Frequently Asked Questions

Calm Spaces serves busy professionals, neurodiverse individuals and families, people navigating life transitions, and managed estates in the San Francisco Bay Area and Metro Atlanta.

We specialize in ADHD-friendly organizing solutions and creating systems for luxury homes.

We usually aren’t the right fit for clients looking for basic services like tidying up or cleaning, urgent or time-sensitive requests, those looking for a quick fix, or those looking for the lowest-cost option.

Some mental health conditions are not compatible with our service model. Those may include moderate to severe hoarding disorder, severe executive dysfunction (inability to make and keep appointments or pay our invoices), or degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.

We are happy to discuss whether we would be a good fit for your project at your complimentary consultation.

Every professional organizing company does things a little differently. We’ve prepared a walk-through of a typical Calm Spaces organizing project.

The first step is to fill out our contact form and schedule a 20-minute phone or video consultation to discuss your space and determine if we’re the right fit for your needs.

The services you receive will be judgment-free, confidential, and designed for lasting results.

For customized and ADHD-friendly organizing, your participation is key because this service is designed to be one-on-one.

If you prefer a hands-off, full-service experience, our Executive Organizing option may be a better fit. We’ll discuss the best approach for you during your free consultation.

We understand that shame and fear of judgment can be enormous barriers to getting help from an organizer. We are professionals and help people like you every day. While we validate your concerns, we assure you that we are here to help, not judge. We try our best to work with a cheerful, supportive, caring, and non-judgmental attitude. It also helps that we ADORE this work and are deeply fulfilled by helping you.

Every project is different, so we do not provide time estimates. Instead, we focus on a pace that feels right for you, not for us. Organizing work is inherently personal, so you are the key factor when determining the duration of a project. Here are some other things to consider:

Decision-making styles vary from client to client. Some people make quick, confident decisions, while others need more time to think things through. Both are completely valid, and we adjust accordingly.

Endurance looks different for everyone. Some clients prefer full-day sessions and quick momentum, while others work best in shorter sessions spaced out over time.

The level of service varies as well. Some clients come to us for a single strategy session, while others choose ongoing support over months or even years.

Because of these variables, timelines aren’t something we can predict.

Our goal is to create systems that truly work for your life, not to meet a fixed deadline.

Please read our Gift Policy.

Organizing is collaborative, personal, and sometimes emotional work, so we like for clients to contact us themselves when they feel ready to start. We need to ensure we’re a good fit and that we have the skills and capacity for the project.

We require a consultation before any work begins, and all adults in the household whose belongings will be organized must consent to our services.

You’re welcome to offer to pay for our services as a gift. To respect client confidentiality, the client must retain us directly, and any payment arrangements can be made privately once they do.

While our services cannot be a surprise, they can still be a thoughtful gift for someone who has expressed interest in working with an organizer and feels ready to begin.

We may not be the best option if you need immediate assistance. We typically book out about 4 weeks in advance and aren't set up to accommodate emergencies. However, please feel free to reach out to verify our availability for your situation.

Kenna grew up in Marietta, GA (a suburb north of Atlanta) and moved to San Francisco in 2009. While San Francisco is her primary residence, maintaining a presence in Georgia has always been important to her. When she started Calm Spaces, it felt natural to offer her services to her old community.

Kenna travels back and forth and spends about 6 weeks in San Francisco and 4 weeks in Atlanta, but this can vary depending on her clients’ needs.

She loves the challenges of working in two very different locations. Sign up for our newsletter so you receive her travel updates and know when she will be in your city.

We work in-person with clients Monday - Friday 9am to 6pm. We have some evening hours available for virtual organizing sessions. We do not work weekends or national holidays.

We don’t post exact pricing because costs can vary depending on your location, the complexity of your project, and the types of services you need.

We have prepared a pricing page so you can see a general range of typical project costs.

Because our work is highly customized and project scope can shift as we go, we don’t provide quotes or estimates for residential projects. Instead, we work on a session-by-session model. Clients stay in control of how often we meet and how long they’d like to continue based on their goals, availability, and priorities.

After your free 20-minute consultation, we will be able to send you relevant session-based pricing for your project.

Please see our pricing page for further details.

For California clients, we can service most locations in the San Francisco Bay Area including the City of San Francisco, Marin, East Bay, Peninsula, and some parts of the South Bay. We also service American Canyon, Yountville, St. Helena, Napa, and Calistoga.

For Georgia clients, our basic service area is North Metro Atlanta. We routinely see clients in Cobb County, Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, Smyrna, Vinings, Roswell, Alpharetta, Woodstock, John’s Creek, Brookhaven, Buckhead, Chastain Park, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Druid Hills, and Virginia Highlands.

We will extend our service area on a case-by-case basis, but our services may be limited and a surcharge may apply for long commutes.

Please cancel appointments respectfully. We turned down clients who wanted your time slot.

For cancellations within 24-hours of an appointment, we charge the full amount of your booked services.

We may apply a different cancellation policy for large jobs or full-day bookings.

We don’t offer full-service move management at this time. Our team members specialize in creating systems for individuals and families with ADHD or other brain-based conditions. Because our rates reflect our specialties, we aren’t cost-competitive for standard packing work.

Additionally, because of the high demand for our services, we are usually too booked to accommodate the shifting schedules and uncertainty of moves.

That said, moving is a great time to get organized, so we are happy to offer our services in conjunction with your move. Pre- or post-move decluttering, thoughtful unpacking, space planning, layout advice, closet design, and home setup all coordinate well with moves.

We are happy to partner with our trusted local movers to help give you a seamless experience whenever possible and with enough notice.

While we genuinely want to help as many people as possible, there are times when we may need to decline a project. We might say no if:

• The location is too far from our current client load, or we don’t have a qualified staff member close enough to help you.

• The project is too large, too small, or too difficult for us to handle effectively.

• The environment isn’t safe (e.g. mold or bio-hazard concerns).

• We cannot meet a client’s expectations.

• There’s a personality conflict. We all need to feel comfortable working together.

• There’s a lack of respect, either for us, for each other (such as between couples), or for our policies and boundaries.

• The client has hoarding disorder (click here for more information about what that means).

We strive to ensure every client has a positive and productive experience, and sometimes that means choosing not to accept a project.

Click here to read our Third-Party Inquiry Policy.

House managers, estate managers, personal assistants, and company representatives are welcome to contact us directly if they or their staff will be our primary point of contact for the project.

Otherwise, we strongly prefer prospective clients to reach out to us themselves. Organizing is a highly collaborative and personal service, and we need to assess fit directly with the individual we will be working with.

If you are reaching out on behalf of a friend, family member, spouse, boss, client, or adult child, they must attend the consultation if we will be working with them one-on-one. We do not conduct consultations about someone without them present, and we do not speak with third parties to receive “background information,” warnings, or personal opinions about the client or their home situation.

Speaking directly with the client helps us build trust, understand their goals, and maintain their dignity and privacy throughout the process.

You are welcome to attend the consultation alongside them if they would like your support. Our scheduling system allows multiple participants to join the consultation.

You can read all about Kenna Lee’s education and credentials on our About page.

Our Lead and Assistant Organizers are required to pass a comprehensive background check, complete our training program, and receive ongoing education from leading professional instructors in our industry.

Lead Organizers must also complete an apprenticeship where they receive project management training, academic education in brain-based conditions, and one-on-one experience with clients.

We hire sensitive, compassionate people who are devoted to helping others.

As a business, Calm Spaces, Inc. is insured, registered, licensed, and permitted.

Confidentiality is a foundational part of our services, so we do not connect prospective clients with past clients or share their contact information.

We would apply the same respect and discretion to you if you become our client.

If you’d like to hear from our past clients, please review our client testimonials and Google reviews, which our clients have volunteered to share publicly.

Absolutely. We abide by the NAPO Code of Ethics which requires us to keep all client interactions confidential. This applies to any documents we may see, things we discuss during our sessions, what kind of work we are doing together, and the fact that you are our client. We may be required to report situations like elder abuse, domestic violence, or illegal activity to local authorities.

Yes. We use photos and videos as our primary record-keeping for in-person organizing. We allow clients to opt-out of using photos for our website and social media, and we never post sensitive or identifiable client information.