We have a pretty phenomenal team here at Room to Breathe, so we figured it would be time well spent to take a moment and formally introduce everyone - sharing a bit about what they love, and uncovering some of the behind-the-scenes magic that makes Room to Breathe thrive.
First up, we have Indianna McMechan - our passionate and dedicated leader, outdoor enthusiast, adventure-seeker, world-traveler, incredible mother, bright ray of sunshine, and talented professional home organizer.
Grab a cup of tea, and get to know Indi!
What do you love about organizing? How did you get started?
I LOVE the feeling of being able to lift such a huge weight off our clients shoulders. Life gets crazy sometimes and being able to support our clients in creating a home that's cozy, refreshing, relaxing and a place where they can focus on what matters most is why I love doing what we do.
I finished my degree in something totally unrelated and wasn't loving what I was doing. I asked myself what I do love doing and organizing was the first thing that came to mind. Through a quick google search, I found a few organizing companies operating in Calgary - Room to Breathe jumped out and spoke to me the most, aligning with what I wanted to achieve for clients as well as what I wanted my life to feel like. I emailed the previous owner, got hired on, and within 6 months of working together, she decided to sell the company. Immediately my ears perked up and I discussed the idea with my husband - we jumped at the opportunity to buy Room to Breathe pretty fast. It was another 6 months of training and soaking up all the knowledge I could. The previous owner had been one of the first professional organizers in Calgary, working in the industry for over 10 years, so there was so much information to be shared. To this day I am so thankful I got to soak up so much of her wisdom and expertise.
It's been 5 years now since I took over Room to Breathe - we've expanded to new cities, grown an amazing team, and keep getting stronger. I am so excited to see what's in store for us in the years to come!
What’s your favourite space to organize? Where does your organizing light shine the brightest?
I love a good purge! My favorite jobs are ones that take a huge weight off our clients shoulders and out of their houses. We've done many jobs where we take literal truck loads upon truck loads of donation items away. The end result of that kind of lightening is enormous- it's literally life-changing.
What’s your best organizing tip/life-hack?
Hands-down it has to be the continuous tidy. Tidying up as you go. In the morning it starts with making your bed - this sets the tone for the day and creates momentum to continue completing tasks. Throughout the day, focus on always returning things to where they belong. If you're going upstairs, make sure to take the pile on the stairs waiting to go up with you. Perhaps it sounds like a lot of work, but tidying in continuous bite-sized pieces is much more manageable than a daunting full-house mess at the end of the day. One of our motto's is 'a place for everything and everything in its place' - creating a fool-proof system so there is no guessing where things go. This way the whole family can help which is key and creates an organizational system that stands the test of time.
What’s your favourite way to unwind? What do you do for self-care?
I love to get outside and breathe fresh air. I thankfully get to spend a lot of time outside with my husband and son. If its not an outside day or I only have a few minutes, I'll grab my latest on-the-go book and a cup of tea.
What are some of your favourite local businesses?
We get to travel quite a lot between Calgary, Edmonton, and the Fraser Valley, so we get to experience a lot of wonderful local offerings.
Calgary has been our primary home-base as of late - Distilled Beauty Bar and Social House, The Clothing Bar, and Avatara Pizza are some of my top choices.
In Edmonton I often find myself at their amazing cafes getting some computer work done: Cafe Blackbird and The WoodRack Cafe are two places I always come back to.
I grew up in the Fraser Valley and love all the new shops popping up, especially in downtown Abbotsford. The Bow and Stern Restaurant is a regular spot we visit. The Polly Fox Cafe, Cafe Amarti, and Spruce Collective are all faves too.
I am so thankful for all the local businesses working hard to provide us with local goods, sustainability, and community. It's a hard time for so many mom and pop shops - If you're able, vote with your dollars - support local.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
One day I'd love to go paragliding. I'd also love to fly in a helicopter. Something about flying I guess :)
What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
Currently I'm reading The Home Edit - A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals (always making sure I'm up on the latest organizing trends!) It's a quick, lighthearted read, and provides a good organizing foundation.
