Valerie Golik
School
Calumet College Of St. Joseph, Purdue University
Expertise
Gardening And Landscaping, Home Decorating And Maintenance, Home Organizing
- Valerie is learning from her dad, son of Italian immigrants, how to keep a fig tree alive in the definitely non-Calabrian Pennsylvania zone 6 climate.
- She enjoys learning new things through her writing, whether it's dreaming about beautiful décor for her home, figuring out how to organize a closet, or creating a fairy garden.
- Having bought her first house at age 20, Valerie has been immersed in the merriment, mania, and minutiae of home ownership and household management for several decades since signing that first mortgage.
Experience
As a young writer in the 1980s, Valerie soon became a very prolific "stringer" (freelance reporter) and weekly entertainment columnist for The Times newspaper in Lake County, Indiana, near Chicago, Illinois. Her writing spanned everything from municipal meetings to major construction projects, leading her to frequently quip that she learned more about sewage lines than she ever thought she'd need to know. That experience as a reporter taught her to know how to ask the right questions, a handy skill in every walk of life, whether as a homeowner or in her future roles as a marketing professional and nonprofit executive. Inquisitiveness and looking for the right answers continue to define Valerie's writing and research, even if she's just trying to decide if she really wants to attract squirrels to her yard with a little squirrel feeder picnic table.
Education
Valerie earned a bachelor of science in organization management from Calumet College of St. Joseph, and a master of arts in communication from Purdue University. An avid proponent of lifelong learning, Valerie enhanced her formal education through a multi-session nonprofit leadership program at Duquesne University and countless continuing education seminars.
House Digest uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the always-evolving conversations surrounding design and home trends, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert takes and tutorials from our talented team.
As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By Valerie Golik
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If you own an LG refrigerator, you may already know some of their problems. Here, we discuss how to fix or diagnose the fridges' most commonly reported issues.
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HGTV's "Love It or List It" reflects Western society's philosophical dichotomies, and thus sets a terrible standard for how to deal with clutter.
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Grass can take a lot of effort to keep looking its best, so low-maintenance alternatives are a great option. Try this weed-resistant option for yourself.
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Vinyl floors are generally easy to maintain, but they can become sticky and messy over time. Learn how cleaning vinyl floors with dish soap can help!
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If you want a more organized shoe closet, try this smart TikTok closet organization hack. With just a few inexpensive items, you can neatly organize your shoes.
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We tested the cordless Brigii M2 Handheld Vacuum, which comes with a hand pump and air duster. Discover how well it worked when completing a variety of tasks.
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While many plants can be planted in the cooler seasons, some won't fare well and are better off being planted in the spring than in the fall.
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If you enjoy watching your feathered friends flock to your bird feeder but are looking for a way to deter pesky squirrels, here's a simple trick to employ.
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If you are looking for new creative ways to incorporate flowers into your garden, one design expert reveals how to turn stock tanks into wicking garden beds.
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In a busy home, it's not easy to find the best method of storing everything. Check out this brilliant way to repurpose a paper towel tube for storage.
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Steam cleaners can make quick work of your home's grimiest surfaces. Will this affordable steamer form Amazon live up to the hype after our rigorous tests?
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You'll find broadleaf plantain in pretty much any part of the United States. If it's paid your lawn a visit, here are a few things you can do.
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Mulch glue is gaining popularity to hold mulch in place against storms and wind. But you don't have to go to the store and buy it - you can make it yourself.
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Keeping a home clean also involves ensuring it smells clean. Here is how to keep your garbage smelling fresh with a simple kitty litter hack.
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Enjoy a night sitting by the fire by creating a DIY firepit with a terracotta pot. Here are the steps and safety tips to ensure a successful project.
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Filling up your under-the-sink storage space correctly can seem like a daunting task -- here are some tips on how to fill that space effectively.
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Learn about why professional designers swear by Costco's utility carts for decorating your home, and how to use them in nearly any space for chic storage.
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Gas fire pits are a beautiful, convenient outdoor solution, but what about the clunky propane tanks? Here's how to hide them for a sleek and uncluttered look.
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Outdoor solar lamps can really inject some flair into your outdoor living spaces. And if you're on a budget, you can create one with Dollar Tree materials.
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To get the best tomato harvest possible, you need to encourage strong root growth for a healthy and thriving plant. Here's the trick that experts love.
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Martha Stewart's planting hack sounds odd but makes lots of sense.
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You may think pulling weeds is an effortless task. However, removing poison hemlock correctly is imperative for staying safe and ensuring it doesn't return.
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Furniture trends are constantly changing, and gossip seating is making a comeback. Here's how to promote conversation with your living room furniture placement.
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If you love hydrangeas, you want them to last as long as possible. Learn this tip from a Martha Stewart staffer for keeping cut hydrangeas fresh for weeks.
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While ivy might look beautiful growing on the outside of your home, it's actually doing costly damage. Here's how you can get rid of ivy using a kitchen staple.
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Given its 2,000 or so uses, WD-40 is quite the handy product to have in your toolbox, but did you know it could also work in the yard? Specifically, on weeds.
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If you've tried the usual methods to open the unwavering jar lid, here's a straightforward hack shared on TikTok that will save you valuable time!