Pepper Design Blog

Friday Guest Blog Interview: ABCD Design

Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo {yes, ABCD Design was inspired by her actual initials!} is an artist, designer and stylist based in New York City. Her blog is collection of images, sketches, formal design inspiration and casual ramblings of a diversified designer.

Today, she answers a few of our favorite questions – why the slow home movement is a favorite trend, best design suggestions, and how ‘transitionalism’ defines her style – while sharing a tour of her NYC apartment that might easily double as a spread from House Beautiful {and don’t forget to check in on the renovation project of her new Connecticut country home on her blog}.

Her design philosophy is simple: no matter what design medium you are working with – a painting or sculpture, design of an interior space, an arrangement of flowers, or when styling a beautiful plate of food – one must always follow the same elements of design. In order to create a beautiful product there must be unity, flow, texture, harmonizing color, balance and a focal point to please the eye.

Amy Beth’s education and training is as uniquely diverse as it is design-oriented. She first studied fine art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, then completed a six-month chef-training program in NYC at the Natural Gourmet Institute and finally earned a Certificate in Floral Design from Parsons School of Art and Design. She has worked in event planning, interior design, window display, and photo styling {whew!}.

But let’s jump right in… Read more »

Quick & Easy DIY Wall Art

There’s a narrow wall in our hallway right outside of the bathroom that has been looking a bit plain. I’ve always loved the look of vintage plant and wildlife illustrations and thought I might be able to create a wall collage with a few garage sale finds (in the form of old botany textbooks and encyclopedias).

A few months and no cool books later… and I came across a beautiful vintage-y poster of a blooming white rose with botany textbook-type text at Aaron Brothers, it was perfect. And one picture cut into three images? That saves a bit of dinero as well. I purchased three custom mahogany frames and white mats off of ebay (a great resource for cheap but well made picture frames) to complete my project.

Using the mat as my template, I cut out three squares of the illustration for my frames.

The end result is easy-to-create handmade wall art that helps to brighten up the hallway.

Sorry for that awful glare – I couldn’t get rid of it!

Whirl It, Twirl It Custom Lampshade

This is such a clever project! Pickles made this diy lampshade for her dining room with a single bulb pendant – and it turned out great! I would love to create one of these for my office, or a series of smaller versions for an outdoor party.

Who knew that a giant balloon, wallpaper glue, yarn and vaseline could create this?

I’m back from my beautiful week in Canada and it feels like the projects are taking over… but it’s good to be home and back to work with so much to do! We break ground on the kitchen renovation soon – very excited to get moving on this one.

Diy instructions for the Whirl-It Lampshade found here.