a

s a professional organizer, Amanda

Catalanotto appreciates the value of a

well-edited home, though she learned it

the hard way. When Hurricane Katrina

flooded the bungalow she shared with her

husband, Scott, and son, Branson, the family lost most of

their possessions. They moved to Ponchatoula, about an

hour north of New Orleans. “That experience really

helped me as an organizer to keep perspective. If you

don’t use it or love it, you don’t need it,” she says. Amanda

decorated her family’s new home with calming colors

and comfortable furnishings. While there’s definitely a

practical side to the Louisiana home, looks matter too.

She uses attractive storage containers, such as baskets

and bowls, to organize their belongings. Fresh flowers

and botanical prints accent the entire house, including

Amanda’s favorite room—her closet. “It’s important to

feel wonderful in a room, because that will inspire you to

keep it organized,” she says.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS JANUARY 2009 3 7