Pepper Design Blog

Friday Guest Blog Interview: All Things Lovely

Welcome back to PDB’s Friday Guest Blog Interview series! The blogging world is so darn amazing… there are so many wonderful people in this great big world that share some of the neatest inspirations and projects. I hope you don’t mind my weekly interruptions to share some of my favorites… and I think you’ll really like this one.

This blog needs little in the ways of an introduction… the name alone is enough to giveaway how sweet Kylie’s daily stories and projects are! In Kylie’s words… All Things Lovely “is a collection of things I’ve been making, ideas I like and all things that I find lovely.” She spends her days in the beautiful city of Sydney, Australia (and I am oh-so-jealous), being crafty and playing with her labrador, Indiana.

I found this special blog through the above DIY lampshade refashion last year. I used it for my own bedroom lampshades and was so pleased with how they turned out!

Stop in for a peak at Kylie’s Etsy store, Avonlea Designs, to see her creations first hand. She also designs beautiful handmade invitations through her online company: Little Bird Blue.

BUT before you jump out to the blog, check out Kylie’s answers to PDB’s four Q’s (which I can’t help but read in a delightful Australian accent) and take a peak into her crafty workspace.
Read more »

DIY {Waiting for Spring} White Winter Flowers

I came across these beautiful handmade flowers while searching for the perfect year-round indoor bouquet – a little something lovely and sweet for a bud vase next to the bed, on the dresser or perched up in one of our doorless cabinets.

Imagine my surprise when Rasa, the artist behind these creations and LiRaDesigne, not only offered to give me a sneak peak at the process of making the stems, but also step-by-step directions to share here!

I adore the simple and soft look of the cotton flowers – the glass beads in the center add a delicate touch.

Rasa calls them ‘Waiting for Spring’ Winter Flowers, but I would display them all the time for every season. If you’d like to purchase the finished product instead of making each by hand, check out LiRaDesigne shop here. They’re very much within the budget!

For step-by-step directions (with a super helpful photo gallery), follow the jump! Read more »

Friday Guest Blog Interview: Young House Love!

Happy Friday! Today I’m sharing one of my very favorite blogs…

Young House Love is an inspiring and informative resource for all things home renovating. Sherry & John, the brains behind this great blog, are a young couple that has tackled every project from floor boards to kitchen remodels.

If you ever want to drop in on a charming duo that is not only rhetorically amusing but also incredibly insightful (step-by-step guides to just about any home project), pop on over! Today Sherry & John share with us a few of their favorite tips… in the form of PDB’s four favorite questions… and you’ll love their answers.

You may recognize this couple from their appearance on the cover of the 2009 spring edition of The Nest - a popular newlywed magazine from the creators of the The Knot (and a personal favorite). They’ve also been featured on HGTV’s Rate My Space, were key bloggers behind True Value’s DIY Blog Squad, and have a wonderful house tour featured here.

Young House Love is part of my daily read. Not every other day and not once a week – but my daily read – because these twenty-something-year-olds are inspiring and creative at a whole new level. I love their fascinating stories and their endless projects… but most importantly I love their engaging and positive attitudes surrounding the whole mess that is remodeling.

As a young home renovating couple ourselves, it’s inspiring to see such beautiful progress and ‘project tackling’ from like-minded friends! Jump on over to their blog and prepare to be thoroughly charmed.

I’ve provided a few of my FAVORITE before and afters from their sweet little Richmond home, so follow the jump for a wonderful PDB interview and some serious eye candy – and don’t forget to visit Young House Love for a step-by-step playback of each of these projects. Read more »