“hgtv Blogger Of The Month”

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HGTV Blogger of the Month: Brit Morin From Brit + Co.

by Kayla Kitts September 8, 2012 5 Comments

Nowadays, we’re all trying to find ways to help us live simpler and more creative lives, whether it’s through innovative products or clever ideas for everyday living. I love scouring inventive design websites that introduce products that may even help me shave five minutes off my morning routine. And I know we’re all fascinated by jaw-dropping technological products that we wouldn’t have even thought of five years ago. (Shouldn’t we be getting close to flying cars by now?!) So, imagine my excitement when I came across Brit Morin‘s website/blog, Brit + Co. Every day she and her team post projects, ideas, articles and findings on everything from food and fashion to health and entertaining.

HGTV Blogger of the Month - Brit Morin of Brit + Co.

According to Brit, “Brit + Co. is a lifestyle brand that provides the digital generation with savvy shortcuts for their online and offline lives.” She considers the home a hub for our lives, and because of that, it should be more efficient, functional, creative and beautiful. In addition to Brit + Co., Brit also uses her experience from working at large tech companies, like Google and YouTube, to design and build software applications including Weduary, a social wedding website creator for brides and grooms.

So, keep reading to see why we’re stuck on Brit. Here are some of our favorite posts from each section to get you started:

LIVING

Be honest — you have dozens of CDs sitting there, unused, waiting for another chance at life. Give your ultra-scratched “Now That’s What I Call Music, Vol. 1″ a new beginning with Brit’s smart CD repurposing ideas. Continue DIYing by taking on these easy IKEA hacks or by adding a little personalization to your stemware with paint pens in less than five minutes.

TECH

With an interest in the market and knowledge in software applications, Brit has hand-picked some of the most interesting, fun and applicable news to share. Everything somehow makes life a little easier and … cooler, like the Magic Mirror 2.0. And for the nerd in all of us, Brit’s “Tech of the Week” post is a good roundup of all things wired and around the web. My personal favorite: Tech of the Week: 404 Page Edition (because sometimes you just need to smile at an error page).

See More From Brit + Co.

HGTV Blogger of the Month: Bri Emery From Designlovefest

by Kayla Kitts July 17, 2012 18 Comments

You know those mornings when you pour a cup of coffee, run across a blog and find yourself pages in (and possibly drooling) 45 minutes later? That’s what happened during my first interaction with Designlovefest. It’s one of those blogs you have to pull yourself away from because it completely sucks you in with fantastic imagery, graphics and ideas. Bri Emery, the blog’s founder and editor, created Designlovefest in 2009 as a place to showcase creative images, typography, design and color on a daily basis. I stumbled across Bri on Pinterest and have been inspired ever since.

hgtv blogger of the month bri emery designlovefest Bri Emery from Designlovefest

Not only does Bri coordinate Designlovefest, she’s also a freelance commercial artist in Los Angeles, the art director for online shelter publication Rue Magazine and she writes a column over at Oh, Joy!. And, as of last year, Bri has teamed up with photographer Angela Kohler to form Blogshop, a two-day workshop that offers photo-editing classes specifically catered to those in the blogosphere. It’s currently being offered in major cities around the U.S. and Europe, if you’re interested.

So, what are you currently in the market for? Color inspiration? Design ideas? An afternoon DIY project? Party recipes? Fashion styling? Designlovefest has it all. And maybe that’s why I can’t stop reading, because I’m searching for a little bit of everything. Dive in.

Make It:

designlovefest picnic blanket diy Make It: DIY Picnic Blanket

This project has me DYING to head to the park just so I can lay down on something other than the old beach towel or beige sheet I usually use. Using a drop cloth, painter’s tape and three colors of paint, contributor Natalie Shriver creates an ombre-painted picnic blanket in stunning shades of yellow. Hello, summer!

See More Projects From Designlovefest

HGTV Blogger of the Month: Kate Riley, the Centsational Girl

by Kayla Kitts June 6, 2012 25 Comments

I have been a huge fan of Kate Riley, the renowned Centsational Girl, ever since I moved into my first unfurnished apartment. I was on the prowl for stylish, clever and budget-friendly decorating ideas when I came across her blog. All of a sudden, I found myself in DIY zombie mode. I started buying vintage furnishings left and right, painting them and embarking on one weekend project after another.

Moral of my story: If you haven’t perused Centsational Girl yet, then you should. Kate offers an incredible source of inspiration and design eye-candy every single day. Kate, a lawyer-turned-home blogger, is an avid bargain hunter, DIY extraordinaire and was even the co-contractor (along with her husband) on her own home remodeling project. If you’re looking for serious designer style on a budget, then this is your guide.

kate riley centsational girl blog

Along with furniture makeovers and craft projects, Kate features home decorating and basic home improvement tutorials, too. Oh, and for those of you with an entertaining niche, she offers chic year-round and holiday-themed tablescape ideas and recipes, as well. Unfortunately, I can’t make everything on her site (DIY bucket list?), but here are a few of my favorite Centsational how-tos for your viewing pleasure.

DIY Projects to Try

centsational girl blue bamboo chest Peacock Blue Bamboo Chest

I’ve been absolutely obsessed with peacock blue this year, so when I saw Kate’s blue bamboo chest I developed a serious case of design envy. The gold pulls, the bamboo detail, the glossy finish — I have yet to find a piece of furniture that makes me as happy as this one. Want to know the best part? She tells you exactly how you can get the look, too. So, pull out that piece of furniture you’ve been dying to paint and give it a nice coat of peacock blue. I promise you won’t regret it.

centsational girl sunburst mirror diy DIY: Paint Stick Sunburst Mirror

Now, why didn’t I think of paint sticks for our own Designer MacGyver?! Here, Kate uses almost 50 paint stir sticks to create a simple and stylish sunburst mirror that can work well as an accent piece in any space. I’d love to make one to jazz up my hallway.

More DIY Projects + Spaces From Centsational Girl

HGTV Blogger of the Month: Photographer Todd Selby From The Selby

by Kayla Kitts April 21, 2012 10 Comments

When you think about the homes of your favorite designers, artists and authors, what do you picture? Thousands of books lining the walls? Rare artifacts sitting on contemporary built-ins? A completely elegant yet eclectic museum-looking space you just couldn’t imagine calling home (but, of course, want to)? It’s virtually impossible for me to picture the inside of Kate and Andy Spade’s home (what could it possibly look like?), and now, thanks to Todd Selby, I don’t have to imagine anymore.

Todd Selby The Selby

Todd Selby, an interiors, portrait and fashion photographer and illustrator, has been sharing inspiring and glamorous interiors with the world since 2008 on his website, The Selby. What originally started as a small website of friends’ interiors, soon erupted into requests from viewers all over the world wanting their homes featured, too. Before he knew it, he was hearing from world-renowned companies regarding collaborations and ad campaigns.

So, when you go to The Selby here’s what you’re going to get: lots and lots of interior eye candy. I mean, you’re getting an insider’s view of some of the most creative individuals in the world and the spaces they call home (or work). My favorite part of these “home tours” is what Todd chooses to focus on, like a wall sculpture, light fixture or bookshelf knickknack that may typically go unnoticed. Sometimes he just centers in on the smaller pieces and you’re dying to know why.

Let’s take a look at some interiors, shall we?

Kate and Andy Spade’s Home in New York City:

Kate Spade Andy Spade Home The Selby

My eyes just run wild when I look at this living room. I immediately notice the artwork above the mantel. Then I notice the yellow floor lamp, then all the pops of red (on the pillows, window seat, area rug). It’s pure sophistication.

HGTV Blogger of the Month: Elsie From A Beautiful Mess

by Kayla Kitts January 7, 2012 44 Comments

It’s true. I have fashion, design and cooking obsessions. I’m sure many of you do, too. So, whenever I need to get my daily fix of beautiful clothes, eclectic designs and scrumptious recipes, I head over to A Beautiful Mess. Elsie Larson created her five-year-old blog to “promote an inspired lifestyle through fashion, handmade and pretty things.” On top of being a blog editor, she’s also a designer and the co-founder of Red Velvet, a shop that specializes in vintage and independent designer fashion and accessories. (She is a thrifting queen; see her closet for yourself!)

a beautiful mess blog elsie larson

I love to be inspired by other people’s handiwork on a daily basis, but there’s just a certain satisfaction I get from embarking on a handmade project of my own. If you head over to the projects page, Elsie and her team have compiled an endless amount of original tutorials. I’ve already added at least 10 to my winter to-do list, including some garland ideas for spring, vibrant paint chip art and painted leather bracelets that will be perfect for my summer wardrobe.

a beautiful mess blog diy projects handmade

Elsie has definitely set her blog apart by integrating creative how-tos and fun tutorials into her weekly posts, as well as tours of her home and her own decorating ventures. She treats her blog as a learning space, and each topic, whether it’s photography, beauty, decorating or baking, teaches me something new every time I stop by. In the photography section, you can learn how to take better self-portraits, or see how Elsie displays photos in her home and steal the look for yourself.

And I want to steal the look. I can’t get enough of her vintage style. Just look at her living room, bedroom and kitchen:

a beautiful mess blog elsie larson living room

a beautiful mess blog elsie larson bedroom nightstand

a beautiful mess elsie larson kitchen

a beautiful mess blog elsie larson kitchen

When you’re not making fabric necklaces or glitter shoes, be sure to check out “10 Things I Love” every Sunday, which features Elsie’s current design and fashion obsessions. Isn’t that just the perfect way to end the weekend?

a beautiful mess blog elsie larson

I find Elsie’s most recent online venture incredibly cool. Not sure how to sew a simple bow? (That would be me.) Or looking for information on developing your new blog? Elsie and her team have created several e-courses that are now up and running. Based on their experiences with running a business and a blog, they have compiled lessons they feel will be helpful for those looking into starting a small business, creating a blog, learning how to sew or styling a home, to name a few. You can check out the course introductions and sign up if you’re interested.

A Beautiful Mess is one of my favorite blogs for DIY and handmade project ideas. What is your go-to blog for DIY inspiration? Tell us in the comments!

HGTV Bloggers of the Month: Jo and Kim From Desire to Inspire

by Kayla Kitts December 13, 2011 3 Comments

Imagine co-managing a design blog with someone whom you’ve never met and who also happens to live halfway across the world. This is the situation for Desire to Inspire editors Jo and Kim. They met on Flickr in 2006 by sharing bookmarked images and instantly discovered a common interest in interior design. It didn’t take long for their lovely new blog to garner a strong following. They both have their day jobs of course, but claim their hearts belong to design and “all things beautiful around the home.” Four years later, Desire to Inspire has been ranked number four on The London Times Top 50 Design Blogs.

desire to inspire jo and kim design blog editors Jo and Kim From Desire to Inspire

So, you’re looking for some daily inspiration? Then you’re in for a treat. Jo and Kim feature interior designers, architects, photographers, stylists and their own readers’ homes from all over the world. There’s always an eclectic mix of eye candy, and I’m constantly mesmerized by their incredible finds. Trust me, you’ll never get tired of scrolling.

Find out why I love Desire to Inspire and how it inspires me, and then maybe you’ll get inspired, too. (And then please forgive me for using the word ‘inspire’ three times in one sentence.)

They Feature International Interior Designers and Firms With Amazing, Out-There Styles

brick amsterdam interior designer desire to inspire blog design blog Bricks Amsterdam >> Amsterdam