How I Became a Creative Consultant

As a teen, I’d get a clothing allowance at the start of each school year. I’d pore over catalogs and magazines (WAY back before the Internet) for all the latest fashion trends. I tried to get as much as I could with my allotted money and to avoid repeating outfits, I’d “mix and match” for different looks. Between my mom’s great fashion sense and hand-me-downs from my cousins, , I had some awesome ‘fits and was named “best dressed” in high school! (Thanks family!). When I discovered thrift stores in my college years, it was like I found fashion heaven!!!

Growing up, I had a cute bedroom with 70’s green carpet, pink walls and lots of floral prints! Later, my parents let me design a new bedroom with cute furniture, shelves, and window treatments. Yup, I started young!

Fast forward years later, a realtor told my parents to declutter and depersonalize their home to prepare it for sale. I helped them rearrange furniture, hang wall art, accessorize, and clear clutter. It was so much fun!! I remember thinking someone got paid to do this for a living, but I didn’t know what it was called. Within a short time, they got an offer on the house, AND the buyer wanted their furniture and accessories too. That’s when I knew I was onto something and discovered it was called home staging.

After that, I researched the industry and trained with an interior design team in Napa, CA. I became certified through Interior Redesign Industry Specialists (IRIS) and the National Redesign Institute. Along with that, I have a degree in psychology (which helps way more than I ever thought it would!). I’ve also studied color, lighting, spatial planning, visual merchandising, and floral arranging. I recommend Sherwin Williams paint and attend annual seminars to stay up to date with current trends.

In my corporate life, I traveled the US and Canada as an insurance claim specialist. I helped people recover from catastrophic events like fires, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. These experiences trained me for house remodels and construction projects. Did I mention my dad was a general contractor too? He built several houses over the years and always had things for me to do. Not fun back then, but helpful now.

And then there are thrift stores!! And garage sales and resale shops and consignment stores and online resellers, and flea markets. The list goes on and on! They ALL make me happy! I shopped these places long before they were trendy. I also had my own little resale boutique called Lily Wolfgang (www.lilywolfgang.com) and she was going to be the child that provided for me in my old age. I eventually closed my brick and mortar shop but have now reopened her online (I still want her to care for me in my old age!). Back in the day I was a bit embarrassed to admit I shopped resale but today when someone compliments me on a bargain, I beam with pride when I tell them it was only one dollar!

I dabbled for a minute as a Southern Living at Home consultant (décor for the home) and as a cabi consultant (clothing home parties). Now I help people rule their world, one room at a time or one outfit at a time, knowing they’re also saving the earth!