Pepper Design Blog

Friday Guest Blog Interview: Three Men and a Lady

I recently discovered a neat little blog (while participating in this series) that has become a regular in my reading: Three Men and a Lady. I asked Michelle if she’d like to participate in PDB’s Friday Guest Interview posts so that I could introduce her to you as well!

This mom of two boys has a wonderful knack for interior design. She fills Three Men and a Lady with inspirational ideas and documents her own home design progress (isn’t that striped entryway wonderful?):

Michelle has a beautiful, modern sense of style with an emphasis on refashioning the worn-down and old, bringing new life and meaning to each of her pieces.

I love her answers to PDB’s four interview questions and you’ll thoroughly enjoy the eye candy too (especially her grey and yellow living room). Read more »

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 »