Home + Garden Trendsetter of the Year Finalist: Denise Sabia

The Home + Garden Trendsetter of the Year contest is heating up with several thousand votes already cast on Facebook. We can't wait to see what our three finalists, Serena Appiah, Denise Sabia, and Allison Griffith, present at the Denver Home Show next weekend. But first, it's important that you get to know our competitors.

You've already met our first Home + Garden Trendsetter of the Year finalist, Serena Appiah. Now it's time to meet the second: Denise Sabia.

DENISE SABIA

Denise Sabia is a Philadelphia designer, DIYer, and the voice behind ThePaintedHome.com. She takes everyday items and flea market finds and transforms them into unique pieces that will freshen and warm your home - all without breaking the bank, of course. Her DIY workshops help others learn valuable crafting and decorating skills they can try in their home. Her flips and finds are sold in Philadelphia at Serendipity Shops of Chestnut Hill and Serendipity Shops of Doylestown. Will Denise rock the house in Denver? We can't wait to find out!

We sat down with Denise ahead of her presentation to help you get to know her a little better. Check out our fun Q&A below and get ready for Denise to teach you more than a thing or two you didn't know about crafting.

Q: What's your least favorite chore?
Denise: "Laundry."

Q: Would you rather water Game of Thrones or Orange is the New Black?
Denise: "Neither."

Q: What are your best tips to help homeowners with curb appeal year-round?
Denise: "Paint your front door...a color. A real COLOR! Painting your door is the simplest weekend project you’ll ever attempt. Plus, in the warmer weather it’ll add a little punch of color to your foyer when the door is open! Double the bonus!"

Q: What has been your most embarrassing fashion choice?
Denise: "My ex-husband."

Q: What's your go-to hostess gift?
Denise: "Any Real Housewives of..."

Q: What should homeowners look for when it comes to working with a contractor or interior designer?
Denise: "A good vibe...you know when you know. Many people can design a beautiful room...you want someone who “gets you” and who you can trust."

Q: What's one thing we wouldn't guess about you?
Denise: "...that I occasionally heat up yesterday's coffee. Completely gross, I know."

Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
Denise: "Dog."

Q: Would you rather be too hot or too cold?
Denise: "Too HOT!"

Q: What's one thing you think people should splurge on?
Denise: "Splurge on your sofa. It's like a second home...you spend a lot of time there and you won't be buying another one anytime soon."

Q: What's one simple thing homeowners can do to improve their landscape or garden?
Denise: "Hire a professional, or even just a neighborhood kid to keep it maintained and mowed. My 11 year old weeds for $5...a huge bang for your buck!"

Q: What's the best way for homeowners to incorporate the latest trends into their decor? How can you tell what has staying power and what doesn't?
Denise: "Use what you love. If you love a trend use it, if you hate it, don't use it just because someone famous has. Any item that has value to you has staying power. Use what you love, where you love it."

Think Denise should be named Home + Garden Trendsetter of the Year? Vote for her on Facebook. She'll be presenting on March 19th at the Denver Home Show where our audiences and celebrity judges, The Fabulous Beekman Boys, will help decide if she, or one of our two other finalists, will earn the title.

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Serving Up Style With Denise Sabia At The Philadelphia Home Show

Denise Sabia, Philly 'burbs-based interior designer extraordinaire and creator of The Painted Home, is back at the Philadelphia Home Show again this year. Known for her exceptional eye, Denise takes everyday items found in flea markets, thrift shops, or simply along the roadside and turns them into unique pieces that freshen and warm your home...without breaking your budget.

This year, Denise will be one of five local designers participating in the Design Room feature. The theme for this year's Design Room is Serving Up Style. The spaces will showcase quite a variety of unique and creative dining rooms.

Because Denise lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her three kids, a dog, rabbits, and the 'oldest living hermit crab known to man', her room this year is aptly titled: Rustic Outdoor Charm. It will feature some natural elements as well as some industrial textures and more importantly, be super fun and casual, which fits her lifestyle perfectly.

We recently caught up with Denise, who shared some of the inspiration behind her designs. Enjoy our interview below!

Marketplace Events (MPE): Where do you start when decorating?

• Denise Sabia (Denise): "Anything can spark an idea. I once created an entire kitchen around a potholder I found at HomeGoods and fell in LOVE with the pattern and colors. When I see a room for the first time - I can usually see what it is going to look like when I am done with it right away. I'm like a fortune teller of rooms. I envision it finished within minutes of seeing it."

MPE: Where do you gather most of your inspiration for new projects?

• Denise: "Everywhere and anywhere. I am a fan of the quote 'necessity is the mother of invention.' That (and being poor) you don't have as many options so you have to make it work. For projects I see what is needed, then I figure out how to make an items work for a specific purpose. I love a challenge, so I am always taking the hard way. Rather than go to a furniture store to shop for a specific item, I'll hit the thrift store or flea market. That way, I have to change things around to make them work...but they always turn out so much better than if I took the easy way out."

MPE: What is your favorite room to decorate and why?

• Denise: "My own, 'cause I can do whatever I want! And I'm rather bossy and like to get my way."

MPE: Give us a little sneak peak at this year's Design Room - anything exciting you'd like to share about it?

• Denise: "My room this year is Rustic Outdoor Charm. I love the mix of old and new. There's some natural elements as well as some industrial textures. It's a room I'd like to pack up and put in my own backyard...and when no one is looking I might."

To see Denise's dining room masterpiece visit the Design Room feature at the Philadelphia Home Show. While at the show, also look out for Denise's Favorite Finds in corners throughout the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The local designer and creator of The Painted Home has gathered her favorite finds from the Philadelphia Home Show and other local Philly stores to create themed vignettes. Watch for them - if you see one, snap a photo and share with #DenisesFavs for a chance to win one of her favorite finds. They include a $600 wall-mounted fireplace and loads of awesome items for your home!

The Philadelphia Home Show takes over the Pennsylvania Convention Center January 17 - 19 and 23 - 25, 2015. Don't have tickets yet? Get 2-for-1 on our Facebook Ticket Deals.

JANUARY 17 - 19, 23 - 25, 2015.
PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER

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