There once was a girl obsessed with design. When she was little, she used to rake leaves into floor plans. She grew up. She went to Art School. She became an interior designer for very high end clients. She loved her job of creating beautiful spaces. She loved traveling to beautiful places, and spending other peoples money. (she even worked with GASP celebrities) Then, she got married.
Then , they bought a house. Then, they moved to New York!! Then, they had a sweet little pea named Liam. She wanted to create a HOME, but soon realized, it wasn’t as much fun spending her own money. HOW could this Michigan girl, living in New York, born with design in her heart, create beautiful, budget friendly spaces that have meaning??!! How could she get people to realize budget conscious design, doesn’t make you LESS than…it makes you Smart?!!! SO, she started shopping at all the “Lower End Places” you know the ones, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel…..and realized that in her warped sense of working with high end clients, “Not Custom” did not equal “I can afford it”…so her lower end stores, became even lower…
She started to LOVE shopping at places like Target and Home Goods, and Ikea! She looked forward to her Saturday trips to the junk shop by her house. She shared great finds with friends. She found amazing deals and cool stuff, stuff that made her home feel like a designer lived there!! And although she completely loves, honors, cherishes and indulges in that occasional great piece of furniture, or that ” I cant live without you” art piece, she also knows that beautiful design, and cost conscious creation, can absolutely go hand in hand. She knows that she is in love with beauty, not with the cost of beauty. She knows that if she looks around her home, and she is surrounded by things that add to her happiness, and not stressed out because it was actually out of her price range, then that is a good design! She knows she is not alone!!
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I don’t want to ruin the mystery surrounding the above story, but it was in fact, about ME!!! I know, you totally didn’t see that coming!!
SO this is the start of A shift that is going to be happening at Design Thoughts. And I totally don’t want to make this seem overly dramatic ( Im so awesome at doing that btw) because I know that it isn’t, but is really exciting for me, to expose another authentic layer! And while we are on the subject of authenticity.Its time to tell you a secret… I have to spill the beans, I don’t enjoy DIY projects. There. I did it, I came clean.
I DON’T LIKE DIY!!!!!! AHHHHH !! Actually, let me be more specific…I don’t enjoy DIY projects that I do, JUST to post about them. I’m done with it. I will probably occasionally have a fun DIY home project, because hey, I am all about saving some moolah, but I am not going to try to be something I am not. Im not so great at it, and I get bored super fast.
I DON’T LIKE DIY!!!!!! AHHHHH !! Actually, let me be more specific…I don’t enjoy DIY projects that I do, JUST to post about them. I’m done with it. I will probably occasionally have a fun DIY home project, because hey, I am all about saving some moolah, but I am not going to try to be something I am not. Im not so great at it, and I get bored super fast.
So, I am going to try to focus more on amazing design that is with in everyones reach ( not to be mistaken for the ever so popular Design with in Reach Store, which happens to be JUST out of my reach) because that is what I love!! I love a great deal on beautiful things!!
Design that has meaning, and beauty that doesn’t break the bank. Showing you more than just a pretty room. I am still going to include my mommy posts, because Liam, is by far my most meaningful design, and although he isn’t cost effective, he is super cute, and does really funny things.
The new Design Thoughts will include weekly posts like..
Beauty on a budget– Weekly deals from places like Target, Home Goods, World Market, and Ikea
I will share them with you, so you can run out and buy them!!
I will share them with you, so you can run out and buy them!!
Cost Conscious Creations- Sharing mood boards that I have done for clients ( and some I will create just for the blog) showing cost effective pieces, put together to create happy places! They will include links and prices, so you can easily create the looks too! For instance, Create a nursery for $500 or less, OR update your patio with a $200 budget.
Daily Dose of Design- This will be similar to my Wednesday Enjoyables that I do now, I will include prices and links, great homes of people who have cut on costs, but not on beauty in their homes, and great design that doesn’t break the bank.
Mommy Moments- This hasn’t changed, I will continue to post every Friday about the hilarious life of being a mama to an almost 3 yr old. I will share craft projects, and every day life.
WHEW, SO thank you for sticking through to the end of this wordy post…
And stay tuned for some Housekeeping and content changes coming to Design Thoughts 🙂
Happy First week of June!!!
~K
Ps. Don you love the top picture? I know…she looks just like me.
lacheis says
Sister…i am so proud of you it almost hurts….you have always followed your bliss!! You go girl!!! Luv u
Design Thoughts says
awww Thanks sissy!!! Just another step towards my authentic life…owning who I am …not being something im not 🙂 Love you!!
Kristie Ignash says
I love it all!!!!!!! I’m so excited to share in this shift of yours! You bring a lot of happiness and beauty to all of us! Thank you!!! Love you!!! 🙂
bonniebelle says
Oh I am so excited about this! It’s exactly what I need right now! Thank you!!!
Design Thoughts says
Thank you Kristie! Im so excited that you are right here along side me too 🙂
BonnieBell, thank you! I am so glad that I can give you something that might help!!
Lisa Larson-Kelley says
LOVE this shift, Kim. You are homing in on your mission and it is soooo inspiring! I can’t wait to read more of your awesomeness. 😀
Design Thoughts says
Thank you, LIsa!!!!!