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INTERIOR DESIGNER Hilary Sessions says she is honored to have learned that she won a “2013 Best of Houzz” award last month, and she’s already reaping its rewards with more calls from potential clients.
Sessions isn’t even sure why she was chosen by the online platform for residential remodeling and design.
“I think it’s determined from the number of five stars I got from my clients who reviewed my work for them on Houzz,” she says.
She’s right. According to Liza Hausman, vice president of community for Houzz.com, the awards are based on a survey of its 11 million monthly users either for great customer service or for great design. Sessions was recognized for her “exceptional customer service as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes,” Hausman says.
Houzz claims to feature the world’s largest residential design database that includes information on more than 1.5 million design professionals worldwide, design articles and product recommendations.
Houzz helps homeowners identify not only the top-rated professionals, such as Sessions, but also contact professionals directly through Houzz and read their responses to other users, Hausman says.
Sessions asks new clients to visit Houzz to get inspiration for their projects. She also directs them to her online portfolio there and later asks
them to review her completed project.
The Mill Valley resident and principal of Quarry Hill Design: Home Styling and Eco-Design started out staging homes a decade ago, but three years ago branched off into primarily residential design.
“Because of my staging background, I specialize in working with people’s existing furnishings and reworking their spaces,” she says. “I also do a lot of work with families; I have children and get a lot of referrals from other parents. And, I help people who have smaller budgets.”
Sessions also has launched Quarry Hill Pillows, her own line of handmade throw pillows using select fabrics from fine fabric houses, and sells them online at Etsy. The pillows are made in the United States, hand-finished with custom welting and hidden zipper closures, removable covers for easy dry-cleaning and come in a variety of sizes. Prices start at $95 without a down pillow insert and $125 including the insert. Custom orders are welcome using the customer’s own fabric or fabric sourced by Sessions.
For more information, call Quarry Hill Design at 385-7855 or go to quarryhilldesign.wordpress.com.
About dogwoods
Wildwood Farm in Sonoma County is offering “Introduction to Gardening with Dogwoods” with a choice of dates — March 9 or 23 — to help gardeners choose the best varieties for their garden.
Elegant dogwood trees have much to offer in the landscape, says Sara Monte, a former San Rafael resident.
“You can plant a dogwood in your garden that will bloom once in the spring and a second time in the fall,” she says.
The class, which starts at 1 p.m., is free and includes a tour of Wildwood’s nursery and gardens, which grows more than 30 dogwood varieties native to the East or West Coasts of America, China or Korea.
“We’ll discuss the broad characteristics and differences among these groups and the basic requirements for growing these spectacular trees,” she says.
Wildwood Farm also is offering its sixth annual “The Art of Tree-shaping” class at 1 p.m. March 3, 10 or 17 for $25, taught by experts Joseph and Ricardo Monte. It includes a Japanese maple tree that participants shape and then take home. Class size is limited to 10; reservations and your own clippers are required.
Wildwood Farm is at 10300 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood. Rain cancels classes. For more information, call 707-833-1161 or go to www.wildwoodmaples.com.
PJ Bremier
writes on home, garden, design and entertaining topics every Saturday and also on her blog at DesignSwirl.net. She may be contacted at P.O. Box 412, Kentfield, CA 94914, or at pj@pjbremier.com.
IF YOU GO
What: “Introduction to Gardening with Dogwoods”
When: 1 p.m. March 9 or 23
Admission: Free
What: “The Art of Tree-shaping” with Joseph and Ricardo Monte
When: 1 p.m. March 3, 10 or 17
Admission: $25; reservations required
Where: Wildwood Farm, 10300 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood
Information: 707-833-1161; www.wildwoodmaples.com
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