It was a good month ...

June 1st ?

Excuse me, but how did the month of May pass by so quickly? I know the old saying "time flies", especially when you're busy ... but THAT was ridiculous !

Being busy does have its rewards though. As mentioned in one of my previous blogs, clearing my office also cleared my mind which lead to more writing. I submitted some articles for publication and had a few small sucesses:

My business was featured in the "Spotlight on a Member" section of the Brampton Board of Trade newspaper, Trade Talks, May 2007; several articles are being featured on the http://www.erenovate.com/ website (they can be found with the search keyword "redesign" or "staging"); and another article entitled "Depth Perception in Aging Eyes" was included in the Brampton Guardian Showcase section, May 30, 2007.

(There is no online link to the "Spotlight" piece but I have included the text below for those that might want to read it.)

I really do encourage all of you to submit articles to your local publications. You all write so well, and have so much to offer.

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TRADE TALKS - SPOTLIGHT ON A MEMBER

Feel at Home Interior ReDesign, owned by Sandi Gerrard, was created in Toronto (June 2004) and joined The Brampton Board of Trade in October 2005.

Sandi is a Certified ReDesign & Staging Specialist (CRSS)^TM, Vice President of the Canadian ReDesigners Association, an Approved Instructor and Mentor for the Ontario Region. Her slogan "redesigning your world ... one room at a time" sums up the key services offered: one-day room makeovers, home staging and colour consultations.

Interior redesign creates beautiful and functional rooms to reflect the personality and lifestyle of the people who live there. Sandi uses the existing furniture, artwork and accessories to create a new look with dramatic results. Careful editing and re-arrangement can transform the room into a balanced, harmonious, beautiful and absolutely livable space. You are guaranteed to love it because you will be surrounded by all the things that are special to you.

"My biggest reward for my efforts is the look of amazement on the homeowner when they see their room unveiled at the end of the day," said Ms. Gerrard.

What are the benefits of interior redesign for you - the customer?

• a fresh new look in just one day
• beautifully showcase your collections
• no need to purchase anything new
• saves time and effort
• cost effective
• leaves you satisfied and happy with the room's updated appearance

And from an environmental standpoint, the concept of redesign totally embraces the Reduce - Reuse - Recycle theme.

What motivates a person to want a redesigned room? Sometimes it's just a nice refreshing change but it has a huge emotional impact on the homeowner. Reduced clutter and a balanced physical environment can eliminate stress. When blended families are combining households, a redesign helps make sense of all the mismatched pieces that come from two separate homes. Families can be challenged by the space planning when moving to a larger home or when downsizing to a smaller one.

For those who are selling their homes, staging can give you a competitive edge in a tough market. A professional redesign staging up-dates the home and makes it appeal to more potential buyers by focusing on the architectural selling features.

"I traded 9-5 for 24-7 but I love every minute of it!" Sandi said. "I'm passionate about my business and truly enjoy what I do." Based on the positive feedback that she has received, the clients are enjoying her work, too.

Ms. Gerrard also offers 5-day certified training sessions for those wishing to start their own business in interior redesign and home staging.

As a way of giving back to the community, the Canadian ReDesigners Association has partnered with Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC). Together they launched the "Havens for Healing" project. ReDesigners across Canada are offering complementary room makeovers to any woman in treatment for ovarian cancer - giving them a place to focus on rest and wellness.

You can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter by e-mail - filled with tips and tricks for any homeowner.