Tag: Behind the Scenes

A Pink House to Match the Color of Her Nails

I met Renee, the owner of this week’s Styled in South Florida home, in a Goodwill aisle — how perfect is that?!

I believe we met in the shoe aisle to be exact, because I usually have my daughter with me when I’m thrifting and she always wants to try on the sparkly stilettos during our shopping trips.

We can unpack Elaine’s life as a showgirl in a future post.

I’m sure Renee paused to smile and laugh at my silly girl, and we struck up conversation, as thrift sisters often do in the wild.

There’s a camaraderie in thrifting — any fellow thrifter knows exactly what I’m talking about.

Renee had a lot of pink in her shopping cart, which prompted her to share that she was collecting more decor items for her pink-themed home, which she lists on Airbnb.

So, of course, I was intrigued.

How pink is this pink themed home, I wondered.

I soon learned that she painted the entire house to match her favorite nail polish color.

Obsessed with that. What a diva.

She invited me to come film her space for my new show (I had, of course, immediately pitched her) — a generous diva!

When I pulled up to her house to film, I was greeted by Renee in a pink Lilly Pulitzer outfit and her three dogs, all of whom accompanied us on the entire tour — one in her arms as she shared about her life as the owner of an interior design firm, shop owner in Northwood, world traveler, mother, and more.

My uncontrollable thrift habit has really dropped unexpected blessings into my life.

The kitchen pendants came with the house and aren’t Renee’s preference — she will eventually replace them with something more aligned with the tropical theme established throughout the house.
Renee found this gorgeous piece on the side of the road and rehabbed it.
The brown leather couch came with the house — it wasn’t Renee’s first choice for the space, but she has made it work by tying in the lighter colors she prefers and balancing it all with more dark, statement pieces.
Renee thrifts her pillow collections from Goodwill.
The bedroom upstairs has a French West Indies influence.
The back yard is the crown jewel of the property — a true tropical oasis.

What a treat it was to get to know Renee, to share about her home that she’s poured so much heart into and now shares with guests from around the world, and to meet her poodle Winston, the calmest and most distinguished boy I’ve ever seen in a lei.

One unexpected conversation in a Goodwill aisle turned into a fabulous home tour. I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Renee — and her unforgettable pink paradise—as much as I did. Watch the full tour below or on YouTube.

The Making of Styled in South Florida: Lessons Learned

After dreaming and scheming for many months, it’s surreal to finally share Styled in South Florida Home Tours (SISF) with you.

I knew this project would involve lots of trial and error, which is uncomfortable for me at times, because I want to make everything I touch perfect.

I’ve been a communications professional for a long time, and I’ve collaborated on many video projects, but I’m no videographer.

Every SISF episode is shot on my iphone, and I’ve discovered more to tweak in my process with each tour.

The talented Diana Pierre-Louis

So far, each host has been beyond gracious, talented, and lovely — but Diana Pierre-Louis, the host and designer featured in episode one, could not have been a more perfect first tour.

Aside from her fantastic sense of style — a relaxed yet elevated coastal vibe, unfussy yet chic — her presence, ease in front of the camera, and DIY genius made for perfect home tour content.

This should come as no surprise because she’s a marketing professional in addition to being a design guru.

I’m dying for her to have me back to show more of her space, not only because you’ll love to see it, but also because I have a more polished process.

Things I’ve learned so far:

–Mic placement makes a huge difference in quality. The audio in my pilot episode taught me this.

–I’d rather have the host sit alone for the interview portion. While Diana and I had a great conversation, I realized the strongest edit keeps the spotlight on the homeowner and their story. Making the host front and center became the priority for future episodes.

–Bring a printed checklist to each tour — there are tons of different shots to remember to get, and I’ve forgotten ones I didn’t think I could.

I know I’ll continue learning and refining as I go. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey, and accepting this project for each imperfection and inspiration it offers.

The first episode is being viewed far more times than I anticipated within the first two days — I am grateful.

Thank you for being here at the beginning. Stay tuned for more.

xoxo

Vanessa