I just returned back from a wonderful few days with my Design Blogger friends in Atlanta.

It was a fun filled few days with amazing speakers as you see above.

I so enjoyed getting to see Cheryl Luckett from Dwell by Cheryl. She has the same passion for Design as I do. She loves to renew, restore and revamp old treasures and enjoys the hunt of a good find. Follow her blog, it is full of amazing transformations.

Watch this quick video to give you a quick glimpse into the fun we had!

Of course the highlight for me was meeting Candice Olson. She is my Design Idol! I absolutely love her design style. She is brilliant, incredibly kind and fun. Of course they took the picture while I was telling her I wore high heels just for her!

Here are my top 25 takeaways from the event:

Even the best of the best have struggles in this business.
Being an overcomer is key
If you fall, get up and try again
Find where you shine in this industry and stick with that
Comparison is a bad word, everyone has a different walk
Be where you are planted and do that well
There is insane talent in the Design industry
Don't let fear steal your joy
Videos are key in our market right now
You don't have to be like everyone else, stand out.
There are lots of tools out there for us to use that make our job easier
Take time to rest or you will burn out in this business
It takes years to build your brand. Stick to it, be consistent and it will pay off
It hurts when you grow, get help and don't feel guilty
Build a good team that represents you well
Social Media is a must but choose the one you like best and be good at that one
Trust your gut, don't be shortsighted
Just say yes!
Collaborate with a fellow designer
Find your tribe and do this together
Show a piece of your personal side
Give your readers topics they want
Listen to your readers needs
Have rich content on your blog
Show before and after pictures, they are incredibly effective

DecRenew Interiors of Grapevine, TX Receives

Best Of Houzz 2014 Award

Annual Survey and Analysis of 16 Million Monthly Users

Reveals Top-Rated Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals

Grapevine, Texas, February 4, 2014 – DecRenew Interiors of Grapevine, TX has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 10 year Decorating Business was chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 16 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 230 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad /iPhone app and Android app. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2014” badge on their profiles, showing the Houzz community their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

“DecRenew Interior’s mission is to Connect Life and Home and we do so through a focus on exceeding our customers’ expectations. We are very honored to receive recognition from Houzz for Customer Satisfaction.” Houzz has made our job much more efficient, when working with clients, because now they can share their inspiration boards with us, helping us better understand their design style right up front.”

“Houzz provides homeowners with the most comprehensive view of home building, remodeling and design professionals, empowering them to find and hire the right professional to execute their vision,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize DecRenew Interiorsamong our “Best Of” professionals for customer satisfaction as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like DecRenew Interiors, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and reviewing their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

Follow DecRenew Interiors on Houzz by clicking this link. DecRenew Interiors

About DecRenew Interiors:

Interior Decorator, Ruthie Staalsen of DecRenew Interiors has been in business over 10 years, serving clients in the Dallas Fort Worth Area. DecRenew Interiors tailors its services to the individual needs of their clients, offering everything from full-service design to “Walk-thru” consultations. Ruthie’s unique approach focuses on making her clients homes look collected, not decorated. DecRenew Interiors was featured in Traditional Home Magazine "Great Kitchens" Page 42, in May 2013. www.DecRenew.com

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish - online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to get the design inspiration, project advice, product information and professional reviews they need to help turn ideas into reality. For more information, visit www .houzz .com

I'm extremely honored to receive this award.
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