Blog watch - Interior Design

Interior design blogs are a wonderful wayto discover the latest design trends, sharedecorating tips, see new ways of updatingfurniture, view other people’s houses, learnabout new products and find out how to solve aparticular design dilemma.

Architect Angela Carr started her LivingRoom blog as a way to answer the mostcommon questions people have aboutextending their homes. Via her blog, sheprovides advice on matters such as planningpermission, design tips, commentary on housedesign, and how to make better use of the livingspace available. Readers can also contact herwith queries.

The middle rooms of houses with extensionsare often lacking in natural light and tend to beused as corridors rather than having functionsand personalities of their own. Angela adviseshomeowners on to how re-organise theinternal space as well as deciding which walls toremove to maximise light.

The Meet Mabel and Violet blog isconnected to a wonderful onlineboutique but blogger Paula Aspledoesn’t just blog about new arrivals tothe store. The blog provides readerswith an insight into the online shop andthe people behind it. Paula says hermost visited post is how to make yourown headboard, where shetransformed an old peach floralheadboard into a stylish grey velvetheadboard - complete withinstructions, costings and timing.

Morgan Sattersfield lives in a mid-terracebrick house in California. Morgan and herpartner Jeremy have plenty of time but a tightbudget and, as they have set themselves thetask of ensuring that every item for their housecosts less than $100, her blog The Brick Housecontains details of sourcing items at thrift storesand how to give them a new lease of life. Arecent project posted on her blog involvedrestoring six Eames side shell chairs for theirdining room. They were rescued from a localcollege, decades of chewing gum was removedand the fibreglass restored. Affixed toreproduction Eiffel bases sourced from Ebay,

Seeking a solution to an interior design dilemma? Tap into thecommunity of interior design bloggers for inspiration. Words ByLorna Sixsmith

blog watch

1. A sketch proposal by Angela Carr foran extension redesign 2. Angela Carrwho writes the Living room blog 3.Angela Carr’s kitchen postrefurbishment 4. Paula Asple whowrites the Meet Mabel & Violet blog 5. Meet Mabel & Violet blog

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6. Morgan Satttersfield,who blogs at The BrickHouse 7. RestoredEames dining chairsfeatured on The BrickHouse blog 8. TheBrick House blog

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Blog Watch

they comprise a stylish set of six dining chairs thatcost just $500.

Gillian Nolan and her sister Sheena are interiordesigners based in Dundalk. Gillian’s blog MaggyMoon Interiors provides a delightful ramble throughbeautiful pictures of gardens and pets, gorgeousrecipes, lovely interiors, fabulous furniture finds aswell as tips on how to renovate old pieces offurniture and decorate rooms on a budget.

Katja and Minna‘s Nestled In blog includes postson the renovations of their Finnishhome, their decorating decisions andfinding items they love. They updatereaders on their favourite fabrics,endeavours with sewing and purchasesin thrift stores. They also provideinstructions and photographs for moredifficult projects. It is interesting toview the style of decorating at play in anotherEuropean country.

I post interior design solutions on my blog atGarrendenny Lane Interiors on Fridays. Readersemail their queries and I construct a post usingphotographs to demonstrate particular points. Thesolutions range from offering ideas for storage andsuggesting how to decorate dark hallways, torecommending colours for particular rooms, tips fordecorating a little girl’s bedroom, and advice on howto modify curtains.

Interior design blogs offer a rich resource of ideasas well as problem solving tips. The joy of readingblogs means that not only can you find complete andillustrated instructions for completing a task, you canalso email the blogger for advice if you have anyqueries and there’s continualinspiration at hand.

Interior design blogs offer a rich resourceof ideas as well as problem solving tips. “

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9. Maggy Moon blog 10. Gillian Nolan who writes Maggy Moon blogand her sister Sheena 11. Hallway featured on the Maggy Moon blog12. Finnish bloggers Katja and Minna who write the Nestled In blog13. Nestled In blog

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Lorna Sixsmith’s blog atwww.garrendennylane.ie/blog includesposts on the hottest trends and latestdesigner collections, interior designsolutions, new arrivals to the onlineshop and fabulous wallpaper choices.

”B L O G S T O W A T C Hhttp://livingroomblog.ieLiving Room blog by Angela Carr. Whether you are at the planningstages, in the process of building or wondering how to re-organiserooms, the Living Room blog is an invaluable resource.

http://maggymoon.wordpress.comMaggy Moon Interiors blog by Gillian Nolan. Gillian’s blog covers avaried and lovely mixture of topics, many providing expert advice onhow to update your décor on a tight budget

http://www.mabelandviolet.com/blogMeet Violet and Mabel by Paula Asple. Read Paula’s blog for herlovely musings on interior design, modern design, all things vintage,DIY projects and new arrivals to the Mabel & Violet shop.

http://www.nestledin.netNestled In by Minna and Katja. Read about Minna and Katja’s designchoices and decisions as they renovate their home and learn fromtheir experiences.

http://trickmybrick.blogspot.comThe Brick House by Morgan Satterfield. Visit Morgan’s blog to viewher progress with renovating her house and gain tips on renovatingfurniture.

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