When it comes to creating a well-designed interior, we often overlook the importance of the stairway. However, a thoughtfully designed staircase can do wonders for enhancing the overall aesthetic of your home. Not only does it captivate the attention of anyone who enters, but it also sets the tone for your interior design style. That's why revamping your stairway should be a top priority.

Jury Duty is hard. It’s an honor to do it but it’s a huge ask to put your life on hold for the trial period. Well, it happened to me just last week. I didn’t realize it would be a healing process for me. I know you are probably thinking healing and jury duty don’t mix. It did for me due to my past.

August always seems to fly by, doesn't it? There's just so much going on with my business, events, family activities, and more. And now that it's back-to-school season, you might be thinking about tackling those projects you didn't have time for over the summer.

I had a wonderful opportunity to tour Cambria with Select Surfaces earlier this month. It was an amazing experience to tour the one and only manufacturing plant right here in Minnesota (Le Sueur). Cambria is privately held and owned by the Davis family. Marty Davis took the time out of his full schedule to speak to us “the designers” who spec and create beautiful designs with their product.

My eldest son recently purchased an SUV in Arizona. It was an amazing deal, and I couldn’t believe he scored it. Since he is paying for the car, I decided to pay for his one-way ticket to retrieve it. My husband & I had some flights we had canceled from Southwest Airlines previously. I wanted to use the reservation number from the canceled flights to pay for my eldest son & his girlfriend’s flights. Little did I know it would take 1.5hrs and I still didn’t get what I wanted because I DIDN’T ask the right question 🙄. I was beyond frustrated at this point because what the previous CSR’s (customer service representatives) told me would not work with according to CSR #4. This personal experience reminded me how important it is to ask the right questions. The problem is if you are not in the industry | business | service, how do we know what questions to ask?

Last weekend we embraced my Uncle’s Mark Celebration of Life. He passed away Wednesday November 23, 2022. My Uncle was caring and giving person who would give you his shirt off his back. He helped me through my divorce.

On Friday June 9th I had the opportunity to attend the Summer Artisan Home Tour from June 9 – 25, 2023. I only viewed 3 homes #11 construction2style, #6 Gordon James, and #2 Harrison Custom Builders, LLC due to the amount of detail and sensory overload. The one thing all 4 homes had in common was paint trends. They were all smoking hot and participating in the “quiet luxury” with paint.

Last month, I had the opportunity to embark on the Vacation Rental Design Summit before High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina. It was a two-day event learning from the best in this market.

So, here’s 5 Expert Vacation Rental Design Tips to boost your earnings…

My husband asked me the other day “What’s a Hood Liner? I see you have a class about it.” Yes, as a woman-owned small business and having elementary children we share calendars. My calendar is full of business & personal items. When he asked that I was speechless. I thought everyone knew about hood liners. I started telling him about it but then stopped mid-sentence. “I told him thank-you for inspiring me for my next blog.” So, let’s get down and dirty about hood liners 😍.

I have been touring the Parade of Homes for the last 25 years, ever since I graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, but this is the first time I blogged about it. I didn’t even think about doing it. It was my brother-in-law who told me I should write a blog about the trends I am seeing in the 2023 Spring Parade of Homes. I will be focusing on the trends I saw in most of the homes over a weekend, which were 15. Here’s the trends from my perspective (MN Certified Interior Designer)….

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to speak to my fellow colleagues on “Aging in Place.” It was a brunch & learn through ASID and Francis King graciously hosted us. It was empowering and scary for me at the same time for this was my first speaking event. Let’s just say it went amazing 😍. I was overjoyed with the positive feedback. We even had an ASID member join through Zoom from Brainerd.

We all have obstacles/things in our lives to grow or shrink from. I have experienced both…. Here are some lessons I have learned from a personal side & design side.

ASID MN Chapter once again held an amazing event sponsored by Select Surfaces. The challenge was to create something beautiful out of the mysterious item we receive in the white box. This year it was saw dust. Yes, Charles Cabinets provided the saw dust for the designers to make something seemly unattractive into something stunning.

I (currently came) returned back from Design and Construction Week 2023 which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. “More than 200,000 house and design professionals from across the globe” came together for 5 different shows; NKBA – Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), NAHB – International Builders’ Show (IBS), The National Hardware Show, The International Surfaces Event and the Las Vegas Winter Market. These trade shows did a fabulous job collaborating for if you purchase a ticket from KBIS you were able to attend the rest of them. My focus was on KBIS & IBS.

A good day… Sometimes it’s easier to say than to do. I wanted to set some goals/intentions for 2023 around that, a good day. But how… When I set these goals, I still had a broken ankle, was wearing a boot, and was feeling sorry for myself. Bitter table for one please 😂.

Last year my husband & I saved and invested in a dishwasher. Not just any dishwasher we went with a Bosch, and I am SOOO happy we did and here’s why….

Traditions… Do you ever wonder how they got started? How long has it been passed down? Who started it? Well, our New Year’s Eve tradition was started last year and now my kiddos want it every year 😊.

The Midwest Home Design Award (MHDA) Show was once again spectacular. I caught up with colleagues and chatted with Lori Miller & Arthur Morrissey who were the MCs from the 2022 ASID Gala. I didn’t get a chance to chat with them there because I was part of the clean-up crew. What we made was so beautiful and stunning, but it had to be taken down. The MHDA was once again beautiful and a fun award show to attend. What made it different was me. Due to my broken leg, I realized it’s a lot harder to socialize.

I love Thanksgiving… Why? I am with my family and friends eating amazing food and being thankful they are here with me celebrating. My dad is 90 years old and still here enjoying life. I think about my eldest sister Renee who passed away summer of 2018 due to cancer. She was an amazing cook. She also embraced the craziness my family brings. I am now welcoming the silliness instead of hiding from it.

I had the wonderful opportunity to be the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Gala Committee Chair. I was bragging to my family/friends/colleagues… anyone who would listen to me. Well, the laugh was on me. I did not realize all the elements that go into the ASID Gala otherwise I probably would have said “No” …