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I spent ten years as an actress in New York and Los Angeles before discovering my true calling in renovation and and real estate investing. It all started when my husband and I bought our first home, a 1932 Spanish bungalow no one else saw potential in. Languishing on the market for six months, this wonderful old house with “good bones” had fallen into disrepair over the years and lacked curb appeal. Just what we were looking for-a classic fixer-upper we could make our own! George and I had always shared a love of architecture and design, and this was our chance to put all we had learned into practice. |
Over the course of a year, we embarked on a sensitive yet creative renovation, aiming to reinstate the home's original character and charm while mixing in our own personality and style. We did much of the work ourselves; George was our General Contractor while I took charge of the design vision.
We were thrilled with the results, and much to our surprise, our neighbors had taken notice, too! People knocked on our door and left notes in our mailbox, wanting to know who was responsible for the home's dramatic transformation. Before I knew it, I was helping others achieve their design aspirations-and I loved it! By the time I had that “Aha moment” that this was what I wanted to be doing with my life, my new career was already well underway.
The little house that started it all...
Through my many projects, I have had the opportunity to work in an array of styles, from Mediterranean to Cottage to Mid-Century Modern. I appreciate too many to call one my favorite, preferring to let the house and client preference dictate design direction. That said, I aim to keep my designs simple and clean, without excess detail to clutter the space and the mind. I also believe that a small budget shouldn't be an obstacle to living well, and I created my show Trashy Crafty Girls to inspire a style-conscious yet budget-challenged audience with my “champagne taste and beer pocketbook” approach to decorating.
Since I've had a lot of experience and success in real estate investing, I also advise homeowners looking to maximize their property's potential and resale value through consultations and staging services. I've twice been interviewed by the L.A.Times for articles pertaining to Los Angeles's real estate market and have written a design book for the front of the home called Up Front Style(publication info available soon)
