Today is one of those Pinch Me moments because it feels like a dream coming to life. I’m excited to announce that I have been selected to be a FEATURED DESIGNER for the Fall 2021 One Room Challenge. Starting on September 29th, for eight weeks, I’ll be transforming a room in my home. There are 19 other talented interior designers, decorators, and home DIYers who have been selected as featured designers alongside me. Come back here on September 29th to see what room I’ll be transforming and to see my overall plan.
If you’re not familiar with The One Room Challenge you can learn more about this design event by CLICKING HERE.
I participated in the One Room Challenge as a guest in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021.
As I sat down to write this post I started thinking about what it was that led me to this moment (don’t tell anyone but I might have gotten a little emotional).
I remember being a kid and falling in love with interior design and decorating. One of my most favorite things to do when I was younger was visit decorated model homes with my mom. I loved seeing how the designers took a boring blank slate of a home and transformed it into something aboslutely stunning. Opening the doors to each room was like I was opening a gift — I couldnt wait to see how each room was decorated and designed and transformed into something magical. I loved seeing the colors, the flooring, the textiles, and the creativity that went into each room. I was SO inspired to be an interior designer when “I grew up”.
As a pre-teen and teen my parents were always so supportive of my creative interior decorating endeavors. They let me paint my room whatever colors I wanted. I got to pick out my own decorations, pillows, and art. I was given the freedom to make any changes I wanted to my room as long as picked up the paint, brush, hammer, and nails and did my best to do it myself. I know my parents were intentional of their support for me… but I honestly don’t think they understand how much their support has given me the confidence to be unapologetic in my design style. They saw that God gave me a quirkly little gift for making pretty things out of the ordinary and they always encouraged me with my talents and interests.
As I grew older, my love of interior design never went away, but I think my pursuit of it dwindled a bit. I graduated high school not really knowing what I wanted to pursue and as I moved through college I figured a career in design might not be that profitable in the middle of the great recession… So I pursued other things. I got a formal degree in communication which honed my writing, speaking, influence, and graphic design skills. After working a few years, I got a masters degree in adult education which helped hone my teaching, training, and analytical skills (I even had to take a business course which I’m so thankful for now that I’m looking back).
I had a career outside of interiors for almost 8 years. I was good at what I did, but my love for all things design and interiors never went away.
Fast forward to January 2020. I quit my career to purpose a new career path — to primarily be at home with my baby girl “McFly” and to pursue a part time job working in social media. Two months after quitting my “career job” the world turned upside down as humanity began to face the threat of a global pandemic.
After spending probably a month at home I realized that the house we’d purchased 3 years prior wasn’t living up to it’s glory. I never got to the design projects I dreamed of doing in our home and I began to realize that I had a perfect opportunity to truly turn my home into my absolute favorite place to be.
In that moment of realization, I got to work. I picked up some paint and a paintbrush and I upgraded the bathroom vanity in our owners suite bathroom. A month later I built some outdoor furniture and decided to document it on my instagram channel. I realized that I wasnt’ only good at the DIY, and design, and building, but I also was able to pull all of those skills I learned in my degree programs (writing, speaking, teaching, and training) and use them on a social platform to teach and encourage others how to turn their homes into their favorite places to be too.
That LOVE I had as a child for design, and decorating, and creating all came rushing back and for the last almost year and a half I’ve been getting to live my dream as a DIYer, decorator, and designer (and share it with the world via my social channels). I’ve transformed so many spaces in my home and this spring I took on a design project at my parents house.
I’m so excited about the One Room Challenge this fall and I hope you are too! My younger self would be so proud!
Be sure to check out all of the other featured designers below and make sure you follow along with their progress too.
Albie Knows| At Home with Savvy | Beth Diana Smith | Eclectic Twist| Erika Ward Interiors
From House to Home| G. Lebron Interiors | Goldalamode | Home Made by Carmona| Impeccable Nest
Jeweled Interiors| Joyful Designs Studio| Joy Street Design | Our Fifth House| Peony & Honey
Pinch Plate Party | Rebecca Propes | Reem’s Design | Saudah Saleem Interiors | Whitney J Decor
Make sure you’re following me on instagram so that you don’t miss out on any of the behind the scenes of my project progress.