Kelly's Kitchen Sync

BlogTourNYC: Meet the bloggers!

I promised that I would introduce you to the group invited on this wonderful tour, didn’t I? 

One of the great things about this tour is that it’s with bloggers on both sides of the pond; this time I’m lucky to meet the European versions of what I do…and, well, you know the saying, “The grass is always greener…”

I thought I’d introduce them in order – get ready, it’s a long list and there is a staggering amount of interesting ideas and talent here:

 

KATE BAXTER – The Fabric Of My Life (U.K.)

“Photography, mid-century modern, a recent obsession with neon colour pops and a weakness for soy vanilla lattes. when I’m not styling or blogging (or moonlighting as a pr girl by day)”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “Wow, I can barely get out of the kitchen discussions and here’s someone talking about lifestyle and photography and inspiration.”

 

HANNAH COLEMAN - Dreamwalls (U.K.)

“Dreamwall was formed in March 2003 by Hannah Coleman and is the UK’s leading wall covering specialist in the latest design and technology of imitation brick, slate and stone wall panels.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “Hard to run a business and then find time to blog. I can go home at the end of the day. My mission: to discover if this woman sleeps.”

 

CECY BROOKS – CECY j – (U.S.A.)

“My alter ego, CECY j and I have set out to uncover splendid living for my friends, family and even a few new acquaintances.  Let’s explore interior design, travel ideas, parenting, style, food and inspiring quotes.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “California bright and shiny and cool. Also, I seriously need to update my website.”

 

ANDREW DUNNING – APD Interiors (U.K.)

Andrew owns an interior design business and blogs about – guess – interior design. His blog “…is a collection of advice on cost-effective ways of creating a beautiful, stylish home of your own.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “Similar in tone to what I do with kitchens and baths…but with much shinier photos. And more talent. Phooey.”

 

TOMA CLARK HAINES - The Antiques Diva (Germany)

A U.S.-expat living in Berlin: “Having lived in Europe for over a decade, Toma has traveled and antique-shopped in over 30 countries and has learned how to live a life without borders.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “So many questions to ask about antiques and travel andandand…*pause* I’m sure there’s a drinking game in there.”

 

PIPPA JAMESON – Pippa Jameson Interiors (U.K.)

“I have been an interior stylist for the last 14 years working in all areas including TV, magazines, advertising, books and film.  I started out as a freelance Stylist Assistant and after two years decided to go it alone and have never looked back. My most recent in-house position was The Deputy Interiors Editor of BBC Good Homes and I now work as a freelance stylist and Editor for the blog.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “Boy, do I ever feel like a slacker.”

 

DAVID JOHN – You Have Been Here Sometime (U.S.A.)

David is an L.A.-based interior designer who features modern art and interviews the artists.

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “David is one of those designers you won’t find much on the web so I get to make it up – he’s a secret design spy and now I’ll need a witness protection group. *nodnod*”

 

CAROLE KING - Dear Designer (U.K.)

“Interior Designer, writer and design junkie.” 

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “There are so many hours of work packed into that short sentence, I can’t even begin to count them, and yet it looks so effortless on her blog. Grrr.”

 

EMILY PECK - ACHICA Living (U.K.)

“Her experience includes writing and styling for Grand Designs, Stuff, Real Homes, Ideal Home, Woman&Home, C4 and the BBC.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “...in her spare time between midnight and six….”

 

MARILYN RUSSEL GRANT - Design Magnifique (U.S.A.)

“Marilyn strives to inspire and motivate people around her to put forth their personal best through her never-ending encouragement, support and her contagious laughter. Born in Jamaica, raised in Boston and now residing in Orlando, Florida, Marilyn is a true multicultural interior designer.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “Awesome. I’m a Canadian with a reasonable fluency in English and American, but my spelling’s crap. Can’t wait to see how we corrupt influence each other’s accents…”

 

STACEY SHEPPARD – Stacey Sheppard’s blog (U.K.)

“I am a freelance writer, journalist, blogger and editor currently living and working in Dartmouth, UK.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “Another fun journalist to corrupt. Yay!  Wait. She’s going to talk about awesome furniture I’ve never seen. *need to research more*”

 

WILL TAYLOR - Bright Bazaar, (U.K.)

“I'm a young guy from the UK in my twenties who kinda has a thing for colour. I know, you'd never guess. You only have to show me a yellow vase and I'll go weak at the knees. When I'm not writing or styling for shelter magazines, I'm usually found here, kicking about in my favourite pair of blue Converse and having a bit of a natter about all things bright in interiors.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “Fun!  Also can’t resist someone who uses “natter”. Also, now wondering how many yellow vases I can ship to New York? (Purely for scientific purposes, of course….”)

 

ARIANNA TRIPANI- Arianna Interiors (U.K.)

“I am an Interior decorator and Stylist with an extreme passion for interiors which I just love to share with absolutely everyone. Having studied art at a young age and having worked for some very well known Interior designers there is no hiding my passion for design.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “We’re going to be up for hours talking design, aren’t we?”

 

KATIE TREGGIDEN – Confessions of a Design Geek, (U.K.)

“…following my dream of being a full time design writer, working as a freelance design journalist and a social media writer for design brands.”

Kelly’s not-so-inside voice: “Cool, she’s following her dreams. (My dream involves a lottery, Hawaii, and a masseuse.) Also, I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up…”

 

Joking aside, there are some serious design information and talent here. Please drop by their blogs to say "hi" and tell them I sent you. 

EDITED TO ADD: No, you don't need to warn them. I think they're getting the picture already....

Saturday Inspiration

I’ve been sidelined by a 3-day migraine and eyestrain which is probably the result of all the good things on my plate at the moment. But I’m back with a few goodies for this morning.

Someone asked me lately what I do for inspiration and lately that has been online with the two new projects:

 

PIN + INTEREST = PINTEREST

 Pinterest is a type of online corkboard you can use for anything that interests you:

My Pinterest Boards

You follow others who have boards you like and you can re-pin their photos to your boards.

Inspiration can be anything from…well, my inspirations vary from the future of home design to dream vacations.

It’s been a great device for inspiring me and seeing what others are inspired by as well. Pinterest is in its infancy stage and you need an invite to join but as there are so many folks on it, you shouldn’t have trouble getting one.

The only moral dilemma I have with Pinterest involves copyright and crediting the original source. Technically, permission is required prior to using copyrighted photos. At the very least, crediting the source has become the (not legally correct, but polite) standard. What I’ve been seeing (not so much in the design industry but elsewhere) is that the photos have been added so many times that the original site has been buried or used without original credit.

(Disclosure: Media background. Take a broadcast law course and see how nervous you get about adding anything that isn’t yours to the internet without due credit)

I know I would feel bad if I spent four figures (which is what a typical kitchen photography session costs, not including my time – just the photographer’s) only to see it used elsewhere for free without anyone knowing who’d created it in the first place.

 

OLIO + BO-- (oh, forget it) OLIOBOARD

I’ve also been playing with Olioboard, a type of online corkboard…for designers and weekend designers. *grin* They call themselves a “mood board” but to me it looks like a good old designer sample board.

Olioboard is different, as they’ve paired up with some manufacturers and, in this case, I’m thinking that the manufacturers will want people to see their products.

This is also good for inspiration, interior design style. You’re designing rooms, using furniture, lighting, and paint.

For those of you who are working on secret and non-disclosure projects, I might offer some caution in the form of their fine print, which states:

“…you hereby grant us, our affiliates, and our partners a permanent, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, create derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, transfer, transmit, distribute, and publish the boards you have created using the Website…” 

For other projects and for those planning your own interior design, it’s pretty shiny.

A sample of a finished Olioboard: To California with love – by Olioboard user charisantonio

 

Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to a bunch of new designers (to me, perhaps not to you), who will be attending the Architectural Design Show in New York with me, courtesy of Modenus and BlogTourNYC .

You be the judge: Wall cabinets by the window

QUESTION O' THE DAY:

Wall cabinets: Do you design a double-door wall cabinet next to a sink window as shown to the right of this window?

  

Arguments FOR:

“The cabinet is wider so you can store larger plates.”

“You design with one less cabinet, which makes it less expensive.”

“It looks nicer to have the handles or knobs side-by-side.”

Arguments AGAINST:

“Can’t reach inside if standing at the sink.”

“Unable to unload dishwasher from one side.”

 

…or design two separate cabinets so that each can swing away from the window like this one?

 

Arguments FOR:

“Dishes aren’t usually stored there, but glasses are, so you don’t need a big cabinet.”

“So much easier to reach for something when standing at the sink.”

“Can unload the dishwasher from both sides.”

Arguments AGAINST:

“Looks choppy.”

“Doesn’t provide usable space, especially if the cabinets are framed.”

 

Okay, now we add this:

There’s no real argument if the cabinet doors already swing wide – standing at the sink, one can easily open the door all the way and access the cabinet. The challenge is that most don’t…unless you order a 170-degree hinge for the door next to the sink.

So now what are your thoughts?*

 ***

*I joke with other designers that some of our kitchen dilemmas are the equivalent of which way to hang the toilet paper roll  – over or under? There is no right answer, and it all depends on the layout and folks using it.

Doesn’t stop us from having an opinion, though. *grin*