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MAXIMIZE A KITCHEN CORNER

An awkward nook can be a blessing in disguise. Adding slim Ekby Jarpen shelves ($15 each, ikea. com) to this one turned it into Aaron’s sacred space. “Baking is his digital detox. He uses this spot as a hideaway for his supplies,” says Anne. On the other wall, an Ikea combo—Ekby Osten shelves, plus Sektion kitchen cabinets and Ringhult doors—acts as a mealtime station, with dishes up top and bottle parts and other baby gear below.

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MAX OUT A LAUNDRY CLOSET

Wall-to-wall cabinetry helps the family utilize every inch of space. What looks like a graphic grid— set off by cheeky Sissy + Marley wallpaper—is actually a modular system of four Sektion cabinet frames, each with shelving inside and multiple Veddinge doors, all from Ikea. “We needed cabinets, not open shelves, because this is where we hide the stuff we don’t want people to see: extra diapers, shampoo, toolboxes,” says Anne. “It’s the equivalent of a suburban garage.”

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The vets willsee younow

LETTHE FUR FLY!ANSWERSTOYOUR HAIRIEST PET QUESTIONS.

Q.

Healthy choice

Is it worthwhile to buy pet insurance for my new puppy? If so, what should I look for in coverage?

T.S., viaFacebook

A. It’s your choice whether you want to roll the dice, but many pros recommend coverage. Plans start at roughly $40 a month, but a weeklong hospital bill for an extreme injury or illness could run you $20,000, veterinarian Nancy Kay points out. Ask your vet to recommend carriers. The percentage of costs each plan will pay varies, and most plans have a deductible or put a cap on certain conditions. Look for a plan that lets you visit any vet and covers any conditions your breed is predisposed to. (Dachshunds, for example, commonly have back problems; German shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia.) To compare plans, go to petinsurancereview.com.

Q.

Pill standstill It’s nearly impossible to get my dog to take his heartworm medicine. Any ideas?

P.L., viaFacebook

A. Some harmless hoodwinking may be in order, says trainer Mikkel Becker. Her go-to move is the “three-treat trick”: Wrap the pill in a slice of cheese, then cover it with xylitol-free peanut butter (most mainstream brands are), or insert it

Written by

Sarah Grossbart

Photograph by

Shaina Fishman

THE PET EXPERTS

MIKKEL BECKER,

certified animal trainer for Vetstreet.com.

KAREN FAUNT, D.V.M.,

Banfield Pet Hospital, Vancouver, Washington.

NANCY KAY, D.V.M.,

author of Speaking for Spot.

KAREN ROSENTHAL, D.V.M.,

St. Matthew’s University, Grand Cayman, British West Indies.

into a hollow snack, like Greenies Pill Pockets ($10, greenies.com). In quick succession, give your dog one of his usual treats, then the disguised pill, then another of his usual treats. Most dogs won’t notice (or taste) the hidden pill. If yours still rejects it, though, ask your vet about switching to a monthly topical ointment or twice-yearly injections, says veterinarian Karen Faunt. They can be pricier, but they’re equally effective at protecting your dog’s ticker. “Plus,” says Faunt, “there’s the added bonus of saving your sanity.”

Q.

Caged and confused

We’ve had two male gerbils in the same cage for a few years without incident. But the other day they were fighting, so I separated them. Can I get them back together?

M.B., viaFacebook

A. Gerbils generally play well with others, but just as with any roommatesin-close-quarters situation, squabbles can happen. They’re often triggered by a small thing—say, possessiveness over food or a new toy—which can be resolved with a coolingoff period. One way to do it: Keep the gerbils in separate cages for a week; then, when you’re home and able to observe, bring them together for short periods—one hour to start, gradually increasing to full-time over the next few weeks. If there’s still friction, it’s a good idea to schedule a vet exam, as many common ailments can cause behavioral changes. Clean bill of health but the gerbils still can’t “keep it clean”? You may need to split them up for good.

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A beautiful mess My daughter’s art supplies are everywhere. Regular bins never seem big enough, and larger baskets become a big jumble. Help!

M.T., viaFacebook

First crack down with a clean-out. Go through all the bins and toss the junk (dried-out markers, empty glitter vials). Sort the keepers into categories—beads, stickers, paints—then give each a home. Clear containers (Stackable acrylic case drawers, $13 each, muji.us) and wall-mounted ones (Perch magnetic containers, from $8 each, container store.com) work best. Grouping the entire crafts stash in one art zone—say, a desk area or a bedroom corner— can keep supplies from spreading into other rooms and taking over the house.

Illustration by

The Ellaphant in the Room

Ask the Organizer

Behind closed drawers

My house looks immaculate until you open a drawer or a closet. How do I neaten them up?

J.N., viaFacebook

Big, open areas invite mess, so the key is to compartmentalize—but declutter first so you’re not buying solutions for issues you don’t really have. Whether you’re dealing with clothing or kitchen tools, the easiest approach is to tackle one drawer or shelf at a time: Empty it and weed out duplicates or items that you don’t use (to donate or toss), then structure it with dividers or compartments (like bamboo drawer organizer trays, from $7 each, containerstore. com). Still struggling? You may need to boost your storage space. For example, swap out a dresser for another with deeper drawers or install an extra shelf in your pantry or armoire.

Savings plan

Where should I draw the line at how many keepsakes to keep?

P.D., viaFacebook

Mementos have one of two purposes: to display or to save. It’s easy to go overboard if you’re not arranging the “display” keepsakes in a deliberate way. Cramming one onto a cluttered shelf is a sign to let go of it (or something else). Items that you want to save—personal letters, a ribbon from third grade—need

DECLUTTERING PRO ERIN ROONEY DOLAND, BASEDIN THE WASHINGTON,D.C., AREA, TACKLES YOUR TOUGHEST ORGANIZING ISSUES.

physical limitations. Give each family member an airtight container to keep on a high shelf in a closet (Rubbermaid 14-gallon tote, $25, amazon.com). When it’s full, something needs to drop out before you add more. Have some boxed-up objects that you want to see more often? Photograph them and create a slide show to run as your screen saver.

GOT A QUESTION? Submit it at realsimple. com/organizing.

STREAMLINE WITH STYLE

Forget spring-cleaning: autumn is where it’s at. Feel ready for anything during the busiest time of the year with smart and stylish solutions from Real Simple.

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PRETTY SMART

The latest beauty productsand tips thatsave time, money, and—best of all—your sanity.

Written by Heather Muir Photographs by Ralph Smith

Makes yousmile

Thrive Causemetics names all its product shades after powerful women, and for every product sold, one is donated to a woman undergoing cancer treatment. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, or toxins, its newest product—Glossy Lip Mark ($26, thrivecausemetics. com)—is a silky, longlasting lip stain.

SURPRISE! This shade is called Pamela— after an RS copy editor and cancer survivor. Watch as we unveil the shade to Pam at realsimple.com/pamela.