Pepper Design Blog

Friday Guest Interview: Isabella & Max Rooms

It would be a close call… but if I could choose one person to decorate my home from top to bottom it would be Janell of Isabella & Max Rooms. Her style is a creative combination between traditional & contemporary – with a comfy twist.

I adore her daily posts about diy projects and decorating – Janell shares step-by-step tutorials on everything from sewing and lining drapes to reupholstering occasional chairs, along with her inspiration process for her beautifully decorated home & client projects.

You might recognize the above room from an inspiration board I created a while back for my own living room . I *love* it – everything from the colors to the beautiful patterns and those wonderful antlers above the mantle.

A bit about Janell: “I have always been passionate about design… I first studied painting and drawing, receiving a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After working briefly for a clothing manufacturer, I launched my own line [and] when a move took me to San Francisco I opened a boutique where I continued to design for my wholesale line.

Several years later, with a move to Portland, Oregon and the arrival of my wonderful children Isabella and Max, my focus shifted to the home and interior design. In 2006, I started my current business creating warm and eclectic interiors. It is a field I am thoroughly enjoying being involved in and challenged by!”

Let’s dive right into this interview and see the rest of her home! Including her son Max’s map-inspired bedroom (the chalkboard paint is genius), a beautiful teal & coral bedroom and remodeled living room. Read more »

Friday Guest Blog Interview: Made by Lex!

Many of you may remember a little giveaway I co-hosted with Alexis from Made by Lex in the fall of last year – we teamed up to share a beautiful tablescape complete with handmade napkin rings made by this oh-so talented blogger. We actually grew up in the same neck of the woods (Santa Cruz, California) and share a similar stomping ground, so I was SO surprised when I learned last year that she has a fabulous blog full of her beautiful style and delicious handmade clothing & refashions!

And while I’m not quite ready to reveal a little project I’ve been working on for Pepper, Made by Lex and her beautiful designs are right up my and its alley. Her original designs and tutorials are stunning – she shares tips for replicating our favorite pieces from Anthropologie and even couture designers like Valentino. Alexis shares daily wear ideas (it’s so fun to see how others dress) and all of her designs are modeled by any one of her four sisters.

Alexis began sewing as a little girl with her Grandmother but really fell in love with the art a few years ago. Since then, she has created and sold beautiful patterns and clothing through her Etsy shop and just recently launched a line at the clothing & home goods store Stripe (an Anthropologie-style store in Santa Cruz).

Mom to three beautiful daughters, much of her inspiration began with the girls – but it has slowly grown into a stylish design collection of both refashions and originals for women, too. Her former blog, My Mama Made It, took on it’s own transition earlier this year when I helped to launch her new Made by Lex identity (a great look, if I do say so myself!).

Alexis takes a moment to share her favorite inspirations and to answer PDB’s four questions, after the jump! Read more »

Friday Guest Blog Interview: Creative Hostess!

Last Friday’s Guest Blog Interview took us across the Pacific to Australia, today’s brings us around to the other side of the world and into the home of Creative Hostess, where Jenin shares her ideas and inspiration for kids parties and baby showers from the UK (new update: just last week Jenin moved with her family from the UK to the Caribbean! jealousy to ensue…).

Jenin has captured her niche perfectly – you would be hard-pressed to find a more delectable and inspiring collection of inspiration boards and ‘real parties’ for everything kids and baby.

In Jenin’s own words: “Creative Hostess seeks to provide ideas & inspiration to help you create fabulous & memorable children’s parties & baby showers (simply because I have a 2 year old bundle of fun!), because when everything else is gone, the wonderful memories will remain.”

Jenin launched Creative Hostess after losing her young sister in April of 2009, “that made me realise how essential it is to celebrate life, and the ones we love… it’s so important to take time to celebrate life’s moments, to share & enjoy time with friends & family, & to make every event special & memorable.”

A quick trip out to her magazine-style blog transforms you to a world of diy cupcake designs, color-coordinated princess & construction parties, and sweet-themed baby showers for every style of mummy-to-be.

Follow the jump for Jenin’s answers to PDB’s four interview questions, and don’t forget to check out the wonderful party inspiration boards she has assembled and shared (everything from an Ice Princess theme to Marie Antoinette and the book Good Night Gorilla!) – plenty of eye candy to go around. Read more »