The Housing Muse

Recent Episodes

May 10, 2024

Is That Home a Money Pit or Hidden Gem?

EPISODE 49: A fixer upper--that is, a home in need of some TLC--could help you strike real estate gold, allowing you to possibly even double or triple the home’s value. But to get that type of ROI, you need to buy smart. We …
March 22, 2024

You're Cleaning Your Home All Wrong!

EPISODE 48: Many of us are making mistakes in cleaning our homes, and it could be hurting our home—and even our health. Yikes! Cleaning expert Debbie Sardone joins The Housing Muse Podcast to tell us the right way to clean. …
Feb. 21, 2024

5 House Problems That Will Make You Want to Move

EPISODE 47: A lot can go wrong with a house. It’s the less glamorous side to homeownership. But if you ignore some key signs, you could find small problems quickly turn into really BIG problems that may even make you want to…
Feb. 12, 2024

From Discounts to Decluttering: How Estate Sales Can Help You

EPISODE 46: You may have never given much thought to estate sales, but they could prove to be a “home rescue,” no matter if you’re the seller or the possible buyer. Estate sales can help you quickly clear a home due to a cha…
Jan. 12, 2024

The Best Time to Buy Home Stuff for Deals

The money-saving episode! Home appliances and household purchases can really bite into a budget. But how would you like to save potentially hundreds of dollars?

Recent Blog Posts

2024 Colors of the Year: The Paint Trends to Watch

Bring on the blues in 2024! Several paint firms opted for the blues for the “2024 Color of the Year,” while other firms stayed with more earthy tones. Use this list as inspiration for your paint projects around the home in the new year. …

Decorate Like a Designer: 5 Affordable Home Accessories

A few home accessories in the right places can make all the difference. In a recent episode of The Housing Muse Podcast, I spotlighted several décor pieces that TV-designers love. Let’s breakdown a few more key elements in adding to you…

TV-Inspired Home Accessories to Fit Any Budget

After binge watching HGTV, you start to notice similar accessories frequently being used to decorate homes. For example, as I mentioned in my latest podcast, pampas grass (the fake stuff, that is!) appears to be a TV designer's favorite. Pictured ab…

About the Host

Melissa Dittmann TraceyProfile Photo

Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Podcaster / Blogger / Journalist

Melissa Dittmann Tracey is known as "the housing muse" and is an award-winning journalist who has been covering the real estate and home design industry for more than 15 years. She is the creator and host of the Housing Muse Podcast. She is also the creator of the Styled, Staged & Sold blog (the No. 1 home staging blog in the country voted by Feedspot for the last four years and counting). You also can hear her weekly on the syndicated radio show and podcast, Real Estate Today, with her segment "Hot or Not?" in home design. She has contributed to dozens of publications over the years, including BobVila.com, Homes.com, HouseLogic.com, PEOPLE, Chicago Tribune, REALTOR, and more.

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