Welcome Home to the Suburbs

Today I have a special replay of a past episode with my guest Kim Greco of Paws and Possibilities, where we talked about what's really involved in owning a dog. This episode is dedicated to Biscuit, our beloved Cockapoo of 13 years who we just lost recently. Shortly after I recorded the original episode with Kim, we found out that Biscuit had terminal cancer. He was the first dog we owned, and it...

There's an old adage that says, work hard, play hard, and today on the podcast we're talking all about the subject of play and how important it is for your mind and your well-being. To do this, my special guest is Wendy Conklin, the Creative Director and thought leader behind the Chair Whimsy movement to live more creatively. Wendy helps her online course students tap into and cultivate their crea...

In today's episode, my special guest reveals how organizing can indeed by joyful, by using the versatile and stylist lockers from her amazing startup company, Mustard Made. Becca Stern is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Mustard Made, a homeware brand known for its colorful range of vintage-inspired metal lockers. Becca launched the company in collaboration with her sister Jess in 2018, and...

Do you ever feel like you need an undercover contractor to help you with your home renovation project and the team you're working with? I've got good news, because Matt DiBara is here today to lift the curtain on all things building and to share his expertise with us! Fourth generation mason Matt DiBara mixed his first bag of concrete at age 9 and went on to spend most of his childhood learning th...

Have you ever stopped to consider how the products you use and that are in your home are made? I'm so excited to be talking about what you can do to make your home as non-toxic and chemical-free as possible, with today's expert guest, Deborah DiMare! Deborah is a renowned interior design consultant, author, educator, and pioneer of the ethical / wellness design movement. She has been executing bea...

Our homes are emotional, and on today's episode I wanted to go a bit deeper into this fascinating topic. My guest is Marissa Lada of Honey Lune Hivery, who I found on TikTok (and she is a bit of a sensation on that platform)! I realized that Marissa and I have so many of the same philosophies about home, the psychology of home, and approach to decorating, and I just knew that I had to invite her t...

Are you thinking about adding a furry member to your family? Maybe you just recently did, and you have questions or concerns about owning the new dog? You'll want to hear this episode, as my special guest is revealing her expertise as we talk all things dogs! Kim Greco is the owner of Paws and Possibilities and creator of the online dog training program Manners Matter, is a dog trainer for people...

Happy New Year – it's hard to believe it's 2022! To celebrate the new year, I wanted to take a little bit of time to share more about me on the podcast, so that you can learn who I'm not in order to learn more about who I am as a designer! I'm here to help and to serve you in 2022 in beyond, and this episode I reveal the ways that we can work together to achieve all of your designing goals. Having...

It's that time of year again, the holidays, and in this solo episode I'll be sharing decorating tips and ideas to make it as stress-free as possible, so that you can enjoy this special time with friends and family! I cover a lot in this episode, from decorating advice to entertaining hacks, thoughts on trees, food, how to host a dinner, and gift-giving if you're the guest. I hope the upcoming new...

Want to avoid supply chain issues and grab designer items for your home that are new, or like new? You are going to love this conversation I recently had with Sarina Galu, the Founder of Nooish!   Sarina is an Interior Designer and former CPG Marketing executive. She is the Founder of Nooish Home Decor Consignment and Design Props Interiors, a curated marketplace featuring home decor for everyone...

This is the second time that today's guest has appeared on Welcome Home to the Suburbs, but this time we're discussing something different. With so much going on in the industry at this time, I wanted to bring a top professional, Renée Biery, back on the podcast to share what we need to know as homeowners looking to do renovation projects! Renée deVignier Biery, ASID, is an interior designer based...

Welcome to my potluck episode, where I have a little bit of something for everybody! On today's episode, you'll hear me share about my approach to design, some ways to foster your creativity and sense of accomplishment through DIY, my thoughts on the current supply chain issues and what you can do to minimize the impact on your design plans – plus so much more! My accessory course has finally laun...

No matter what your career is, or what you're doing in life, DIY is an awesome outlet. Today on the podcast we're talking all things DIY with Meghan Russo, so get out your paint brush and let's go! Meghan is an educator, home decorator, small business owner, mommy of 4, and lover of all things DIY and decor! She grew up in Queens, NY, and graduated from St. John's University with a B.S. in Childho...

Are you finding it difficult to juggle life, motherhood, and your career, with the vast amount responsibilities that come with each? Would you like to "get your wings" and go from a caterpillar to butterfly, but you're not even sure where to start with this process? Today's expert guest is Kelly Wilson, aka The Butterfly Guide, and in this episode, she reveals how each one of us can begin to do th...

Let's face it, purchasing a home is one of, if not THE, biggest purchases that you and your family will ever make, which is why I just knew that I had to bring you this conversation with money confidence coach Aimee Cerka. In this episode, we'll look at things such the big differences between having a scarcity mindset versus having an abundance mindset, what you can do if you and your partner come...

How would you like to take the hassle out of ordering custom home décor? My guest today has the solution for making this process seamless , and I'm so excited to share with you this conversation I had with her! Ella Hall is the founder of Stitchroom, a Brooklyn upholstery shop that can help you make custom pillows, cushions, curtains, and other upholstery online. After receiving a degree in fashio...

Elizabeth Daniel was recently featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and I'm so excited to have her as our guest today! As they say, one man's trash is another person's treasure, and in this episode, you'll learn how she is making it easy to incorporate vintage styles into your home!  Elizabeth is a decor artist with an expansive education in multiple artistic styles. She has begun using decor as her lat...

Are you stressed out? Who isn't these days, am I right? Help is here, because today my special guest is "The Stress Coach" himself, Jordan Friedman! In this episode, he shares his expertise in reducing stress and anxiety by using stress management techniques, no matter what the source of the stress may be. From CEOs and college students, to cancer patients and 9/11 survivors, Jordan and his compan...

As females who are trying to reach our highest potential and make the most impact in our work, we are faced with something called "power gaps". Today's incredible expert guest is has literally written the book on this topic, and I am so excited to have her on the podcast to share her insights during a time which is so challenging for women all over the world. Kathy Caprino, M.A. is an internationa...

It's been a little while since I've recorded a new episode for the podcast, but I'm back to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Welcome Home to the Suburbs! I wanted to update you on all that has been happening with me, as I've been busy here working on developing my new course that recently launched, among other things. This episode isn't just about what I've been up to though, as I also want t...

When it comes to buying a home, moving in and designing it, there are things that just "get" me. I don't necessarily mean they bug me, but there are things with the process that I'm passionate about and that I want to share with you. In this episode I'm giving my list of things that I think will help you overcome some issues that you may be having, because being a homeowner should be fun and as st...

Today we're going a little bit "off the wall" and talking about Murphy beds! You may recall me talking about the amazing space-saving product offered by Lori Wall Beds, and today you'll meet their co-founder, Kyle Marquardt. Lori Wall Beds is a Murphy bed company co-founded by Kyle and his brother Brendan, and they're focused on providing the best value Murphy bed to the United States market. Kye...

Are you going through the paint wheel of literally thousands of colors, trying to get to the right one you're looking for? Maybe your painter needs this information by tomorrow, and you don't want to make a mistake that could cost you thousands of dollars? Choosing a paint color can be so overwhelming and crowdsourcing a color on Facebook isn't always the best strategy. That's why today I'm talkin...

Occupational therapy, psychology, special education and sensory integration all can tie into the design of your home, and today's special guest has a background in each of these areas. In this episode, Morgan Blueglass reveals how all of these things can have a significant impact on the home environment and should be taken into consideration when designing a living area. Morgan is an occupational...

The walk-in closet, mudroom, basement, laundry room and garage are all what I like to call the "hot spots" of the home that need to be set up properly to work for your family. This is why I toady wanted to speak with a professional with over 30 years in the industry to share her knowledge and closet and organization solutions. Melissa Frank of Closet and Storage Concepts in Norwalk, Connecticut ha...