Vinyl Frames in the Buffalo Decorators' Show House

The Buffalo Decorators' Show House was so much fun to do. The most popular items in my teen girl's bedroom was the repositionable vinyl frames that covered two of the walls.

Here is the link on my web page where you can order them for your teen room, hallway or even powder room!

http://www.thehomestylist.com/vinylframes.php

Decorator Show House progress

My assigned room within the Decorator Show House is progressing nicely.

With help from Scheer Painting Company (thanks Carolyn and Monica!), the room looks fabulous.


Benjamin Moore Aura paint used:

• White Chocolate - a beautiful soft creamy white
• Squish Squash - a cheery mellow yellow that pulls in the nearby bathroom tile color
• Sweet Sixteen - a pretty elegant pink for the closet

Here are some photos:

This room will look great! Want to see it? Get tickets and open dates at www.jlbuffalo.org

See you there!

Julie

Home Decorating magazines

In the last month or so, two of my favorite shelter magazine have closed. The magazines, domino and "O" at Home, are no longer publishing. Yes, I guess it is the sign of the times but I am still bummed. Home style changes so fast that by the time some books get published cutting edge tips and designs have come and gone. Magazine print cycle is faster so you can (er--rather could) keep up with the trends.

What is your favorite shelter magazine? I need a new favorite to fill the void. What do you suggest?

Visit 'The Home Stylist' website

As you might have figured out, this blog is part of a bigger picture. INSIDE THE HOME stylist blog is from www.thehomestylist.com.

If you are reading this blog, it could be you came from the website but maybe not. So...check it out:

www.thehomestylist.com

There are great before and after photos in the gallery. You can take a fun style quiz to see what style issues you may have. There are terrific and helpful services such as paint color selections, furniture rearranging and home staging help. Check it out and tell your friends.

I love hearing from you so drop me a note at julie@thehomestylist.com

(be sure to digg the website too)

Decorating: what is IN and OUT for 2009

In a recent industry magazine, there was a list of what is IN and OUT for 2009.
Here is just a sample:

OUT:
muddy earth tones
shiny gold
faux flowers
small picture frames
country
primitive
shabby

IN:
geometric
bohemian look
eclectic urban loft look
cooper and bronze
all shades of green
grays/pewter/silver with clear brights
frugality
handmade artisan items

How far are you OUT? are you heading IN?
Do you need help getting on trend? I can help!

Make an appointment today 716-912-1581 or julie@thehomestylist.com

Do you Digg me?

Have you noticed on the left side of this blog the bar that says "SUBSCRIBE"?It is a cool little widget that lets you, my dear readers, subscribe to this great little blog. You will be notified about new postings.I would like to invite you to subscribe to INSIDE THE HOME stylist blog. It is easy, quick and you won't miss a single post.

Have you noticed on the left side further down is a bar that says "BOOKMARK"?Have you ever wondered what that is? It is a way for readers, just like you, to bookmark this blog and share your find with others. Two of the most popular collective bookmarking sites are called DIGG and DEL.ICIO.US. Visitors to Digg and del.icio.us can view what other people think are neat blogs and websites. The more diggs or points you get the more people can learn about other cool sites.I would love for you to add me to DIGG and Del.icio.us. You can add this blog and/or http://www.thehomestylist.com/ website.

It is appreciated. Thanks for spreading the love.

If you are creative, this is something you should never do.

Many people have found The Home Stylist.com from doing a search on "decorating style quiz". I have so many people say to me - "you described my style and my problems exactly". I love hearing that!


What I don't like is people taking my quiz and calling it their own. It is copyrighted. At least the other day someone called me and asked if they could put my quiz on their website. I graciously said no but thanks for asking because so many people just steal it.

In fact I have had people steal pages and pages from my website and just change the company title. URGH! I use http://www.copyscape.com/ to catch people and I have even filed a cease and desist letter. Google pulls the offending site. When you get banned from Google it is not good for your business.

Please, if you are creative enough to be in this interior decorating and staging business, you are creative enough to come up with your own content.


Please don't steal. It is bad.

Buffalo's Decorators' Show House

I am so excited to share with you that The Home Stylist has been selected to be one of the decorators in the next Junior League Show House.

It is a competitive process so I am happy to be part of the awesome group of decorators selected for this great project. I will be doing a teen girl's room on the third floor.

The Junior League of Buffalo had a hard time finding the ideal house to showcase this year so the 15th show house will be in a first ring suburb. It is an awesome house and will make a marvelous transformation.

Here is more details so you can mark your calender:

15th Decorators’ Show House 2009

E.B. Green's Wallace Estate

697 Lebrun Road, Eggertsville, NY

Sneak Peek Preview of the undecorated house:

Saturday, February 7, 2009 (10 AM to 4 PM)

or Sunday, February 8, 2009 (11 AM to 4 PM)

Decorators’ Show House

April 25 through May 17, 2009:

Tuesday – Friday 10 AM to 1 PM; 6 PM to 9 PM Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM

I'll keep you posted as I begin work on the room this early next year.

Get great deals at Linens n Things

As you may know the store, Linens n' Things, is going out of business.

Great deals are to be had right now!

Did you see me in line yesterday? I was the one with a whole shopping cart full of stuff.

As the weeks go on, the discounts will be steeper but the selection with be less. This was a great store for interior decorators, redesigners,home stagers and, of course, the do-it-yourself homeowner. This is your opportunity to stock up on props, inventory, and accessories. Check out the local store near you or shop online (www.lnt.com) while you can.

I know I'll be back in the next week or two to see what is left.

Julie

Help with choosing paint colors

Is picking out a paint color puzzling? Do you get confused when one company has similar colors to another?

Here is a website that can help you: www.colorcharts.org

If you have fallen in love with a paint color in a magazine but don't have that particular paint company store near you, just simply select that brand and color name and you will get the nearest match to the competitor brand.

You can compare one paint company's "desert blue" with another "sea glass". Get the paint color you want from your paint store. It tells you by percentage the closest match. Really cool!

www.colorcharts.org is really fun to play with.

Painting a paneled room

I get lots of questions about painting of paneling. Yes, it can be done and yes, it turns out well if properly prepped. Ideally paneling should be removed and the wall patched and painted - but heck who has time for that?!

Here was a project done this summer:

Before: Dark and Dated:

After:

Bright and up-to-date:

Be sure to prime the walls and have the patience to do multiple coats.

Julie

Bathroom Makeover on a budget

This bathroom makeover was a fabulous transformation in a short time. It was the one and only bathroom in this 1900's house. The makeover had to be quick and it had to be great. Enter The Home Stylist:

Before:

After:

What do you think? Pretty neat, uh?!

The cost: Less than $250.

Changes include: new toliet seat, new mirror and lights

How can I help you make a great transformation? Give me a call (716) 912-1581

Julie

Decorators' Show house - homeless!

Every other year the Junior League of Buffalo and The Buffalo News present a spectacular Decorators' Show House. This year they just can't find a house.
Do you own a house? know of someone? anyone?....The Junior League is just about to start begging and knocking on YOUR door. Here is what they need:

WE NEED A HOME!
The Junior League of Buffalo is in search of the15th Decorators’ Show House 2009.This renowned community fundraiser is held every two years and is co-sponsored by our partner, The Buffalo News. A house with historical and architectural interest is chosen traditionally within the city of Buffalo and is transformed by selected decorators and designers into a stunning Show House. The house is typically 7-8,000 square feet, must have a front and back staircase for proper visitor flow, a carriage house or garage for a boutique and the potential to be restored to its grandeur. Tickets will be sold to the public and the house will be open for viewing
April 27th – May 17th 2009.

If you are even maybe thinking about your house...give them a call and check out their website: www.jlbuffalo.org

Decorating a bomb shelter

I must confess that one of the reasons I became a decorator and stager is so I can see into other people's home. I love seeing how other people live and how people define their homes.

I have seen many different types of houses and styles ...and um...levels of cleanliness. But not long ago I had the unique opportunity to work on a large estate that has a bomb shelter on it. Pretty cool!

It was about 900 square feet. It has a kitchen and bathroom and all the proper ventilation and generators to make it work.

I can't tell you the exact location to respect the owners and also to prevent mischievous teens from locating it. (ya know what I mean!)

Have you ever been in a bomb shelter? If you had a space like this what would you do with it?

One thought I had is to let my sons use it as a "music" room - or specifically a drum practice room ;)

How about you? Throw an annual theme party? Stash Christmas presents in it?

Decorating a model home at Fox Run of Orchard Park

A few months ago I decorated a couple model homes on the campus of Fox Run of Orchard Park.

I did 2 1/2 homes. The guest suite was partially done and I decorated that in a simple cottage style. The patio home I transformed it from empty and cold to a beautiful traditional home. The apartment was decorated in the modern style. Three major styles, cottage, modern and traditional, were used so prospective residents could see a style they could relate to.

Here are a couple photos from the modern apartment:

Don't you want to live there?!

Design Star - who me?

I have been frequently asked if I will be applying for the next Design Star reality competition on HGTV.

Even though I enjoy the show there are personally two reasons why I would not apply or be on the show.

1. My family

My number 1 job is to be with my family.

2. My business

My number 2 job is to keep my business growing.

Do you know that you do not get paid to be on the show as a contestant other than a daily food allowance?

There would be no money coming in for months. Could you do that?

Did you know that if you WIN - you must move to wherever it is that the producers decide to shoot the show!

I do not want to move nor do I want to be separated from my family.

Simply put - I love my life just the way it is. thanks.

If you would like to check out the other applicants or to apply to be on the show,

check out this link: HGTV Design Star.

HGTV Design Star show - did you vote?

For me, Sunday night Design Star is appointment television. Do you watch it?

Tonight is the finale when they reveal the audience choice on the next HGTV Design star.

Who did you vote for? Was the final person the best choice?

Personally I think many the challenges throughout the series are very tough to execute for the time frames they give. Do you have a favorite challenge?

The Home Stylist celebrates

On August 2, 2008 The Home Stylist celebrates 6 years in business.

I am so blessed to love what I do for a living, meet fantastic clients, and be able to flex my schedule around my family.

Do you know that most small businesses don't make it past the 3 year mark? I am honor that my clients have helped me make The Home Stylist so successful.

Thank you!

And here's to making the next 6 years filled with even more creativity, friends and transformations!

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