Decorating enthusiasts will be happy to know that the talented hosts and creators of Home and Garden Television’s (HGTV) “Room By Room” show, Matt Fox and Shari Hiller, now have a fantastic decorating and DIY website, mattandshari.com.
Recently, we caught up with Matt and Shari and asked them a few questions regarding MattAndShari.com.
THE DECORATING DIVA.com: The economic downturn has affected home dwellers nationwide and globally. I’m constantly hearing from readers that they miss the days when decorating, design and craft shows were educational, inspirational and helped them create a beautiful home on a budget they could afford. Tell me how mattandshari.com can educate, inspire and help our readers create the home of their dreams.
MATT AND SHARI: Yes, we are all being affected by this economic downturn. We see the same thing with fewer shows on TV that show people HOW to do projects around the house that are of VALUE. That’s why right now, mattandshari.com is even that much more important to know about. Matt and I have taken all our knowledge, our understanding of budgets, and our willingness to help people get the home they are dreaming about and put those efforts into mattandshari.com. It actually makes more sense than watching the projects on TV. On mattandshari.com, you can come to the site at YOUR convenience. You can download the projects YOU are interested in, and you can stay as long as you like and visit as often as you want.
THE DECORATING DIVA.com: I love the Matt and Shari TV (MSTV) on-demand DIY, decorating and crafting videos at mattandshari.com. Many of our readers are a bit frustrated with the various design networks running non-design/decorating/crafting shows and will be excited to have access to videos that get back to the basics.
a. What type of programming can our readers expect to find at mattandshari.com?
MATT AND SHARI: The programming at mattandshari.com is all about the viewer. We have an area on our site called “Ask Matt and Shari”. In this spot you can request information and many of our videos are created to answer the questions people have asked. We have everything from the step by step process of decorating to how to paint, there are no-sew projects, crafts, fun for kids & family, even cooking videos!
b. How often is new programming added? And how can our readers be alerted to new content or MSTV videos (email subscription, RSS or both)?
MATT AND SHARI: Just like a monthly magazine, mattandshari.com has new material every four weeks. Our projects and articles follow the seasons and are practical and meaningful for whatever time of the year it is. There are approximately half a dozen new videos and a dozen new articles of information each month. Our new monthly e-newsletter, starting for April will alert members that new information is on the site and it will alert them of new contests, coupons and any mattandshari news.
c. Are there specific primers for first-time decorators that you would recommend?
MATT AND SHARI: We always suggest that folks take on only one project at a time, thus our show title “room by room”. Too many folks take on too many projects and get overwhelmed. Also, the first thing to consider is to remove all the clutter, if you haven’t used something in a year, gets rid of it by donating it to a friend and or charity or recycles the item. As far as getting started, we suggest they start with an inspiration piece, such as a piece of art, fabric or an item that can help you select color, style and mood for a room. The Decorating Planner that we offer to members is a great resource for the first-time decorator as well.
THE DECORATING DIVA.com: The internet creates a sense of immediacy and a level of interactivity that is lacking from television. For example blogs have opened up the dialog between the content producer (editor, video producer, writer etc) and their readership/viewership. The mattandshari.com feature “Ask Matt and Shari” allows site visitors to submit decorating, design or craft questions and have them expertly addressed by Matt and/or Shari. Can visitors also submit photos and/or videos? Are the questions answered by email or posted online?
MATT AND SHARI: Our Ask Matt and Shari feature is very popular. The questions are either answered directly by e-mail, or they are answered in an Ask Matt & Shari video segment that we produce about every other month. We would love visitors to submit photos of their projects or projects they have tried from the site. At this time, we are not taking videos from visitors, but that is something we are considering.
THE DECORATING DIVA.com: I see that the free “Decorating Project Planner” comes with account registration. What other features and benefits come with account registration? Newsletter? Does this include sneak peeks at upcoming articles and videos?
MATT AND SHARI: When you register an account or create one, you become a member of mattandshari.com. Currently, this entitles you to the free Decorating Project Planner, you are automatically put on our e-newsletter mailing list, you have certain articles, project sheets, and videos that are available only to members and more great benefits are coming.
THE DECORATING DIVA.com: Where else can our readers catch up with Matt and Shari? Twitter, Facebook, special appearances etc?
MATT AND SHARI: Shari and I have a fan Facebook page and we Tweet as well at our Twitter page they can also find where we are appearing at our appearance page.
Check out MattandShari.com for a wide range of decorating, crafting, sewing, DIY and lifestyle articles and on-demand videos(via MSTV).
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