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New Year's Makeover Done Locally
By DEBBIE PETERSON

When a new year begins, people often have the desire to make changes and improve their home or personal appearance. Many dream of appearing on one of the various home or wardrobe makeover shows on television. But what if you could get that same kind of great advice locally? Three area women are offering their talents to help Bryan/College Station residents’ makeover dreams come true.

A FRESH START: REDECORATING

Some people would like to improve the look of their rooms without spending a lot of money on extensive redecorating or purchasing new items. That’s the idea behind Donna Robison’s business, A Fresh Start: Using Your Own Treasures. “Not everyone needs full service decorating,” says Robinson. “Sometimes all it takes is a nudge in the right direction.”

Robison had always enjoyed helping people make their rooms look their best, moving furniture around and tweaking accessories. Friends urged her to make a business out of doing what she loved to do.

Robison has a two step plan to helping her clients make a fresh start in their rooms. First, she looks at what her clients already have and enjoy and helps them make the best use of their items. Then, she helps them make a plan towards completing the space, such as furniture or accessories to buy when the client can afford them.

Robison will shop for her clients if they desire or just keep an eye out for items that would look good in their rooms. A Fresh Start can also help de-clutter and organize a client’s spaces.

The goal of A Fresh Start, Robison said, is “to take your space and make it your own comfortable place surrounded with the things that you love.”

To those who are looking to freshen up their own spaces, Robison advised, “Think big instead of small. One bigger item has more of an impact than several smaller items.”

STAGED TO LIVE: STAGING YOUR HOME

Vivian Wilborne, owner of Staged to Sell, started out getting homes ready to sell but has now branched out to meet other local needs.

With Staged to Sell, Wilborne will de-clutter rooms and arrange the furniture and accessories to highlight a home’s best qualities and better appeal to a potential buyer. But she found people were also interested in having her help them arrange their homes to live in. That’s when she added the service Staged to Live.

For the service Staged to Live, Wilborne spends time getting to know her clients and finds out what their favorite items are and uses that as a guide to pulling their spaces together. Her goal is for her clients to feel that their home is a haven where they can truly relax.

Over the holiday season, Wilborne also offered her services to decorate homes and assist in planning for parties. Staged to Sell’s next goal is to be available to businesses to help them decorate their offices and reception areas to better reflect what they do and communicate the personalities of the owners.

Wilborne says her job is just doing what she loves and enjoys the way it has led to making new friends. “Everyday is like playing house,” she says.

SOLUTIONS: WARDROBE CONSULTING

Another area that many people would like to makeover would be their wardrobe. It’s overwhelming for many to think of cleaning out of their closets what they should not be wearing and figuring out what they should be wearing to highlight their best features and reflect their personality. Sheila Hughes loves doing exactly that with Soulutions, her image and wardrobe consulting business.

Hughes chose the name because her goal is to help her clients express their soul, their true inner self, in their outward appearance. “So many people worry about what other people think when they choose their clothing,” says Hughes. “I want them to be excited about being themselves.”

Hughes begins by getting to know her client’s personal tastes and lifestyle. From there, she helps her clients go through what they already have in their closets to put together outfits. She says people often want to clean out their closet before she comes over because they are embarrassed for her to see it. But she says that is not necessary, as she really enjoys helping people get rid of what no longer works for them.

From there, Hughes helps her clients plan for what basic clothes and accessories they need to complete their wardrobe and will help them shop for those new items if they desire. She is also available to help someone shop for an outfit for a special occasion, such as a wedding or interview.

Hughes wants to help people look and feel their best. Her advice is to always make an effort to put your best foot forward. “Never leave the house without lipstick and earrings,” says Hughes.

Whatever needs a makeover in the New Year, whether it’s a home, business, or wardrobe, local residents don’t have to wait to be chosen for a television show. Great expert advice can be found right here in Bryan/College Station.