Puppy Love for Design

I fell in love with interior design during the "Do It Yourself" "Weekend Renovation" era. My first exposure to the industry was through the wonders of TLC and HGTV reality TV.

Trading Spaces

Trading Spaces

My first favorite was definitely Trading Spaces! The viewer was taken into the homes of two couples who would swap homes for the weekend and do whatever the crazy lunatic decorator had in mind whether that meant a bathroom covered in faux flowers or a bumblebee inspired dining room. About half of the time the home owners would return and have an absolute fit.

While You Were Out

My next staple from this time was While You Were Out. A spouse would go away for the weekend and their significant other would seamlessly pull off a full room renovation in just two days. The most memorable design from this show? The strange Kama Sutra wall made out of naked Barbies for a master bedroom.

Needless to say, the strange designs and wacky designers were highly addictive, and honestly, I wished I were one of them.

Divine Design: Candice Olson

But my favorite designer and biggest inspiration was always Candice Olson from Divine Design. She ran her own business, made beautiful renderings and generally seemed like the type of person I wanted to be some day in the industry.

Source

Source

I mean look how amazing these are! 

Now years later in my fourth year of college and a major change I have found myself back in the strange world of interior design. I am far removed from the days of Trading Spaces and While You Were Out and my view has been developed into a closer version of what the design world really is. First and most importantly, it takes a lot longer than a weekend to finish a well thought out, correctly executed design project. I know that being a reality TV star isn't what makes a great designer, but the determination and love for the field is.

Send me a message and let me know if you liked the blog.

Spring Pillows

This spring, liven up your living space with some new throw pillows! While you may be neglecting spring cleaning for just "one more day," try this simple way to bring in a new look without a full home makeover.

Potterybarn Poppy Botanical Print Pillow

Do any of you remember looking through old botanical or bird books in your parent's or grandparent's home? These Potterybarn pillows remind me of just that. I love how these pillows manage to bring a fresh and nostalgic look all at once to any living space. The other thing I love about these pillows is that instead of using the usual springy pastel colors, we are seeing a turn away from this with bold punchy colors.

Potterybarn Elephant Scarf Print Pillow

So I have to ask, how many of you have given in to the Elephant Pant Crazy? Well I have, so it's no surprise to see these East Indian inspired elephant print pillows at Potterybarn as a staple design this season. I love the Mendala and Elephant detailing on this pillow. Again, we see a shift from the usual pastel colors for spring, but now we're heading into a bright vibrant direction.

One Kings Lane Ogee Velvet Pillow Pink/Gold

If you haven't already seen the amazing Mermaid Pillow with color changing sequins, you might get your fix with this gorgeous velvet pillow from One Kings Lane. I love the color contrast, but most of all I love the bold pattern of this pillow. Tribal Ikat pillows have been all the rage for over a year now and this is a wonderful way to update this trend.

 Ethan Allen Wildflower Pillow

This next pillow provides way more texture to your living space. Neutral grey and blues allow this pillow's look to remain sophisticated and fun without feeling too busy. This would liven up the simplest of couches without using the other punchy colors and patterns this season is offering. Ethan Allen provides subtle pops of character into all of their Spring pillows.

Restoration Hardware Cowhide Link Pillow

Lastly, Restoration Hardware is known for their neutral and sophisticated looks, which is exactly what this Cowhide Link pillow offers. Providing the same tactile sensations and patterns as the velvet pillow from One Kings Lane, this is a more subtle option.


No matter what your favorite design aesthetic is, this spring is sure to offer you a full array of throw pillow style choices to spark up your home design. If you have any questions or need suggests on what pillows might look best in your living space (ie. living room, bedroom, front entry) send me a message and I'll help you out.

Until next time!