Pepper Design Blog

Friday Guest Blog Interview: Sheila of Houzz

Did you recognize that quote from yesterday? One of my favorite children’s books by Robert Munsch and one of my favorite sayings.

Today’s Friday guest blog interview is such a treat. Sheila, the editor and one of the fabulous design masterminds that is behind Houzz, joins me as we reflect on favorite trends, great design ideas and why homemade and well-made trumps it all (read Sheila’s stretched canvas idea – so awesome – just after the jump).

Houzz is the largest online community of home design enthusiasts from around the world. Contributors regularly upload inspiring images of real homes in real cities, and great dialogues about the design qualities (including where to find product) begins. Jump out there and create an ideabook (basically the online version of cutting pages out of magazines) – you won’t regret it.

The above is one of Sheila’s favorite photos on Houzz and an example of the integrity of design that is posted regularly, she notes that “this room looks like it can become anything you want it to be: party central, reading nook, wine bar, studio.”

I’m especially excited to share Houzz with you today since it’s one of my regular go-to sites for searching for home inspiration, and I love that you can browse by style, space or metro (I’ve used the tool to identify beautiful, well-designed houses in my home town for potential San Diego Magazine projects, too).

Read on for PDB’s four design questions and keep an eye out for Mr. Schmitz’s (Sheila’s dad’s) decorating tip that you don’t want to forget (and I need to heed more regularly!). Read more »

Friday Guest Blog Interview: Copy Cat Chic

I’m letting you all in on one of the best kept design secrets on the web today… a blog completely dedicated to finding style for less, and showcasing daily designer finds and their near comparison at a great discount!

Reichel of Copy Cat Chic is one of my favorite daily reads (I recommend subscribing ) and I always look forward to the latest steals. I’ve searched the archives more than once to seek out a rug or chair for a room, and it’s a happy day when that House Beautiful desk you spotted can be found for a 1/3 of the price!

A few examples of daily posts: expensive version on the left, equally stylish but much more wallet-friendly option on the right.

In addition, she’s a new mommy to adorable Arden who’s just a few months behind Liv (love the weekly photos she posts of her little one in her latest outfits) and Reichel creates beautiful style boards for complete rooms that are full of inspiration (an example after the jump).

I was delighted Reichel wanted to share a few of her own design secrets and tips today, and I think you’ll like the well-thought out interview answers that follow.
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Friday Guest Blog Interview: Emily A. Clark

Happy Friday! Welcome back to PDB’s Friday Guest Blog Interview series where I introduce a fresh and inspiring blog that I think you’ll love a couple of times a month. There are incredibly talented bloggers out there that hold their own in the design world and it’s very neat to see how and what they’re working on – and to get inside of their heads for further prodding.

One such blogger is Emily of Emily A. Clark who describes her blog as “ideas, inspirations, and musings of a home stylist”. I love her home and if there’s not a more perfect portfolio for ones style I don’t know what is.

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Emily recently posted a little tour of her previous home and it made me smile – her new space is a complete 180 and reminds me how much we change and grow as we’re influenced in design! I adore her home and am excited to share a little house tour along with the four usual PDB interview questions (which I equally love, her answers and tips are inspiring). Check it out just after the jump. Read more »