One of the biggest components of making this new transformation work is storage — no sense in having everything nice & pretty if it can’t stay that way because there’s no where to put anything. And I am so glad we upgraded our mattress before kicking off this madness & mayhem, because while it may just be a redesign — no reno or major cosmetic upgrades — it’s still somehow managed to turn our bedroom upside down; so imagine having the bedroom in shambles AND an uncomfortable mattress!
Read MoreAs a renter, the common theory is that we deal with whatever the existing ceiling lighting is are and then maybe get some table and/or floor lamps, but that’s not what I wanted.
I wanted sconces specifically to make the best use of the space — table & floor lamps take up space that I wasn’t willing to spare. After having a table lamp on our nightstand for nearly a year I knew I wanted that surface area back.
Even as a renter, with a very focused search, I quickly found that I was not limited in my stylish lighting solutions.
Read MoreOne of the first things that stood out to me when we moved in was the paint color because it wasn’t my personal cup of tea. Getting a chance to team up with Wallplanks to do an accent wall was like a DREAM!
Read MoreRight before leaving for High Point Market I asked on my Instagram stories what some of your favorite, go to home retailers (p.s. the new questions feature is definitely becoming a new fav!) and the answers I got varied, but with a few repeats — Ashley Furniture, Homegoods/Homesense/TJ Maxx, Target, Wayfair, Overstock, and Z Gallerie.
Read MoreHaving already most of the marquee pieces — bed, rug, seating, window treatments, and nightstand, I wanted to be sure to work with them. I partnered with the amazing team over at From the Forest, the parent company of Wallplanks, chose my planks and knew this was exactly what the room needed to feel cozier, brighter, and more like us.
Read MoreSo in my lifetime, I've moved 7 times. With every move, I found myself constantly trying to define my life via my space. I'm someone who lives in my head, and with that, someone who's always planning and envisioning and daydreaming. I'd get lost in thought planning changes I'd want to make; because no matter what was happening around me, I needed to be able to control my home. With each move, this has never changed. But also with each move, I've learned just a little bit more about myself, the people in my life, and honestly, the world around me.
Read MoreThis past May, I participated in the One Room Challenge for the first time & it was a great opportunity to show our condo balcony some love — transforming it from an unused storage overflow area to a Hygge inspired outdoor space where we enjoyed the entire spring & summer season! Now it’s time for another One Room Challenge & I’m excited to be participating again, this time with our master bedroom.
Read MoreWhether you’re going to market for the first time, still pretty new to market & getting your feet wet, or a seasoned market veteran going for the umpteenth time, navigating which events are happening when & with whom can be a pretty daunting task. As an e-design community and designpreneurs looking to elevate in the online space, it was amazing quite a few events that really catered to the current industry landscape — tech savvy, social media inspired, systems driven, influencer friendly, and overall really future facing.
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Over the summer we decided to give our daughter her own room, which meant moving out of my home office & transitioning that room into a space fit for a threenager — fun but peaceful, child-friendly but chic, and most importantly something she would love!
Read MoreGoing to High Point Market in a few weeks is going to be a major treat for any interior designer or design industry professional -- it's like our fashion week! After browsing on the trends to look out for and product forecasts (and composing myself, because WOWZA!) a thought occurred to me... If any of these predictions & debuts could be shopped now, or at least something close to & accessible, it's like you'll be ahead of the curve, so I've rounded up some current "dupes" of upcoming drops!
Read MoreLast Spring, I had the honor and pleasure of being invited to my first ever High Point Market. I went from having no interest in this “fashion week” of the home industry to booking a last minute flight for a 72-hour trip — 48 hours travel & 24 hours actually at High Point! Fast forward a couple of months, during which I launched a second business specifically for e-designers — The E-Design Experience — I am prepping to make my return to High Point Market, and this time for more than a day.
Read MoreIt's that wonderful time of year when the air is less sticky, the coffee is more pumpkin spicey, and wearing layers is not only acceptable, it's preferred -- welcome to Fall. If you're my people, then you've probably been low key (high key) coveting a few pieces here and there for your home for the new season, so I thought I'd share with you what's on my Fall wishlist -- some I'll get, some I'll admire from a safe, budget-friendly distance.
Read MoreThis post is in partnership with Nest Bedding, but all the opinions & experiences are my own. For many, a bedroom refresh usually means some new furnishings and decor, maybe a fresh coat of paint, or finally hanging some window treatments. For us, after moving our daughter into her own room, our bedroom refresh started underneath the sheets -- with the mattress!
Read MoreThe one common thread for me every time I've moved is that I'd slowly get my marquee pieces then I'd layer in my decor. Now, this isn't because I have amazing self-control -- I wish! But for me, it's a few things that keep my impulses in check, with budget reigning in at #1.
Read MoreCost Plus World Market is one of my fav one stop retailers for everything from dinnerware to Christmas ornaments (it's only a matter of time!). Check out 20 of my fav finds from their recent new drops.
Read MoreOverdue for some carpet cleaning in the dining room, I pulled out my Bissell Proheat Essentials and also took the opportunity to also squeeze in some tablescaping to tone down the summer vibes & get ready for fall.
Read MoreTime and time again you hear about what isn't possible as a renter, with one of those things being wallpapering! But to be fair, almost no one likes to wallpaper, not even homeowners, because when you think of the removal process all you know is that it sucks! This is why I've been a long time fan of removable (or "peel and stick") wallpaper.
Read MoreNo matter if you're an in-person designer or an online designer, deliverables are a huge part of our client experience, and for many of us, rendered designs are often part of those deliverables. For creating renderings there is no shortage of amazing resources. There are also two web-based platforms that are super affordable (how does free sound?) and all things considered, easy to use.
Read MoreWhen you search “bedrooms for little girls” on Pinterest, you get a hodgepodge of ideas from inspiration rooms to diy projects, so needless to say I had to think long & hard about exactly what my vision for her room would be. My daughter has had all of one request — pink! I put together a design that featured a mix of colors & textures that would be soft enough of for a little girl, but also chic & timeless, because the last thing I wanted was to change her room every couple of months.
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