Oak Park Downsizing

Walter and June were moving from the house where they had raised four children into a two-bedroom apartment in a senior community. They needed help deciding what to take as much as help moving it.

Only about a third of the furniture would fit. The rest was going to family, a donation centre and an estate sale on different dates.

• Floor plan: We measured the new apartment and marked which pieces would fit where.
• Sorting: Colour tags for keep, family, donate and sale, agreed room by room with the couple.
• Three trips: One move to the apartment, two deliveries to their children, and one drop-off at the donation centre.

The apartment was set up with pictures hung on the first day. Their daughter told us it was the first time her parents had looked relaxed in months.