Sarah Herron

"Pin like a boss."

Sarah is the HGTV.com Programming Coordinator. For Design Happens, she tracks online trends and shares treasured family recipes. Sarah is also HGTV’s in-house Pinterest guru. When she’s not pinning like a boss, she can be found in the kitchen cooking or on the couch folding a pile of laundry. She and her husband are raising their two boys in the historic district of Maryville, Tenn. where they’ve filled their Victorian-style home with antiques and Legos.

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POSTS BY Sarah Herron

Trending on HGTV.com: How to Paint Furniture

by Sarah Herron January 5, 2013 14 Comments

We’ve seen a spike in the number of online readers searching for tips on how to paint furniture. It’s a quick, inexpensive way to give old pieces a dramatic new look, which can transform an entire room.

Designer Tyler Wisler says, “Painting is always the easiest and quickest way to give any outdated piece of furniture an instant makeover, but the key to all of it, regardless of the color choice, is to prep. Prep, prep, prep those pieces correctly! Just grabbing a can of paint and having at it will inevitably end in cracked and peeling paint in no time. A good once over with a fine grit sandpaper, then a thorough wipe down with a damp cloth to get rid of any dust particles, is the simplest way to get the paint to stick to the piece and will last so much longer!”

Get the Steps and Creative Painting Ideas

Best Times to Buy

by Sarah Herron January 2, 2013 3 Comments

For me, shopping is a year-round sport.

Stores drop prices and offer promotions throughout the year but knowing when and why retailers are highly motivated to clear their stock is a critical part of my buying strategy. Often stores keep old inventory when new models hit the floor but once the new year hits, retailers get aggressive about discounting and moving last year’s stock.

To that end, major appliances are typically at the lowest price point in January, with the exception of refrigerators because most new fridge models roll out in the summer.

The majority of furniture companies release new products twice a year — in February and August so January and July are great times to buy floor models.

I’m a big believer in shopping for off season items. For instance, now is the best time to buy air conditioners and grills. The only downside is that the selection is usually limited.

Electronics that weren’t purchased during the holidays are also deeply discounted. In fact, retailers will be running promotions for HDTVs and home theater systems for the Super Bowl.

One way to take advantage of increased competition during these promotional seasons is to scour ads for deals and ask for a price match from a store that offers free delivery and installation.

I’m a pretty tough negotiator and follow the old adage that ‘it never hurts to ask.’

I don’t consider it a win unless I get at least 50% off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).

Having such high bargain standards requires a great deal of research and patience but waiting for the right time to buy is always worth it.

What’s the best deal you ever scored?

HGTV Dream Home 2013 Cocktail

by Sarah Herron January 1, 2013 15 Comments

Raise a toast to the New Year by entering for a chance to win HGTV Dream Home 2013, a gorgeous, low-country Zen farmhouse with a modern twist in Kiawah, S.C. The nature-lover’s escape is just minutes away from historic Charleston.

Watch the special tonight at 7 p.m. EST with host Monica Pedersen and try making the HGTV Dream Home 2013 signature cocktail, The New South.

Photography by Jeremy Higgs, Charleston S.C.

It’s a sophisticated southern drink made with North Carolina-based Troy & Son’s Oak Reserve Whiskey, created by Charleston mixologist John Aquino who shared this how-to video:

Get the Recipe

What HGTV Loved in 2012

by Sarah Herron December 31, 2012 6 Comments

Over the past few days, the HGTV online team, contributors, Design Happens bloggers and special guests have shared their favorite designs, trends, ideas, tips and projects from 2012 on Pinterest. See what we loved: HGTV 2012 Favorites.

The 2012 Design Star fan favorite and finale runner-up Britany Simon also shared her favorites.

I included the most popular pins from readers as well. The top three most pinned photos from HGTV.com in 2012 are:

What were your favorite trends and ideas of 2012?

HGTV Favorites of 2012

by Sarah Herron December 27, 2012 18 Comments

We’re revealing what we loved most this year on our HGTV 2012 Favorites shared Pinterest board. From now until the end of the year, join the HGTV online team, contributors, designers, bloggers and 2012 Design Star fan favorite and finale runner-up Britany Simon on Pinterest.

You can also follow along on Twitter #PinFaves2012. Join us as we pin the designs, trends, ideas, tips and projects we loved most in 2012.

See you there!

Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes

by Sarah Herron December 26, 2012 4 Comments

Making crockpot chicken is a great solution for the burned-out holiday cook, especially if you still have guests. I like crockpot recipes that require very little prep work. In fact, I’m philosophically against cooking something over a stove before throwing it in a crockpot.

Two of my favorite crowd-pleasing crockpot chicken recipes are Swiss Chicken and Cream Cheese Chicken.

Easy crockpot chicken recipes

Get the Recipes

Trending on HGTV.com: Storage and Organization

by Sarah Herron December 26, 2012 6 Comments

With all of the stuff that comes with the holidays, it’s no wonder that storage and organization topics are trending on HGTV.com.

This year, I’ve vowed to upgrade my Christmas decorations storage. This list of 12 Holiday Organizing Essentials has been extremely helpful and inspiring.

This is also a great time to clean out and organize your pantry.

With two kids, making space for new toys is always a challenge for me. This Christmas, our son added to his vast collection of Legos. If you’ve ever stepped on a tiny toy, you know the importance of having plenty of buckets, baskets and bins.
Kids' room organization and toy storage
How do you stay organized?

Make Your Home Safe for Little Guests

by Sarah Herron December 18, 2012 No Comments

If your holiday guests include babies or toddlers, take a few steps to make your home safe.

As a mom who has made (and survived!) several overnight trips with babies and toddlers, I can attest to the importance of creating a child-proof space. Plus, it will be a much more enjoyable visit for everyone.

Make your home safe with a few child proof tricks and tips..

If babies are on the move, be sure to keep these things out of reach:

Medications
Household cleansers
Sharp kitchen utensils
Window blind cords
*Choking hazards

*It’s considered a choking hazard if the object fits through a toilet paper roll.

Rubber-coated hairbands serve as quick-fixes for cabinets with non-lethal contents, like games or pots and pans. (You’ll want stronger locks for cabinets containing cleansers, alcohol or medications.)

Child-proof door latches can be pricey and hard to install. One inexpensive and simple solution is to place a washcloth in between any interior door and frame while closing the door. To open, pull on the washcloth while pulling open the door.

Also, make sure kids can’t access the tops of staircases. You can purchase a safety gate for as little as $12.

Outlet covers (about $5 for a pack of 12) are another worthwhile investment. Placing them over unused outlets keeps kids from sticking objects into the outlet. Electrical shock and even electrocution can occur.

Don’t forget about the fireplace. I know there are child-proof gates, locks and tricks with pool noodles but do mom a favor and just barricade it with furniture. With kids and fireplaces, it really is like moths to a flame (even where the fire isn’t lit).

Holiday decorations add even more challenges to making your home safe for little ones. Christmas trees are especially dangerous with breakable ornaments and metal hooks.

So as you prepare a space for holiday guests, both big and small, make your home as safe and as stress-free as possible because spending the holidays with a baby or toddler can be a truly magical experience. Enjoy it!

Do you have advice for creating a safe place for babies and toddlers?