Real Simple Announces Winner Of "Blueprint To A Beautiful Home" UGC Contest

NEW YORK, June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Real Simple today announced Stephanie Gayol Phillipou of Mountainside, N.J., as the winner of the one-of-a-kind program, "Blueprint to a Beautiful Home" contest. Last month, Real Simple and Chase Blueprint® teamed up to invite consumers to upload a picture of their home and explain why they should win the "Blueprint to a Beautiful Home" contest. More than 1,200 consumers entered the user-generated contest (UGC) over a two-week period, but Phillipou was ultimately selected to receive the three-room home makeover by celebrity interior designer and TV personality Thom Filicia. Phillipou and her husband moved into their house in December 2011 with their 27-month-old daughter and another daughter on the way. They went straight from celebrating the Christmas holiday to preparing for a new baby, leaving little time to put their mark on the house. Phillipou said winning this contest will allow her family to have a home that fits their personalities and styles. One day she hopes they can look back, years from now, and think, "We wouldn't have wanted to live anywhere else."

Filicia will consult with the Phillipous to discover their makeover wishes and create fresh updates for their bedroom, kitchen/dining room and family room. The makeover is valued at $20,000. The winner and their home transformation will be featured in Chase Blueprint ads in the September – December issues of Real Simple and on RealSimple.com.

"We're thrilled to be working with Chase Blueprint on this one-of-a-kind program," said Sally Preston, publisher, Real Simple. "One of the goals of the UGC contest is to help our readers spend mindfully and show them that it's possible to stick to a budget when they're redecorating. It's been great to see the consumer response to the contest, and I can't wait to see the Phillipous' home transformed by the very talented Thom Filicia."

As part of the custom content program, Real Simple will feature a series of impactful advertorial spreads in the September, October, November and December 2012 issues. The advertorials will bring the Phillipous' home renovation to life in-book with design tips from Filicia and money-saving tips from Chase Blueprint. 

Chase Blueprint is a free set of features available on all Chase Freedom®, Chase Sapphire(SM), Slate from Chase(SM) and Ink from Chase(SM) cards that dramatically improves the way customers manage their spending and borrowing. Blueprint helps consumers take charge of their credit card finances, pay down balances faster and avoid interest on everyday purchases – even when they carry a balance.

Real Simple will also launch a custom "Blueprint to a Beautiful Home" tool on RealSimple.com on Sept. 19. Consumers can design and budget for one of the virtual rooms and then share their virtual rooms via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest.

Consumers nationwide will also have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a $500 Chase gift card towards getting started on a home makeover, plus a copy of Thom Filicia's new book, American Beauty, in the "Blueprint to a Beautiful Home" sweepstakes. The sweepstakes will go live Aug. 7 at realsimpleoffers.com/blueprint.

About Real Simple
Real Simple launched in March 2000 to provide inspiring ideas and practical solutions to help today's busy woman navigate her everyday life. Throughout its 12 year history, Real Simple has been a leader in understanding the modern woman. The brand creates a community in which consumers can share their ideas and learn about women like themselves. With a monthly print magazine, robust website, tablet editions, mobile apps, licensed products, books, special issues, and a strong social media presence, Real Simple enjoys a total monthly audience of 15 million. Real Simple is published by the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, a division of Time Inc., the largest magazine media company in the U.S.

About Chase
Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. Chase serves more than 50 million consumers and small businesses through more than 5,500 bank branches, 17,500 ATMs, credit cards, mortgage offices, and online and mobile banking as well as through relationships with auto dealerships. More information about Chase is available at www.chase.com.

About Thom Filicia
Interior designer Thom Filicia is founder and Chief Creative Officer of New York City-based design firm, Thom Filicia, Inc. Since launching the acclaimed enterprise in 1998, Filicia's New-American Style has earned him widespread acclaim and notable clients in the worlds of entertainment, finance, sports, media, fashion and hospitality. Filicia is universally known for his ability to create stunning modern, yet classic interiors that retain an inviting aesthetic which reflects the individuality of his clients. Filicia's unmistakable design sensibility has earned him countless accolades from the design world, including being named by House Beautiful as one of their "Top 100 Designers," House & Garden dubbed him an "International Taste Maker" and Elle Decor regaled him as an "A-List Designer." Filicia, well-known from the Emmy-Award winning hit show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, has also hosted several successful shows for the Style Network, including Dress My Nest and Tacky House and is presently featured talent on the HGTV Network. Filicia's first book, Thom Filicia Style, was published in 2008, and his most recent publication, American Beauty, will be released in November 2012 with Clarkson Potter. Filicia is also the creative mind and driving force behind the Thom Filicia Home Collection, which includes furniture, rugs, textiles, artwork, curtain hardware and broadloom. Filicia currently resides in Manhattan and Skaneateles, NY.

SOURCE Real Simple