I remember when HomeGoods showed up near my house when we lived in Virginia.  I drove by and saw the sign and thought, I think I’m going to love that store.  Sure enough, when I first walked through the doors, that thought was confirmed.  Linens, dishes, pots and pans, bedding, furniture, rugs, accessories…all under one roof.  It was like the home section of Marshall’s and TJMaxx, but huge.  So, I was very excited when I received an e-mail from HomeGoods about their new project, StyleScope.  StyleScope is a simple visual quiz you can take that will help you determine your style.

The author of StyleScope is the lovely and very talented Taniya Nayak (designer for HGTV & The Food Network.)  I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions, in fact…

My readers love to be inspired by success stories.  Can you share how you got to where you are today in the design world?

Taniya:  I never anticipated being on television!  It came from a perfect blend of luck and passion for what I do.  I was a design student working on my master’s, and we got an email about an audition for an ABC Family series. The school suggested that we try out as a learning experience.  I auditioned, got the job, and so it began – I’m lucky to be on HGTV and Food Network for the last 10 years.  My first HGTV job came from an unlikely place – Craigslist!

You’re a room makeover pro!  What is the main element you usually start with to immediately improve a room?

Taniya: I always start by identifying the problems in a room.  The next step is learning more about the function of the room – how it is used now and how you WANT to use it.  Then comes the fun part!  This is when I really get to know the client and find out what their style is – and then bring my own spin to it! 

What is your go-to color combination(s) and why?

Taniya: I don’t really have a go-to color combination, but I love to have an inspiration piece for a room, and then build the color palette around that piece.  It could be a favorite piece of art, a pillow, wallpaper, etc.  My clients are always the main inspiration for a color palette. 

Where do you find inspiration?

Taniya: Travel!  Through my TV shows like House Hunters on Vacation and Restaurant Impossible, I have had the opportunity to see many places around our country and the world.  But overall, it doesn’t matter where it is – I find inspiration all around me.

Have you ever been totally stumped by a room?  If so, how did you get through the project?

Taniya: I’ve definitely been stumped on rooms, sometimes based on shape or function.  As a result, I often end up giving the most creative thought to these rooms, and they end up being my favorites.

What’s your favorite piece in your home?

Taniya: I have two Wassily chairs that my parents handed down to me – I love them because they are iconic in their design, AND remind me of my childhood!

When giving a room a makeover, where is the best place to spend the bulk of your budget to make the greatest impact?

Taniya: Flooring is a great place to spend a bulk of your budget on a room makeover – it is not something you are changing out year after year, and it takes a lot of traffic and wear and tear.  With that being said, don’t feel like you are short changing the rest of your room.  You can still fill your room with unique furniture pieces, art and accessories from affordable shops like HomeGoods. 

Do you have any words of wisdom, advice or stories to share for my readers?

Taniya: Don’t be scared, and be ready to break out of your comfort zone.  Do your research and learn about your personal style by browsing in magazines, online, and in stores like HomeGoods. And don’t ask to many people for their opinions – design is subjective.  You should always go with your gut.  

(I love that she got her first job on HGTV by answering an ad on Craig’s List!  Who knew?!)

The people at HomeGoods felt my style was a good representation of Farm House Glam, one of the styles Taniya defined for the StyleScope quiz.  I headed over to StyleScope, took the quiz and…sure enough…Farm House Glam (with a touch of Classic.)

Here’s how StyleScope describes that style…”Farmhouse Glam is the delicate, exquisite balance between beautiful femininity and rustic nonchalance. She’s all about the discovery of unexpected sparkle amidst the less polished. She wears high heels and a denim jacket, a string of pearls and bare feet. And her home feels as special as it does comfortable.”

And for each style, there are suggestions on pieces to look for, how to accessorize, there’s even a pin board on Pinterest and an example of a blogger…

 So, HomeGoods challenged me to a room makeover, showcasing my style – Farm House Glam with a touch of Classic.  Armed with a $1000 gift card, I headed with my mom to HomeGoods for some serious shopping.  I decided to work on my master bedroom, since that room, even after about 12 makeovers, still isn’t quite where I want it.

We were in there for hours. I filled three carts.  I knew right off the bat that I wanted to spend the bulk of my budget on a rug.  We have carpeting in the room right now, but will be installing hardwood floors soon.  Of course, I fell in love with the most expensive one ($499, by Broyhill)…

This is definitely the touch of classic in the space.  I want to decorate the room in blues, whites and greens, so this rug was perfect.  (Don’t you see Lucketts Green in there?  I feel a painting project coming on…)  I also tend to like more classic rug styles, because I feel like they’ll stand the test of time.

With half of my budget spent, the rest was going to go towards accessories and bedding, since I didn’t need any furniture pieces.  I bought two of these mirrors, which are almost identical to some more expensive mirrors I’ve been in love with for a while…

…and I bought an eclectic collection of frames…

I like that they’re made of natural materials with that silver one thrown in for the glam element.  I also bought the rust colored throw (in the picture with the rug), some bedding elements and some feather pillow forms.  I’m now on the hunt for the right fabrics and wall color.  The Farm House style will mostly come from my antique pieces and furniture.  I can’t wait to show more as I work on the room.

Are you curious what your style is?  Take the quiz at homegoods.com/stylescope/.

Disclosure: I was given a $1000 gift certificate to spend at HomeGoods to makeover a room in my house.  I am not being compensated in any other way for being involved in this project.   It is an honor to have my blog featured on StyleScope and to partner with HomeGoods and Taniya Nayak.