"Long Time Coming..."

Five years ago, seeking a creative outlet, I simultaneously launched a blog and business driven by my desire to create a beautiful home on a modest budget.  Things began with friends and associates requesting my help sprucing up their homes and grew from there.

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Looking to learn as much as possible in the area, I made the decision to enroll in a well-regarded, local residential design program and began chipping away at the coursework for the 36-credit hour program.  You can read more about that decision HERE.

It sounded simple enough but working a full-time career, going to school and managing a business in its infancy was no small feat.  I quickly realized that my weekends, evenings and even most weekday lunch breaks were no longer my own.  It was a huge sacrifice but the more I worked, the better I became and the more I learned.

I started to consume every little morsel of design info and inspiration I could find; attending conferences, reading designer's blogs, studying the great's work.

Design Bloggers Conference 2015

The days, months and years passed and the client list began to spill over.  I quickly had to come to grips with the fact that there was NO way I could manage multiple clients, work full-time and be a straight "A" student and thus the waiting list was born.  At the same time, much to my amazement, I started to get emails from magazine editors about features in local and eventually national publications.

 

 

While the thought was terrifying, it wasn't long before I began to imagine life as a full-time interior designer.

After a little soul searching and prayer, in January 2014 I instituted Project 36.  It was my 36-month plan to transition to full-time entrepreneurship; essentially my exit strategy.  I knew that putting a time limit to things would slowly make the decision more and more real.  It would also hold me accountable to doing what I needed to do to make it possible.  Three years sounded like an eternity, that is until it was 24 months and then 12, 10, 8, and 6.  Yikes!  There's something about setting a goal that makes me work just a little harder and this one was no exception.

With the 3-month mark approaching I began to craft my resignation letter, reviewing the details carefully with my mentor and setting the date for my critical conversation with the boss. I spent the entire week leading up to D-day gorging on motivational videos and podcasts.  Here's my favorite playlist if you're interested.   By the time the day arrived to submit my resignation, I was more than ready.  I was pumped!  It all went off without a hitch and I couldn't have been more grateful.  I offered to work a three month notice, explaining that my final day would be Friday, December 30th.

It was DONE.  I'd actually done it.  I QUIT MY JOB!  Say what?  I thought for sure I'd wake up the next morning in a cold sweat, filled with regret....

I was wrong.  I had a strange peace about it; a good sign that I'd done the right thing.

All that was left to do was inform the parents. THIS, I thought, was by far the largest hurdle.  I decided to wait until the Thanksgiving holiday to tell them face-to-face.  For starters, I knew I needed to wait until there was no turning back or they'd totally influence my decision, even if inadvertently. Secondly, I needed to make sure all of my ducks were in a row so they'd worry just a little bit less.  I'm happy to report that the conversation with smoothly and they were super supportive and totally in my corner. And with that, the goal had finally come to fruition.

To say that this has been an amazing journey would be a gross understatement.  When I launched my business and blog with this post on January 1, 2012, I never dreamt I would be where I am today.  It's kind of crazy to think all of the connections I've made, the people I've met, the opportunities I've had and the fabulous clients I've worked with.  It has been an absolute dream come true.

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I'm often asked by social media followers and aspiring designers how I've been able to do it.  I've written a couple of posts about the subject but it really boils down to two things- Faith and Hard Work.  You see, I believe this is my purpose, but I can't see how it's all going to unfold.  However, I trust that things will work out just as He intends.  Knowing what you need to do and doing it however, are two very different things.  Making my dream a reality has involved some sacrifices-mostly time, money, energy and a little sleep.  The sacrifices didn't seem so bad however, when I weighted them against what I had to gain.  It's what kept me moving in the direction of my goals. 

I'm forever grateful to those who have supported and encouraged me along the way. There were many.  I'm also beyond grateful to those clients who took a chance on me very early on. They were willing to be my guinea pigs and I appreciate them trusting me in the process.  For those that came later, they validated my ability as a new designer and I'm appreciative of them as well.  To the folks who read my blog and follow along on social media, they inspire and encourage me to keep sharing my gift with the world.  It makes the journey so much more fun when you know you've got people cheering you on.

It's been a long time coming and I'm so elated and proud of what I've been able to accomplish.  I stand with tip-toed anticipation of what lies ahead.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the best is yet to come.  And for those who might need an interior designer, On January 2, 2017, we are officially FULL ON...

To God be the Glory for the GREAT things He has done.

"2016 Fall Market Trends"

Hello! Hello!  Hope you guys had an awesome weekend.  It's a bit chilly around here and I'm loving it.  This weekend, I started on my Christmas decor and it's looking fabulous.  Can't wait to share it with you!  For now though, let's back up a few weeks. I've been so busy that I almost forgot to share some of the eye candy from this year's Fall High Point Furniture Market.  

In case you're wondering, "High Point Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, bringing more than 75,000 people to High Point every six months. Serious retail home furnishings buyers  (including designers) can be found in High Point twice a year because if you can’t find it in High Point…it probably doesn’t exist."

High Point Market is THE place for designer trends, resources and inspiration.  There's always so much to see and do.  It's actually pretty exhausting but so much fun.  I did manage to snap a few photos while I was there and I thought I'd share some of the trends that resonated with my design sensibilities.  

First up, GOLD (and brass)! 

Kenian Home

World's Away

World's Away

Looks like it's definitely here to stay.  Gold finishes were pretty prevalent and I was happy to see them back this market.  Warm gold tones add a bit of richness that I'm completely drawn to and from hardware, painted pieces and lighting, gold was everywhere! 

Upholstery Details 

I'm always on the hunt for upholstery inspiration.  I'm obsessed with the skirted sofa, especially with the addition of a pretty trim. I've also always loved contrast piping, but many showrooms had pieces that had taken the concept to new heights.  I loved the idea of this print piping and nailhead trim combined.  

Color Trends 

Color was also in abundance this season but I couldn't help but notice the various shades and tints of purple and yellow.  

Universal Furniture 

Woodbridge Furniture 

Wesley Hall

CR Laine  

CR Laine/Tobi Fairley 

Two colors that we haven't seen in a while.  I'd be happy to incorporate either or both in a project or two.  I especially loved the softer hues; so sophisticated and serene. 

Mitchell-Black/Julianne Taylor

CR Laine

In addition to purples and yellows, this color lover was also overjoyed to see so many playful patterns in play in vibrant colors.  

Neutrals 

For as many colors as there were on display there were just as many neutrals.  

Wesley Hall

Obsessed by the use of black and white and pattern in the Wesley Hall showroom.  They NEVER disappoint. 

Universal Furniture 

I couldn't get over this channel tufted headboard at Bernhardt, especially since I'd just designed one for a recent project [see previous blog post ; ) ].  In fact, I spotted several pieces with channel tufting. I'd be happy to see them become more prevalent offering an alternative to the popular button-tufted look.   

Bernhardt 

I spent three days and two nights in what I refer to as Designer Disneyland and soaked up tons of design inspiration.  Yet another awesome High Point Market.  

"Client Project Reveal: Teen Boy's Room"

I'm finally ready to reveal this fun teen boy's room project!  It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to pull this bedroom/bath together for a low-key, super cool,  basketball-loving teen that has a propensity for blue.

I'll be the first to admit that this one required quite a bit of restraint on my part.  Fact is, I LOVE COLOR.  So a pretty neutral space with varying shades and tints of blue was a bit of a stretch for me. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end and the result is pretty awesome.  Let's take a look...  

You may recall me saying in the introductory post for this project that the space began with a plaid shirt and a pair of blue suede oxfords.  Turns out, they were the perfect jumping off point for a modern masculine plan. 

One of my favorite pieces in the plan was this channel-tufted winged headboard Mark and I designed.

There's nothing like when you put two creative minds together and thankfully Mark can understand my terrible drawings.

The client originally requested a small sofa, but the space just wouldn't accommodate it.  Thankfully, I was able to sell him on a leather recliner.   This Bernhardt number did not disappoint.  I secretly wanted to keep it for myself.

While the color scheme was essentially blue, warm browns help to cozy things up a bit. 

 

I've been dying to use Mitchell-Black in a project and this was the perfect one to make that happen.  Mitchell Black is known for a pop-art which marries vintage art with modern framing. They now even have an exclusive line available on Target.com.

Every studious teen needs a desk area nearby, and his existing one did the trick. It simply needed a more age-appropriate chair and few finishing touches. The framed Etsy numbers are a nod to his love for Lebron James and basketball without being too themed. 

When I arrived there were small piles on the floor, so I knew some sort of shelving would be an important addition.  This budget-friendly industrial styled bookshelf  was surprisingly just what we needed. 

Lastly, we needed to address the attached bath.  It was pretty much a blank slate. I tried my very best here, but I could no longer resist the pull toward color and opted for a warm ocher shower curtain.

The abstract art pulls ties in perfectly with the yellow curtain and the ombre runner anchors the entire space with a touch of plushness underfoot.

A few final details...

Check out the before photos....

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Pretty cool, right?  I'm really excited about how this one came together. Best of all, I think he likes it as much as I do. 

Special thanks to Cam Richards Photography