What's supposed to be a fun & inspiring experience can easily and quickly turn into an anxiety attack in the making. But I don't say any of this to scare you -- actually the opposite. So often armed with their Pinterest boards & favorite HGTV episodes, people dive head first into designing & decorating their space. No plan. No strategy. And that's where things can go really wrong, really fast.
Working on this dining room, from beginning to end, definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone & challenged me because I hadn't necessarily encountered a client with this aesthetic before... much less 2.
What was a design that I'd originally intended to submit for a 3rd party project bid -- but didn't -- turned out being the exact inspiration someone else needed, helping them arrive at their exact style & aesthetic.
Now y'all already know my feelings on aesthetic & well-being, so I am always looking for ways to bring feelings of happiness & balance alive through my designs for my clients. That's exactly what Hannah Lowe Corman's art is all about -- creating art that inspires tranquility & peace -- so meeting her was almost like kismet.
If you're that design enthusiast who isn't afraid to tackle your own decorating and/or designing, I want to remind you that there are certain things you still want to keep top of mind before jumping head first into creating your "dreamscape". Here's a compilation of some questions you absolutely should ask yourself before ever tackling a decorating or design project...
Another month gone! It's funny how, as I evolve as a person, it manifests in all the different areas of my life. For example, I resolved not too long ago to go through life with a more grateful spirit, really taking stock of my blessings & victories, big & small. At the top of the year I'd even started a gratitude & happiness board (although I haven't kept up as I should) where at the end of each day, I'd write down on a post thought 1 thing that happened that day that made me happy or that I was thankful for -- everything from a new amazon package to a new client. I've decided to take it a step further, and now, at the end of every month, I'm going to share with you a round up of things that brought me happiness, clariity, and peace -- one for each day of the month -- in hopes that they'll do the same for you.
There are YouTube "beauty gurus" have built brands from sharing their wealth of makeup knowledge and although that isn't my particular jam, I am here for ALL OF IT. So when this next client reached out to me to create their beauty room, to help grow their brand, I'm not ashamed to say I squealed with excitement.
The highlight of my experience with L&W, however, was when I was asked to submit a piece for their blog, featuring my insights on where merchandising meets design. Go back in time with me and see what 10 years of visual merchandising and just over a year of interior design had taught me? Full piece HERE.
I'm excited for the journey ahead because I'm defining my path in a way that feels good versus a way that simply looks good -- the irony. I can't lie -- it's been super hard balancing my 8 million ideas, my responsibilities as a mom & wife, going back to school... ALL on top of the business. I got a little fatigued just typing that all out. Sheesh! But I can see, even though I've been probably the most exhausted I've ever been in life, I am also probably the most inspired I've been in a very very long time!
Aside from needing a place for work, working from home with a newborn baby, I needed some semblance of order and normalcy, and a work space was critical in creating that. I see this come up A LOT where entrepreneurs, especially, get it in their head that they need huge amount of space or a dedicated room for their office. Add a child to that equation, and the thinking is that any additional space should be for the tots, as though wanting that spapce for yourself makes you selfish. Lies & fibulations!
The first half of this year has been one hell of a ride & with this being my first summer as a west coast resident, I am putting Albie Knows on summer vacation! In the meantime, you'll still find inspiration on the blog, in the library, with our new style quiz!
"I inherited this sh***y bathroom, no pun intended, when I bought the house and didn’t think much of it; but I got tired of having to direct people upstairs to use the bathroom and wonder, ‘what if someone goes into my bedroom?’ Do you follow them upstairs? Do you wait downstairs? Too much pressure. That was my cue to renovate."
We're working super duper hard to revamp the site for the fall so that means revamping the blog. Not only are we making the site even better than before, we're updating services, the subscription box, and just putting together some other amaze balls surprises!