Colleen helped us move back in after a remodel, and she was a lifesaver. I was completely overwhelmed by the boxes, and she broke it all down so it felt doable. She's friendly, easy to work with, and fast. We got so much done in each session. I also appreciated that she used the containers I already had instead of pushing to buy a bunch of new stuff. She only suggested buying something when we actually needed it. Highly recommend! read more

Colleen has helped us with a number of our chaotic life transitions in the last few years, from moving across the bay to helping prepare for our newborn, to just helping with a very messy closet. Her own experience with small children has helped give us some direction as to how to plan for kid's storage. The second she arrives, she throws herself headfirst into any messy situation, providing plenty of design and purchasing guidance without breaking the bank. She will work on her own given a vision, or work side-by-side with you to help with spring cleaning, packing for a move-out, refurbishing a closet, anything! She has the decision-making and planning prowess of a wedding planner, but also gets sh*t DONE! I never feel like we've wasted a cent on her services, and we'll certainly be back as our lives continue to get more chaotic raising a family. Thanks Colleen! read more

Colleen is incredible. All the positives listed in the other reviews is exactly why her style of organizing worked so well for us. She is fast, decisive, and hands-on. I can't handle to-do lists when it comes to our home, and Colleen was so hands-on that I felt the parts of the home she worked on were just...finished. And ready to live in! For example, our garage was a sad mess and I cringed every time I drove in and out of it. We had envisioned an in-home gym in the garage, which was impossible given the state it was in. This had been a dream for years that we never moved forward on. But after two sessions with Colleen, the garage is more clean and clear than I could have imagined, and we are able to take the next steps for this home gym! She also provided us with a complete list of larger to-do that would improve the home (cabinetry, furniture, that kind of stuff). So even though she's hands-on and made our garage, dining room, and master bedroom beautiful and useable right away, she was also able to put together a fantastic vision for the entire home in a way I could have never imagined. It doesn't hurt that she is down to earth and hilarious, too. Worth every penny. Thank you, Colleen! read more

Colleen helped transform our home. A long-standing project was on hold for years; Colleen made the space for it to happen in one afternoon. She has the ability to imagine the best of a space. We had a guest coming and only one additional room currently used as an office. She transformed not only our guest room, but thought of--and implemented--a creative and workable solution for a second office space in our small home. Thank you, Colleen! read more

If you need the best organizer ever, look no further. Colleen is a magical, organizer, helper goddess! We started with my shed, and I'm not sure how she did it, but while we were working together, side by side for hours, making give away and keep piles, she had managed to make a list of everything in my shed and gave me the best to do list to keep it going. She created systems and spaces in my tiny shed making it so much more functional inside and out. Colleen is a true professional, she knows what she's doing. In my dreams I'd have her come once a month, there's always more to organize at my house. Thank you for everything Colleen. I look forward to working together soon. read more

Working with Colleen over the last decade has been nothing short of a miracle! She has helped me organize inherited items, helped me with two moves and created a space that is elevated and functional. I cannot recommend Colleen enough! She sees the bigger vision and can work in bite size sections or take on the full enchilada. She can curate your space in artistic vision with her trained eye. I can truly say that having Colleen's influence in my space has given me a greater sense of peace-priceless! read more

Colleen was incredible: empathetic, sensitive, efficient, humorous. She guided my brother and I through emptying my mother's house, who was a "collector".... Sifting for gold, donating, recycling and throwing away. It was a pretty overwhelming project. She'd have us tackle the hardest rooms first, work alongside us, give us homework to accomplish between sessions, breaking it down into digestible chunks. I am so, so, so grateful to have had her tackle that milestone project alongside us. read more

There are an abundance of professional organizers who will coach you online or make recommendations without actually doing much work themselves. This hands-off approach leaves you with a long to-do list. There is also a flashy, rainbow-style of organizing that looks good for a moment but leaves you struggling to maintain it. Colleen's method of organizing is neither of these. She is skilled, hands-on and practical. She works fast and implements reliable systems that make your daily life easier, calmer and more efficient. We live in Bethesda, MD and I work with Colleen for a week each year. It's one of the most important investments I've made in my well-being and peace of mind. read more

Colleen came over and gave us an overall vision of the space in a way that we could not have alone. She was fast, clear, and decisive. She suggested editing out some of the furniture pieces and rearranging the others. Once this was done, everything came out of drawers and boxes and she gave us specific tasks to focus on. The space is now transformed and much improved. read more

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to work with Colleen several times over the past 10+ years. She has helped me with office organization, paperwork & filing, revamping my artist studios and so much more. Some of the most valuable support I received was when I moved into my new home. Colleen's thorough consultation addressed every room, focusing on organizational systems and products that would be most beneficial to my specific needs (and budget). I tend to get stuck when there are items around my home and I can't decide, "Is this worth keeping? How would I even get rid of it?" Colleen is excellent at motivating me to get things off my property and donated to the right places, but also provides a fresh perspective which can result in small tweaks to the pieces I already have, helping them work better in my space. It can feel overwhelming for me to tackle some of these areas on my own, but Colleen puts me at ease by holding my hand and walking me through each step so that everything feels aligned. The coaching time we spend together is always filled with fun and laughter, making this process more tolerable and easier for me to digest. My dream would be to have Colleen come once a month and work on organizing projects in various parts of my house, but usually we just get to check in once or twice a year. It feels so supportive to have her expert input and I'm always impressed with the way we are able to shift the energy in my home to a more efficient and productive flow. It's so satisfying to follow through with her suggestions and then come home to a place that feels relaxed and organized. I always look forward to my time Colleen! read more

I had great time working with Colleen when relocating. She was so efficient at organizing and helping me declutter my life's belongings during the transition. It felt easy to work with her and satisfying to meet our goals so quickly. The result was mind blowing. read more

Life coaching at its finest. Colleen helped us to organize our house, home studio and office before, during and after our move. She went though our spaces one by one and not only helped to decide what to keep and what to let go of; she also created an organizational system to complement our lifestyle patterns in the future, and helped to strategize about which things to put in deep storage and which things to keep ready at our fingertips. A great listener but also a great motivator. read more

Colleen is simply amazing! I had a big, big job. I could not have gotten it done without her. Now am saving up for the next phase.

Colleen helped me immensely when I made a huge move from the bay area to a smaller town up north. She is 100% professional and very good at moving things quickly and keeping you on track. Which is some thing I really needed!! She has a very bright positive attitude and it supportive in every way!! You will not be disappointed!! read more

Exactly what I needed. Colleen is incredible at creating organization in literally any circumstance. I was pleasantly surprised at how she made the experience flow and not feel overwhelming. She was able to work with me in a way that was attainable and the results were precisely what I was looking for. read more

Colleen arrived with optimism, expertise, enthusiasm and physical strength. I needed all of her support to completely empty my stuffed garage in two weeks prior to our building's earthquake retrofitting. Endless numbers of boxes, bags, cabinets, shelves and pieces of furniture filled floor and walls, and all were remains of family downsizing, prior dressmaking business, pet rescuing, redecorating, past sports, backpacking and travels - I was overwhelmed! OMG!! Nothing surprised Colleen, not the size of the job or the time limitation, or my inability to carry anything upstairs to my living space. She set me up to sort contents of boxes and bags, all the while she categorized and created zones for donations, deliveries, bulk pickup, Freecycle, street passersby, and carry to upstairs storage locker and apartment. With two sessions, she gave me all the support and confidence I needed to successfully complete the job, down to bare cement. Never could I have done this without Colleen's cheerful guidance and capable, energetic self by my side. Was it worth the $$$? _______ right it was!! Thank you Colleen!!! P.S. I'm 83 and free at last. read more

Colleen is fabulous! She helped me get through 40 years of bins, boxes, and closets, things I haven't looked at in forever. She did an incredible job organizing and keeping me on track. Colleen also did a great job making sure things were recycled and given where they were needed to be without just throwing everything in the garbage. Such a gift and am so grateful for that. I highly recommend her a million times over. read more

Colleen is amazing and has taken us through multiple moves and downsizing experiences that could have been complete nightmares -- I might have to even attribute her to keeping my relationship with my boyfriend in shape! :) Colleen helped us through two major changes: one where we were combining apartments from two one bedrooms into a single apartment and needed an objective 3rd party to help us effectively downsize. For the second, she helped us again downsize and arrange our even smaller one bedroom apartment in San Francisco in a way that we felt comfortable and not cramped! Colleen is so fun to work with while also being insanely efficient - once she walks into your door, if you're ready to go, she's ready to go at lightning speed! One time she sent us to Target to buy some storage boxes... by the time we got home, she had completely emptied both of our dressers, refolded all the clothes, and moved the dressers into opposite rooms! How did she do that so quickly? And how did she lift the dressers by herself? I still attribute that to magic. I talk about Colleen all the time to my friends who are looking for some help getting organized - when I referred her to a young family recently, I got a text back saying that the husband wanted Colleen to take over the world with her organizing empire, and he is a TOUGH customer, so that's quite a rave review! I also love that Colleen is sensitive to the needs of her clients. I have to admit that I don't get rid of things easily, but our interactions are never pushy or feel overwhelming. Colleen supports recycling and donating, which are also very important attributes to me in a personal organizer. In all, if you're looking someone who is going to get you to a place where you can feel proud of your working and living space, call Colleen. You won't regret spending a penny because your quality of life will be so much better afterward! Thank you Colleen! read more

Are you a mess? Let's define "mess" as a state of chaotic confusion that keeps you from your most efficient and productive self. It's okay to admit it. I'm a mess myself. But what if you could shed this persistent state of disarray and become a much clearer, organized you? Colleen Longo is a professional organizer/genius. I swear this woman is a miracle worker. Creative people, family people, business people, really anyone with a busy life and lots of stuff around can benefit from her services. If you're the type of person who constantly loses things in the clutter, has a "project table" that's piled so high it's about to crack, or maybe you're like me - where the "method" to your madness makes sense to no one, including you --this wonderful, sensitive lady can design an organizing system specific to you and your needs. One that's sustainable and productive. Colleen's worked with many different types of clients and spaces - from cramped NYC shoebox offices to large family homes here in the Bay Area. So there's no such thing as impossible. I can not say enough great things about this woman. If you're looking for a magician, give her a call. She'll change your life. http://cpow.biz/index.html read more

I have used Colleen's organizing services several times over the last few years. The projects included home office (work closet & 4 drawer file), bedroom closet, art workshop, kitchen and garage. What has stood out each time is Colleen's full engagement in the process and remarkable efficiency. When she shows up to work, we get to work! Colleen knows what she is doing. She is able to take areas that are clogged with years of accumulated excess, sift through them to remove the things that are not needed and logically organize what's left so everything is easy to find. The spaces she has organized feel so good when she's done that I've found myself going to them over and over again just to have another look! Besides the immediate results of organizing a space, Colleen always leaves me with extremely useful tips that I will incorporate into my daily life forever. The most life changing wisdom I've gained from Colleen is that organizing is a dynamic process. I've lived most of my life feeling like I was falling short because my home was never "done." It may seem obvious to others, but it was life changing to have Colleen reassure me that there is a constant flow to organizing a space or system. There are always things coming in and things going out or things being needed in a new way. This helped me view my home and work spaces as living entities that need occasional maintenance like going to the dentist once a year. Seriously, this one realization alone released decades of self imposed pressure and I cannot thank her enough. If that isn't enough, Colleen brings a developed sense of style and design to her work that sets her apart from the others. This is handy in the obvious ways like wardrobe editing and also in less obvious ways like file placement, tags, storage units and more. Colleen Longo is a true pro. read more

Colleen is incredible at what she does. Is so easy to get mired in old memories when you are m trying to declutter. But Colleen just will not let that happen. Not only did she help me clear out 10 years worth of stuff in about four hours she helped me to create a system that I'm still using a year later. read more

I thought the last thing in the world I would do is hire a professional organizer. It feels so decadent. But, I found myself with no time to pack for a cross country move and wow, why didn't I do this sooner? Colleen was amazing. It was like going to therapy! She gave me some ideas that I think I'll be able to use for life. Colleen helped me get a jumpstart on something that I was completely dreading. Plus she has no judgements regarding your toenail clipper collection or boxes of every wedding invitation you've ever received. She gets you to either toss them or put them to good use. Don't wait for a cross country move to do this. It's worth every last penny. I just wish she'd open a CPOW in the midwest! read more

Collen has helped in a big way with my effort to streamline and organize my home life and business (I work from home). She really is a professional and uses her time very effectively. She shows up, she asks the right questions, and takes stock of what your situation is and where you want to go before proceeding. I would highly recommend Colleen's services if you are ready and willing to move forward yourself. It is not an easy emotional process to get rid of years of flotsam and jetsam, but the pain is far less if you have someone like Colleen on your team. She does ask the hard questions, like "Are you sure you want to hang on to that soiled and ripped piece of paper that had a shopping list on it from 1986?" but those are important questions. Be prepared. read more

CPOW is as good as it gets when it comes to organization. I watched Colleen organize my childhood home front to back, and what a humongous difference it made-- mostly in ways pertaining to: I know where that is! & There aren't random piles of stuff everywhere so no need for stress! The psychic benefits of her work are truly astounding. Colleen compassionately facilitates detachment from objects that are no longer needed in your space, while simultaneously supporting you when an object must be kept because it truly has sentiment (and/or function). AND she does all of this without passing judgment on your possessions or your life. I plan on hiring her when I finish my undergrad for some assistance in sifting through everything I've accumulated over the past four years. Honestly, I'm most scared for my file box. I know CPOW will come to my rescue and, through Colleen's process, I'll end up on a very positive, thoroughly organized jumping board that will be the perfect foundation for the next stage in my life. read more

My husband and I just recently moved to a new home, had a baby and started a new business all at once. Overwhelming! Thanks to Colleen this was a breeze! She stepped in, helped us move and organized everything into place! I now have an organized home office, super organized kitchen pantry and all of my jewelry in one place! Whew! There is no way with a newborn in the house I was going to get this done myself. Not to mention, Colleen is a rockstar. She has an excellent personality and puts you at ease immediately. She works quickly and efficiently and listens to what you want. I would re-hire her in an instant and would recommend her to anyone and everyone! Thanks CPOW! read more

Colleen is super great. She came to help me with my office cleanup. She works very quickly, so we got done early. She helped me make decisions about keep or throw away without being pushy, and made soft suggestions about a couple of things I might want to purchase for organizational supplies. She is an incredibly pleasant person, which I really value in an organizer since organizing can be a bit stressful. Really enjoyed working with her and I am sure I will use her again :) read more

Colleen and I lived together for a year and right off the bat, BOOM!, she was moved in and organized and added some really neat pieces to my apartment. It was a tiny apartment so it took some skill to figure out the best way to arrange things. When she moved out I felt stuck with getting rid of stuff and rearranging so I hired her to help. BOOM BOOM BOOM once again...!!! She just knows when to say yes and when to say no. Filing paperwork, organizing clothes, art stations, kitchen supplies. You name it... she knows and WOW does it feel good to get it done. My favorite tip was to leave your space for a few days after you organize. Then come home and you feel so fresh and clear headed. Thank you CoCo read more

Colleen makes the impossible seem not only possible, but satisfying and enjoyable.She helped me clear table surfaces in my studio that have been full of clutter for years without judging my untidy ways. Deciding what could stay and what needed to go felt a lot less overwhelming as Colleen guided me through my pile of belongings one step at a time. Once we had decided on what would be staying in that space, she helped me create organizational systems for those things so that I could access them easily when needed. I have also been able to avoid more clutter creeping back onto the now-cleared surfaces because I have created "homes" for each group of items. Sorting, filing, and purging paper clutter like mail, receipts, and important documents has always been a challenge for me. I usually avoid those tasks, allowing more paper to build up. Colleen helped me sort through piles of old bills, letters, business cards and manuals and helped create a filing system to contain all of my important documents in an organized, space-efficient way. Now that I have a system in place that's easy for me to use, I actually enjoy putting things in their place as they come in and my space has remained free of paper clutter. read more

Colleen knows whats up!! She helped me organize my batshit NYC apartment for the move to my next apartment. At first, I was hesitant about someone else going through all my shit, but she was extremely kind, professional and nonjudgmental. She has a super positive attitude and really listened to my feelings. What I never could have done alone, took only a couple days. I have always been VERY disorganized and her methods and input have lasted me a couple years. Thank you Colleen!! I think what makes Colleen such a great organizer is her understanding space, light, and aesthetics. She also has an amazing personal style which makes a huge difference, because I don't want any ol jacked up hag telling me where to put my vintage Morrissey shirts. Get into this bitch!! read more

I have so SO much to say about this woman....she has come into my life, waved her magic wand of awesomeness and turned those embarrassingly cluttered parts of my home into something functional and fabulous! I originally called Colleen because I DESPERATELY needed to get out of my apt so I could "Air B&B" it out for the America's cup. Please keep in mind, I am a hoarder of expensive lingerie, gowns, gym clothes, costumes, costume jewelry, cook wear and shoes. I have HORRIBLE mail anxiety so the papers pile up as well. I was so nervous when she first came to my home; I was terrified of being judged and I really thought there was no way she could get me moved out in a week. Well.....this focused and extremely professional person came in and "Bibbidy-Bobbidy-Booed" through my closets, my paper work, my kitchen...everything! It took only two, four hours sessions to be move out ready!! WOW!! She helped me move into my new place in Piedmont and made it into a home I could be proud of and completely function in. I felt confident and excited to use the organizational skills I acquired from Colleen! Well... I unexpectedly had to move back to my place in San Francisco way WAY sooner then expected...I knew who I needed to call. It took NO TIME to get me back to my city home. I now see Colleen twice a month. She helps me with mail, paper work, computer issues, and helps me maintain the organization of my home and my precious items in my home.... and thus, MY SANITY! She is completely trust worthy, creative, professional and she is energetic beyond belief! Her knowledge of art, horticulture, fashion, and holistic medicine have streamed there way into our sessions and transformed my life for the better. I highly recommend Colleen to any one who wants to live a better quality of life.She is a blessing to any person who is fortunate enough to work with her! read more

Colleen has been working with me and my wife for several months and we consider her a true godsend that came to us at the right time in our lives. She has helped tame our organizational (or lack thereof) beast that has been decades in the making. She has a rare combination of broad skills/expertise coupled with an uncanny ability to hone in on the areas where you need the most help in streamlining your life and living/work environments. She is opinionated without being pushy and is totally trustworthy. Working with Colleen has been a game-changer for the better in our lives and we cannot recommend her strongly enough. read more

If I could have Colleen organize my brain, I would. She has a natural instinct for organization, systems, and making sense out of mess, while also taking into account the particular needs, desires, and style of whoever she's working with. Need order on a budget? She can recommend basic filing and shelving systems and whip your bedroom or office into shape in record time. (Seriously, it's breathtaking.) Have a bit more time or cash? She can turn a utilitarian organizational system into something beautiful, stylish, AND useful. I've seen her do magic on a bedroom full of clothing, art, knick-knacks, and keepsakes; on an office full of paperwork and supplies; and on an art studio/workspace full of... well... everything. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her for large scale and corporate projects, ambitious closet clean-outs, or creative projects like organizing an RV, tiny house, or warehouse loft. Basically, Colleen corrals the chaos. read more

We have used CPOW twice in the last year to help put order in our attic (after 20+ years as the "catch all" place for our families discarded items) and the kitchen. We found Colleen to be: professional, by listening to our needs, finding solutions and very hands-on in completing the projects. She is very well versed in space allocation and storage options. I would highly recommend CPOW for helping put your home in order. read more

Let me start off by saying Colleen is one of the BEST people I've worked with! Before I hired her, my studio apartment in the Mission was an absolute mess.. I work from home and have a hard time keeping my work area and living area organized and clean. I hired Colleen to help organize my life and let me just say, I haven't looked back since. She was easy to talk to and kept my best interests in mind, while also adding a little artistic touch to my pad. Now I don't feel embarrassed when inviting friends, family and clients over. Thank you again Colleen! And I hope whoever is reading this will have the same if not better experience than me. read more

Having a clean home/apartment is essential for me as someone who works from home. Colleen helped me organized my life and home so that I can focus on what's important. One of the worst feelings I had before Colleen was "where did I put that?" After having Colleen help me in a most ingenious way that I never imagined - that question never comes to mind. A+ Organizer - trust me, you need her! read more

Colleen has been very helpful for us over the past couple of years. We had an entire room filled with our stuff and didn't know how to clean it up, let alone organize it. It took a couple of sessions but Colleen's quick thinking, and fantastic ability to reduce big problems into small tasks helped us tremendously. She's since helped organize other parts of our apartment, and with great results. She is very patient, persistent, and clever. One thing I particularly enjoy about her technique is finding organizational solutions that already work with existing furniture and containers as opposed to going out and buying all new ones. Colleen is great and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to have less clutter and more clarity in their day-to-day life. read more

The ways in which Colleen Longo of CPOW can assist us all in living a healthier, more easeful life are innumerable. From filing decades of scattered paperwork to packing for a two-month long excursion, this woman possesses valuable wisdom and skill in the arena of organization. I recommend Colleen to anyone who finds themselves in need of an expert when it comes to sorting, compiling, documenting, archiving, listing or any other form of graceful and systematic arrangement. Besides her experience and know-how, she is also a pleasure to work with and completely trust-worthy. Her open mind, her sense of adventure and a strong belief in her life's work make any session with her deeply satisfying. I enjoyed watching her in the zone, and greatly appreciate her ability to strike while the iron is hot; she is decisive and confident and really aided me in recognizing what needed to be done. I have had four or five sessions with Colleen and she has built shelving, completely re-structured my kitchen, helped me get rid of items I no longer need or want, all the while implementing systems of organization that last. To this day, I utilize and depend upon the knowledge I acquired from her handy-work and I continue to benefit from all the ways she has touched my life. She is fantastic! Gratitude for CPOW! read more

Colleen took the tasks I hate most completely off my hands which was heaven for me, and extremely valuable for my family and household. I live a busy family and professional life that results in me having very little free personal and family time. Although I feel it is important energetically to have an organized home, the last thing I want to do is spend my limited free-time organizing. CPOW has come to my home multiple times. First, to organize a garage that was full of storage, kids equipment and equipment for a small business. And second, to organize two different kids rooms. The short-term result was me being able to have a free couple days hanging out with the important people in my life. The long-term result was an unbelievable positive vibe of the people in my house being able to feel good about the space we all live in. Working with CPOW falls in the 'no-brainer' category. We use experts for everything in our life and I strongly recommend using CPOW as your expert to manage the organization in your home. The price paid for the short and long-term return is ridiculous. To add on top of it, Colleen was a pleasure to interact with and easy to set-up to do the work. One of the lowest invests to biggest rewards I have ever made in my life. I will use CPOW continually for the rest of my life. read more

I've worked with Colleen twice-- both times for personal styling. Once before a multi-city/multi-climate trip and once for work wardrobe. Colleen is beyond wonderful. She's upbeat, positive, sees combinations in your clothes/jewelry/shoes you don't see, makes you feel incredible in anything you put on, recommends what to pack and leave home, and recommends items for you to buy. She photographs the outfits she puts together so you can recreate and she leaves your closet and dresser more organized than you ever imagined. It's a 4-hour whirlwind of amazingness that ups your game/confidence and makes you feel like you have your jazz together-- because you do. Highly recommend Colleen for personal styling. read more

Colleen is absolutely amazing. I had never used a professional organizer before her, but as soon as she began helping me, I wish I had met her many years sooner. She is like a personal trainer for your home and life. You discuss your goals with her and she makes a plan and works with you to put it into action. She has helped me with projects large and small. My primary problem is a large storage closet full of boxes of papers, projects, electronics, memories, photos, etc that have not been organized but moved from place to place for years. That is an ongoing project that we work on from time to time, sorting and filing papers, tossing out for goodwill, etc. We have organized my walk-in clothes closet, bathroom (makeup, products) and art supplies/craft closet. She has also worked with me on digital organization, primarily photos. She helped me select and purchase a new computer to replace my old dead laptop. She styled me using my own clothes and accessories for a 2 week beach to work trip. Most recently she helped me with the task of making my home more homey by editing, framing and hanging artwork, picking out rugs, and selecting and hanging curtains. There's pretty much nothing this girl can't do! My favorite thing about her, other than the fact that she's a genius with an amazing spirit, is her personalized service. She is a creative person, so she approaches every client based on the individual rather than textbook rules. For example, rather than ask someone with a large collection of pens and markers to pick their favs and toss the rest, she sorts them into groups and arranges them in cool jars that she already noticed around the house. In our busy lives, it's really necessary to work as a team or get support to accomplish projects outside of work. Whatever your objective, task or goal, Colleen has the enthusiasm, brains and brawn to do it! read more