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.
Follow Merri on Twitter and Pinterest!
Watch Merri on Windy City Live! ... See more videos featuring Merri (and more) on our AmazingGoodwill YouTube channel!
Signage is important in lots of places—stores, airports, roads. Signs have also become very trendy at weddings. They welcome guests, point you in the right direction and tell you which table to sit at. Today, many brides not only like to be creative but DIY projects also can save you money. This project eliminates paper and printing costs. I made this welcome sign from three separate frames I found at Goodwill.
Wedding season is no longer a season anymore. People get married every month of the year. But spring and summer still rule. Because the cost of hosting a wedding keeps going up, brides are always looking for ways to cut expenses and doing it yourself is one way.
Every bride wants her wedding to be perfect (and perfection quickly adds up). All the little details that make the day special can cost beaucoup dollars. Whenever you can make some of the things yourself, you not only save money, but also have the satisfaction of putting a personal touch on your big day!
Every bride-to-be is looking for creative ways to save a few dollars when planning her big day. One way to save money is to make your own props and accessories. These DIY reception table number ideas are quick and easy!
The trend in wedding design is to coordinate your colors. Flowers, dresses, ties go with napkins, table settings and centerpieces. Black and white is a sophisticated and elegant color combination.
The best (and hardest) part of planning a wedding is deciding on the theme and a color scheme. The big trend in weddings is to coordinate everything: the wedding party wardrobe, flowers, the ceremony and reception décor. How an engaged couple arrives at that decision is a personal thing, but paying attention to every detail doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you plan and shop wisely!
There are so many things to think about when planning a wedding. Formal or casual? Trendy or classic? Elegant or funky? Whatever style you choose, it should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom.
Not every wedding calls for formal gold-rimmed fine china. If you’re planning a destination wedding, like the beach, then your tablesetting should fit the venue. Everything I used for this sea shore wedding reception, I found at Goodwill!
© 2020 Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago.
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS.
Tax ID Number: 39-2040239 | Legal
