In the fall of 2002, the group of five women got together through a mutual friend and formed a group to socialize and discuss all things home-related. The common denominator was a passion for home decorating and design. Today, the group is still going strong and doing more than ever to fuel their love of house projects.
"Some people have book clubs, this is something different," says Kuz. "We share the same interests and learn from one another."
While none of the women have any formal training in decorating or design, they do have a wealth of knowledge from combined experience that they bring together through this group. Susan Kuz and her husband undertook a massive renovation that completely transformed their home with a big focus on making it environmentally-friendly. Sharon Vogel, another "Diva", and her husband have built three new homes for their family.
Six years ago, the group started out as a decor group. The women would get together going to each other's homes to solve decorating dilemmas. When Vogel was immersed in the building process of her latest house, for example, she turned to The Home Divas for advice on everything from paint colours to carpet and counter choices. If someone was planning a move, the group would offer advice on what to fix or upgrade to improve the sale of the home.
Those home meetings, which included a healthy dose of wine, good food and conversation, evolved to include "field trips". The women regularly attend events such as the Home Expressions show en masse and they've made trips to places like a local nursery, where they had what Vogel calls a "plant purchasing party" to help select plants for each other's gardens. Today, they meet about once a month, sometimes more, depending on what's happening in any given month. Over the years, they've covered everything from whole home renovations to landscaping, heating systems and new home building.
Word has started to spread about The Home Divas. People have heard about the group and many have called the Divas to ask for home decorating and renovation advice. Several people who have purchased homes with the intention of renovating and flipping them have invited the group to do a "walk through" of their house to share their ideas and advice before they embark on the project.
"We all notice different things," notes Kuz. "We feed off each other and each of us has a special area of interest."
"It's like having a mini focus group," adds Vogel, who works in marketing and communications. "This is pure fun for us and we are willing to share what comes to mind."
The five women have diverse backgrounds and come from different areas of the city, so they combine to offer a well-rounded perspective on any given project.
But it's not all about consultation and discussion. The Home Divas make sure they have time to socialize and visit.
"It's really about celebrating our friendship and sharing our passion," says Vogel. "Life is too short to drink bad wine or put off creating a home that inspires, soothes and makes you happy."
When asked what advice they have for home owners, the pair is quick to point out that decorating doesn't have to be expensive. If you do your homework and take the time to shop around, you can get some great deals. Simply painting a room is another way to make a drastic change without spending the big bucks.
Kuz also places a lot of importance on the "bones" of a house. She says a lot of attention is now being placed on creating a more environmentally-friendly home and living "green".
"There are a lot of green products out there and people are using other products in different ways," she notes. "Think about are you going to be comfortable in your home and what are you putting into it?"
Vogel's advice is not to follow what's hot or trendy, but rather what you like. She says you need to find ways of expressing yourself through your home.
"Your home is an expression of you," she says. "It's not about replicating a magazine -- it's about who you are."
The Home Divas are now exploring new ways to share their love of decorating and offer their advice and experience to others. If you're interested in getting in touch with the group, you can email Kuz at susan@yourhomedivas.com.
tracey.thompson@mts.net
