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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Home + Garden Trendsetter of the Year Finalist: Serena Appiah

At the beginning of 2016 we encouraged local home, garden, and lifestyle bloggers to apply to become the Home + Garden Trendsetter of the Year. Taking over the reins from Leanne Lee, the Diva of DIY, this year's winner will receive a multi-show contract from Marketplace Events and much more.

After several entries and much deliberation, the results from the first round of the contest are in! Over the next few days we'll be introducing you to our three finalists: Serena Appiah, Allison Griffith, and Denise Sabia. First up, Serena Appiah!

SERENA APPIAH

Serena Appiah is the talent behind thriftdiving.com. Hailing from Maryland, this mother of three boys has been helping folks decorate, improve, and maintain their homes on a DIY budget since 2010. Serena loves power tools, thrift stores, creating, inspiring, and teaching. She'll be bringing her home improvement know-how and thrift decor ideas to the Denver Home Show. Will she take home the title?

We sat down with Serena to help you get to know her a little better. Check out our fun Q&A below and get ready for Serena to make a splash at the Denver Home Show!

Q: If you could be gifted with one super power, what would it be?
Serena: "If I had one super power, I would be invisible! Not because I don’t like to be seen, but because I could go anywhere and see anything, without being detected! I’d be able to see the real truth behind everything. Not to mention that I could check up on my children to see if they really are behaving in school!"

Q: What was the best party you've ever attended and why?
Serena: "The first year that I attended the Haven Conference in Atlanta (the annual DIY conference for bloggers), I danced and danced the night away! You can see me in the center of the crown, gettin’ down with blogger friends! It was so exciting because not only was it a chance to have fun without the hubby and kids in tow, but I had felt so inspired to take my blog to the next level that weekend. I couldn’t contain my excitement! And wouldn’t you know when the following year’s conference rolled around, everyone remembered me as the girl who danced all night. What a way to be memorable, eh?"

Q: If you had to give up Facebook or Instagram, which would you pick?
Serena: "Instagram would be gone in a flash! I can’t keep up with the perfection that Instagram requires! LOL. Instagram is supposed to be about pretty feeds, but my audience knows how much I love an “ugly” before picture! People welcome the “ugly” on Facebook; they just connect with it! Since most of my DIY furniture makeovers and room makeovers start with dirty, thrifted furniture and not-so-pretty rooms, Facebook is definitely the platform where Thrift Diving thrives!"

Q: What has been your most embarrassing fashion choice?
Serena: "Last summer, while shopping with my best friend, I mentioned I may have wanted to look for some new jeans. She quickly agreed with my decision and said, “Oh yeah—because those jeans you’re wearing right now are hideous.” My mouth gaped open wide! I couldn’t believe my always-too-truthful-friend had put it so harshly! Were my favorite Lucky Brand jeans so horrible?? I didn’t think so. To this day, I still wear them, but I’m also cognizant that they’d once been deemed “hideous.” LOL. I still love them, though."

Q: What should homeowners look for when it comes to working with a contractor or interior designer?
Serena: "I absolutely love Angie’s List for finding contractors and any professionals related to home services. You’ve got to know what other people are honestly saying about those professionals. Angie’s List includes real feedback from real homeowners. Things I look for is what grade do they have? I only hire grade “A” contractors. Are people saying they’re trustworthy and honest in their pricing? Do they show up on time? Do they treat customers respectfully? I also look for professionals that have not just positive feedback, but lots of that feedback, because the more feedback, the better assessment you can make."

Q: What's one thing that we wouldn't guess about you?
Serena: "You’d never know it, but I’ve been a vegetarian for 16 years! I’m not a super-crunchy, tree-hugger, but I do have compassion for animals, and I feel that there are healthier choices of food to eat. People always ask if I crave meat, and the answer is, “Nope!” There are so many tasty alternatives to meat, I never crave the real thing!"

Q: What's your favorite space to makeover and why?
Serena: "Show me an ugly bathroom, and I’m all over it! Bathrooms are fun because usually it’s a smaller space where you can be bolder and decorate outside of your comfort zone. I generally love soft, comforting colors when it comes to most living spaces, but bathrooms are spaces to unleash your inner “wild child” decorating ideas!"

Q: What's your biggest pet peeve?
Serena: "Oh, I could name a lot of pet peeves! However, my biggest pet peeve would have to be rude drivers—the people who you’ve given the courtesy of pulling in front of you, or some other kind gesture on the road, and they don’t even raise a hand in “thanks.” Gets to me every time."

Q: What's one thing you think people should splurge on?
Serena: "Electronics! As thrifty as I am when it comes to home decor, you’d never know that I splurge on the best electronics (computers, cameras, tablets, etc.) I can afford. Technology changes so quickly that people should buy the best they can afford so that their electronics are relevant for at least a couple of years."

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?
Serena: "Only decorate with the latest trend if it’s something you truly adore. You should never feel pressured to incorporate trendy decor just because someone else did it or else you risk your home not really being a reflection of you. If you absolutely love a trend, don’t worry about whether it has staying power. Simply because you love it means it has staying power, regardless of whether the trend goes in or out."

Think Serena 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 audience and celebrities 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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Thrifty Tips: How to Shop at Thrift Stores Like a Pro

Are you great at spotting diamonds in the rough? Do see you see old, dated furniture and envision a way to give it new life? You might just be part of a growing breed of savvy shoppers known as Upcyclers.

North Florida Upcyclers won't want to miss the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, October 1-4, 2015. The home and garden event of the season features the Diva of DIY herself, Leanne Lee. Leanne will be sharing fun and fantastic upcycling ideas and DIY tips, so folks can learn how to better decorate their spaces and improve the environment.

Can't wait to see Leanne at the show? To help tide you over until October, Leanne has shared her best thrift store tips, so you can shop these venues like a pro!

The Diva of DIY's Best Thrift Store Tips

"When it comes to thrift store shopping, it can be challenging to know where to start. One of the first things you must know is that everything in the store was donated. If you think a price is extremely high, (I've noticed this a few times as my local store, that things were actually priced higher than the retail value), speak with a store manager in a caring manner and ask for a discount. Tell them your reasoning behind the price discrepancy, and see what they can do.

Another thing you should do if you want to become a thrift store shopping expert is to keep an open mind. We all know there's about a hundred lamps that are in the back of the store. While the color of the light may not work for you, look at the shape and if the structure is there. If so, pick it up and bring it home! You can paint it or foil the base, and add a pretty shade that matches your home decor.

Coffee mugs and dishes are a dime a dozen. While they may be plain and boring, you can personalize the plates and mugs. These are great gift ideas that won't break the bank.

We have all seen the ugly, outdated 70s furniture that's sitting on the floor. It may be dirty and dingy, but look past that. Is the structure of the ottoman in good shape? If that coffee table sturdy? How about the chairs, are their overall frames in great condition? If so, go ahead and bring these items home! You can recover the ottoman with fabric to match your decor, sand and stain the coffee table, and create new to you chairs with paint, sanding, and stain or recover the seat."

Get more great ideas and advice for transforming older, worn pieces into beautiful and charming decor items on the Diva of DIY blog and at her presentations at the Jacksonville Home + Patio Show. She'll be gracing the stage at the show on October 2nd, 3rd, & 4th - you don't want to miss her!

Did you know that connecting with us on Facebook has tons of perks? Get the inside scoop on our upcoming home shows, find tons of celebrity tips, and get exclusive ticket offers. Right now you can get 2-for-1 tickets as part of our Facebook deals. What are you waiting for? Grab your tickets now!

PRIME OSBORN CONVENTION CENTER
OCTOBER 1-4, 2015.

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