North Bay Woman

12 NORTH BAY WOMAN | F A L L 2 0 1 9 By PJ Bremier "T here is nothing sweeter than a house full of loved ones during the holidays and it's something that I relish," says Pam Benetz Parker, a San Rafael resident. "I want all of our houseguests to feel totally at home and comfortable while they're with us and to enjoy their visit." Benetz Parker is a professional organizer who founded the Marin-based firm, Life Well Organized. The former paralegal, who was noted for her ability to organize — and find at a moment's notice countless trial exhibits — now puts her "super powers" toward organizing other people's homes and offices, helping them downsize. "I've been organizing my whole life," she figures, pointing out that she used to reorganize her furniture even in her childhood. When it comes to organizing the spaces of others, she always asks clients what being organized looks like to them as a starting point. "Not everyone needs to live in an Architectural Digest style home, but maybe they don't want to be in a fight with the kids or lose time in the morning finding things," she says. An additional challenge is always being ready to receive holiday or last-minute guests. With relatives from Switzerland and Argentina and friends from out-of-town, her home is always ready to welcome guests. For Benetz Parker, besides supplying the guest room and bathroom with fresh linens and fluffy towels, she also finds ways to give guests enough space for their belongings such as clearing the tops of dressers and providing a bench at the end of the bed for an impromptu luggage rack. "I also edit, purge and make space in the closet for guests' clothing as well as add extra hangers," she insists. Guests are coming! How to prep your home for the holidays "T Above: Pam Benetz Parker suggests providing a bench at the end of the bed for an impromptu luggage rack. Left: Guest toiletries on hand for visitors. Below: Pam Benetz Parker. – Photos courtesy of Life Well Organized

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