Amy is part of the dynamic duo that makes up 11 Magnolia Lane, a magazine-style blog and website, where she and long-time friend and partner-in-blogging, Christy, share a variety of projects and topics related to home decor and DIY … with some fashion and entertaining thrown in for good fun.
1. What inspired you to become a designer? What has your journey been like?
While I am still not sure I qualify officially as a designer, since most of my work is in my own home and then showcased on our website, I have always loved design. My background is in graphic (print) design, and those skills definitely helped when getting started in the blogging world. I have always had a passion for interiors and remember spending hours pouring over design magazines growing up. When I was first married, I quickly set about making our small house look “decorated” with pretty much a non-existent newlywed budget. Of course, I had champagne tastes (as they say), so I had to come up with decorating ideas that would work for next to nothing. Over the years our projects have evolved from simple furniture makeovers into full room redo’s. I like nothing better then taking something that looks a total mess and making it beautiful!
2. How would you describe your design aesthetic?
One thing is for sure, it is always evolving. The one constant is that I prefer a white and neutral palate. I had a white kitchen 15 years ago when everyone was doing cherry, and I’ll probably always have a white kitchen. I like things light and bright and airy! I do love seeing color in other people’s homes — it is inspirational to me — but in my design I tend to use more of one or two “pops” of color. I feel like a white or neutral base always works to stabilize everything in the space. I love texture, too, as even with white the addition of different textures keeps it from being boring. I did, however, just add a dark color in one room of my home just to break things up a bit (see the pictures above), and I have to admit — I like the contrast!
3. What was your favorite project(s)? Why?
That is hard to say, I have several favorites. Decorating my daughter’s room is always the most fun, as she has grown up from a toddler (when the blog started) to now almost a pre-teen, so her room has grown up along with her. Creating a space just for her, with all sorts of girly things in it is just plain fun! My favorite DIY project is the built-in shelves in our library (see pictures above). My sweet Dad did most of the work to build them, starting from a picture I showed him, and I love these shelves. The room looks completely different then when we started, so much more finished and “decorated,” and it wasn’t really a hard or expensive project. This is the same space we just transformed with the very dark walls. I wanted the white shelves to really pop, and I think it works!
4. What’s your favorite trend right now?
Even though it has been around now for several years, I still like the gold trend, though I think it’s going to evolve into “copper” for Fall. Copper is a lovely, warm tone that’s perfect for the nesting season of Fall and Winter. I also love the blue and white look that has been everywhere recently. It is such a classic combination and so many other colors coordinate well with it. Blue and white seems to withstand the test of time and changing trends.
