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What our clients had to say...
Melanie Serra has preformed at the highest
level concerning professional interior design services, creating
innovative solutions and adhering to budget guidelines. She
surpassed our expectations concerning our budget guidelines by
saving the developer approximately $6,000.00. After 2.5 years of
aggressively marketing our 3 bedroom condominiums ($430K) with
no results, Melanie Serra's vision and talent has now enabled
our community to effectively market our 3 bedroom condominiums
creating 3 new sales in less than 30 days after model
completion"!
Kevin White, Coldwell Banker
"As the child of a decorator and a native of Atlanta, I have
been surrounded by the Atlanta home “scene” my whole life, I
must say that Melanie outshines so many in this business. She is
one of the most hard-working, self-starting individuals I have
met in this business ~ no dilly dallying around and just gets
straight to work! She’s not afraid of getting her hands a little
dirty in helping produce an end result that always exceeds
expectations. Every client is amazed by the final product once
Melanie has added her professional touch to our staged homes…she
truly deserves an A+!"
Kelly Coker Smith
Real Estate Agent
www.AltantaAgent.com
“What our Emory students say about the “Decorate to Sell”
course.
I think Emory's "Center for Lifelong Learning" is very smart to
find instructors like Melanie Serra. I took her course,
"Decorated to Sell" and it was an absolute joy in every way. Ms.
Serra is NOT a "snobby designer" who decorates with only her
opinions. She listens to her clients and students and offers her
educated experience. She seems to truly love people as well as
her work. This is, indeed, reflected in her class and the way
she teaches. She is most attractive and upbeat and seems to have
endless energy. I was challenged in the in-class assignments to
see a different way of looking at things. It was a wonderful
experience and opportunity for me
and I am very grateful.
Jo Robinson
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Meet Melanie
Melanie Serra’s approach
to interior design is fresh,
innovative and less expensive than the traditional
approach to interior decorating.
She transforms residential interiors
from “Now to Wow” by rearranging existing furniture and
accessories. The concept, known as interior redesign
(also called “use-what-you-have decorating) is fast
becoming the most sought-after design service in the
industry. One of the early pioneers of the trend,
Melanie founded her company Interior Revivals Inc. in
1997 and since, has transformed interiors for clients in
Dallas, Philadelphia and Atlanta.
Melanie works closely with the local real estate
community staging homes for resale, and
merchandising model homes. She has been praised for
increasing the average market value of a home by 20 %
with her “staging” techniques.
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The
highest reward for a person's work is not what they get for it,
but what they become by it. |
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In 2006 she founded
The
Home Stager’s Guild, a 4 day accredited training
program that teaches others how to own and operate a successful
home staging business. Melanie is also an instructor at Emory
University- Center for Life Long Learning, and teaches a one day
class on “Decorating to Sell.”
She also is a color consultant and is the Atlanta
instructor for the Dewey Color System. She works with
homeowners in this new color methodology and trains other
designers and stagers to become Dewey Color Consultants.
Prior to founding Interior Revivals Inc. and The Home Stagers
Guild, Melanie was a photo stylist for Omega Studios of
Dallas Texas, where she supervised set design and production for
the JC Penney Home Furnishing Catalog. She also was a design,
color and product consultant for major manufacturers in the
interior surfacing industry, including Duron Paints & Wall
Coverings, Nevamar Decorative Laminates and Prince Street
Carpets.
Melanie is a professional speaker on the topic of “Interior
Redesign,” “Home Staging” and “Interior Decorating.”
She is frequently seen on Atlanta’s Channel 11 Alive News where
she does a segment on “debt-free decorating,” and has also been
a guest redesigner on Jacksonville’s “WJXT The Morning Show”.
She is a published author who writes about decorating for the
Dunwoody Crier, a local Atlanta newspaper. Her work has been
featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Home
Improvement Magazine and the Philadelphia Times Herald. She
recently signed on with Shiffer Publishing and is in the midst
of co-writing her first book on “Reviving the Home with What You
Own,” which will be in print in 2010.
A Member of I.R.I.S., (Interior Redesign Industry
Specialists), Melanie received recognition for best design in
four categories at the 2002 National Redesign Conference, and
was awarded the “Best Art Arrangement Award” in 2003. In
September of 2009, Melanie will become an I.R.I.S instructor for
Atlanta and will be teaching an accredited course in interior
redesign.
Melanie currently resides in Atlanta with her husband Hugh and
their cat Cloe.
Awards and
Recognition:
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2003 I.R.I.S. Best Art Arrangement
- National Interior Redesign Conference in Scottsdale,
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2002 I.R.I.S Best Interior Redesign
- National Interior Redesign Conference, Boston, Mass |
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2002 I.R.I.S Best Real Estate Design
- National Interior Redesign Conference, Boston, Mass |
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2002 I.R.I.S Best Bookcase Display
- National Interior Redesign Conference, Boston, Mass |
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2002 I.R.I.S Best Overall Design -
National Interior Redesign Conference. Boston, Mass |
Professional Credentials:
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Design & Product Consultant to
residential and commercial architects and interior
designers. |
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Certified Industry Staging Specialist |
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Dewey Color Consultant |
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Photo Stylist / Production Coordinator for
National Interior Home Furnishings Catalog |
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Studio Production Coordinator |
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Food and Prop Stylist for print and television
advertising |
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Paint Manufacturer Color Consultant |
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References supplied upon request |
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Fully insured |
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Member of I.R.I.S. |
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Affiliate Member of IDS |
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Owner and instructor of The Home Stager's Guild |
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