Who is The Home Stylist? My name is Julie Dana. I live in East Aurora, New York
in an older home where I have redecorated every room at least once. I have a wonderful
husband and two growing sons. Here is a little more of my credentials and accomplishments:
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Education
Bachelor of Arts, Central Michigan University, 1985
Masters of Science, Slippery Rock University, 1988
Graduate of Interior Redesign Training Professional Course including
academic preparation, client presentation, and home redesigns, 2002
Graduate of Accredited Staging Professional™ Course including real-estate
marketing, psychology of buyer, house review and staging, 2004
Interior Decorating and Staging Highlights and Experience
Co-author of the book The Complete Idiots Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell (Now Available!)
Selected as one of the decorators in the 2007 Junior League of Buffalo's Decorators' Show House (junior league of buffalo)
Contributed real estate staging expertise for the book: Completes Idiots Guide to Selling Your Own Home co-authored by Marcia Layton Turner.
Contributed home staging expertise for the book: 301 Simple Things You Can Do to Sell Your Home NOW by Teri Clark (publication date of early 2007)
Decorating presentation at national chain stores including Stein Mart and Kirklands.
Speaker at Society of Decorating Professionals annual conference August 2006. Topic: Marketing Your Business
Video taped audition for HGTV show Decorating Cents, My Celebrity Home, FreeStyle (waiting to hear…keep your fingers crossed).
Publisher of The Home Stylist monthly e-newsletter sent to hundreds of people and from nearly every state.
The Home Stylist has had several decorating articles published. View these in the Expert Author article bank
Home decorating and preparing houses for sale since 1989, as an accredited professional since 2002.
Member of ODDAA (One Day Decorating Alumni Association)
Member of StagedHomes.com as Accredited Staging Professional. View my Accredited Staging Professional feature page on the stagedhomes.com website here
Selected as "Mom of the Week" for NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV September 2006
Through strong network of redesigners, I continue to get updates on the most advanced decorating trends and techniques. This continual education process allows me to always provide you with current styles and advice.
Collaboration with several well respecting real estate companies including Aubrey Leonard Real Estate, Realty USA, and Hunt Real Estate.
Selected Press
The Wall Street Journal
October 13, 2006
By Christina S.N. Lewis
Curating the Coffee Table
"Julie Dana, of East Aurora, N.Y., says that her accessorizing business has doubled in the last five years"
The Buffalo News
March 31, 2006
By Susan Martin
Selling Points
"....Julie Dana, owner of the Home Stylist and a local interior "redesigner" who uses homeowners' own furniture and accessories to update decor. Dana, an accredited staging professional (a trademark of StagedHomes.com), is also trained to help homeowners spiff up a house so it sells for the most amount of money, in the least amount of time."
"It's really not about decorating; it's about marketing. It's not about personal style choices; it's about what sells the house," Dana said."
"Dana even recommends that the closets be no more than half full. Half empty closets translate to plenty of storage space to prospective buyers."
East Aurora Bee
March 2, 2006
by Terri Medina
Someone You Should Know column
"Julie Dana, full proprietor of The Home Stylist in East Aurora, never thought she'd be pegged as an idiot. However, after her expertise was featured in the book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Selling Your Own Home" by co-authors Jeffrey Wuorio and Marcia Layton Turner, Dana's children couldn't help but laugh about their mom being in an "Idiot" book"
" Not only does Dana help East Aurorans with their interiors, she does business all over Western New York and nation wide - via the Internet. "It is really convenient for myself and for the customer," she said. It's great for people who work various shifts or just have different lifestyles and schedules"
" How you decorate to live and to sell are quite different" said the accredited staging professional. "Staging helps my clients sell their homes faster and has a wider appeal. It's just a different way of decorating. In redesign you are adding personality in staging you want to depersonalize the space'"
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East Aurora Advertiser
August 2005
"Julie Dana, owner of The Home Stylist in East Aurora, recently returned from Erie, PA., where she attended the annual international conference of One Day Decorators.
While attending the conference, Dana won an award for the most creative media preparation. She also had several entries in the interior redesign contents, including fireplace mantel, dining room and family room makeover categories"
Business First
June 11, 2005
"Julie Dana of The Home Stylist is East Aurora was selected as featured professional of the month of June for the Interior Redesign Directory. "
"She was selected from over 200 professionals listed in the directory"
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The Buffalo News
September 21, 2004
"The Home Stylist founder and president Julie Dana achieved accredited staging professional designation. Dana completed a detailed course and passed a thorough examination on preparing homes for sale..."
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East Aurora Bee
February 13, 2003
by Michael Petro
"In this fast-paced world, people are constantly looking for a quick fix without stretching their budget too far. East Aurora's Julie Dana has made that possible in interior design, launching The Home Stylist, a new and unique interior decorating and consultation business. Working with a new school of thought in redesigning referred to as "one day decorating," Dana uses what her client already has but rearranges it in a new and exciting way"
Adjunctive creative skills
(In my opinion – being creative and “crafty” are vital skills for a thrifty decorator.)
Award for Most Creative quilt in show for a custom made, appliqued, and quilted Spiderman quilt.
Handcrafted tiles displayed at RedFish Art Studios
Completed ‘Sewing Slipcovers’ course.
Organize and taught home accessorizing and crafts to women groups averaging over 50 people at a time.
Helped design children museum exhibits and floor plans
Being a Mom of 2 active boys - Yes, creative skills a must!
References from clients
“Howard and I continue to enjoy our new living room - every time I glance into the room, I still can't believe that is OUR home. It makes me think of an ad in House Beautiful magazine! Your name is brought up daily in our thought and conversation with much admiration for your expertise and professional help in our decorating.” Marjorie J. of Clarence, NY.
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"Today I received your package and was totally delighted.You are a true professional in every sense of the word. I very much enjoyed working with you. I am so excited to get this project started that I am about to bust!!!!" Dorothy S., of Middle Village, New York
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Hiring you to help me ready my home for sale was one of the smartest moves we have made in the relocation process. Your keen eye and attention to details really prepared the house for the market. Although it still feels like my home, it is appropriately decorated for a new family to get the sense it can be their home as well. With just a few touches, change of furniture location and new lamps, our home was market ready and cost less than $400 for everything! Laurie M., of East Aurora, NY.
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“Our kitchen and dining room had faded wallpaper with an unremarkable look that we just couldn't stand anymore. From the beginning of the process, we liked Julie’s approach. She did more listening than talking and had a sense of what would work and not work. She walked us through the process of evaluating personal style preferences, and how we wanted the space to work, resulting in a total transformation to the three most lived-in rooms or our home.” Mike and Lauren M. of West Valley, NY.
(Note from Julie: This couple recently bought a new home and I am once again pleased to have been invited into their home to add the style they want to the home they love.)
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“We own a 1900 Victorian house. Julie recently redecorated our front parlor.
It was a room that was seldom use but now with this furniture arrangement and old family pictures on the wall, we can easily entertain adults while the kids play in a nearby room. We love our room now. She decorated it using our style and our budget.” Kathy P. of East Aurora, NY
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“Thanks for a great job on my apartment makeover. My friends continue to compliment on the HUGE improvement that your makeover made. Much more comfortable and pleasing to the eye.” Eric S. of Ann Arbor, MI
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“Thanks for the great job you did…the placement of furniture was great…and you were right on with style!!” Becky C. of Jefferson City, TN
