No matter what you want to do with your home, you’d be surprised at the amount of criticism, negativity, and unsolicited opinions you will receive. Everyone from close family members (they mean well) to your contractor and even the sales person at the tile store will try to steer you toward their style. Since this was my first time taking on a project of this magnitude, I was happy to open my arms and ears to suggestions. But, suggestions can quickly turn into strong opinions that will attempt to drive you away from what you want. One of my biggest tips is to trust your gut no matter what! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in this case, in the inhabiter. You’re the one that has to look at your end project every single day, not anyone else. It’s ok to hear what they have to say, but I’m glad that I didn’t sway from my design aesthetic just because it wasn’t necessarily someone else’s.

For example, I think I got the most commentary about the finishes in the master bath. I saw this faucet at a bathroom showroom and instantly fell in love. The “problem,” the saleswoman said, was that this faucet was only intended for vessel sinks that sit above the counter, hence their exaggerated height. To me, their height was exactly what made them stand out amongst the thousands of faucets that I had already considered.

This was the faucet at the showroom. I took the display model and put it atop a sink to see how it might look. 
As you can see, my beloved faucet is simply stunning in its new home!

My gut told me they would look frickin’ amazing, while the saleswoman kept telling me it would look bizarre and “wouldn’t work.” My gut won. Trust your gut feeling as well!

Take another fun look inside Alisa’s home in this Houzz article.

For more design inspiration, find Alisa’s home and others inside the pages of, “Your Home, Your Style” By Donna Garlough.

Alisa Kapinos has been a fashion stylist and personal shopper for almost 15 years. She started her career in fashion working for a Boston based magazine as their Fashion and Beauty Editor and then went onto become their Editor in Chief. During this time she produced and styled countless photo shoots, working with top designers and top photographers. She has been lucky enough to attend many New York Fashion Weeks, also styling shoots for commercials and print ads, as well as assisting in styling Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel and the Jonas Brothers on their Boston stop during their musical tour. She then began her career as a personal stylist to some of Boston’s most notable people, as well as women and men from all walks of life. What her clients love about her is her attention to detail, her understanding of personal style (not just what’s trending), and her ability to mix high end with affordable pieces that fit everyone’s budget. Through her work in the fashion industry, she has also partnered with many charitable organizations to bring awareness and raising money for their causes. Recently, Alisa has taken her passion for interior design and has worked on a few interior projects for local clients. She has had her own home, which she renovated herself, featured in a home design book and a few home websites. Alisa’s greatest loves are her husband of 11 years, her two dogs and her three kids. She loves photography and taking photos, loves to travel, to write, to garden, to decorate, to cook and spend time with her family and friends.

If you love style and want to keep up with Alisa, check her out on Instagram @styleproductions. For more info on her personal styling and home styling business, check out her website, www.alisakapinos.com