Practice What you Preach

Opening Night - Homearama

I’ve been quiet lately because thanks to David Riedman and the very talented team making up @Home Builders I had the opportunity to show how all of the things that we teach in the IRM classes can make a difference in the success of a community or project. The Home Idea Factory has always been based around the belief that it’s Your Life. Your Style. A home should be designed around what the clients wants and needs are, not just based on trends and fads. This home was the most moderately priced home that was in the show, and with over 20,000 people anticipated to be touring the home we wanted to do something that would appeal to and inspire the masses. How do you stand out in a show with seven other builders having larger budgets, square footage and price tags on the homes? Design something newsworthy. The Rochester Home Builders Association and @Home Builders invited The Ronald McDonald House Charities to be a part of the show by having the interior of the @Home house merchandised using only donated furniture, artwork and accessories that had been donated to the Ronald McDonald ABC Sale. David Riedman of @Home knows this Lifestylist loves a challenge, so he gave me a call and I couldn’t wait to get started.

It worked! The home had lines out to the street of people anxious to experience the home. People were amazed that everything in the home was gently used, and loved the fact that all was available for sale and that the proceeds would all go to the Ronald McDonald House. The media also love the concept and we had features twice in the newspaper and on four television stations. And the builder was thrilled because he was able to track visits at his other communities that came from the editorial on the home.

We packed a lot of activities into the two weeks that the home was open. To see more photos of the home please visit the site we did just for the home, and I’ll feature more of the ideas that we used in the home here in the future.