latest posts**
**Dedicated to the messy, stubborn, stupid, ill-advised, short-sighted, absurd, futile, thrilling lost art of trying anyway.
wallpapers I’m digging that aren’t floral, future projects and other fun stuff
Hi from my comfy recliner on a Saturday morning! I just had my coffee and ready to spill some thoughts on my recent wallpaper faves and let you in some exciting projects. Are you excited? After my second cafe latte, I am!
In my world, finding new wallpaper is a little like finding a new show to binge. I’m all about it and can’t wait to share with everyone around the proverbial water cooler. Small snag though - my friends aren’t into wallpaper and I work from home. So that means you get to read all my super gushy fan girl thoughts about some pictures on pastable paper.
Read This Before You Start Decorating your new Home
You just got the keys to your brand new home — neigh, your brand new life. Even if this isn’t exactly your dream home RIGHT NOW, it represents a new chapter, a new evolution, a new you. This might even be a sad transition… albeit you’ve survived to this point, but you’re going to make the best of this part and rise like a phoenix.
But there is one problem: the blank walls are doing nothing for your je ne sais quoi, to say nothing of the sad entryway and the living room is feeling a little more like a dying room. Sorry. I’m trying to be cute.
Week 8: The Final Reveal
Her name? Carlotta. She is a vintage Harrod’s poster by Gerald Razzia. I love her because she looks like a total bitch. She can decimate you with her icy stare.
And until Carlotta came across my path, this room was a total mystery to me.
ORC WEek 6: Mood board perfection vs. real life
I’m not going to lie. This bedroom is the hardest room I’ve ever had to design. The challenge is real: it’s a northern facing room, extremely tall and has odd angles. All of these factors mean several UNCHANGEABLE things:
1) The room must painted a darker shade
2) Symmetry is my friend
3) I must use larger prints/images to fill the space vs. smaller objects. Sure I can have smaller objects, but only for smaller moments and vignettes.
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:
Week 2 of orc: skylights & Final design reveal
First off, I’m still aghast that I am fulfilling my dream of participating in the #oneroomchallenge. If I could have seen myself today back when I first started out, I don’t think I could believe it. Too often I forget how far I’ve come on this journey and don’t give myself the room to pat myself on the back and say “Good job!” And would have been astounded that I am still just as much in love with this art. I always have this fear that if I love something, I will lose my love for it. But every day, my love grows and deepens. I will try to enjoy every second of it as much as my ego will allow.
One Room Challenge: the big reveal
I know what you’re thinking… what?! It’s reveal day already?????!! Relax… I’m not there YET, but I am a bit of a tease.
No, this reveal is to let you know which room I decided to redo. And you might be shocked, since MOST of you wanted me to do this:
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.
I am the “real estate agent’s nightmare”… and I’m proud of it
A few months ago I posted this:
And I got a whole range of comments. Mostly good, but some of them were a little outraged I would disrespect the real estate gods. Some went so far as to say I was the “real estate agent’s nightmare”.
At first, I was a little flummoxed. The thought of being someone’s nightmare was so NOT ME. I’m a little bit of a people pleaser. I still answer most of my instagram questions, even the really fucking stupid ones, and just try to be as “nice” and as “helpful” as possible. The customer is always right, right?! Wrong.
But then I really examined that sentiment. I am the real estate agent’s nightmare. Why? Because I refuse to live in a white box until I ultimately sell my house for a minor profit to the next buyer? And I live in California. If I buy in the right market at the right time, I could make an even higher profit and why would I risk warding off those future buyers with my characteristically loud designs? And then I won’t have enough money to buy my next white box. And then I won’t be able to retire, because I haven’t bought enough white boxes and made enough profit so I can live in comfort until I end up in that other box (in the ground).
my first one room challenge and I need help
Wow, I never thought I would do this but here I am! I am submitting for my first #OneRoomChallenge, and I have too many ideas and need your help. The submissions start April 1st, 2023 so that means I have to get cracking.
how to mix patterns like a pro
You’ve seen it. That drool-worthy Pinterest or Instagram photo of an interior dripping with pattern. We make it look so effortless, right? And your gut might be telling you that although we make it look effortless, it actually take a lot of effort… and I’m here to let you in on a little secret.
Mixing patterns is super easy, bro.
I sleep in a separate room from my partner and I’m happily married
If you’re here, then you probably read my stories or post on @instagram or you’ve subscribed. In which case, thank you for visiting me and welcome!
You’re also probably here because something possibly struck a chord with what I posted. I love social media because it really brings our social taboos to light, and this happens to be one of them. First, I posted a poll in stories that asked people if they slept in the same room as their partner. I was not surprised that 63% answered “Yes we are inseparable.”
How i pick out wallpaper (shhhhh....)
I have been wanting and NOT wanting to write this post for a very long time. And I lied a little in my last post, in case you have been following. I ran two different polls asking what you wanted to me to post about. So while most of you voted for "How to make my house look cool" on this blog, my Instagram followers wanted to know how to pick wallpaper.
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…
so you want to buy a neon sign
Hello there and Happy Holidays!! In case you want to take a break from all the festivities, here is a little blog to distract you. And what a blog post it is!
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:
how to build an art collection
I'm such a tease. No seriously, I've been teasing you on how to find and buy art and I haven't got to the good stuff yet. Because if you're reading this, you seriously want to know WHAT YOU SHOULD BUY!!!!!!!!!
no fail steps to make your house look cool
Hey there, all you cool cats! You asked for it and now I'm delivering. You want to make your house look cool. And I'm not talking about how to make your house look expensive, well-styled, or even well coordinated.
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:
is a cement counter top right for you?
I was asking myself this very thing not too long ago. With all the talk about marble and quartzite and quartz and everything in between, where does cement fit in? First of all, what are the benefits -- if any -- of a cement countertop? What are the drawbacks?