The Big Downsize

Scroll down to the Video section for Downsizing Tips with Jane Veldhoven and more exclusive webisodes.

SEASON 1

De-cluttering queen Jane Veldhoven, knows what it takes to get this job done. She’s been helping people downsize their lives for over 15 years and she’s about to start this journey with two more families in over their heads.

Before Pam can start living her new single life, she needs to somehow move from a packed house into a one-bedroom apartment. The MacNeil siblings are facing the overwhelming job of clearing out their childhood home to get ready to put on the market.

The Big Downsize is an exploration of why we love our possessions so much and the emotional baggage and stress that comes crashing down when there is no choice but to let things go.

It’s a real-life roller coaster everyone will connect with.

SEASON 2

The second season of The Big Downsize is serving Jane Veldhoven with some of the toughest challenges she’s faced helping her clients clear out their clutter and learn to love living with less. One family is dealing with a house too big to handle anymore while the other is worried their new place isn’t big enough for all their stuff. Jane is rolling up her sleeves once again and showing how even the most impossible downsizing journey can be a trip worth taking.

In the largest house she’s ever tackled, Jane is helping Anne and James Rodger get their sprawling 4000 square foot house in moving-out shape while dealing with the added pressure of keeping things picture perfect for the non-stop showings. The couple is finding their home much too large now that Anne’s mother is no longer living with them. They’ve decided now is the best time to start simplifying their lives. This place may look picture perfect but behind every closet and inside every drawer is an avalanche of belongings Jane must dig out from under and emotional landmines to navigate.

Our second family needing Jane’s expertise is Patti and Faye, who are downsizing in reverse after their older and much larger home sold before their new place was ready. Behind this couple’s charming and humorous way of dealing with stress are layers of differing opinions on what needs to stay and what should go. Jane is helping them shed close to half of their belongings so their new place is what they hoped it would be but when sentimental feelings, cherished collections and fraying nerves are involved it’s a delicate balancing act.

SEASON 3

Order meets chaos when Jane takes on two new households with too much stuff in season three of The Big Downsize.

Freewheeling artist Doug Bamford is moving from a 3000 square foot Victorian house to a 750 square foot apartment. Shifting plans, a house full of collectibles and a host of hiding spots make Doug Jane’s most challenging client yet. Has she finally met her match?

The clutter continues at the Sparks’ home where Jane finds out just how much a family of four can accumulate over the years. Richard and Susan want to downsize from their large family home, but before they can put it on the market they have to get rid of a whole lot of stuff. To complicate things they’ll be downsizing before the fledglings have completely left the nest. Between the four of them, Jane will have her hands full with this family.

SEASON 4

The Big Downsize, Season 4 takes viewers on a new downsizing journey and strolls down memory lane when professional organizer, Jane Veldhoven takes on a new triple threat client in serious need of her help, visits clients from previous seasons, and tackles her own downsizing challenge when she and boyfriend Dana decide to combine households and move in together.

Season 4 explores why we love our possessions so much, and the emotional baggage and stress that comes crashing down when there is no choice but to let go. Jane helps Halifax based realtor Jan Malone who is dealing with a downsizing dilemma on three fronts, an over filled condo she recently moved into, her former house that she’s preparing to sell, and a boat house cottage that’s become a dumping ground.

Jane pays a house call to clients featured on previous seasons of The Big Downsize and gets an update on their downsizing journeys and finds areas where they can still use some of her tough love downsizing advice. Jane also decides to move into a new condo with her partner Dana which creates a downsizing challenge on two fronts as they both have to say good-bye to some of their favourite possessions and negotiate over what items they keep and what’s got to go.

In association with VisionTV/ONETV, The Big Downsize is produced by Edward Peill and Erin Oakes from Halifax’s award winning Tell Tale Productions Inc.. Season 4 was directed by Jennifer Adcock and written/story edited by Josh MacDonald. The Big Downsize is produced with support by the Canada Media Fund, The Nova Scotia Film and TV Production Incentive and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit program.