WEEK EIGHT: REVEAL DAY!

I’m excited and relieved that I completed my second One Room Challenge this year. My daughter is a huge Taylor Swift fan, and I wanted to create a space that showed off her Swiftie style. After many weeks of changing the design (three times—to be exact), we eventually settled on a design, and I left out some final decisions as surprises for her to discover along the way. When I executed the design, I got a big thank you and a hug. And she’s been in her dream room all weekend so I'm counting this design as a success. Photos Courtesy of Touch Life Studio.

How it Started

There were three reasons I made a change to my daughter’s room. First, it was no longer functional. The two closet doors couldn’t fully open due to the furniture being too large for the space. Her room also had two closets that were being underutilized. One was filled with toys she had outgrown, like her Barbies and American Girl Doll toys, and the other was crammed with clothes she had outgrown. Secondly, the ceiling needed repair. After looking at lots of DIY options, it made sense to just invest in the space properly and get it repaired by a professional. Lastly, the room didn’t reflect my daughter anymore. She was a middle schooler and die-hard Swiftie. I wanted to give her a new bedroom that reflected her style and was cool enough to grow up with her during her teenage years.

How It Ended

The transformation is so different from the design I envisioned at the beginning of the eight-week challenge. It feels like a boutique hotel to me when I walk in there. It feels so fancy, and no one would believe how affordable the pieces were in the design. I’m most proud of the wallpaper from Tempaper and the Clare paint combination.

This is also the first time in my home I painted the trim, doors, and ceiling a different color, and it came out amazing due to the skilled handiwork of my painter Jen Yanko. I’m also happy that the room doesn’t feel cramped anymore. My daughter can lounge around, and all of her closet doors open, and there are opportunities to add more storage under her bed or below the bookcase so nothing gets in the way too much.

Maybe Next Time

Similar to my spring ORC, I ran out of time to update the closet and the hanging chair I wanted to hang in the window nook of her room didn’t work because there wasn’t a stud in the sloped part of the ceiling. This project was definitely challenging to tackle in my spare time in between work and collaborating with a tween with a lot of opinions.  But seeing how happy she is in her new room and knowing I accomplished it all in two months feels amazing.  

The One Room Challenge is something everyone should do to stretch themselves design-wise and see how much they can accomplish.  Once you transform one room, you inevitably want to start digging into another eyesore in your home in no time.   Here’s to brainstorming another room to makeover in 2024. 

WEEK SEVEN: ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

Well, there is only one week left for my ORC challenge design, and I am feeling the pressure this time. I might have bitten off a little more than I can chew this time between my full-time job and getting my entire wishlist for the tween makeover done in just eight weeks. So, let me give you a recap of the top three things that we’ve accomplished this week.

First and foremost, the hideous ceiling that has been irking me since we moved in finally got repaired. And—it was NO small feat. The repair took an entire week, and it's actually finished tomorrow. It involved removing old plaster, repairing a poorly done tape repair on a large crack, and then three coats of skim coating. In the final week, the ceiling can get re-painted, and a new light fixture can go up.

Next, the furniture was delivered for the room, including sponsored pieces from RugsUSA and Wovenbyrd. I was relieved to order so many products from Amazon Home, and I used money from the furniture items I sold to reduce the costs. So, the final week is all about assembling everything together in time for the photo shoot at the end of the week.

Lastly, I installed the peel-and-stick wallpaper (most of it) this weekend with my husband, my design partner Cojo, and my daughter. To say that I’m sore after the install would be an understatement. But boy, does the wallpaper make the space feel totally brand new.

For week eight, it’s all hands on deck to make this design come together in time for the photo shoot on Friday. I’m definitely cutting it close this time around.

WEEK SIX: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

It’s week six of the ORC, and things are heating up. A local charity will pick up the old furniture next week, and everything else is being placed in bins to prepare for the whirlwind of events in the next two weeks. This is also the last week of planning, and from here on out, I’ll be able to share a sneak peek of the installation over the next two weeks. Below are final looks of the before images of this room before it finally gets transformed over the next two weeks.

This week, I wanted to make sure all of the spaces in the room had a design plan. So, I focused on my daughter’s office area, which will serve as a combination between a desk and a vanity. Her old desk was a little too big, her closet door never fully opened, and it was filled with old paper and books. I chose a mid-century modern look to complement the bed and reduce the clutter. The other thing I did since my daughter is a “Swiftie” (I am not), but as a loving and supportive mother, I decided to go for this poster art with twelve 8x12 posters from Amazon that cost $16 and will be a cute wall story above the desk.  

Next week the ceiling is going to get repaired by a local handyman. The ceiling plaster is uneven and requires a skim coating process that will take three days to complete. This repair will allow me to finally do the fun stuff, like paint the ceiling purple, put up the wallpaper, and bring in the new furniture.

. Below are the final looks of the images of this room before it finally gets transformed over the next two weeks.

Photowall Mural for My ORC Toddler Room Makeover

Since it’s Wallpaper Wednesday, I thought I would start talking about some of the incredible wallpapers I have throughout my home. I wanted to start with the mural from Photowall in my son’s room. And share three reasons why it’s worth investing in a peel-and-stick wallpaper, even for a teeny tiny space like my 150 square-foot room. 

Adds Visual Interest 

When you’re limited on square footage, an easy and affordable way to make an impact is with art. And without a doubt, the New York Skyline Collage from Photowall is a work of art in the room. When I envisioned this room, I wanted to bring a city vibe to the suburbs, and the mural was the jumping-off point for my toddler room makeover. There are so many muted colors to pull from that I used throughout the room. 

Durability

A common complaint I hear from people who are hesitant to install wallpaper (especially peel-and-stick wallpaper) is whether it can withstand the day-to-day abuse from kids. And, after having it up for six months—it can. My son has thrown his milk on it, lotion has splattered on it, and toys scrape it daily. Liquid materials slide right off, and the mural remains intact. Be sure to wipe any liquids up right away to prevent any damage.

Easy to Install

It took no time to install the mural. First, every single panel is numbered—and for my accent wall, there were nine panels, and it was easy to line up. Plus, the peel & stick was forgiving, so the installers could easily move it over a little bit without the material tearing. It took them under a few hours to patch the wall and install the mural.  

So, if you were on the fence before—don’t be. My Photowall delivery arrived in less than a week. You can transform any space in a short amount of time and don’t worry about the size of the room—the mural will make a statement anywhere. Check out the full-room reveal at Apartment Therapy.

WEEK FIVE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

It’s officially past the midway point for The One Room Challenge, and the design is starting to take shape. The sponsored wallpaper by Tempaper arrived this weekend, and my paint from the Black-owned business Clare comes tomorrow. I'll continue to try to push sales on the furniture pieces that won't fit in the room with the new design. Plus, work on an affordable solution to repair the ceiling so the paint and wallpaper can go up, which will give a drastic change to the room.

Every week, the wallpaper has changed in my mood board due to a very opinionated client—but I can officially declare that the Pastel Palm Peel And Stick Wallpaper from Tempaper is the final decision for the room. I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not it should be one wall or all of three, and I decided with this design, I want to push my boundaries, so the wallpaper is going to go on all the walls.  I also have been doing some design consults this year where clients want to paint the baseboards, doors, and ceilings a different color besides the traditional white. I decided to take this design up a notch with Clare’s wink paint color. It’s a dusty purple, and I think it’ll make the room feel totally different paired with the wall-to-wallpaper. The last thing I wanted to add is a bold paint color on the radiator. My daughter has been begging for teal in the design, and I feel like Clare’s Keep it teal paint can make an unexpected statement on the custom radiator cover from Fichman Furniture. 

The custom closet design remains unknown if I can get it within budget and my 8-week time frame—so I’m just going to hold tight until I get more info from California Closets on whether or not we can make a miracle happen. So this week, I’ll begin to blue tape the wall and get a repair painter in here ASAP to fix the ceiling so I can paint it and begin to put up everything else.

WEEK FOUR: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

This week, I wanted to quit The One Room Challenge. I started to get quotes for all the different areas of the room that I want and need repair, and the custom closet design is over budget and not guaranteed to make it in time for the 8-week challenge. So, I’m stuck on whether it is worth breaking my bottom line or looking at other ideas. Secondly, I’ve had to deal with the emotional toll of designing a room for a family member. My daughter has a lot of opinions, and as a designer, I'm juggling functionality, budget, and a lot of ideas that change daily. Lastly, I'm starting a new project with a client, and with the holidays around the corner and all of the Halloween festivities—I’m asking myself if the fall ORC was such a good idea—ugh.

So, now that I've got all of that out of my system, let's get back to the fun stuff, some design talk. An area of the room that I want to talk about today is the music nook. My daughter loves to play multiple instruments in this tiny space, and I’m wondering how I can make it more functional and fun at the same time. She really wants a hanging chair to go in this space so she can relax sometimes and then play music other times. So, I pulled together a mood board with some concepts for this space and would love your thoughts on it.

On an amazingly positive note, Tempaper & Co. will sponsor wallpaper for the space, and I cannot wait to share which design I landed on for the room. I’ve finally started to sell furniture items that don’t fit in my daughter’s room so I can make room for the new ones. I emptied a closet and had four bins worth of items to donate. My daughter and I fell in love with some cute accessories from H&M Home. So—it’s not all bad over here. Next week, the focus will be on securing all of the products for the room and beginning to implement some of the design.

WEEK THREE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

This week, I juggled a lot with work and pushing forward on the One Room Challenge design. I started doing probably the most stressful and necessary part of getting ready for transformational change. My daughter and I purged items, cleaned and removed furniture to sell, and stacked bins to donate this weekend. This process is always a headache—especially when your client is a family, and there are a lot of sentimental pieces from her childhood that we let go of. We said goodbye to Barbies, brat dolls, and countless American Girl doll stuff she hadn’t played with in years. It hit me how this makeover is a bit emotional for me—she’s getting rid of her childhood, too. Now, when we discuss what goes in her new room, she wants twinkle lights, a 3D floor mat, a vanity for makeup, and a spot for all her earrings.

The biggest thing happening now is a walk-through with a design consultant from California Closets. I'm lucky to have a California Closet showroom in my town, and updating the closets is a crucial part of my design. The ceilings in the closets are sloped, and I need a custom design to maximize the space. However, custom closets have a 4-6 week lead time, so it'll be down to the wire with my 8-week timeline. But to fit in a daybed, I need to free up floor space, and I can only do this by removing the nightstand and dresser.

So this week, I would love your help on what you would add to a custom closet design and your dream custom closet style. Thank you so much for your wallpaper votes on IG—I’ll confirm the winner this week. Week four will be about finishing the floor plan, donating and purging more items, and selling old furniture.

WEEK TWO: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

For week two of the One Room Challenge, a lot of my progress has been reaching out to potential sponsors to help bring my tween room makeover to life. Plus, measuring the room to begin the floor plan for the new layout. It’s also been a lot of conversations with my client, um hmm—daughter, about how the new room needs to be laid out, which requires her to sell or donate pieces to make room for the new. There are two areas in the room that really need some creative TLC, and I would love your feedback and thoughts on these two ideas.

My first is her room has two closet doors, which are great for storage, but they swing open and eat up floor space. I’m debating if I should keep them or remove them altogether. I love this idea from interior designer Emma Gurner and how it looks like a theatre curtain. What do you think?

Secondly, the ceiling needs a lot of TLC. It has an uneven surface, and even if I put in a new light fixture and add wallpaper, it’s still an eyesore. I was considering tin ceiling tiles since they fit the baroque style I’m going for in the room, and it’ll be a subtle pattern on the ceiling.

Let me know your thoughts and votes. Next week, I’ll have the new floor plan done for the room, and my daughter reluctantly will have to purge items to make room for the new.

WEEK ONE: FALL ONE ROOM CHALLENGE

I have officially been bitten by The One Room Challenge after taking my first shot at this collaborative endeavor last spring. This time around, I will tackle my daughter’s room, and it’s honestly the last room in our home to update without doing a gut renovation. So once it’s finished, it’ll feel like my next round of work is all heavy lifting from here on out.

I have been designing my daughter’s room since she was born, and each makeover has been in publications like LONNY, HGTV, IKEA, and more. And now that my daughter is officially entering her tween years, her design aspirations need to be within budget and my eight-week timeline, which will be tough for someone like her who likes to hold onto everything and just keep squeezing in more new stuff.

The Vision

The vision for my daughter’s room is two-fold. The room should be a creative hub for all her aspirations, and be hyper-organized. In addition, there are three obstacles I need to address in her room.

Layout

The current footprint of her room doesn’t work. She has a lot of furniture pieces that we moved from our old apartment into our new home, and they’re oversized in the space due to a wall radiator and two closet doors that swing open into the room. To fix this, I want to remove a dresser from the room, swap out her full-size bed for a daybed, and scale down the size of her desk.

CeilinG

My daughter's overhead ceiling, similar to my son’s room, has a lot of cracks and uneven marks since we live in a home built in the late 1930s. I need to repair the ceiling and, if my budget allows—wallpaper it. Something needs to go up there to add a visual element of surprise.

Closet AND ROOM Organization

The biggest thing to address is storage options everywhere in the room. Since the room has the luxury of two closets, I want to maximize the floor space by maximizing the interiors of these reach-in closets. I also want to find organization for jewelry, hair accessories, and desk supplies so everything has a home when she’s done with it.

I’ll have plenty more to share as the weeks go on and input and videos from my daughter and me tackling this room together this fall. I’m excited for you to join me again for another One Room Challenge. And I may need a lot more coffee this time to manage my tween partner.

Week Eight: REVEAL DAY!

I’m excited and relieved that I completed my first One Room Challenge. My goal for this project was to makeover our office space into a toddler bedroom. I wanted to design a light and bright space that was kid-friendly and brought a city vibe to the suburbs. And based on the reaction from my son, I feel like I nailed it!

The Accomplishments

Courtesy of David Land and Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

The room was originally my husband’s office, and I had three goals. First, I wanted to make the space feel warm and cozy by insulating it better. My son’s room is the coldest place in our home, and I needed an affordable solution to add warmth to the room without a gut renovation of ripping down walls and adding more insulation. Instead, I hired a Durant Paint Company to repair the ceiling and remove all the cracks. Then I installed a wall-to-wall carpet from Home Depot and got the installation for free due to a store wide promotion for May.

Secondly, I wanted to make the space light and bright. I had a mural by Photowall installed by Durant Painting, a local wallpaper and paint installer in my town. Then my husband and I re-painted the rest of the room with Clare paint’s grayish color.

Lastly, I wanted to make it FUN!!! I added artwork with cars from Society6 (something my son loves), clear toy bins so he could easily access his toys, and a new play area. I wanted to designate a space in his room for him to build blocks, draw, and then hang up his art pieces when he’s finished.

Honorable Mentions

Photos Courtesy of Touch Life Studio | Playkit from Lalo

Photos Courtesy of Touch Life Studio

Photos Courtesy of Touch Life Studio | Wovenbyrd Chair and Ottoman

The space is only 150 square feet, but the new paint color brightens it and makes it feel kid-friendly. The updated footprint of the room is SO much better. I love our reading nook—we have a very comfortable leather chair and ottoman from Wovenbyrd to sit in and read every night. The play area is my son’s favorite spot in the room, and with a carpet, I don’t have to worry about him hurting himself when he falls.

Maybe Next Time

Unfortunately, I ran out of time to update the closet and the changing table nook in eight weeks. The wallpaper and acoustic tiles I ordered for this part of the room didn’t arrive on time, so I’ll have to show those upgrades in a few more weeks.

This project was also a lot of fun to tackle in my spare time in between work and family responsibilities. Seeing the response from my son at the end of the project and how happy he is in the room lets me know I nailed it! The One Room Challenge is something everyone should do to stretch themselves design-wise and see how much they can accomplish. Once you transform one room, you inevitably want to start digging into another eyesore in your home in no time.

Week Seven: Spring One Room Challenge

Well, I’m almost at the finish line of The One Room Challenge, and things are really heating up around here! Now it’s all about tying up the loose ends between my work schedule and family responsibilities. I need to review my to-do list for all upcoming deliveries to have a tracking number and a delivery ETA for this week. Plus, it’s a good time to review the budget to ensure I complete the project on time and within budget.

Progress Report

The New York Skyline mural in grey from Photowall was the jumping-off point for the entire design for the toddler’s room, and it has arrived and was installed this week by Durant Painting. I also had all of the cracks and uneven bumps in the ceiling repaired instead of installing the shiplap ceiling, which saved me a lot of money on the project.

I have begun to bring in accessories from Amazon, like storage bins and organizers (but we will get into those details during the reveal big reveal to style the space). The swivel chair and ottoman have arrived from Wovenbyrd, and it’s already making a big difference during story time at night. As well as the play table and chairs from Lalo so my son will have a designated area in his room to sit and play. Lastly, my husband and I spent the weekend re-painting the bedroom with Clare paint’s grayish. Thank you for your votes, it’s such a calming color, and it's in between gray and green.

INSTALL WEEK

So what’s left … A LOT! I’m going to have a friend assist me this week to button up this room. Below are the big items that I need to resolve ASAP:

• Wall-to-wall carpet installation

• Install closet system

• Paint and style closet

• Install lighting

• Install acoustic wall tiles

• Hang wall art

• Style and accessorize the room for photo shoot

The photographer is scheduled for next weekend for the BIG reveal day. I cannot wait for you to see it and discuss all of the details and budget that went into this project.

Week Six: Spring One Room Challenge

Hey everyone, we are quickly approaching the finish line of The One Room Challenge. A lot of progress was made in the past week. Packages are piling up in my living room, and two more sponsors added to my toddler room design, Lalo and Clare Paint. So let’s dig into the progress report and loose ends that need to get resolved ASAP, or they need to be eliminated from the design if I want to complete this room in 8 weeks. 

Progress Report

I received my mural from Photowall, and it’s the jumping-off point for my entire design. When I initially started daydreaming about this space, I fell in love with this mural as a former New Yorker. I wanted my son’s room to have a taste of city life in the suburbs. I also was enticed by the color palette with shades of brown, cream, green, and blue that I could use for other design elements in the room. This mural gets installed next week, and I’ll share some sneak peeks.

The estimates to install a ship lap on the ceiling of this tiny room have come back, and they’re all out of my budget. And time wise, I’m not sure I can pull off the DIY ship lap ceiling and complete everything else. So, just in case, I’m getting the ceiling repaired and re-painted, so regardless of the timeline, it’ll look pulled together.

I ordered a wall-to-wall carpet from Home Depot, and now I’m just double-crossing my fingers it’ll be installed before the end of the month. Lastly, Clare paint should arrive any day now, and I can begin to paint the entire room, which will make a HUGE impact on the design.

LOOSE ENDS

II still have not confirmed a vendor for a closet system, and the space is just shy of four feet, so it limits my design options of what will fit and look good too. So my focus this week is to button this part of the design up and then begin to focus on the best part—accessories, and styling.

Next Week

I’m going all in with set-up to finish strong for The Room Challenge and will most likely be pulling in friends and family to finish it all up. I also foresee a last-minute trip to Home Goods and/or IKEA because something is always missing or needs just one more finishing touch. So stay tuned!

Week Five: Spring One Room Challenge

We’re officially past the halfway point in ORC, and things are starting to heat up. This week, I got contractors to show up for estimates on paint, ship lap wall installment, and a Home Depot team member came to measure the space for a carpet install. I’m also excited to share that I have two new confirmed sponsors, Photowall and Wovenbyrd. The New York Skyline Collage mural which was the jumping off point for my entire room design will be a feature wall in the space, and the swivel chair and storage ottoman that you all agreed is a must for a toddler room will be in the updated reading nook!

This past week, I also focused on two areas of the room to update. I’ll admit one is a want, and the other is a need. I’ll get your votes on some of my ideas again to see what you think is necessary vs. splurge-worthy.

Wall-to-wall carpet inspiration

Home Depot carpet samples

Update Flooring

One of the major concerns in this process was creating a room with better insulation. Since I live in an older home, my son’s bedroom was built over a sun room, and it loses heat. It was an important design element for me to add carpeting to retain more heat in the room and make a soft surface for him to play on daily.

I scheduled a carpet measure with Home Depot to get a price estimate to install the carpet in the space. A week later, a Home Depot team member showed up on time, measured, and created a CAD mock-up of the room in less than 30 minutes. Then I went to the store to pick up carpet samples and see which options work best in the space.

Courtesy of @em_henderson

Courtesy of @mrorlandosoria

The 5th Wall

A design element I’ve always struggled with in my home are low ceiling. I want to make the ceiling feel taller than it is (essentially a design trick to draw the eye up!). One design trend I’ve been noticing is a shiplap on the ceiling. I recently spotted it in Orlando Soria’s guest room makeover and Emily Henderson’s space this weekend. The existing ceiling has a bumpy texture and needs some TLC. But my first estimate was way out of my budget, but it could also be the design element to pull the design together.

This week on IG I want to get your vote, shiplap ceiling yes or no? Is it really worth it or should I just focus on adding carpeting to the room?

Week Four: Spring One Room Challenge

We’re officially at the halfway point of The One Room Challenge! This past month has been a ton of reaching out to sponsors, purging products, and getting ready for some big changes next month to this room. And thank you so much for your feedback on my IG account about the paint color for the room. Clare Paint in Grayish was the clear winner!

As I continue to tease you about the suspense of what’s to come, I wanted to dig into a topic that I think many parents and design enthusiasts will want to weigh in on. For the reading nook in the toddler room, are you team swivel chair or rocker? With my daughter, I had a glider in her nursery and kept it until she went to kindergarten. But with my son, I’ve been rethinking the tiny room, and those barrel swivel chairs are making me take a double take. They’re so cozy to sit in, and we could cuddle during story time.

The reading nook is small and, at most, can fit a chair roughly three feet wide. Below is my pros and cons list for each chair:

Swivel Chair

Pros

• Stain-resistant fabric

• Soft to touch

• 360-degree spin

Cons

• armless

Rocker

Pros

• Easy to clean

• Greenguard Gold certified

• durable

Cons

• vegan leather will show scratches

So, which would you choose for a toddler room makeover? Vote on my IG account tonight, and I’ll share the results next week.

Week Three: Spring One Room Challenge

Welcome back, everyone!!! As I continue to source products for the toddler bedroom makeover for The One Room Challenge, I have also been ignoring the elephant in the room—paint! I love the charcoal walls in the space right now, but for me to achieve my new toddler makeover—sadly this color will need to say goodbye and get a revisit down the road with another project.

I want the new toddler room to feel light and bright, and with my vision of a mural taking over just one of the walls, the other bare walls need to be changed color. And I feel like I’m gravitating back to a color I have used countless times in past projects, and now it’ll finally be in my new house—light blue. I know it’s not bold, but it is a paint color that plays well with others, and in such a small space, I need it to feel airy, and I can achieve this look without painting the walls white.  

Option #1

Clare Paint Grayish

I’m a huge fan of Clare Paint. My home is painted with Clare, a Black-owned paint company, and the color choices are well-curated. A gallon of paint goes a LONG way which is important when you re-paint a wall from a dark tone to a light color. You should expect to paint at least three to four coats for full coverage. I have often toyed with the idea of using their Grayish paint color, which reviewers state is a soft green, and seems subtle enough to work with my vision for the room.

Option #2

Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light

Now I’m a sucker for Farrow and Ball paint, and although I’ve only gotten a handful of clients, who are ready to pay double for a gallon of paint, they’ve always been thrilled with the results, and it’s worth every penny. So many of their paint colors feel timeless and sophisticated. For a toddler’s room, I still want a color that can grow with my son and will feel airy in a cozy space.

Option #3

I’ve used Benjamin Moore paints projects due to the versatility of color options. I will admit it took me a while this week to narrow down my choices after looking at images on Pinterest and looking for the slightest difference in shade. I landed on Misty Blue—it has a slight gray undertone and feels like it won’t be too heavy in the space.

Benjamin Moore Misty Blue

So, now I’m trying to figure out the right blue paint color for this room, and I could use your feedback. Please vote on my IG stories over the next 24 hours regarding the following three color options.

Week Two: Spring One Room Challenge

Week Two

I know in week two of The One Room Challenge most of us get excited about painting and installing furniture, but for me when I begin a project I like to start with a BIG purge. I also like to access my current items, see what can be upcycled, and (to be honest with myself) what needs to be upgraded if it doesn’t work with the new design.

I’m going to reveal the three big places around my son’s room where I will be making the biggest furniture upgrades. There will of course be more, but first, I want to talk about the heavy hitters.

Closet

This is my please don’t look in here, I am totally embarrassed it is SO messy, and it needs a major makeover. So I am going to empty this space out and plan for a new custom design for the closet to maximize storage. Ideally, I want to conceal the closet door with a wooden panel design so it looks like a wall when it’s not in use. On the interior of the door, I want to install storage shelves well as inside the closet. And of course, it needs to have some playfulness. I plan to wallpaper the interior with understated car wallpaper so it doesn’t distract me from picking out clothes with too much color but adds some interest to a small space.

The CORNER

The office chair, ottoman, and light fixture need to go. It’s time to upgrade to a rocker or stylish glider in this space. With my first child, I already had her nursery done before she was even born, but I’ll admit with my second kid this fell off my to-do list and I made do with my office chair and ottoman for the time being. Moving forward I want to make this a reading nook we can both comfortably snuggle up on together to read books and he can also play with while he looks at the window (one of my son’s favorite morning activities).

Bookcase

Lastly, it’s time to upgrade this bookcase that my daughter originally owned and passed down to my son. We have had this piece for ten years, it can easily be donated for someone else to breathe new life into it. I need a new bookcase with an option to conceal some of the toys and fewer opportunities for my son to wedge his whole body into it.

Stay tuned, this coming week I’m hoping to nail down my sponsors and get feedback from my installers about my vision. And see if my dream will fit my real budget (fingers double crossed!).

Week One: Spring One Room Challenge

Week One

I am excited to challenge myself this year by participating in the One Room Challenge. As an interior designer, I’m no stranger to renovations and executing projects from a mood board to a complete project. But I must admit, when it comes to my home, some projects have been overlooked as I have made client projects my top priority.

So this spring, I decided to participate in the One Room Challenge and change our gorgeous home office featured in Better Homes & Gardens (sigh!) into our dream toddler room for my son. And if you are not sure what the One Room Challenge is, let me fill you in on the project.

The One Room Challenge, aka ORC, was started over ten years ago by Linda Weinstein, the founder who wanted to do a one-room design challenge with online besties to create a room. She found that by working together as a design community, design lovers could work together to meet this challenge. Over the years, it has blossomed into a bi-annual event for interior designers and influencers to share their interior design tips, DIY skills, and everything in between that comes with big or small home renovations.

The Backstory

So when I moved into my home a few years ago, our extra third bedroom was converted into an office space for my husband. And—I learned while preparing for a home tour with Better Homes & Gardens that I was pregnant with my son. Fast forward to today, the office is gone, and what’s left is a makeshift nursery that needs a lot of TLC, and the true Angela Belt Interiors touch to make it shine. Below, check out the before images of the space, and in the following weeks, I will share how I will give this small space a major upgrade.

THE VISION

I’m excited to transform this office into a toddler-friendly room with fun design elements and maximize the storage for organization. Some of the design challenges to address in the space are listed below:

• Insulation

• Closet organization

• Toy organization

• Designated play area

• Multiple lighting options

• Air purifier/humidifier

• Maximize the square footage

I’ll have plenty more to share as the weeks go on, so I’m excited for you to join me first my first time in The One Room Challenge. Let’s GO!!!

#28TM: SHOPBLACKCT

The mission of SHOPBLACKCT.com is to challenge structural racism and transform the legacy  of economic and social inequity in the U.S. by providing a platform to drive business to and  awareness of local Black-owned businesses. 

The success of SHOPBLACKCT.com is thanks to many people working together to make a  difference by spreading the word about our site and offering resources to elevate and amplify  Black-owned businesses in Connecticut. A team of volunteers give their time, energy and talent  to keep this site running and relevant. Team members do not profit anything off of the site nor is  the site used for any financial or personal gain. This effort is 100% about giving, lifting up others  and expecting nothing in return. 

What Does Black History Month Mean To SHOPBLACKCT This Year?

I asked one of the many volunteers that work together to make SHOPBLACKCT a reality, what does Black History Month mean to them this year? Read below for their thoughts.

With Black History Month upon us, it is important to recognize how vital Black-owned  businesses are to the American economy and celebrate their many contributions Black  entrepreneurs have made throughout history. 

Supporting Black entrepreneurship generates growth and opportunity in multiple ways through  our communities.Yet, Black-owned businesses receive less business financing, less often and at  higher rates, with just 1% obtaining a business loan in their first year. Compounded by the effects  of the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to face disproportionate challenges to succeeding and  expanding. One way to help? Support local Black-owned businesses. Our goal is to amplify and  elevate Black-owned businesses in Connecticut, encouraging consumers to choose to "shop  Black" in an effort to address systemic racism and economic inequalities that exist. 

What Is the SHOPBLACKCT Team going to do Post Pandemic?

ShopBlackCT.com has brought together tens of thousands of people (if not more!) across Connecticut and the United States through our free platform. While we love connecting virtually, we are looking forward to having some in-person events where we can foster community on an even deeper level.

#28TM: Zhay Smith

Zhay Smith is a New York-based personal stylist turned surface pattern designer. She is the Lead Designer and CEO of ZHAYSTYLE Studio. With an eye for beauty, she often uses photography as a jumping-off point for her work, and incorporates bold elegant typography to make a statement. She is an avid learner with a playful spirit, who infuses her background in fashion, interior design, and fine art into her illustrations and graphic design work.

Growing up in a beach town, Zhay says she was surrounded by design. The house she grew up in was custom-designed, and built by an architect for his family. She watched her aunt collect unique pieces of driftwood have them painted or sanded, and then varnished to finish off the look of a room that she was hired to decorate. Even her mom was constantly making everything from curtains to culottes to handmade plush toys to sell. And don’t even get me started on her dad! He helped Zhay develop her eye for fashion and style. He taught her how to pull together colors and coordinate prints and create looks for men’s clothing. When Zhay began to sell her own work as a teen, her father even helped her plan and build custom art pieces made of stained glass and wood.

Zhay’s family was full of designers, but they didn’t know it. It came so naturally. So, I guess designing is in her blood. Zhay considers herself a multidisciplinary artist and designer. She loves to explore many different mediums. However, being a Surface Pattern Designer brings it all together. She gets to see her art on products sold all over the world. You can find some of Zhay’s work at Minted.com.

What Does Black History Month Mean To You This Year?

Since this is Black history month, I would like to share that I have relatives who were architects, and worked on one of the first hotels in my hometown, The San Carlos Hotel. They built houses for rich people in town. They were my great Uncle Alexander and Uncle George Eagan. They kind of passed for white so till this day, I don’t think anyone but our family ever knew that Black men helped design that hotel. I feel like this month is when these family stories really bubble up to surface for me.

Some pivotal heart-wrenching events have brought us to this new level of awakening for many here in the US and across the world. Many people were sleepwalking. Black history this year means not being invisible anymore...not being a blip on the screen. While I don't rejoice in the fact that brothers and sisters had to die so senselessly in order for everyone to finally open their eyes, I'm grateful that now all peoples are paying more attention. Friends of mine from other races are actually not just giving lip service or stopping at placing a little black square on their IG posts. They are caring enough to learn about "our Black American" heroes and heroines. They are having uncomfortable conversations with their friends, close relatives and communities. We are beginning to respect that Black history IS American history. It is not to continue to be a side note. We are challenging the absence of Black faces, Black voices, and Black perspectives in art, design, and culture. Black people are some of the most brilliant, resilient, gifted and triumphant people groups to walk the planet. That should be honored and respected. They have been a voice for the voiceless. How does that saying go? A rising tide lifts all boats.
And for us to truly understand ourselves we have to go back further than the sixties, further than slavery. We all have to continue to work to make sure our full stories are told and are balanced to correct mis-education or partial education. It is the removal of omissions for me. Black history this year is still being written and still being discovered. We must keep moving forward.

What Is The First Creative Thing You Are Going To Do Post Pandemic?

Does everybody say travel? It's amazing the things you take for granted until they are gone. You know what I would love? I miss seeing LIVE events and dance theater performances like Alvin Ailey "Revelations" & other Broadway shows. I get so inspired! It would also be great to go to a summer concert series in the park again.

To Learn More About Zhay visit:

Website: zhaystylestudio.com

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhaystyle/

Minted Store: http://shrsl.com/2n0ds

#28TM: Kymberlyn Lacy

Kymberlyn Lacy, is the Former Vice President of the Black Interior Designer's Network, she is also the founder and CEO of the award-winning interior design firm, International Flair Designs whose been featured in Forbes, Oprah's O Magazine, and Essence. Kymberlyn is greatly sought after for her business acumen and effective leadership in organizational management, strategic planning, strategic partnership development, contract management, and team building. She brings an interdisciplinary approach to leadership and a professional perspective that dovetails with best practices in her respective industry.

She has single-handedly developed strategic partnerships with national powerhouses such as IMC, Uttermost, Williams-Sonoma, The Pottery Barn, Verizon Wireless, and Hilton Hotels to only name a few. Her philanthropic efforts and commitment to social change has garnered numerous awards and an official day "Kymberlyn Lacy Day" in her honor in the State of Arkansas.

She also has a love and dedication for mentoring young interior designers, creatives, and nonprofit organizations . She is currently working with the STEM Coalition to integrate the field of architecture and interior design as an identifiable, integral component of STEM education.

Her work has been featured in Elle Decor, Essence, NBC, Designer's Today, NBC, IONTV, CBS, and FOX 16 in addition to a growing list of others.

What Does Black History Month Mean To You This Year?

Coming from a long, family lineage of educators who were pioneers and forerunners of desegregating schools in the South researching, studying, and knowing our rich heritage and culture was foundational if you were a part of my family. Black History was celebrated and embraced daily through curated art collections, cuisine, music, architecture, fashion, and style to only name a few.

Since I was a little girl it was ingrained in me that “African American history is what cultivated history as we know it today. Always, live your life as if you are drafting a blueprint for the generations to come.” The quote stemmed from my grandmother, but it has always been one of the core values I have patterned my life and purpose after.

After the heightened awareness of Black History, spanning the globe recently. I am more hopeful than I have ever been, more optimistic, and I have never been prouder of our resilience; and how we continue to change the trajectory of our country.

Recently, I have noticed an uptick in supporting minority owned business’ spanning cultural bounds. Although, I am grateful to service a clientele base that is culturally diverse, it is heartwarming and inspiring to witness allies rallying in support of minority owned business’. It is my greatest hope the support and efforts are continued and flourish for your years to come.

What Is The First Creative Thing You Are Going To Do Post Pandemic?

Having the ability to “Monitor and adjust” is infectious. Instead of complaining about how, when, and what business and our daily lives once were pre-pandemic. Our design team took a step back to evaluate all of our systems from on-boarding clients, rebranding, to implementing more robust CRM’s; leading to advancements that will enhance high touch point areas for a more seamless design experience for the clientele we service.

Like many of my clients, traveling was on the top of my list pre pandemic (Africa and India). The pandemic has sparked a newfound interest with clients. Instead of desiring to travel, they are ‘monitoring and adjusting” to our “new normal” by allowing our design firm to transform their primary bedroom retreats to resemble their favorite oasis, getaway, or resort they once were able to travel to pre-pandemic. Fortunately, I have remained creative throughout the pandemic. I am looking forward to unveiling our rebranding efforts and launching a few surprises as well (stay tuned).

To Learn More About Kymberlyn:

Website: kymberlynlacyinteriors

Instagram: @kymberlynlacyinteriors

Facebook: @kymberlynlacyinteriors

Pinterest: @kymberlynlacyinteriors

Twitter: @kymberlynlacyinteriors

Linkedin: KymberlynLacy