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hey there! I'm monica 

I pride myself on making amazing style and design accessible for everyone, regardless of location, budget, or ability! My design philosophy is rooted in authenticity + attainability - If I can do it, you can too! My work has been featured in countless publications, but I take the most pride in homeowners that have been personally inspired by my DIY ideas and have tried something in their own homes!

learn more about ME + MY BIZ

Don’t Try This at Home
This mother’s day weekend, I had a DIY happy mother’s day to me project planned.  I bought two inexpensive Adirondack chairs and planned to make them fabulous.
 I was all geared up for a perfect DIY, camera in hand
 I planned to use this cute paper on the back of the chair and then seal it with mod podge.
 However, I forgot that I am a lefty, living in a right-handed world.  I stink at cutting! I went through five pairs of scissors before I realized this was NOT working out.
 I actually texted Jess a picture of the blister I got from using these dreadful scissors!
 Oh, but look how cute this could look.  What you can’t tell from this picture is that it took me nearly an hour and a half to do that one strip and I had 11 more to do! (I might have been a little OCD and trying to get it perfect!)
I did two more strips and then decided this was a DIY not to try! I quit and peeled off all the paper.  Blah!
Do Try This at Home!
We’re in the middle of the Design Challeng{ed} contest, and we want your pictures! Use the menu tab above to get all the details.  Take a picture that shows your challenge room and you could win a professional design consultation by ME! What?  What has this lady ever designed? Good question, and one we thought we should answer for you!
Although, I now only do design work on the side, I loved the years I spent making staging and design my occupation.  The majority of the homes that I worked in were vacant or semi-vacant.  I used a combination of the homeowner’s belongings and rental furniture.  Having a staged room makes a big impact on a potential buyer.
Another home looking Empty and Blah
Simple Staging and ready for buyers!
The tricky part to staging is that you’re not designing the room based on your preferences, (or even mine as the designer) we worked off of the demographics of potential buyers and the feel of the space.
 This room isn’t my personal style, but it was the right look for this high-end condo on the Main Line. 
We’re really excited to work with our Design Challeng{ed} winner.  We hope that this mini portfolio peek gets you excited to think about a room makeover in your home!
So, my advice is to pass on the Adirondack DIY, and instead to use your time taking pictures and entering the Design
Challeng{ed} contest so we can work together designing the perfect space for you! Good Luck!
P.S. Don’t forget that you can enter the Design Challeng{ed} contest even if you’re not in Bucks County! Virtual design is all the rage and this “cyber teacher” has all the right technology to make it happen for you!

Linked up to: The Stories of A to Z, Tip Junkie

The comments +

  1. Christina says:

    Well, the chair idea was cute in theory!! Thanks for being honest about a “fail”…love knowing that everyone else has those too 🙂

  2. So, funny. I love when bloggers share ALL the gory details…even what didn’t work. 🙂 Unfortunately we all fail sometimes. I would point out it’s just as well that you stopped because I don’t think Modge Podge would have been enough to seal the paper and keep it from the elements. It might be cute to try on an indoor chair though. Loved the paper you picked.

  3. scrapmebaby says:

    At least you had the smarts to quit! LOL,too bad as it would have been super cute!!
    thanks for the visit earlier, and leaving the sweet comment. I appreciate it! Will be seeing you again soon;)

  4. I love the idea of decorating your chairs with a pattern, but sorry it did not work out! Great color choice, btw! 😉 Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog.

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