Friday Guest Blog Interview: At Home w/ Kim Vallee!

I’m so excited to bring you our first Friday Guest Blogger, Kim Vallée! She absolutely embodies the ‘home and entertaining inspiration & innovation’ theme of Pepper Design Blog and has had wonderful success with her own stylish living website: At Home with Kim Valleé. Kim writes food and entertaining articles for FoodTV.ca and is a collaborator for Style Sheet, the blog of HGTV.ca where she shares tips on home decor. In addition, Kim has been featured in a host of major newspapers and magazines offering advice and tips on entertaining, home decor and social media.

For our interview, we asked her four critical questions about her design style, what she loves most about design blogging, her favorite trends and of course, her top suggestions for our readers!

Follow the jump to read the interview & see great ideas from her fabulous blog!

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{PDB Interview with Design Guru Kim Vallee}

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What inspires your design style?

Stylish comfort. Basically, it means that you can create a stylish home when you, your family and your guests feel comfortable. Objects and room layouts have to be functional. For me, it is also an element of comfort.

I favor casual chic entertaining. For me, it is about creating an inviting mood, setting a stylish modern table where you and your guests will laugh and enjoy a delicious meal.

What do you love most about what you do?

The joy of living my passion. I realized now that I always wanted to be an editor of a women’s magazine but I selected applied mathematics at university. Running a blog enables me to have a taste of it while being my own boss. I have never been happier while working.

The design world is stimulating because there is always something new. Plus, beautiful things surround you. If we look at the women blogosphere, it is a happy place.

What are your favorite design trends?

The end of the matching era was the best thing that happened in design. It is inspiring and fun to express your personal taste by mixing styles. Simply make sure that a conducting element harmonizes the entire look, makes its a whole.

The natural look with the use of reclaimed wood is one of my favorite trends. I enjoy the look and feel of wood. On my wish list are these fabulous olive wood bowls that are sculpted from the tree. They look great with crisp white dinnerware or besides traditional plates.

What are three design suggestions that you would like to offer our readers?

{1} Do you be afraid of colors. It is the simplest way to add characters to a room.

{2} Do not follow a trend unless you like it.

{3} Experiment and extend your horizon. If you are uncomfortable with cool modern design, read more cutting edge design publications. Then, when you go back to mainstream publications, what they show will seem more accessible.

Thank you, Kim!
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Lifestyle and entertaining expert Kim Vallee shares tips, recipes, finds and inspirations on how to make your home beautiful and host everyday parties in style. You are invited to explore At Home with Kim Vallee.

Here’s a little taste of what you’ll find over there…