I have some exciting news to share!  You may or may not have noticed that I haven’t been blogging as often lately. Well, that's because I’ve been so incredibly busy with the release of my DIY Interior Design course, the craziness of reno season and.....wait for it......... training an intern!

YES!!!! I'm so stinkin’ excited! Life as an entrepreneur is wonderful and so gratifying but it also means that I work around the clock on a regular basis. I’m incredibly happy to not only have help, but also to be able to share everything I've learned as a business owner with a fellow Interior Decorator so that she can build her business.

Introducing….(insert drumroll please)…..Paaatttttyyyy! Patty has worked in the interior decorating industry for four years and has been decorating since 2003. She is also a stager for a local realtor.  Watch for new services to be added to Orangetree Interiors’ offerings soon.

Photographer: Erica Shaw

Patty has a passion for Traditional and Transitional design. She is a DIYer at heart and loves antiquing for the perfect vintage find. Speaking of perfect, I feel Patty is the perfect addition to Orangetree Interiors because her design style preferences add to, rather than coincide with the styles I'm most comfortable designing in.  I have 100% confidence in her abilities to deliver a beautiful result for any of our clients.

How you ask? Well, I’ve known Patty since I was 13 years old. We worked together serving tables, doing dishes and cleaning a local retirement home. We also went to high school together and got back in touch when I discovered I was going to college with her younger sister.  Patty and I have weaved in and out of contact over the years but have always remained good friends.

At a dinner a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I’m super busy and that my business is thriving. And, while I’m absolutely grateful and totally love that this is happening to me, I was feeling overwhelmed with the lack of hours in the day. If only I had some help…..

To my surprise and absolute pleasure, I opened an email from Patty the next morning proclaiming that she would be the help I needed in return for teaching her how to start up her own interior decorating business when she’s ready. I was absolutely floored! Of course! I get the help I need and I get to help one of the nicest people I know. Yes please! Since then I’ve been teaching Patty aspects of the business that will help get her some exposure and she's been helping me get on top of my never-ending tasks. It's the perfect setup. THANK YOU Patty!

We'll be working on setting up pricing and packages for in-person design and staging (locally) over the next little while, but if you have an interest or need, feel free to reach out anytime and we will make your request a priority.

In the meantime, I just wanted to introduce you all to Patty and say that I am SO GRATEFUL for her offer to help.

Now for all of you, I’m so thankful to have so many amazing people in my Design Tribe. Your support and encouragement means so much to me.  I know many of you will never use my service and that’s totally okay.  You’re here for the decorating tips and I’m here to provide them. :) Today, I’m not sending a tip, but rather a list of almost 200 retailers that I use to shop online for furniture, art and décor. I hope you find it helpful for your DIY decorating projects.