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The Pitfalls of Accent Walls
Color Rebellion: Break Free from the 60-30-10 Rule in Interior Design
unexpected clashing color theory
unravel the mystery of “flow”
If you’re renovating/restyling your entire home or even stuck on one room, you really really need to read this. This article might just unjam those logs in your brain about what direction to go with your space(s). If anything, my method to planning flow gives you a roadmap for making choices. And I always say “Don’t strive for perfection. Strive for thought provoking choices.”
orc week 5: now we’re getting somewhere
It’s Week 5 and I’m exhausted. I’m exhausted from my emotions, I’m exhausted from sanding the shite out of a perfectly nice dresser. I’m exhausted from my brain re-thinking EVERY decision I make.
But I’m complaining. Really, I should be incredibly grateful because this roller coaster of indecision and doubt ended with me joyously crying over a skylight:
The dreaded blank wall…
Or is it more exciting to you? I’m with you — whichever option you choose — because it’s a little of both. Because isn’t a little fear a bit exciting? It wouldn’t be fun if it were easy!
But we’ve all been there — especially if you live in a pre-planned community like I do. When I was house shopping initially, every single home looked exactly the same. Let’s just say the folks in my neighborhood really like Lululemon, white BMWs and modern interiors. Black and white and grey, every single house blended together, including mine. But the moment I stepped into my house, I felt like it was a little bit different and special. Number one, it has the MOST spectacular giant pool. And number two, it had major potential — soaring ceilings, flowing-but-not-necessarily open floor plan.
Before I wax poetic about it, however, I have to really fess up. Decor-wise, the place was a snooze fest. Talk about blank walls, this was a blank house.
put the “me” back in “home”
Well Helllllllllllooooooooo! Are you an OG MTD subscriber? Or are you new around these parts? You might have noticed my brand new look and I don’t know about you, but I’m HERE FOR IT. I didn’t know a website could be this beautiful or fun or magical. Did you see the Shop My Vintage link? Did you see the Shop My Projects link? You didn’t??? I’ll give you a minute — I can hold your purse. Go go. I’ll sit here and watch The Little Mermaid. Are you excited for the Disney remake? I kinda am…
the kitchen reveal
Hello! How are you today? I'm so excited to show off my new kitchen, but best part of any kitchen reveal is the "before" pictures:
do's and don'ts on how to paint a dresser
Hello there! How was your Halloween? Did you dress up this year? I did not -- I have been so busy remodeling and coming up with new projects, I didn't have the energy to do the extra things like Halloween, which I regret. But also, I'm kind of proud of myself for not pushing myself beyond my capabilities. I posted this on the Saturday before Halloween:
it takes two (or more)
Good morning and happy Sunday! How are you doing out there? How are you liking the new AD this month? Loving the feature on Emmy Raver-Lamper and Daveed Diggs (I especially love the couple's embrace of color in lieu of the typical washed out California modern look) and also the article on JJ Martin's chic AND inspirational transformation of her Milan apartment (man, for a freshly divorced lady with no money and no time during a lockdown, she sure turned it out...). One thing that struck me about both stories and transformations was the sentiment that it couldn't have happened without help and partners. In fact, the AD article for Emmy and Daveed is titled "A Perfect Pair."
ugly beautiful
Hello and happy Valentine's Day! What are you doing to celebrate? I normally don't really care about this obvious corporate American holiday, but that feeling was so pre-March 13th shut down. This year we're going big with a lunch reservation at our favorite restaurant. Judging by my recent outing at Trader Joe's, I will probably spend half the meal awkwardly chatting with the waitstaff about what my cat has been up to in the last 6 months.
the british wave
Hello, sunshine! What are you up to today? If you've been following my Pinterest account, you will have noticed I've been pinning like crazy (my screen time is up 21% since last week AND I just got congratulated for my 10,750th pin... I think I might have a problem....). That's the thing I love about Pinterest -- those algorithms get me. My favorite thing to do is to fall down that rabbit hole and discover new and exciting things, because -- and three points if you guessed it already -- I have nothing else to do!
color and mood
Good morning! I hope you're having a lovely weekend so far and you get to do something today that makes you feel wonderful about life. For me, a dose of "green therapy" (that is, walking around our nearby lake) usually sets me straight. Or, if I'm feeling extra dingy, I have a telephone with my eternally optimistic friend. That's the thing about moods: there's usually something you can do to change them.
when being moody is a good thing
Before COVID-19 ushered in the work-from-home era (for most of us, that is) our homes represented the milestones in our lives. Instead of also having to serve as a workspace and conference room, our humble abodes were where we lived our private lives; where we laughed and loved; where we sipped our coffees; watched TNT's umpteenth airing of "The Shawshank Redemption" from the couch in our mismatched PJs; where we listened to podcasts while cooking dinner with friends. If our casas are going to serve virtually every purpose for the unforeseeable future, why not do it all in a home that's stylish?
wallpaper: the tattoo of the design world
There are certain things commitment-phobes shy away -- neigh, bolt -- from: marriage, carpooling, children, buying a house, tattoos, wallpaper... Any one of these things would certainly send shivers up the spine of any free-wheeling spirit. They represent making a choice and then having to live with it beyond the "honeymoon" period, well into the unknown territory of the future. "Where will I be in 30 years?" is a thought that churns my stomach in the middle of the night.
whole house challenge
I'm about to step up the "One Room Challenge" and declare (on myself) a... dunh dunh dunh... WHOLE HOUSE CHALLENGE. And I am sure you are saying to yourself "But that defeats the purpose of the 'Better Homes and Gardens' One Room Challenge! The whole point is for 12 carefully selected and vetted top designers and influencers to transform one room over six weeks, while providing their expert advice and inspiration." I, for one, am not a top influencer (thank you for reading!) but what I do have is a lot of rooms and a lot of opinions which can be construed as expert advice.
Humble beginnings
Hello and welcome to my blog! It's been a long journey to get here, for myself personally, and you may be wondering where and how I became the designer I am today.