decisions stay with you and your family.
What you getReal progress, without rushing the personal stuff.
Projects can include
Everyday organizing, storage planning, decluttering, downsizing, getting a home ready to sell, and unpacking after a move. Have a business or shared space? I help there, too.
How I work
Bins are not a strategy.
A cluttered pantry isn't always a storage problem. Sometimes it's a routine problem. A closet can have plenty of room and the wrong layout. So I start by figuring out what's actually going on. Sometimes the answer is better storage. Often it's getting rid of things, moving what's left, or using the space differently.
- 1
Understand
I listen to what you want to change, and we look at how the space gets used day to day.
- 2
Decide
We sort out priorities together. What stays and what goes is your call.
- 3
Set up
I organize the space, starting with what you already own. If something is worth buying, we talk about it first.
- 4
Make it usable
I show you how the system works, then adjust it once real life has tested it.
For the spaces where work happens
Work is hard enough without the scavenger hunt.
Stockrooms, supply closets, and shared equipment rooms get messy fast when lots of people use them. I take on business projects that are a good fit, and I'll tell you straight if yours isn't.
Got an unusual space? Tell me about it, and I'll let you know whether it's something I can take on.
See workspace possibilities →
Meet Kim
Yes, I'm a doctor. Just not that kind.
My doctorate is in Educational Leadership. I've spent years leading people, managing projects, and solving problems that didn't come with instructions. It turns out that's good training for closets.
I can make your closet look great. But if the system doesn't match the way you actually get dressed, it won't stay that way. And then what was the point? I'd rather build something that fits your habits, your routines, and how much upkeep you're really willing to do.
Kim Hewitt, PhDFounder, The Mess Doctor
A note from Kim: Please don't clean up before I come over, and there's no need to apologize for anything. I'm not there to judge the before. I'm there to help with what comes next.
Good to know
Questions, answered.
Don't see yours? Just ask.
Do I need to clean up before you come?
No. Please don't. Seeing how the space really gets used, mess included, helps me set it up so it works for you.
What if I'm embarrassed about how it looks?
You're not the first person to feel that way, and you don't have to explain how it got like this. I've seen plenty of real homes. We'll focus on what you want to change and get to work.
Which way of working is right for me?
That's up to you. Some people want coaching so they can do it themselves, some want me working alongside them, and some want me to take care of it. Many projects mix all three. We'll talk it through before we start.
Will you make me throw things away?
No. What you keep is up to you. I might ask whether you really need four colanders, but I won't decide for you. Then I'll help you organize what stays.
Do I have to buy new bins or shelving?
Not necessarily. I start with the space and storage you already have. If a product or a new layout would genuinely help, we'll talk about it before you buy anything.
Can you help with a parent's downsizing?
Yes. I can help sort, organize, and keep the process moving. Sentimental, legal, and financial decisions stay with you and your family.
Do you do full-service moving?
No. I don't transport belongings or manage the whole move. Once your movers have dropped everything off, I can help you unpack and set up the new place.
Can you install new shelves or cabinetry?
I can help you plan and choose storage. Building and installing it is a job for a qualified contractor.
How long will my project take?
It depends on how much there is to sort, how many spaces are involved, how many decisions need making, and whether we need products or outside help. You'll get a scope and an estimate before we start.
Is The Mess Doctor a medical service?
No. I organize homes. I don't treat people. The "Doctor" comes from my doctorate in Educational Leadership, and from my habit of figuring out what's wrong before deciding how to fix it.
Where do you work?
I serve the Greater Ann Arbor Area, MI. Not sure if you're in range? Ask.
How do I get started?
Call or send me a note. Tell me about the space, what's going on, and what you'd like to be easier. We'll figure out whether it's a good fit and where to start.
Spaces I work in
Not just closets. Though yes, closets.
Illustrative images. They are not photos of client projects.
A thought from The Mess Doctor
Life is messy. Call The Mess Doctor.
Have a space I haven't mentioned? Tell me about it →Get in touch
You don't need to have it figured out before you call.
Tell me which space or situation is giving you trouble. No apologies or explanations needed. I'll help you figure out where to start.