Diana Hudson: MA, SDP, ODSDP

Professional Home Stylist and
Certified Interior Redesign &
Staging Specialist

Diana Hudson
Devine Designs, Ltd.
Specializing In
Redesign and
Real Estate Staging
which have been seen on:

Decorating diva Diana Hudson Kresnye has been bringing her own brand of magic to homes across America for the past 15 years. She returned to her native Northeast Ohio roots in 2005 after living in San Diego, California and the Atlanta, Georgia area for 17 years.

Diana was selected as a designer for the 2007 Lake County YMCA Dream Home, a project of which she'd always wanted to be a part. "I was so honored to be selected as a designer for the 'dream team'," she said. "The project raises funds vital to the YMCA's mission of putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all."

When it comes to design, Diana believes "it's all about personality . . . not about price, pedigree or pretension." Unlike traditional designers who are product driven, Diana is service driven. "Homeowners no longer need to rely on expensive designers who often present intimidating ideas and pressure you to buy custom furnishings and window treatments which is how they make their money. I use imagination rather than expense, and a personal, creative touch to help my clients create a home that is gracious, warm, and welcoming."

Redesigning Woman
In addition to providing traditional interior decorating and design services, Diana was Lake County's first and only professionally trained & certified One Day Redesign and Real Estate Staging expert. As seen on HGTV, Oprah, and A&E, redesign and staging have been popular in many areas of the country for years. "I have been redesigning and staging homes since my years in San Diego," the decorating diva said. "When I moved to Atlanta, GA, both services continued to be very popular there as well." Diana is excited to bring her redesign/staging expertise and experience back to her native Northeast Ohio roots.

Redesign is the art of using what you already own to transform the look of your home. "Consider it your stuff with style," Diana says. "If you have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years, redesign is the perfect option. It provides the unique opportunity to find the home you want within the house you have. Redesign brings having a beautiful home within reach to everyone. It gives you a designer look without the designer price tag!"

Setting the Stage
Diana has staged more than $5 million in homes in Northeast Ohio since moving back to the area. Real Estate Staging is the art and science of making a house more inviting and appealing to potential buyers. "We only have 3-4 minutes to make an impression on potential buyers. We need to make those moments both memorable and profitable," Diana says about selling a home. "I tell my clients that the investment in a complete staging (like what you see on HGTV) is always less than their first price reduction!" With the challenging housing market in our area, people can't afford not to stage," Diana says. "And I don't just preach staging, I practice it. I staged my husband's condo when we bought our new house. It sold in 3.5 months when one right down our street has been sitting on the market for more than a year."

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Diana was raised in Painesville Township and graduated from Riverside High School. In addition to her training in Home Staging & Redesign under JoAnne Lenart-Weary, nationally-renowned founder of One Day Decorating, Diana earned her undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University and her masters of Arts at San Diego State University. Diana is a charter member of the Society of Decorating Professionals, a sought after speaker on home decorating and redesign, and a published writer of articles on various decorating topics.

Prior to returning to Ohio, Diana lived 10 years in San Diego, California and nearly seven years in Atlanta, Georgia. In San Diego, she helped All-Pro NFL Linebacker Junior Seau, then with the San Diego Chargers design San Diego's top-rated sports restaurant, "Seau's the Restaurant."

Diana returned to Lake County in August of 2005 to marry her long lost love, Ben " B.J." Kresnye, former Mentor City Councilman and president of the Norben Company in Willoughby, Ohio. They now live in Chesterland in a charming "cottage in the woods" that they're making into their own dream house.