Pepper Design Blog

Friday Guest Blog Interview: Nesting Newbies!

Barring a few technical issues early this morning… I’m so incredibly excited to share with you our Friday Guest Blog Interview!! Since I wasn’t able to upload this post first thing today (oh silly computers), I’d like to keep it up through Saturday so everyone has the opportunity to read these wonderful tips & ideas by Nesting Newbies!

Jodie and Lea, founders of Nesting Newbies, were kind enough to work with me on an amazing interview that not only answers our four PDB questions but also introduces their fantastic online magazine, blog and online cooking show concept (yes, online magazine & cooking show!!).

Their work is so inspiring and creative — and it covers the gamut for decorating and design. With the folding of our favorite decor magazines, it makes me so happy to see sites like Nesting Newbies step up to fill in the gap. You MUST must check out their Fall 09 online magazine premier chock full of glorious page after glorious page of colorful and brilliant decorating and cooking ideas.

Because Nesting Newbies is such a unique concept, I’ve asked Jodi & Lea to share their vision, how Nesting Newbies was born and give an introduction to their wonderful site. And in an effort to not giveaway any more brilliant details about these two fantastic ladies in my own introduction, I’ll let you dive right into the interview. I love their {wonderful} answers to our four PDB questions, too!

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{PDB Interview w Jodi & Lea of Nesting Newbies}

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Before we jump into our four PDB questions, please share with us that aha! moment when Nesting Newbies was born!

Jodi: Everything about starting Nesting Newbies™ was quite serendipitous!  Lea and I were working on several client-branding projects together, and we began a conversation about what we could do for ourselves.  In addition to client work, I also write for magazines about interior design and am a total design junkie.

Lea: And I was doing web- and graphic-design on those projects but am a culinary-trained chef who used to work for private clientele and also had my own catering company.  Even though I’m not actively working in the field, I am still a hardcore foodie and wanted to get back into the kitchen.  So, when Jodi and I were brainstorming, we thought of doing a series of online cooking segments for newlywed couples.  Betsy Rose, our awesome copy editor, said “Oh, you’re doing something for nesting neophytes.” Hmmm…Nesting neophytes?  Light bulb moment and Nesting Newbies was born.

Jodi: We pulled together a crew and, without a script, we jumped right in and started our cooking show!  In each episode, we included some design by demonstrating creative ways to set a table.

Lea: The interesting thing we discovered was that many newbie nesters don’t even know the cooking basics let alone how to prepare food from scratch.  Being raised in on-the-go households, they never learned by cooking with their families.  We realized we were on to something.

Jodi: She’s right.  And when Lea invited our first newbie couple to stand next to her to help her cook—instead of just watching—we knew we had the formula. It was so authentic because it was completely unrehearsed.

But Lea and I wanted to do more than just cooking segments, and one day we just looked at each other and said, duh!  A magazine! It’s something we REALLY know how to do, and we have relationships with incredible photographers, foodies, stylists, and interior designers.  It took us about four weeks to pull our premier issue together—I did all the writing, photographers contributed their work, and Lea developed recipes and did the entire layout.  People are responding so positively that we are now working on this and several other related projects full-time.

Jodi and Lea: This is one of the best experiences of our lives!

Lea: Our plan is to continue to grow the magazine and develop a following, one reader at a time!  Thank you for helping us spread the word.

Jodi: Yes! And stay tuned for the Winter issue—I love what Chef Lea has planned for the cooking feature, and we have some beautiful rooms to share—plus so much more.

Four PDB Questions:

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What inspires your design style?

Jodi: I have been a keen observer of some of the finest interior designers at work, and I’ve been inside and written about some of the most amazing spaces they’ve done.  I have taken inspiration from their work in order to decorate my own home.  The most important thing I’ve learned from all of them is that you should never follow any particular style or trend.  A home should be a reflection of you and your personality—not something straight out of a showroom or catalog.

In Nesting Newbies™ Magazine, our overall message is that decorating can be stylish and affordable.  We’re going to show lots of examples and offer insights, tips and advice to help our readers find their own unique design style.

What do you love most about what you do?

Lea and Jodi: The creativity!

Lea: We are enjoying the freedom that comes from finally pursuing our own dreams.  It’s a huge responsibility, but we’re not afraid of working hard to get there.

Jodi: And we’re enjoying the journey—everything changes from day to day.

What are your favorite design trends?

Jodi: I think the best trend is that there is no right or wrong way to decorate—if you like modern, traditional, rustic, or European—go for it.  Most designers are blending modern and traditional, and that makes rooms so much more interesting.  I used to have a more traditional bent, but now I am bringing in a modern aesthetic—through industrial fixtures, clean-lined furnishings, and fewer accessories—to go with my more traditional pieces.  It’s more me.

What are three design suggestions that you would like to offer our readers?

{1} Say “No” to Matchy-Matchy—A home should look as though you designed it over time—it should have a collected look.  It’s okay to pull in pieces from different time periods. Don’t be afraid to experiment.  If it doesn’t feel right, consult with a professional and get some advice.

This modern space is so interesting with the  antique china cabinet—a touch of traditional design. (photography credit: David Duncan Livingston)

{2.} Add a Sense of Whimsy—Several designers have taught us that every room should have one item in it that makes you smile. Every time you walk into the room and see it, you’ll feel happy, even if it’s been a lousy day.  Also, it’s important to never take decorating too seriously.

Gina Viscusi Elson adores her Linda Begg original of a playfully “angelic” cat in front of the oldest church in America.  Every time she walks by it, she laughs. (Photography credit: Dean Birinyi)

{3} Go for the Pop—There is nothing more refreshing than a monochromatic room with a POP of color.  We like putting one vibrant color against a neutral backdrop—persimmon, hot pink, or cerulean against a taupe or gray—beautiful! Pull in color through the accessories…and it won’t be expensive when you want to change.

Shelly Amoroso used a pop of orange in just a few places as accent in the Garageformation.  Read more on page 34.

Thank you, Jodi & Lea!
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Photo credits:  Allure West Studios and Soo Photography for all images other than those credited in question #4.