Inlaid magnifying glasses across one of the horizontal doors exaggerate the shape and size of the items directly behind these porthole-like windows. They change the way you see an object, says Hope. Even the spines of books metamorphose into eye-catching shapes under Hope s magnifying lenses. The flood of wealth into Silicon Valley has inspired locals to accumulate much more than they need. With larger homes featuring such extras as three-car garages, they ve also got the space to store it.
People buy and buy, and they throw away none of it.
They continue to acquire until a blocked entryway or dearth of countertop space forces them to examine the clutter with a newly critical eye. They shake their heads at the piles as they would at a rebellious teen with exasperation. Then they reach for the phone. I get these calls, says Christiansen, based in San Francisco, who juggles nearly a dozen clients at a time. They re like cries for help.