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1. Is Buffie your real name?
Yes. I was named after Buffy from the little TV show from the 1960’s called Family Affair. Not Buffy the Vampire Slayer. My last name is Baril, like Cracker Barrel. It’s French for “keg” or “barrel.” But I’m not French, only my husband. I’m Italian, Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh. I’m so very proud to be an American and the ancestors who came before me. See my Ancestry Gallery Wall of Photos.
2. How did you get interested in decorating?
From a very young age, I was able to visualize making a space better. When I rode the school bus, I would look out the window and stare at all the houses in the neighborhood. With each one, I would think about what I would do to make the outside of that home more beautiful. I did the same when I would visit friends’ houses. I’d re-decorate them in my mind. It’s a gift from God that humbles me every time people ask for my help. Some people have a musical gift or the gift of speaking multiple languages, mine just happens to be decorating. It brings me joy.
3. What’s your personal decorating style?
I love French country. My husband is French! I love romantic cottage style homes with a touch of glam. I love pink. Neutrals and metallics are decorating essentials. I love flowers, especially peonies, Lady Banks and cabbage roses, along with hydrangeas. Marrying the new with the old is my speciality.
4. What’s your most important decorating tip?
Only decorate with pieces you truly love that bring joy and simplify! Clutter is not pretty. It’s stressful. See my 7 Steps to a Lovely Home.
5. What is the biggest challenge when people begin the decorating process?
I think many people feel overwhelmed. They think they don’t have an eye for what goes together. Sometimes, they are trying to mix two completely different styles to please their spouse. It can work with transitional decor if you know how. I can teach you.
The greatest enemies to home decorating are clutter, indecision and overthinking. Don’t take it so seriously. The process is fun and uncomplicated. Just like decorating using “The Magic Rule of Three.”
This is where Buffie’s Home Decorating comes in. I teach you the joyful steps to decorate a cozy & livable home for your family. Your guests will think you hired an expensive designer!
It’s a simple formula that’s all about layering. My Decorating Guides will show you how to decorate a beautiful home on any budget!
6. What’s your favorite store for home decor?
I have several stores I love and pull from, but my all-time favorite is Wayfair. I have hundreds of Wayfair items in our home that we paid for ourselves including furniture, chandeliers, mirrors, lamps, rugs, bedding, kitchen items and so much more.
When you need to decorate a room or an entire home quickly, Wayfair is a dream. It saves so much time and energy from driving from store to store looking for the perfect item. Plus, they offer free shipping on orders over $49. I seriously have 8 Wayfair chandeliers in my home! This is my all-time favorite chandelier.
7. Tell us about your family
I got married at 19 to my college sweetheart, Chuck. My amazing husband is in the entertainment business in Nashville. We have 3 children. Our daughter, Brittany, is happily married to her dashing Damian. She is a middle school Spanish teacher. They are expecting a little girl in December. Oh the pink possibilities!
Our teenage sons are some of my biggest supporters. They love the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators. Brandon is an amazing country singer and loves all things weather. Baron loves sports and is the best chef in the family. I am blessed to make a home for these 3 handsome men. We also enjoy our rambunctious cat, Duchess, so much.
8. What’s been your favorite vacation spot?
Our family loves to go to Disney World. It’s brought lots of happy memories every time we visit. One of our all-time favorite trips was vacationing in row house in Washington DC. We love its history, architecture and cherry blossoms. My favorite “Southern” cities are Charleston, SC & Savannah, GA
I love Rome. My dad’s family is Italian.
I also love Wilmington, NC in the springtime. Historic homes, Spanish moss, pink azaleas. Enough said.
9. What is your passion?
My passion, even beyond decorating, is sharing the backstories of my beloved Franklin, Tennessee. My main focus these days is being a storyteller. I am blessed to uncover the tales of Franklin’s historic homes, interesting places, and her many fascinating people on my blog, Lovely Franklin.
10. What do you love about Nashville?
Nashville is the perfect mix of Southern hospitality, gorgeous homes, historic sites, like the gorgeous Cheekwood, the Johnny Cash Museum, unique restaurants, and of course, great music. It’s an amazing city of friendly people to raise a family especially our home city of Franklin. If you have not visited Historic Downtown Franklin, add it to your bucket list. I love the local businesses like Gray’s on Main, Amber Vale Home, Triple Crown Bakery, Tin Cottage, and Amelia’s Flower Truck.
11. Who is your favorite country music artist?
I love Billy Dean. His talent and his humility. My dad’s name is Billie Dean. Billy is such a gentleman. He’s as nice in person as he seems on TV. His songs are classic. My favorite is If There Hadn’t Been You.
Our family also loves our friend, Thomas Rhett. We had the honor of seeing him grow up and become a huge success. So happy for him and Lauren.
12. Do you like any other kinds of music?
Yes! I grew up in the 70-80’s when country wasn’t exactly cool, but disco, that’s another story. I grew up listening to my mom’s vinyl records of Sonny & Cher and Barbra Streisand. along with Johnny Cash and Elvis. My music favs – the Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, Michael Buble, James Ingram, Karen Carpenter & Gloria Estefan. My husband is from Detroit, so I have to say Motown too.
In my 7 Steps to a Lovely Home, you will see why great music is on the list!
13. What famous person did you love meeting?
It was actually 2 famous people. Twins! The Property Brothers!! They are as tall and dreamy in person as they are on TV. Yes, my husband is okay I said that.
Jonathan and Drew inspire me to do what I love, make families lives better through home decorating and great design. Read my post: 7 Things The Property Brothers Taught Me About Home Decorating.
14. What famous person would you love to meet that you haven’t?
Joanna Gaines. Her genius inspires me along with her entrepreneurial spirit. She combines her gift of design & decorating and personalizes it to the needs of her clients.
You feel the love in her designs. This is how I decorate a home. Yes, function and beauty are important. However, it’s more important to personalize your home with the things that’s unique to your family. Bring joy to your family through decorating!
I have also adored Ina Garten for over 20 years, and it would be the thrill of a lifetime to meet her. Read my 7 Tips Ina Garten Taught Me About Throwing a Fabulous Dinner Party.
15. What’s your favorite candy bar?
Almond Joy – a little piece of heaven wrapped in chocolate. I can still sing the jingle from 1977. “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.” When people tell me they don’t like coconut, I honestly think, something must be wrong with them.
16. Is your home always perfect?
Absolutely not! We have dust, dog hair and Bermuda grass where it shouldn’t be. A home is not meant to be a magazine cover. It’s a respite from the busy, often stressful, sometimes mean world. It should be cozy, yet organized and livable.
Functional, yet messy at times. There should be a system to regularly bring everything back in order quickly as a family team.
This is why we host parties! There’s nothing like having company to make you dust and deep clean.
17. Why did you start a YouTube channel & why do you love bees?
In addition to being a decorator, I am also a digital marketer. I saw there was a big need in the marketplace to help other real women learn to decorate. For real step-by-step decorating help, please check out My YouTube Channel.
Deep down, we all want a lovely home.
I adore bees. It takes bees to make flowers. Bees make honey. It’s a beautiful circle of life. And my grandma name is “BB”.
18. What’s your favorite Disney movie?
Father of the Bride 1 & 2 – This series balances the funny and the sweet perfectly. The scene with George holding his new baby girl and new baby grandson at the same time makes me weep crocodile tears every time.
Please, someone – Steve Martin, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Diane Keaton, Martin Short, Cindy Williams, anyone, I beg you to release a Father of the Bride 3. I need closure!
19. Does anything annoy you?
Yes, slow WiFi, bad customer service and scratchy tags.
20. Do you have any other advice?
Simplify your life so you can live in the moment and find greater peace. An uncluttered, lovely home will make your family happier. Remember to laugh. Enjoy your family – blink and they will be taller than you! See God in the beauty. He is the Creator of all things beautiful and lovely.
Focus on the lovely!
“Whatever…
…is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable,
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,
think about such things.”
– Philippians 4:8
May your home be filled with all things beautiful and lovely, especially the people you love most.
I’m here for YOU!
Much love & joy,
Get my Decorating Guides:
How to Set a Lovely Table in 7 Joyful Steps
How a Hang an Ancestry Gallery Wall
Read 7 Tips Ina Garten Taught Me About Throwing a Fabulous Dinner Party