Divas That Care Network
The #DivasThatCare movement is a dynamic force of positivity and progress. It's a collective of empowered women united by a shared vision: to pave the way for future generations. These women are not only breaking barriers—they’re also committed to equipping the next generation with the tools, resources, and confidence to lead with purpose.
By discovering and defining your purpose, you unlock the power to uplift those around you and contribute to a better world—every single day.
The Divas That Care Change Makers lead by example. They’ve walked the path, and now they’re using their voices to inspire others—one intentional day at a time.
Divas That Care Network
Home As A Mirror
Come and listen to our Host, Tina Spoletini, as she chats with today's guest, Shelly Reimer, for our “End of Year, Beginning of Me” Podcast Series.
A powerfully themed mini-series helping women close the year with clarity and step into the next one with grounded self-love and vision.
For more than 15 years, Shelly has been transforming spaces into beautiful, welcoming places that not only sell—but inspire. From staging vacant homes and styling show homes to reimagining the spaces her clients already live in, she has a seasoned eye and a true passion for helping people rediscover the joy of home. Shelly loves seeing that magical moment when someone falls in love with their space all over again, and she’s here today to share how creating a home you love can mirror creating a life you love.
https://www.facebook.com/shelly.reimer.96?
We explore how creating a home you love can mirror creating a life you love, moving from trends to meaning, and from clutter to calm. Shelly Rhymer shares practical ways to start small, trust the process, and build spaces that feel safe, warm, and deeply personal.
• meaning-rich design over trend-led styling
• decluttering as mindful redistribution and reset
• reading personality from objects and arrangements
• slow decorating to observe light and habits
• starting small with one high-impact room
• prioritising budgets and phasing upgrades
• using existing pieces to craft story vignettes
• choosing palettes and scale that fit the space
• trusting the process while keeping non-negotiables
• self care through bedrooms, offices, and daily rituals
• no judgement entry into real, lived-in homes
For more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com
It's Divas That Care Radio. Stories, strategies, and ideas to inspire positive change. Welcome to Divas That Care, a network of women committed to making our world a better place for everyone. This is a global movement for women, by women engaged in a collaborative effort to create a better world for future generations. To find out more about the movement, visit divas that care.com after the show. Right now, though, stay tuned for another jolt of inspiration.
SPEAKER_02:Welcome to Confidence in Bloom, the podcast that reminds you that confidence isn't about becoming someone new. It's about coming home to yourself. I'm your host, Tina Spolotini. For this season, we're embracing the theme End of Year, Beginning of Me, a time to pause, reflect, and let go of what no longer serves you. Together, we'll explore real stories and soulful insights to help you quiet that itty bitty shitty committee, release the shoulds that weigh you down, and step into the new year grounded in self-love, clarity, and confidence. Let's begin today's conversation with Shelly Rhymer. For more than 15 years, Shelly has been transforming spaces into beautiful, welcoming places that not only sell but inspire. From staging vacant homes and styling show homes to reimagining the spaces her clients already live in. She has a seasoned eye and a true passion for helping people rediscover the joy of home. Shelley loves seeing that magical moment when someone falls in love with their space all over again. And she's here today to share how creating a home you love can mirror creating a life you love. Welcome, Shelly. Hello. So maybe tell us a little bit more about yourself and how you like dress up home. So let maybe talk about that.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. I kind of feel like um for me, anyways, um, I have a huge passion in home decor, but I also have I love clothing and jewelry and all of that. So for me, um, they kind of go they go together that way. So yeah.
SPEAKER_02:I can tell. That's when I met you. I was like, oh my God, I love the way she dresses.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Yeah. Like they they go hand in hand to me. I think um how you dress and also how your home sometimes looks like. I think they're both reflections.
SPEAKER_02:I think so too. Although I will say this I met a lady once that I used to meet her, I used to see her in church. Yeah. And um, her husband ended up doing some work for us, and he invited us to her house. I can't remember what it was for, but it was like just a walkthrough. And I used to think this woman was always done up with makeup, always had nice clothes. Like she looked always like a million bucks. Well put together. And I will add this, she does she had four or five kids, you know, she had a full house. And we walked into her house, she wasn't there, and it was not nearly what I expected, right? And and not that that's a bad thing because it wasn't like a pig's pen. I would never give that title. Yeah, but at the same time, I was like, wow, she looks put together, yeah, right. And I come to her house, but I mean, I don't know what anyone would say about my house, right? I my house is always, in my opinion, it's kind of messy, but I like to have things in order, right?
SPEAKER_01:There's always something so then do you think that's a reflection a little bit on you then?
SPEAKER_02:Like I don't know, like I that and that's what what's making me question that now because I like to have things in order, but I don't know necessarily how people are viewing me when they see me, right? Right? Yeah, so I don't know if it's a reflection, but I know exactly what you mean when you say, you know, the way we dress is a reflection of how we have our home.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, like I'll I'll be with clients that um I'll be at their homes and and it's not there's a difference between a mess and dirty. So I mean not dirty, I mean there's just there's stuff, there's lots of stuff. Um, and that is sometimes I can always like like and it's everywhere, and there's not really homes for things properly, and it's just it's it's chaos. And then, but they're kind of also chaos, right? So it's kind of your home sometimes is a bit of a reflection. Like I always like before I need with I'm at home, I need to have everything neat and tidy, and then I feel focused that I can do things.
SPEAKER_02:Oh my god, I love that. And that's that's actually what I wanted to ask you is how you when you walk into a person's house, yeah, how do you see like um what like what do you learn about that person as soon as you walk into their house? So it's funny that you know you say that because my daughter, she has a chaotic mind, right? And I know that I mean, growing up, she was always like, you know, today they call it ADHD. I don't believe that's what it is. So we had her tested, she's not ADHD, but yeah, I know that her mind is always doing four things at once. At least she used to keep when she was little, she used to keep her room really tidy. Yeah, but when she got older, like into the teenage years, you know, the chaos, as every teenager does, I I will, you know, throw that in there. But yeah, I couldn't believe the mess that she would create. And then when she moved out, I was like, You gotta fix this, man. Like your brain has got to settle down because if you don't fix your environment, your brain won't settle down. And if your brain doesn't settle down, your environment is gonna stay like this. Man, it took her three or four years to really hone in on that, you know, that organization skill. And I think does she feel better now? I think she's got it, and I notice now, okay, she's also 24. We all reach that age where we start to settle, but I see a difference. Yeah, yeah. My room was always tidy, I've always kept my room tidy. Yeah, right. And I used to say to them, that's the place where you need to go and be alone, right? And you know this because this is your job, yeah, right. That you have to sleep here. If you can't sleep with calmness around you, you'll your life is gonna be crazy, right?
SPEAKER_01:I feel yeah, I I agree. I totally agree with that. And I actually, it's funny because I'll go into some people's houses. There's different scenarios. I say I'm helping clients, um, and they're like they're needing some new furniture and some art, and they're just wanting their house, you know, designed and decorated and to feel more cozy. And oftentimes I prefer a house that actually has lots of chaos and has lots of stuff because I can see that they have some sense of style. Like I can I can see what they're attracted to, right? But if you go into a home that has nothing, you're like, you can't even sometimes tell what their favorite color is, right? Or like you can you can read a lot by how much stuff somebody has.
SPEAKER_02:That is super interesting, actually.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and I would have never an empty home. It's like I I can't sometimes get a feel of what their personality is, right?
SPEAKER_02:So if you walk into a house and they have, you know, maybe not a theme, but you can you can sort of tell the things that they like by the the amount and by the stuff that they have. Oh, that is super interesting. See, I would have thought it's it's easier on a plain, like a no, it's hard for me to get a feel.
SPEAKER_01:It's I guess that makes sense because you're pulling like you're pulling questions from them, like what colors do you like? If you have art on the walls, are you attracted to more landscapes or abstracts or but when there's nothing, there's just it's it's hard.
SPEAKER_02:Oh my gosh. Okay, that has answered so many questions for me because I'm I'm struggling with my own house, right? Because this is our second house, right? We brought, of course, all our stuff from our old house into this house, and I it doesn't fit for me, right? I've moved it around, I've done, and I'm like, it just isn't working. Yeah, but I guess that like that would make sense when you come, you're gonna be coming into my house, but when you do come into my house, I already have some ideas because we've talked about this. There's right, and you'll be able to say, okay, this, you know, like I don't know, is it easier? Like, you wouldn't say get rid of this, you would just say, let's put it away for a year or two.
SPEAKER_01:Right. Or I would like for you and I've had this discussion that you again like you have some furniture that's um too large or it's not fitting into this home, but you also have lots of stuff that is important to you and your husband because it's your mother-in-law made it and it's important to you, so that's good for me to know, and then we can work with that, right? I would love to keep those key pieces that mean something because that's what a home is. Everything should have some meaning to it, right?
SPEAKER_02:Exactly.
SPEAKER_01:You don't want to just to have it. No, and I think we that's like everybody's like, What's the trend? What's happening? You know, I I sometimes don't always like to decorate. I mean, a show home and a staging is totally different than somebody's home.
SPEAKER_02:This is true, right?
SPEAKER_01:Like those are different things. Right. I think a home should make you feel it's your sanctuary, it should make you feel cozy, feel warm, it makes you feel safe.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:You know, so it needs to have um stuff that's important to you.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. I used to tell my kids when I would make the when I was, you know, teaching them how to clean, it needs to look like a show home when you're done. Yeah. Yeah. That's the only time I want my house to look like a show home, right? Is when when it's clean.
SPEAKER_01:My my children bug me about that all the time. Is that it's doesn't have to be a show home mom. And I'm like, but it does, you know, it does because that makes me feel like I have things organized. And exactly for me, exactly.
SPEAKER_02:I like that. That's exactly how I mean I I know it's my stuff, and you know, I'm not selling it or whatever, and I'm not selling my house, but I want it to feel clean, and that to me feels clean, right?
SPEAKER_01:Right, it's what I do for a living. So I I can have a home that doesn't is in disarray and is a you know, it's that's how it is. But yeah, yeah, I love that. So we had this running joke that we uh started some puzzles at Thanksgiving um with my parents and the kids, and we like whizzed through two of these puzzles because they were like 500 pieces. So then we thought, oh, we're getting good at this. So we went and got a thousand-piece puzzle. Well, it didn't get finished. Oh no, so it has been sitting on my dining table. Like, what are we going on three weeks?
SPEAKER_02:Oh my goodness.
SPEAKER_01:And so finally last night I said to my daughter, I said, I we got to do something with this. Because I'm working on so many projects right now. So I have little piles like in my office, down the hall, in my living room, and I can't even think anymore. Like, I just I can't live like this. So I'm like, but I don't want to put the puzzle in the box because it was too hard and I don't want to start all over. So we're gonna figure something out, but I'm like, I it can't stay here.
SPEAKER_02:You could buy those, I don't know where, but you can buy these little they're like folding tables, but they you put a puzzle in it, but it's already on my table.
SPEAKER_01:I don't I you know what we did was we we're gonna try this. We went and bought like a bristle board, and I'm gonna try to slide it on that. That's what I would suggest to you. And then the loose pieces I've put into a box, and um yeah, because my daughter's like, well, let's just leave this till Christmas. I'm like, Christmas. No, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_02:Oh my god, that would be me. I'd be like, Are you crazy?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, no, I can't, yeah, I can't do it.
SPEAKER_02:I get it. So I'm I'm curious to know when you walk into someone's house and you are able to like make that transformation that they're looking for. Yeah, yeah. I know, I know with myself and past experience, it's a transformation that I go through as the homeowner. Right. So I'd like to share with our listeners maybe an example of something that has happened in your experience, like that transformed a client.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. I kind of because I have a diff so many different like avenues of what I do, whether I'm working with a brand new home or existing homes that clients live in, or I'm staging a vacant property, you know, I have so I have kind of a bunch of different scenarios that have happened, but um I kind of think the most transformation that people see often is um if I'm going to do a consultation with clients who are listing their homes to put onto the market and we're using what they have. And so I always say to them, I have no attachment to your stuff. I'm here to get your house sold. I'm that's what I'm here for. I said, and I'm also a fresh set of eyes to your stuff. And so once I, you know, help them, and um, I don't like to do like the list and give them the list of all the things that they have to do. I'm like, let's get going, let's do this now, because it's they actually can see the difference that it makes when we actually physically start doing things. Oh, yeah. Um, so oftentimes, like I'll move their furniture placement around and they're like, oh, I never thought of it this way. Or I'll just I'll move, you know, some of their art to their accessories, or and or I'll take um, I was with clients last week and they had all this beautiful like pottery and ceramics that her husband made. And like I went right through their kitchen cabinets and I'm taking stuff out, and they had a beautiful book collection, and so I'm like just stacking some books with a piece of his beautiful pottery bowl, and it looks so neat, and it has a personality now to it. Then, you know, and they're like, Oh, and so they're like, We have lived here for like 15 years, and we love our house now, and so they either were like, We don't want to sell, which of course they are, but they'll often say that, or they're like, Can you come with us to our new home? And I'm like, Of course, right?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, especially now that you know, like you know that like what you moved in the old house, what their reaction to that was, yeah. You know, like you have an idea of where to start in the new. Oh, I love that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and oftentimes if I'm working with people that I'm either helping them um get their house listed and then they put it on the market and they sell it and then they buy something new, often they bring me with them to the new home. And then we're keeping key pieces, and I love using that and then incorporating it with some new pieces.
SPEAKER_02:And right, yeah, yeah. And then you have an idea when you see the house that they want to buy is oh yeah, that would be great. Like you could put your piano here, or you know, if if I don't know if grandfather boxes exist anymore, but you know, you you can find the right walls for the right pieces. I love that.
SPEAKER_01:Oh yeah, and oftentimes, like I'll have measurements of their furniture existing that they want to incorporate. Um, and then when they're either building or they're buying new, then we we know where that's going to work. I have a couple of I have um one client that I told, and the other thing that I love with my job is I get to really know my clients. And I absolutely, I have the best clients. I absolutely adore them. I have one um husband and wife that I worked with them. Oh gosh, are we going on to two or three years ago? And she's like one of my biggest cheerleaders. Like if I'm posting anything on Instagram or whatever, she's sending me a message like, you got this, you can do this. And anyways, um they were a second marriage, so they were incorporating furniture and pieces from their homes. They sold the home and then they were building brand new with one of a builder that I work with. And this home was totally different looking than what their existing home was, but they had some really special pieces that they wanted to bring to this new home, like um a floor lamp that was her grandma's, and this beautiful black rocking chair. And she's like, I'm like, you can't get rid of that. Like, we need we'll incorporate it. And it looks so so now they have this brand new, much more contemporary home, but it's got stories to it, right?
SPEAKER_02:I love that I love that because, and you know this yourself, you can walk into homes and that they they sort of like um decorated and accessorized for the trend or for the style, yeah, and there's no character, right? But you add in like an old rocking chair and a grandma is a floor lamp, like yeah, it's old so cool. Yeah, and it but it makes the room like it gives it a story, right? It's like when you look at a person, you can make up a story, even you don't even have to know the person, but you can sort of see what their life has been like. Yeah, and that's we can do that with a home, right? I love that, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Your home should be somewhere that, like I said, makes you feel you want to come home to it, and you it makes you feel safe and secure. And um, I love it when friends or I have sometimes host events or I have clients at my home and they the biggest compliment, and my style may not be their style by any means, but it's how it makes them feel, right?
SPEAKER_02:And that's but that's the at the end of the day, that's what you're looking for, right? Is that how did you make this person feel or this family feel?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, and they are like it just your home makes me feel calm and relaxed.
SPEAKER_02:Right. And so I use you made a comment, you said um it's not my style. So does that mean that all your houses are the same? Or do you sort of have it depends on the person that's living in the house, right? Like you can read them and feel kind of what they like, and that's how you work.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, yeah, yeah. Like I have a couple of clients that it's not my it's not my taste, but it means something to them. So that's let's make that work.
SPEAKER_02:Right, right.
SPEAKER_01:And that's that's where the taking their old furniture comes in, or their yeah, or their collections of records, or you know, I have some clients where we've taken their collection of records, some of them that are important to them, and we've framed them and we've made like a vignette on a wall with their stuff because it's important to them.
SPEAKER_02:Oh my gosh. Okay, so that makes me think my dad, when he moved into his house, he had thousands of records, like thousands of records. Yeah, unfortunately, they moved a few times and didn't know what to do with them, and they got moved into the garage, they froze, they unfroze, they froze, like you know, and he ended up just throwing them out, and he was heartbroken, like he was so attached. But now when I hear this, we could have taken some of those and done something. Yeah, you know, I don't know if my mom would have been okay with that, you know, because they're in a small space, but you know, even if we would have just taken, you know, even the top 20, like his most favorite kind of thing. So I guess too bad, Dad. Sorry. Okay, let's get let's get back to like what we're doing here. So we're we're coming close to the year to ending 2026. Can you believe it? I can't believe it. I'm like, I can't believe it's this late. So many of us, you know, we kind of reflect on you know what we've done, what we haven't done. Right. Um, what is your process for like resetting a space or a mindset for a fresh start?
SPEAKER_01:I think for myself, um the I think the best thing, and I do think a lot of people also is, and some people maybe need help with it, um, is decluttering and just getting rid of what you're not using anymore, whether that is your home, home stuff or it's your clothing. I think just I think decluttering and getting rid of, and whether that's and I don't mean by throwing it away, I mean by gifting it to maybe somebody who needs that, or donating it, or giving it to a shelter, or there's so many different avenues of what you can do with stuff in your home. But I think that just sets the tone, kind of a clearing for the new year.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. And and I, you know, just to add to that, um, there's lots of things that we have that we bought and used for a certain purpose, but we can always repurpose them, like we can put them to use somewhere else. I mean, like in your house, you have that, you know, that in an African culture, it's a necklace. Right now, here in Canada, you would never wear that as a necklace, right? But you you hung it up on your wall and it looks absolutely beautiful, right? I mean, we can do things like that, right? I remember my mom and dad had a um a rosary from Italy and it was made out of chestnuts. Oh, so I mean, imagine it was huge, like it covered their bed because in the 70s, apparently, that was a style. Yeah, and I remember thinking, what would you ever do with that? Yeah, like okay, hang it over your bed, but that's kind of weird. I think that's kind of weird. But there's so many.
SPEAKER_01:Um, next time if we do this, I'll have to um go through my photos. I and we can I can do show you some photos of different homes that I've I have a client that she's from um Portugal, and so we were uh she was wanting some new furniture, so we were kind of space planning for her living room and her bait, like her main areas of her home. And we were kind of um, and she had lots of furniture, they move all the time, and she's great, beautiful, like her taste is amazing. Um, and so but it just didn't fit in this space, and so we just were, you know, moving furniture around from we had I had my movers come and we moved it into different areas of the home. And then what we decided wasn't gonna work, she um donated, and uh, but she had all of this beautiful, like the rosary, you know, she had ceramics and books, and and we just placed them, like all them. We just made little vignettes throughout her home.
SPEAKER_02:And my house was like a house in Europe, like it that's the what I'm the the ideas that I'm getting. It's like a European home.
SPEAKER_01:And we just re-hung some of her art because a lot of times people will have, you know, especially if it's um from somewhere, like it's not usually a big scale, and so a lot of times it doesn't fit on these large walls. So we just kind of made little vignettes with all of her little, you know, pieces of art. And she I I remember I went home that day and she sent me a text and she said, Thank you. Like she just said, I every turn I make in my home, it just it has so many memories. Oh, you're making me so excited.
SPEAKER_02:I want to do this right now.
SPEAKER_01:Oh my god, so yeah, like I it makes me it makes me feel um I like that. Like it makes me feel that I feel like I've done something and I've done my job and I've listened to what's important to them. And it makes me happy that they feel happy.
SPEAKER_02:Absolutely. And so with that, I mean, you're you're all I mean, you're creating a beautiful space for them, right? And now that they're enjoying that space, I mean, obviously, you've learned so many things about creating like a life that you love and your clients, yeah, and not just that picture perfect, right? Like, I mean, you walk into a house that's well organized and you think, is this really a house? Like I walked into your house and I'm like, like, seriously, like this is way too beautiful, right? And I I mean, my house, I have a beautiful house, but it's not decorated the way I would love it. I know that, right? So I walk into yours and I'm like, oh my God, does this woman really live like this? Right. But then when you like, you know, you and I sat on the couch and had coffee, like we were like, oh my God, this is so like I just felt so relaxed and at peace, right? And it made me realize that yeah, you can live in a house that's picture perfect.
SPEAKER_01:And I always tell people, like, I kind of call it like slow decorating, like, especially if you move into a new home, like live in the home for a little bit because you never know how you're going to use certain rooms. And um, so yeah, definitely live in it for a while. See how you're gonna use those spaces. Each room during the day, the sun may be different, you know, like each room might make you feel different, uh, you know, throughout the seasons. And um like pick spaces that we're gonna start working on. And you don't have to do the whole home, but have a game plan so that it all makes sense. But it all most people can't do a whole home. The reality of it is, right? All at once.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, so when you say that, what why is that? Like what does that mean?
SPEAKER_01:So oftentimes if somebody's moving into a brand new home, if they all need all new furniture, or I always tell them, you know, bring what you can. And if we need some new furniture, some new art, you know, that sort of stuff, let's pick certain areas of the home to start with. Like it's you maybe your living room and do that first. And then we move on to the bonus room or the you know, like typically a basement's like the last thing that gets done, like because a lot of it's expensive, right?
SPEAKER_02:Right, right. And so, like you might come into a house and say, okay, you know, I if I you're coming into my house and say, first thing I want is I want I need a new paint. I don't like the paint on my walls, yeah, right. So I mean we're gonna do the whole house. I want the whole house the same. Yeah, right. Yeah, and so then okay, we're gonna go with that. But we're like as far as decorating, if we're changing furniture, let's start where your budget works, right? So if it's your living room, we're gonna start with your living room, but you'll also have ideas for the rest of the house that needs, am I right?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yes, okay, and I think that's kind of a lot of times where I have a lot of people reach out to me is that they think they're gonna do this on their own. And then they're like, we get to Home Sense or wherever, and we just buy all of this stuff and we bring it home and it doesn't look good. Like we don't know what to do with it. It's just a bunch of little like there's no rhyme or reason, and so we've wasted our time, and then that's where I've I come in.
unknown:Right.
SPEAKER_02:And so just out of curiosity, is Home Sense like a good place to go? Because I've heard I've like yes and no, right? I like HomeSense, I love walking through HomeSense, but I find I don't want that stuff in my house. Yeah, I mean, there's a few things that I find that I'm like, oh yeah, I could use this. There's a few things and more things that I would like to admit that I take home, I put in the spot, yeah, and I don't love it.
SPEAKER_01:Like I'm like, ah, I wish you'd I think a lot of times people will go there and not always have um they're kind of just going there to look. And so to me, it's like it's so overwhelming. There's vases, there's lamps, there's pillow, like, but if you don't go with a game plan, then you're just bringing stuff home.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and I think that's happened to me many times.
SPEAKER_01:So I mean all these little vases are gonna look great, but that there's no rhyme or reason to it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, yeah, I get that. Now, in the last you had made a comment about, you know, when you're moving into a new home, live there for a while. Right. Yeah. So I I'm just asking because I've been in my house 13 years. I have changed my living room furniture twice since I've been here. Okay. And it's still not there. I I think 13 years is too long, right? Like I almost feel like that little while, we passed that little while, right? And it went, we we kind of were like, I don't know what to do now.
SPEAKER_01:But knowing now what I like that we've met and we've talked, I'm just wondering, and I kind of get this oftentimes from clients that when they move into a home and if they've been there for a while, oftentimes their kids are young. Yeah, they're busy, right? Like the home isn't a priority. They're they're taking they're raising their kids, um, they're taking the children to sports, to activities, to school. And then as they get older and even move out, then you're you're in your home, you know, and it's well, and I think the different, you know, everything, everybody's life is different at different stages.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I think you're right. I think because now when I think back 13 years ago, I mean my kids were young, quite young, and I was so busy running them around and you know, doing all the mother things that my house, yeah, you're right. I mean, I still did it. I still, I mean, I bought this beautiful vase. It was like a$700 vase. I fell in love with it when I saw it. And you know, my kids know to this day like you tiptoe around this vase, like you touch that vase, and mom will break your head, right? And And it's, you know, I'm buried in it. Yeah, but that is gonna be a vase that will be, you know, still displayed when you come. But I, you know, I know that I missed out. Like my house before was fully decorated and I loved it. It just felt so home like to me. And so this one is like, I just haven't felt that yet. So I mean, obviously for our listeners that are, you know, are listening, you know, don't give up, right? That's the lesson I'm getting out of this. Like, I mean, I don't love my house as much as I loved my first house. I I have to be honest with that. But you know, my kids grew up here, right? And I'm not ready to move, right? I'm not, I don't know where I want to go next, right? And so I'm like, this is gonna have to be, but I have to make it more cozy, more like you know, like more like I want to be here. All right. Yeah, so yeah, let's carry on. I want to know something else when someone is, you know, feeling stuck, you know, I guess kind of like what I've been feeling. Yeah, you know, it could be either with my house or in my personal life. Yeah, um, what's one small thing that you would give as advice to make them feel maybe a little empowered or inspired?
SPEAKER_01:I think for me, like even just like listening to you, I think it's just really asking you a lot of questions of you know, why you're stuck, what would you know, like it's just really getting to know deep down, because sometimes the stuck is maybe other things or whatever, right? But if we're then like for instance, with your home, I think maybe we pick an area that you spend a lot of time in, whether it's you know, your living room, which is a lot of homes are open concepts. So the living room is kind of like the main area. Maybe it's your bedroom, um, your office where you do podcasts. Like maybe we start with that room and really figure out what would make it feel special and and start there. And then once you get that feeling of what that is, then we then it would expand.
SPEAKER_02:I love I love the idea of that because as you're saying that I'm like going through my entire house and I'm like, okay, I got lots of work coming. But start small, right?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, like start with the the small main areas and and go from there.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, all right. Okay, so well, I'm getting so much more inspired now. Yeah, what are common mistakes that people make when they try to, you know, create an inspiring spot in their house, right? How do you guide them? Like, how did like how like if you walk into my house and I'm like, I want you to fix this, right? But then you suggest something and I'm like, whoa, that's too much. Like I remember our last house when we were decorated, she painted all the doors. Yeah, like we had seven or eight different colors throughout the house, right? Everything is a different color, and I was like, Oh my god, you know, coming from white baseboards, white doors, and you know, we had like a beigey wall, that was it, right? Yeah, that was scary for me.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah. I think sometimes, like I said, I really get to know my clients. So I get to know what I can push, you know, where and I always say to them, trust the process, like, trust me, you've hired me. I'm not gonna guide you wrong. I'm not going to create a home that is not comfortable for you, right? Like, for instance, for me, I would never I love to wear navy, I love the color of navy, but I don't want it in my house, right? So I think it's I'm not if there's something that you do not like, I'm not gonna give it to you because it's you're not going to like it.
SPEAKER_02:Oh my gosh, yeah, that makes sense.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that totally makes sense. Navy, I stage with navy all the time because it's a color that people do like photographs really well, but I don't want it in my house.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, but but like you said, if you're wearing it all day and then you're gonna live in it all night, no, I I agree with you. Okay, so that's awesome.
SPEAKER_01:Everybody's yeah, everybody's different. Like I have some you know, friends and clients who like really, really dark walls, and everything is really, really dark. And for me, I can't live like that. Like I feel suffocated, I feel like I can't breathe, I can only be in their home for a little bit, and then I gotta get out. I I have to be in a home with brighter walls. Yes, yeah, like sunlight. Like most people want sunlight, and yeah, yeah, but some people feel really comfortable in dark space, you know, like everybody's different, and I think that's why you can't decorate on what's trendy, what you like. It's getting to know your clients and what they like, but yet taking them out of their box or making them think of things in a different way because that's what you're there for.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, especially if you're stuck, right? Like you could be stuck like deep, or you could be just stuck like I just don't know which way to go, right? Like I like this and I like this, but they don't go together. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Oh, I love that. Okay, but I just I really it's a fresh set of eyes, and that's what I am. Yeah, because I like I said, have no attachment to any of their stuff. So even just by moving a certain piece into a different room, a lot of people are like, Oh, I never thought of doing that, right? Right, right, out of their comfort zone. Yeah, I love that. Okay, and just and trusting, trusting, and I mean, a lot of my clients are word of mouth, so they know that somebody's that they already know has worked with me, so that which is a huge compliment. That's the best type of clients to have, which are referrals, and um, they're my favorite.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, well, yeah, because they know, like you, you know, okay. So if I trust, you know, if I trust my neighbor and you worked on my neighbor's house, yeah, right, I'm gonna be like, okay, what was she like to work for or work with? Number one. But you know, obviously, if you walk into the space and you like it, you're gonna be like, Yeah, I need this, right? Right. Like I need, I need that upgrade. I need that, you know. Yeah, I love that. I love that. Okay, so now looking into 2026. Okay, as and again, I cannot believe we're in 2026. What is your advice to someone who is looking to create a home or a life that truly reflects who they are?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Oh gosh, I kind of am in this era for me, anyways, of looking after myself. Right? I yeah, I can't. Yeah, so I think it's like in all different areas. I think again, I I'm not at home with really, really young children. And I think even if you do have young children, it's it's taking out time for yourself because if you're running on empty, you're just not good at at anything else. So I think it's just saying no. How you and I just were talking about that, not overextending you know, yourself. Um, yeah. And I think now I think I'm also from the generation that um you never took time off for yourself because it felt like that was selfish, and that was like, who do you think you are? Yeah taking an hour off to go have a massage, right? So true. Yeah, I think it things are and so again with your home, what's wrong with having a beautiful bedroom? That's what you sleep in. What's wrong with having beautiful bedding or soft towels? Like you deserve that. I agree, I agree. Yeah, like and you should walk into your home and it should make you smile.
SPEAKER_02:Absolutely, absolutely, and sometimes it's simple, right? Sometimes it could be just a warm blanket, a soft blanket. Sometimes, sometimes it's a like you need to have like a big bookshelf full of stuff. Like every person is different, right? But you the first thing I believe is you know, just accept that that's who you are, accept that that's what you need, yeah, right.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, like we're not living in a magazine or a reality show.
SPEAKER_02:I mean, you know, so yeah, yeah, we definitely don't want to be living that kind of a life anyway, right? Right. But we want we also want like the magazine cover feeling, right? When we walk into our room, right? Like whether it's our bedroom or our living room or just you know, our favorite space. Like I mean, my office, yeah, my office needs love, right? Yeah, you know, because I come I spend probably more time here than I do in the rest of the house lately. And so it needs to be like it needs to be reflective of who you who I am, right? Right and now you're gonna be sharing it, exactly, and it needs to inspire me, right? Like it needs I need to come in here and go, oh, I got these great ideas, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. A hundred percent. Yes, I love it. So tell me, do you work with people or like virtually, like over Zoom or over, you know, I don't know what other, you know.
SPEAKER_01:No, you know what? All of this, this is like this is really showing my age. Um I have not done so many Zoom meetings in the last couple of weeks. I think the last time I I it was like COVID when we did the Zoom meetings with friends, right? Um, so no, I like to be with somebody. Yeah, I want to be with them. I'm not sure I like that.
SPEAKER_02:I mean, yeah, I get it.
SPEAKER_01:I I prefer like, you know, that actual the only time I get pictures actually from clients or whatever is um one, if I've been at their home and we're getting it ready to list and put it onto the market, I always say to them, You have my phone number. If you're unsure of the placement of something, because they may have so much stuff that we can't get it all done in my time that I'm there with them. I'm always like, send me pictures. Or um, again, with my private clients that I'm helping decorate their homes, they'll they'll go out and they'll find something and they'll send me a picture and they're like, Do you like this? Should I buy it? If you want my approval, yeah, yeah. You know, so I yeah, I rather I'm I I'm not big into the the Zoom with all of that. I I want to be with them.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and that's good. And so um you're here in Edmonton, where I am. Yes. Would would are you willing to travel if our listeners oh yes, yes. Hey, so that's we'll travel. Yeah, we'll travel. That's that's the best part. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I've done a couple of projects a while ago um in Calgary. Um, where else have I gone? Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm in Edmonton, but I will I'll come to where okay, so I love that idea.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and we will have your contact information in the show notes. Okay. Um, is there anything else that you want to share and let our listeners know? I know that, you know, I mean, we talked a lot, right? And of course, unfortunately, we talked mostly about me and my house, but you know, I mean, I will video your house next time of us working together.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, we have we have a couple of things we could carry on with. I think um I always tell people that I feel totally privileged and honored that um that people allow me to into their homes, like into their private spaces. I see a lot. Um, you know, it's so it's an it's an honor to me. And I feel and I am also I absolutely love what I do. So that's another thing that I think a lot of people have jobs that they don't like. And I really, really like my work. I love what I do. So that's awesome.
SPEAKER_02:And the thing is, like you said, when you're inviting someone like yourself into your house, uh you you have to be a little bit vulnerable, right? I mean, there's gonna be things that you know I might not want you to see, but I have to be willing to let you see it. Yeah, we're not talking like, you know, deep down, dirty stuff. I'm talking like, you know, yeah, like a mess, like you know, I might be cluttered or I might, you know, I might not be willing to part with this stuff, but I may keep it and I think you can do that.
SPEAKER_01:And I think another thing is you can't ever judge that. Like I have everybody always apologizes to me if their house looks a certain way. And I'm like, hey, don't, you know, you're here, you've asked for help. Um, no judgment. I I don't know what has gone on in their life, I don't know what's even gone on in the morning, you know. But don't ever apologize for that sort of stuff. And that's what I see by people allowing me, you know, into their homes. I've been through in to homes, I'm doing consultations and it's a divorce. So it's super stressful for them. Or there's been a death, or I mean, there's so many instances, and um, I feel very blessed to be in people's homes.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, but you know, it's it's I'm glad that you said that, and thank you for adding that. Like stop apologizing. Like we're here to live our life, right? And sometimes things are not smooth, sometimes chaos happens, and you know, we need to just accept it and embrace it. Yeah, you know, that's why we invite you in so that you can help us to move forward and transform. I love you. Well, thank you, thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01:I want to take a little screenshot of us so that I can post it.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:There. Awesome.
SPEAKER_02:Thank you so much for joining me today. You're welcome. That was awesome. Thank you. Thank you so much for tuning in to Confidence and Bloom. I hope today's conversation reminded you that you're not alone on this journey and that your confidence grows every time you tell that itty bitty shitty committee to hush. If you're ready to take this even deeper, I'd love to invite you to the Bloom Room, a nurturing community where women come together to release self-doubt, reconnect with themselves, and bloom into the truest version of who they're meant to be. Until next time, remember confidence isn't something you find, it's something that blooms with from within.
SPEAKER_00:Thanks for listening. This show was brought to you by Divas That Care. Connect with us on Facebook, on Instagram, and of course on divas that care.com, where you can subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a thing.