Home Services

Beyond the Blinds

A mother‑daughter duo bringing heart, design, and connection to every Columbia home Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography Some businesses are built on strategy. The best ones are built on something deeper. For Terrie and Abbie, that something is each other. A mother and daughter connected by more than family, but by a shared vision to bring elevated, custom window treatments to the Columbia community with a level of personal service rarely found locally. Together...

Style + Beauty

Living Amini

Cierra Porter creates ethical swimwear that honors people and planet. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Cierra Jade Productions What started as a shared dream between childhood friends Cierra Porter and Aubrey Maggard began with sketches and early designs in their homes in Denver and Kansas City. Today, it’s grown into a thoughtful lifestyle brand built on faith, sustainability, and connection. The name Amini means “believe” in Swahili, and for Cierra, that meaning runs deeper than...

Home Services

Two Paths, One Partnership

Kris Ballage and Patricia Maurer built a real estate partnership on two continents, two generations, and one shared belief: every home is someone’s dream. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography Kris Ballage didn't plan on real estate. She planned on finding a home. When she and her husband relocated to Missouri, they fell into something bigger than expected — a sprawling estate acreage, too large for a young family, too full of possibility to ignore. With her husband...

Local Services

Celebrating Our Women-Owned Business Partners

Honoring the women-owned businesses of Columbia City Lifestyle who trust us as partners and continue making a meaningful impact across Columbia. Article and Photography by Art Off the Trail ARTOFFTHETRAIL.COM Owned by Gloria Gaus Betz Jewelers BETZJEWELERS.COM Owned by Rachel Betz Budget Blinds of Columbia BUDGETBLINDS.COM/COLUMBIAMO Owned by Abbie Barchet & Terrie Johnson Drybar DRYBARSHOPS.COM Owned by Angie Nelson Executive Cleaning EXECUTIVECLEAN365@GMAIL.COM Owned by...

Education

Wealth Needs Wisdom

The investment most families avoid is costing them everything. Article by Julia Myers Most successful families are building wealth and losing it at the same time. Just not in the way they expect. Retirement accounts are funded. College savings plans are open. Real estate and business ventures are growing. But very few families talk about money in a way that builds maturity. We tend to focus on external investments. These matter. They build financial independence. Yet there is another category...

Home Services

Your Best ROI: A Paint Job Done Right

Smart prep and lasting results from AI Painting Plus Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography Homeowners often pick painters by lowest price, then wonder why the paint peels, flashes, or needs redoing a few years later. AI Painting Plus flips that approach: a quality paint job isn't an expense. It's an investment that protects and boosts your home's value long-term. What most don't realize is paint is only as strong as the surface it sticks to. Their team invests...

Home Services

Protection That Lasts Generations

How a family and veteran owned company protects Mid Missouri homes through prevention, education, and long term pest and lawn care solutions. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography For more than 50 years, Wingate Pest & Lawn has proudly protected homes across Mid‑Missouri. What began as a one‑truck local service has grown into a multigeneration family company built on reliability, education, and trust. Bryan joined the business in 1994 after graduating from the...

Home + Design

The Women Behind the Build

How Hemme Homes & Remodeling design trio turns family visions into 3D reality Article by Shea Sullivan It’s easy to dream about a home that fits your family’s life, but picturing it before it’s built can feel impossible. That hesitation is one of the biggest challenges families face when taking on a new construction or remodeling project.  Hemme Homes and Remodeling meets that moment with a collaborative, client-first approach guided by Brooke, Emalee, and Grace. Brooke partners with...

Home Services

The Woodland Living Project

A modern mountain-inspired home that feels like a walk through the woods. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Matthew Anderson @matthewaphoto It started with a photo: a shed in the woods glowing with firelight. That single image sparked a design journey that led to Woodland Living: a home layered with meaning, soul, and storytelling. Every texture, tone, and turn of the hallway invites you to settle in. At Bodine White, design isn’t about building a recognizable “look.” It’s about...

Home Services

Columbia’s Trusted Team

A boutique real estate brokerage built on relationships, results, and a deep love for Columbia. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography Founded in Columbia, North Star Real Estate is a locally owned boutique brokerage built on trust, thoughtful strategy, and genuine community leadership. Led by brokers Adam Curtis and Billy Dexheimer, the firm champions a people-first approach, delivering strong negotiation and clear guidance to homebuyers and sellers across...