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I was a bit of a messy kid. I remember a lot of weekends that I wasn’t allowed to play with my friends until I cleaned my room because it would get so out of hand. When I was around seven, I hit some kind of kid breaking point and took everything out of my room, then only put back the things that I truly loved. Something clicked that day—when my room was clear, my head was clear. I’d intuited a way to regulate my emotions and make sense of the things around me that shifted the way I interacted with the world. I became obsessed. I’d go over to a friend's house and ask if I could clean their room. I got so much satisfaction from the before and after—seeing a mess and knowing it was possible to bring it together in a cohesive way. And I loved that it made my friends happy—here was something that was overwhelming for them but came so naturally to me.
It was clear from a young age that college was not my path—traditional school things didn’t work well for me. My mom, being the absolute icon that she is, homeschooled me for most of my education. For my senior project, she had me think about what I wanted to do post-high-school and create a business plan to support that idea. I thought back to all those childhood days organizing my friend’s rooms and created a plan for professional organizing, touching on interior design.
Because I skipped the whole college bit, I wanted to give myself some time to play and develop as a person after high school. I worked as a freelance photographer for small makers and artists for three years before COVID made that implausible. I spent a few more years working odd jobs in hospitality and fashion, but I wanted work I could truly commit to and shape my life around. All my friends and family were like… Audrey, this is so obvious, you were born to do organizing. I felt ready, took the leap, and aok was born.
I started aok to help people maximize not only their space, but their time and energy. It’s that thing I figured out as a kid—the state of your space supports the state of your mind. By organizing your closets, kitchens, pantries, etc., you are creating more time to focus on the things you love. Working with aok is an investment in yourself. We’re not here to drop the white-plastic-box pinterest board onto your home like a stencil, we’re here to work with your life and your aesthetic to make your space a place you can thrive. You should feel safe and comfortable when you enter your home. We can help you get there. Though our real passion is residential spaces, we accept places of business on a case by case basis. We cover the whole gamut, closets (of all kinds) , pantries, kitchens, living rooms, home offices, bedrooms, bathrooms, garages, hobby or creative spaces, multi-use spaces, storage areas, if it has walls and things inside, we’d love to make it functional and beautiful.
There is something truly so magical about living in this city. I know people say that all the time, but it really is true. I think so much of that is attributed to the way people are open to one another. There is this magnetic, inclusive, room-for-all-who-want-it force. I have lived in NY for less than a year and I am constantly shocked and delighted by the care, excitement and hospitality that I’m met with. There is something here for anyone and everyone, and I feel so lucky to be a part. It’s the most inspiring.
Every job begins with a simple inquiry form in my inbox. Then you and I hop on a call so I can better understand your wants and needs, and share a little bit about aok’s process. This call also creates a moment of connection, it’s so important to me that as soon as we are in contact, you feel cared for and listened to. So many of the systems aok creates are based on your individual needs and lifestyle—no two jobs are the same. I think that’s part of why I really love this job—I get to customize spaces and create an experience for people in such a unique way. I love having people in my home, making sure they have a drink in hand, plenty to eat, that they feel comfortable, supported, and like they have all they need. I want working with aok to feel just like that.
For most jobs, I’m sourcing containers to go inside of drawers and small spaces, and I’m working with super specific dimensions and budgets. So most products are coming from big box stores such as The Container Store, IKEA, and MUJI. I have a lot of “go to” products such as, THIS, THIS, and THIS, and generally, I’m looking for items that are versatile, cost effective, and that I know will fully support the clients' needs. I am forever obsessed with many stores in New York—Coming Soon, The Primary Essentials, and Lichen to mention a few, and I’m always thrilled when a project has room for their more niche offerings.