HGTV Social Media Mixer 2018
Nothing welcomes an out-of-towner to NYC quite like Grand Central Station. Although my stay was less than 48 hours, The Big Apple never disappoints. I arrived to attend the 5th Annual HGTV Magazine Block Party for social media influencers. For two years I have wanted to go but schedule conflicts always got in the way. This year I was not going to miss reconnecting with my favorite brands, catching up with blogger friends and most importantly absorbing valuable advice from a star-studded line-up of influential home decor speakers.
The HGTV Magazine Block Party Speakers & Sponsors
To say that I was inspired by some of my favorite influencers is an understatement! Alaina Kaczmarski of The Everygirl, Shea McGee of Studio McGee and Justina Blakenely of Jungalow were all in the same room and ready to share their blogging adventures and invaluable advice with us all.
HGTV Block Party Venue
The Hudson Mercantile building is the quinticential repurposed NY factory with soaring ceilings, polished cement floors and walls painted all in white. As soon as I got off the elevator on the 5th floor a rainbow painted path greeted me and lead to the sponsor’s booths. Each color was identified by it’s Sherwin Williams paint name and number. Excuse the mop head hair. I had just hauled my suitcase from the subway in the rain!
HGTV Magazine Sara Peterson
After quickly taking a loop around the floor I snagged a seat front and center to hear HGTV MAGAZINE’s Editor-in-Chief Sara Peterson. Sara welcome us all and briefed us on the jam packed day’s events.
HGTV Block Party Event Agenda
Each speaker and moderation panel took roughly 45 minutes that included an interview followed by audience Q and A. After each speaker and panel discusion was finished and the last question was answered we took a short break. I headed back out to the common area to meet and mingle with fellow bloggers. It also gave us time to reconnect with brands and hear all about new products and what campaigns were on the horizon.
Like to Know it
Three of LiketoKnow.It app influencers answered questions on how the shoppable app helps these influencers increase revenue. Each guest blogger shared their tips and and how blogging has become a profitable business and an avenue for share resources. I was especially excited to hear my fellow HomeGoods contributor Cara Irwin from Gold a la mode pledge to make pink a neutral. I love that girl!
SW Color Love
Before The EveryGirl founder Alaina Kaczmarski took the stage I headed straight for Sherwin Williams. Long before blogging and interior design my time was 100% artist and faux finisher. I have been partnering with Sherwin Williams for almost 5 years now. I actively promoted their paints and HGTV Home products in close to 75% of my posts. Color is one of my favorite things to talk about and I had no loss of words when I met the SW social media crew. I love sharing color trends and how to incorporate color and pattern into the home. Where will color take you?
3M Scotch Blue Tape
Taping off your projects and painting go hand in hand so it was to no surprise that the 3M Scotch Blue Tape booth was right next to Sherwin Williams. A fabulous NYC skyline mural was on the front side. This mural was painted by Steffi Lynn of Have a Nice Day and can been seen on the Scotch Blue Instagram page.
On the back bloggers were able to dabble using blue painter’s tap and colorful hues. It just took a few minutes to tape off 6 rectangles and blend my favorite ombre colors. Of course I have no problem painting outside the lines either!
Shea McGee of Studio McGee
Once I put the brushes down, I headed back to hear the captivating Shea McGee of Studio McGee speak. She shared how she started at a desk job in California. Her obsession with interior design drove her to start sharing her first home renovation’s journey. Blogging was an avenue to document her projects. She and her business partner/husband moved to the Salt Lake City area and soon the followers and clients started pouring in. If you are not familiar with her blog Studio McGee, RUN, and read all about her incredible designs.
Shea’s interior design clients are now nationwide and Studio McGee employes 40+ creatives. She is as humble and kind as you can imagine. Her designs are filled with texture and natural elements. No wonder she has over 750K followers on Instagram. You can now shop at her brick and mortar store McGee and Co. in CA in addition to her online shop.
Meeting Sara Peterson
After and incredibly inspiring pep talk from Shea I headed over to meet Sara Peterson and thank her for choosing my nursery design as the winner of the HGTV Magazine and Sherwin Williams DIY painting contest a few years ago. She had retweeted my project and I wanted to thank her for the amazing opportunity to have a full page article in HGTV Magazine. She was so kind that she asked to have our picture taken together in front of the Endless Summer Hydrangea wall.
Here is the close up of the nursery prior to styling the room that I submitted for the contest. There is a tutorial on how to measure, tape off, and paint chevron stripes. To day this is one of my popular Pinterest pins.
How fun was the photo prop wall with my friends Diane of The Rath Project and Charlotte from At Charlottes House. Next time I’m wearing heals!
Jungalow by Justina Blakeney
The last speaker was the incredible, funny and inspiring Justina Blakeney of Jungalow. Justina captivated the audience as she took us on the journey of how she became one of today’s most influential blogger and recognizable brands. Her fearless approach to colorful patterned rooms landed Justina’s design book The New Bohemians on the NY times best seller’s list.
Sharing Secrets
Justina is true to her style and harnesses her influential power spreading her message across social media with Justina’s 5 C’s below.
She categorized her jungalow style by having three things in common within her images: 1. Color 2. Pattern and 3. Plants. I really related with Justina’s perfect balance of design and art. She pledges to draw at least 30 minutes every single day. That’s a schedule I long to adhere to. If you are craving color and pattern with a global edge head on over to her personal Instagram page . You will also love her Jungalow feed which is filled with patterns, her products and of course loads of plants! Trust me you will need an hours to soak up all that global goodness.
More Brands and Design Challenges…
Cuisinart was tat the HGTV Block Party to share their latest products. Here is the TOA-60 Air Fryer and Toaster oven that would be perfect for down at the lake. I absolutely love all my Cuisinart appliance including my favorite metallic red coffee maker that you all ask about every time I post an image of my kitchen. Cuinart also served the best cappuccinos all day long. I had three!
Delta Faucet
Next was Delta Faucet. I have a total crush on everything Delta. I have worked with Delta for the past two years and their product quality paired with price is tough to match! As a designer I have been designing spaces around their fabulous faucets and lighting! Yes believe it or not some of their collections have matching light fixtures. If you love champagne bronze fixtures you can see how I used Delta’s modern Dryden Collection in my daughter’s bathroom remodel.
At the HGTV Block Party Delta had a kitchen vignette set up and challenged all the attendees to style their perfect kitchen using accessories from their accessories wall. The kicker… You only had 3 1/2 minutes. It seems like a long time but its not! This is what I came up with and YOU ALL KNOW THAT I WANTED TO PUT A NAIL IN THAT WALL TO HANG SOME ART!
Monday flew by and there was so much to take in. I am already looking forward to next year’s HGTV Block Party. I’m just not sure how HGTV Magazine can top this past Monday? I was happy to take you all along with me. Working with these brands and being able to share all that I take away from these informative events just reconfirms the love that I have for my blogging career. Where will I be next?
UP NEXT
When you hear the word SUNPORCH I’m sure the color black doesn’t come to mind. But I took the plunge and painted a sunny place black! I can’t wait to share how I decorated this cozy space that includes wallpaper on a fireplace! Have I gotten your attention yet ?
xoxo Amie
PS I flew into LGA a bit earlier to spend some quality time with my dear friend Tara. We shopped downtown Grenwich CT, caught up on the past few months and took a walk down her street to Playland amusement park in Rye, NY. If you ever make it to Playland… take a ride on the ferris wheel! What a view!
Amy
So awesome Amie!! Looks like a great event to attend! Loved reading this!!
memehillstudio
Thank you Amy!! I really wish you were closer. It would have been fun to go with you . Xo
Karenann
Looks like a really fun and super informative blogger party event!
memehillstudio
Hi Karen! It really was a great event. Not too often you get to hear the leaders in our field speak.
Audrey Klesta
Thank you, Amie for sharing this wonderful experience!!I love your blog so much! The Sherman-Williams colors are fabulous!
lori chaba
i love all of this!!!!! cant wait to see you on monday!!
Amie Freling
Thank you Lori! See you Monday! Have a great weekend.
Lisa
The day sounds amazing Amie! So glad you had a fantastic trip and met so many inspiring people. Your enthusiasm is contagious, just reading your post I have a huge smile on my face! xo
memehillstudio
HI Lisa! I SOOO wish you were there with me! Please put this event on your calendar for next year. xo Amie