Nationally-recognized event stylist and entertaining expert Tara Berger is no stranger to research, inspiration and style selections. She has built a career around curating the perfect look. Her work has been featured by go-to style resources such as Martha Stewart, Lauren Conrad, Elle Décor Magazine and more. Plus, she regularly partners with beloved brands like Pottery Barn, Michaels, Shutterfly and Minted. While her everyday projects often revolve around special events, Tara is excited to be taking on the ultimate styling project of her own. Tara and her husband Stephen recently made the decision to build a new home, and they’re not just building in a traditional community setting. They’ve decided to build on a three-acre picturesque site that was once home to a vineyard. Tara jokingly notes, “It is really quite fitting considering my love of wine.”
The couple is embarking on this journey with the Drees Build on Your Lot team, who specializes in building offsite in unique locations. Whether you already own a lot, need help finding a home site, or have a particular property in mind, our highly-trained team of professionals will guide you through every step of the way.


The Beginnings of the Build
When deciding whether to build a new home or buy a resale, Tara did a lot of research and assumed she would find numerous articles on the home building process through online searches and popular platforms like Pinterest. Although, she came up short. Once she started discussing the possibility with Drees, she recalls being surprised by just how easy we make the process and homebuyer experience.
Since she couldn’t find helpful articles herself, she set out to create an educational series for the readers of her event styling blog One Stylish Party. Through this series, she’ll detail her journey building a custom home on her own lot.
Follow Along
Tara has already started to share her experience through three educational articles. If you’re considering building a new home or have already began the process, we invite you to dive into her recaps. You can browse her articles below or follow along with the latest updates on Instagram (@onestylishparty).
1 | We’re Building a Home!
Read her introductory article here.

2 | Our Design Center Experience + Tips on How to Prepare for Your Design Center Meetings
Read her thoughts on the Drees Design Center experience here and be sure to catch her video walk-through here.

3 | Builder Upgrades Worth Getting + Simple Tips to Truly Customize Your House Design to Your Style
Read her helpful list of savvy upgrades to consider here.

Learn More
Tara and her husband have decided to build the popular Ash Lawn floor plan and will continue to document their personal journey. To learn more about building a Drees home of your own, visit dreeshomes.com and select your location.
Stylized shoot by Brittany Gidley Photography