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great design ideas for mobile, manufactured, and model homes
Night Lights
Feb 13th
What a crazy week in Dallas! This town is all about the NBA All Star Game which is this weekend, but mother nature decided to steal the show and dusted us with over a ft. of snow!
The is the largest amount we ever had so we decided to take advantage of it and declared a snow day. The Lifestylists were all out playing in it trying to outdo each other with snowball fights and snow sculptures and when it got dark out I realized I had the opportunity of a lifetime to get some really unique shots of the Home Idea Factory. Fortunately I share the factory with the very talented Lisa Stewart of L.a.S. Photography and we headed out to see what we could find. After she used her magic and skills I love what we ended up with, and to me these really capture the personality of what The Home Idea Factory is all about – Your Life. Your Style. Your Way.
New Model Homes
Feb 8th
Lifestylist Design has worked on model homes from coast to coast, but one of the things we pride ourselves on is that we are very selective about which clients we work with. Customer service is a priority and I’ll only take on clients that I can give my full attention to and become a part of their team. Because of this philosophy I couldn’t be more proud of every model home that we do.
We have finally found the perfect client in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and our partnership has begun! This client thinks “out of the box” and is really listening to what the buyer wants. We all say we do, but this builder is actually doing it. They have been waiting in the wings doing their research and homework, but finally the first four homes are under construction! Our new model will be opening up in the Spring at a grand opening that’s going to be a lot of fun. That’s all I can tell you right now, but if you want more information feel free to contact us directly at: answers@lifestylist.com
Are you looking for a lifestylist design approach that creates models that truly sell homes? We’d love to talk to you and explain the Lifestylist difference.
Window Dressings
Feb 6th
Window treatments are something that is needed in every home, but few people know where to find the right treatments for their needs at a cost that they can afford.
Great news! This is a design area that had become much more affordable in the past few years, and now you can get beautiful treatments without breaking the bank. One of my favorite sources is Country Curtains. The name is deceiving – much of what they offer really isn’t “country” but styles that would fit in any decor. their fabrics and colors are also very on-trend and I’ve used them in many of the model home interiors that I’ve done recently as well as the Homearama House for @home Builders in Rochester, NY. They have stores around the country, but you can also purchase them on their website or from their catalog. One of the services that help take the guesswork out of finding the right treatment for your home is that they will send you swatches of the actual fabrics at no charge, and they also offer suggestions of Sherwin Williams paints that coordinate.
JC Penney is another favorite, and you can’t beat the quality or price. A great service is that they use different color pallettes every season and you can find coordinating linens, towels, bath accessories – you name it – that making your decorating decisions stress free.
Whatever your price range or style is, now you can do it your self from the comfort of your new home.
Decorating your Home the Lifestylist Way
Jan 1st
Happy New Year! One of the things I like to do at the end of every year is to go back and see what people have searched for or asked on my websites – it gives me a great snapshot of what people are looking for and want to know about when they visit. This year, what exactly a Lifestylist is and what is Lifestylist Marketing was the number one question.
The Lifestylist philosophy is that “It’s all about You” – the client’s life and style is what dictates how a Lifestylist works with you. My favorite example is I had a client in Phoenix, Arizona that was a major Phoenix Suns fan, and their team colors are orange and purple. The client wanted their entire home done in these colors. What they wanted is what they got, complete with a child’s room with a hardwood floor striped like a basketball court.
I just spoke to a friend who’s dog had just dug up her entire garden and her daughter slammed the door on a neighbor’s hand – all in about 30 minutes time. Her needs and lifestyle are completely different from my Son – no kids, no dogs, and lives in front of his computer. What my style is wouldn’t work well for either of them which is why I need to understand the client and what their “hot buttons” are. It takes extra time and sleuthing to achieve this – many times the client has trouble putting into words exactly what they are looking for but know it when they see it. I take the responsibility very seriously – a person’s environment can truly change their lives in a positive or negative way. If someone is happy in their home their quality of life improves.
Lifestylist Marketing is about you, and what your needs are. Customer service is an obsession with me, and if I can’t help you with what you are looking for I’ll always try to find someone who can help you. Model home merchandising is something we have been doing for a long time and we have an extensive list of other qualified merchandisers, marketing consultants, research firms – you name it! Let us know what your needs are and we’ll try to help you find that special something or firm that you are looking for.
It Takes a Gingerbread Village to Fight Abuse and Homelessness
Dec 1st
Builders, chefs, and community members teamed up today to start the “Home Sweet Gingerbread Home” competitions at NorthPark Center. Lifestylist® Suzanne chaired the event which looks like it will become an annual favorite.Chef and cookbook author Karel Ann Tieszen teamed up with Shared Housing board member Mona Lincoln and TX State Fair Celebri-chef Peter Clarac (he was a winner in the Oprah cook-off) to decide which of the houses would be awarded the coveted blue ribbon. Pastry Chef Instructor at the Art Institute of Dallas Nina Hunter amazed the judges with her beautiful victorian home complete with playful penguins enjoying the pool in the backyard and was awarded first place.
Thursday the “Builders and Bakers” competition will be taking place from 12pm to 4pm also at NorthPark. Teams comprised of members from the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas will be creating homes on-site with celebrity chefs from Stephan Pyles, Sambuca, Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Texan, DC’s Catering and The Cupcakery. They will then be judged and awarded various prizes in different categories.
The competitions will benefit two great organizations – Shared Housing Center and HomeAid / Homebuilders Care, both which break the cycle of homelessness and abuse in the Dallas area.
It Makes Scents
Nov 23rd
A friend of mine introduced me to a great new product (at least new to me) – Scentsy Candle Warmers. They are perfect for homes with pets or kids -the wax is heated by a bulb that is part of the warmer so you don’t have to worry about fires and the soot that can come from burning candles. With over 80 fragrances you can change the scent you use to suit your mood!
Take a look at Susan Taylor’s website where you can view the huge assortment of what is available and you can even place an order right there on her page. I can’t wait to get my order so I can have my home smelling as fantastic as the show house did!
Suite Dreams
Nov 6th
I just got back from a great week in New York City where I was able to shadow Chef Joanne Bondy as she prepared for her amazing James Beard Dinner. We did a lot of walking, shopping and of course eating. The weather was cold and rainy, but nothing could dampen our spirits as we prepared for the big day. As a splurge we decided to stay at a very trendy boutique hotel – one that was nicer (and more expensive) than any other hotel I’ve ever stayed in. Obviously I had high expectations, and the lobby was spectacular, but when we got to our room, the bubble burst. For the rest of the week we referred to our rooms as “the closet” but sadly my closet is bigger than the room was.
That was even OK – I know space is at a premium in New York and I didn’t plan on spending much time in my room. But was the real deal breaker was that the beds / mattresses were horrible. I’ll put up with a lot, but this Lifestylist gets very grouchy when I don’t get a good night’s sleep. Most hotels – especially the Hilton and Westin Hotels with their heavenly beds have realized that their guests want and expect decent beds to that point that many hotels even market their beds and accessories – if you love them when you stay with them you can purchase that suite and enjoy it in your own bedroom suite at home. My sister is so sold on the Westin Heavenly beds she won’t stay at any other hotels.
When you are planning your master suite, think about how important a good night’s sleep is to you, and what can help you achieve that. Soothing colors, sheets and bedding that you can get lost in, and especially the right mattress can make all of the difference in the world.
I almost met Oprah at the Texas State Fair
Oct 11th
Today was a very exciting day. One of the ways as a Lifestylist I search out trends and try to understand what today’s buyer is looking for is by being a part of the Great State Fair of Texas. Some years I enter the Creative Arts contests – especially cooking. You’d be amazed how much you can learn about people and their lifestyles by sitting with them and chatting while we wait for the judging to be over and those coveted ribbons to be handed out. This was a great day – my second red ribbon and a blue! I love giving back and sharing, so when my competitions are over I share my remaining goodies with the parking lot attendants, ticket takers and fair workers. Ribbon or not, they are always very appreciative of what I make.
This year has been more exciting than most because Oprah is taping at the State Fair and they have been doing a lot of taping in the Creative Arts Building which is where we hang out. We saw a lot of people walking around with crew passes today and I asked someone if I could take a photo of theirs – they actually let me hold it! Why was that important to me? I have so much respect and admiration for Oprah – I can’t think of anyone who gives back as much as she does, and we have the connection of rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Katrina - I worked on over 2,500 Katrina Cottages and she made a huge personal investment of getting people back into homes after the storms. If you have spent any time there you know how important that work still is.
So as we were walking out of the building getting ready to pass out my remaining entries who should be in front of us but Oprah and Company! It was so exciting, and I ran up to her car to try to get a better look – she looks AMAZING in person by the way – I saw someone in her car so asked if I could give her my blue ribbon. They said that was very sweet but I should keep it, but I gave them some of my caramels. I believe in sharing with everyone. I was honored that they were so excited about my goodies, and now can’t wait to see the show after they tape it. I didn’t get to meet her, but you just never know what tomorrow might bring.
Enjoying Every Moment
Sep 26th
The State Fair of Texas opened yesterday – one of my favorite times of the year. I was one of the first ones in the gate and immediately got started on eating my way through all of the new favorite fried items.
When I was on the midway I saw this woman playing the dart game, and doing better than I could I might add 
A great reminder that you are only as young as you feel and to enjoy every day!