An opportunity arose for my conceptual staging team at the Real Estate Staging Association's First Annual Conference to join Matthew Finlason and his staging friends at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas to share dinner together.

At the Dinner Table with Matthew Finlason

 

Talk about a neat evening!

Matthew is genuine, personable, humble, and hilarious all at the same time.

He spoke to the entire group about his gratitude to spend time with his "peers" and commended us for the hard work we do day in  and day out.

He reminisced about his childhood in Jamaica, where he earned his allowance helping his interior decorating mom every day, which sounded familiar to me, as the child of a decorator myself (is there a support group for us?).

He also said something profound to me about how creating a beautiful living environment can heal the sick and downtrodden, and I know from experience that he is absolutely correct.

I feel very lucky to have been a participant in what was surely a highlight for both my personal and business life, and very inspirational evening of laughter and camaraderie.

Thank you Matthew, and all the stagers & friends at Planet Hollywood, including Karen Otto, Lori Kim Polk,  Charlene Storozuk, Melissa Marro, Bevin Googer, James Hannah, and my own team members, Barbara Guilliot and Renee Molinari.

 

~Michelle Molinari

 

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

Lead Conceptual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

Vice-President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

 

 

 

 
This post has been included in Louisiana Real Estate News Lafayette Parish, LA Real Estate News
Post is included in group: Louisiana Lagniappe
Post is included in group: Louisiana Real Estate
Post is included in group: Real Estate Staging Association
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18 Comments on Lafayette, Louisiana Real Estate Stagers Have Dinner With Matthew Finlason of HGTV's "The Stagers"

JAN
31
2010
864,027 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing this post about the event. Lafayette is such a great city. I know you'll have a blast putting the good ideas you brought back with you to work.
6:16am • #1
132,446 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Thanks David,

It was a night to remember, that's for sure! As a team of stagers, it was a thrill my team relished throughly.

And I agree, Lafayette is a great city, and I am so very glad I moved to the area. Cajun Country is a kick.

~Michelle

 
6:28am • #2
251,123 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

How COOL!  I do enjoy him on HGTV's The Stagers....did he say if that show will be back?  He does Beautiful work on the show and seems just like the kind of guy who would be FUN to go out and do exactly what you all did!!  Again How COOL!!
9:44am • #3
132,446 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Kathy,

No, the show will not be back, but Matthew has some interesting ideas in the works and hopefully he will be back on our TV screens soon.

Indeed, it was very, very cool!

~Michelle
10:17am • #4
185,990 Points 1 Featured Post

Michelle, It was good to talk with you yesterday...I could tell in your voice that this was a very exciting moment for you! Thanks for sharing the photo...it looks like everyone had a great time!!!!
11:25am • #5
467,263 Points 20 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

What an incredible opportunity to have spent time with him, Michelle.  I love that picture of you and love seeing how big your smile is.

Matthew IS incredible.  He loved being there (as you said). He was so engaging and just a joy to be around.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful photo.

Kathy
2:54pm • #6
132,446 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Donna,

You should have been there! For the next conference I will swing by Arkansas and throw you in the car!

~Michelle
3:14pm • #7
132,446 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Kathy,

I love this picture, too. And yes, my face really says it all. He was just awesome and had us in stitches.

~Michelle
3:16pm • #8

Michelle - I'm so envious that you got to have dinner with Matthew.  I wish I could've been there, or at least be a fly on the wall.  You and Matthew together, what a hoot!
6:30pm • #9
132,446 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Patti,

I know it was some wierd planetary alignment that must have been in play, because I am just not that lucky! I can thank Lori Kim Polk and Karen Otto for extending the invitation ( I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!).

It was the coolest thing!

~Michelle
9:35pm • #10
289,569 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Michelle,  what you wrote was a perfect description of the evening with Matthew.  He is not only entertaining but truly a passionate human being with a heart for others and I look forward to seeing where his adventures take him and if he's anywhere within 100 miles of North Texas I'll be there.  

When The Stagers show came out there were a few of us who wrote blogs about the show and Matthew engaged in the conversation on Active Rain and then on Facebook, he was honestly very interested in the feedback on the show.  Funny how blogs can do that to ya huh? It makes you very aware of how small our world has really become when we can "friend" another we've never met in person. Charlene was actually the one responsible for getting Matthew to agree to speak at the RESA conference and I'm so happy she was able to make that happen.

It was great to meet you and you were officially the FIRST AR friend I met at the conference.  You made standing in line fun!

See you next time or somewhere in between =)
10:54pm • #11
269,928 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wasn't he just the nicest ever! Love the photo!!  I miss you all so much!! I love when he said-see you in your city when I need your stuff for my charity staging!
11:22pm • #12
FEB
01
2010
132,446 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Thanks Karen!

You may recall that I wrote a blog about the show before it went on the air in the U.S.

The New HGTV Show - THE STAGERS - I Sure Hope IT SUCKS!

I know I got a lot of hits from Canada on my website after that one.

I wonder if Matthew knew I was the one that wrote it, lol.

And Charlene's blogs were nothing short of wonderful!!!

I was an instant fan, and I am so happy that all my predictions about the upswing in the interest in staging in that blog came true. I just wish the show wasn't cancelled. It was a great show and it really did spur staging to become a household word. THANK YOU MATTHEW AND ALL THE DEKORA STAGERS!

And I was thrilled to run into you also when we were checking in to the Treasure Island Resort.

We'll run into another again, I am absolutely positive!

~Michelle

 

 
12:03am • #13
132,446 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Cathy -

I just got done sending you an email...are we in sync or what?

Miss you back...it was pure pleasure spending time with you, you are such a doll! And your dear husband is very cool, tell him I said so.

And yes, Matthew was the best guest Shell could have booked. He is just a really nice man with a very big heart, and he takes his role-model status very seriously. We love him to bits...

~Michelle
12:07am • #14
621,696 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I guess I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, I would have loved to have been there.  Matthew is high energy and truly has a passion for the industry.
3:41am • #15
171,489 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Michelle, your super smile says it all. I'm sorry to hear the show won't be back I looooved his style!
7:57am • #16
FEB
02
2010
579,420 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Looks like loads of fun!  I was too busy working but hope to make it next year.
1:07pm • #17
FEB
05
2010
145,540 Points 9 Featured Posts

It was such a fun evening.  I'm really glad you came to dinner Michelle.  It was great to finally meet you!
4:56pm • #18

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Michelle Molinari -Feature This Real Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Lafayette, LA

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