Love sitting around the campfire but don’t think you’re going to make it to the great outdoors this summer? We here at thehomestylist.com have the perfect solution: build your own backyard firepit! Firepits, like the one pictured above (designed by our home staging genius, Julie Dana) help create a cozy atmosphere for outdoor living. They can be anything to a simple open pit (safely built of course) to much more elaborate installations. Just add a few adirondack chairs and some marshmallows and you have the perfect evening in the great outdoors…just steps from your back door!

Love this look? Contact Julie Dana at julie@thehomestylist.com and she can help you plan the outdoor living space of your dreams!

At The Home Stylist, we love our pets. We can’t imagine our lives without these furry little guys to brighten our day and curl up with at night. However, we know that not everyone shares our love of animals. Either because of allergies or phobias, there are home buyers out there that are not interested in pet ownership. That’s why when we’re staging a home of a pet owner, we help them minimize any traces of their pets to increase the appeal of their home to all buyers.

So you can imagine our surprise when we found this photo while surfing the MLS recently.

At first glance we thought, hmm nice bed…wait a second, is that? No, it couldn’t be. But yes, this very shaggy (though very cute) guy appeared in not one but two of the photos of this home. Which is fine, if everyone looking at your home is a dog lover…but not everyone is. So please dear reader, when your realtor comes over to take photos for listing your home, make sure that beloved Fido is in the other room. It’ll increase your chances of enticing everyone, not just the dog lovers to buy your home.

What can we say? Sometimes even the most clever designers get stuck and need a jolt of inspiration. Here at the offices of The Home Stylist what we love most about summer is the chance to get out, see what’s going on in our area and re-ignite our imaginations . From Garden Walks and Architectural Tours to a simple stroll around the neighborhood, when we need a little inspiration indoors, our first step is to head OUTDOORS!

For our Western New York clients, we’d like to encourage you to attend Buffalo Garden Walks, one of the largest outdoor events of it’s kind. Held the last weekend of July, this self-guided tour takes you through over 300 gardens in the Western New York. And the best part? It’s free! You know how much we love that word around here! So get out, enjoy the sunshine and get a little outdoor living inspiration! For more information, check out their website www.gardenwalkbuffalo.com

Not in Western New York? Not a problem! Loads of cities have caught the gaden walk fever, check your local paper for upcoming events. And if all else fails, make up a tour of your own! Who knows, next year it may your outdoor tour we’re turning to for inspiration!