Just wanted to let everyone know that the class I am teaching on October 2^nd at the beautiful Roycroft Campus, Arts and Crafts Style on the Cheap – One Day Workshop, is sold out!

If you missed out on this one, don’t fret! I will be teaching it again on March 26, 2011. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to incorporate Arts and Crafts style into your home while staying within a budget. Reservations can be made through the Roycroft website at http://www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com or by calling the campus at (716) 655-0261. I look forward to seeing everyone there!

Not long ago I worked on a couple’s powder room. It was really a blank canvas ready for anything. We made it elegant, simple and ready for guests. A sleek silver paint and accessories was all it took. Don’t you just love it?!

Here are some more before and after shots of that same powder room.

Do you have a room that needs to some style? Call THE HOME STYLIST  at 716-912-1581 today.

The lazy days of summer are almost over and cooler weather is just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to clear out any lingering clutter you may have in your home!  Everyone knows that fall  brings big holidays, busy school weeks and cozy nights indoors, so take a bit of time now to edit what you have.  Keep what you love and throw a great garage sale with what you don’t. Your closets will thank you!

Now that you’ve de-cluttered your home do you need some help making it look its best? Visit the Style Store at thehomestylist.com and choose from one of my consultation packages. They’re quick, easy and totally affordable!

Even though I’m a very busy wife and mother running my own business, I still like to unwind by watching the occasional design show on television (and thanks to DVR, I can!). I definitely have my favorites and having watched the premier of the Nate Berkus show, I think I may have another to add to the list!

I’ve always admired Nate Berkus’ aesthetic as a designer and his easy, all access approach to home decorating. And after all, if he’s Oprah’s go-to guy for home decorating advice, he must be pretty talented! I have to say I really enjoyed the show! What I particularly like about it is he doesn’t just focus on design for design’s sake, but design as part of your lifestyle. Sure there are lots of great tips and tricks for decorating your home, but he also gives advice on how  making smart lifestyle decisions can impact your home. He covers everything from managing your money to organization tips for keeping your home clean and comfortable to live in.

So, did anyone else happen to catch the show? What did you think? Do you like that he has a broad range of topics or would you prefer he just stuck to design tips? If you missed it, the show airs at 5:00 pm on channel 23 in my area, or check your local listings.

Summer furniture is made to be very resilient to the whims of Mother Nature. But as the summer season comes to a close, it’s a good idea to take the time to store your furniture properly. First you should take your typical local weather into account. Live up north? You will want to bring all your furniture indoors for the off-season – whether it be in a garage, sturdy shed or a dry basement.  Living a little farther south? You can probably get away with covering furniture with tarps, either custom made to fit your furniture or a regular one that is properly secured with bungee cords. Live in an area where summer never ends? Count your blessings while lounging on your deck in November, just don’t be surprised if we’re ringing your doorbell!

Do you have a favorite holiday? Do you think it’s a crime to let Halloween pass by without plastering your home in cobwebs, ghosts and ghouls? Or perhaps Christmas just isn’t Christmas unless your home is filled with garlands, ornaments and figurines?  Everyone loves getting a little festive during the holiday season, but if you have your home on the market, a word of caution: restraint goes a long way. In fact, when staging your home for sale, you want holiday decoration to be as minimal as possible. Holiday decorations can clutter a home and make it difficult for a buyer to picture living there for the rest of the year. Also bear in mind that not everyone looking at your home will celebrate the same holidays (or celebrate with the same enthusiasm) as you do, so it’s smart to be considerate of those viewing your home. And if you must decorate for the holidays, please be sure to remove all decorations in a timely manner! Lingering holiday décor suggests a level of neglect that may cause a buyer to question what else is being neglected in your home…