I started my career as an interior designer when we finished remodeling our home that was built in the 1890s. I loved the space planning, choosing finishes and decorating every little inch. It was trial and error, and we made mistakes, but I learned a lot along the way. Along with being a learning process, working on our home was also a hands-on project. We did everything ourselves (actually, my husband Tom did all the building and heavy work, I did the fun stuff!). I’ve had the decorating bug ever since I was a little girl, but I wanted to know everything about design, so, as a result I returned to college (Mount Mary) for a second degree in Interior Design.
I’ve been collecting antiques and vintage furnishings forever. My favorite shopping places are flea markets, antique stores and of course, Goodwill. I love DIY projects and saving money by taking an object and re-purposing it into something beautiful and useful. I’m also an amateur photographer, love to travel and study French (J’adore tous ce qui est franҫais)!
Although I love to entertain, I’m not much of a cook. My party philosophy is "if the table looks fantastic, it doesn’t matter what you serve."
My weekly column for Amazing Goodwill and my design blog, Design Coach, are about all things design, living a stylish life and entertaining (like setting a great table). I share DIY projects, decorating and design tips, as well as ideas and secrets.
If you have a specific question for Merri, feel free to email her at askmerri@goodwillsew.com.
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Wedding season may be months away, but it’s never too soon to start designing table settings and party favors, especially if you plan to make them yourself. Table center pieces for the reception or bridal shower can be personalized to match your colors or theme.
Happy New Year! January is the month for resolutions. You’re on your own for weight loss, but I can offer some ideas for getting organized. Forget spring cleaning, I like to rearrange and do a thorough reorganization after the Christmas decorations are down and put away.
One of the most stressful times of the year is early September when the kids go back to school. Moms look forward to the new routine and kids dread it. I remember stressing out about getting and staying organized. Whether you have one kid or several, finding a system that keeps everyone on track and get them where they need to be is a top priority.
Upcycling tip for July. I found a bunch of old floral frogs. They’re little metal stands with spikes you put in to the bottom of a dish to hold fresh cut flowers. Today, most flower arrangements use a foam block that absorbs water.
With Earth Day right around the corner, I’d like to offer some tips for re-purposing. During a recent move of my home office into an unused bedroom, I worked to declutter and better organize my desk top. The key to this strategy was to have a place for everything right where I need them, especially the items I use most often.
If you’re like me, you take advantage of the cold winter weekends to get your house (and clutter) in order. Since I don’t have a lot of closet space, I’m always looking for ideas to organize my things in pretty and practical ways. If a decorative accessory can serve as storage, that’s even better.
Decorating for Christmas is a lot more fun than taking down the tree, safely storing your ornaments and finding a place to put everything until next year. When the time comes to dismantle your decorations and find closet space, try these storage solutions.
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