Highlights Through the Year

One thing I love about this week is that it allows time for reflection on the past year.  What a year it has been for me!  It’s easy for my mind to get tangled in fearful thoughts as I venture into the new land of interior decorating.  Sometimes I find it hard just to keep my head above water.  However, as I reflect back on this year, I see that I’ve actually accomplished a lot more than I ever would have thought.

It all began with a new year’s resolution last year: “My new year’s resolution is to start a blog and to write a post five days a week”  February, my adventure began in our Chicago apartment, where I dedicated this blog to my dad, who taught me to dream big…

This is a resolution I’ve actually kept and that alone is accomplishing something.  The blog has brought me incredible nourishment and fervor for creativity.

Then came my first DIY –

The chair that sparked it all!

I became an estate sale/second hand store/flea market fanatic.  And then I happened upon this beautiful chair

which I sold to this amazing talented woman: Julia Buckingham Edelmann of Buckingham Interiors + Design.

And a friendship sparked.  Julia encouraged my dreams and helped me to feel confident in the career path choices I was making.  With her sage advice, I felt like I could take on a client.

My first client’s original living room

And the after

I then ventured into the land of e-design.  What a thrill that was to see living rooms transform electronically.  Here is a sneak peak at a client’s living room:

I LOVE how it turned out!

June brought on a move to NYC for ten weeks and I took in every decor shop, every antique, every textile that I could get my hands on.  I walked away with my beloved Craigslist finds: Jonathan Adler lamps and my Madeline Weinrib rug…

Finally, in September came the final move to San Francisco.  The move brought on the opportunity for three more e-design clients and three more in person clients.  I have finished a guest room (pictures coming soon) and I’m working on a restaurant and two rooms in a home in Atherton.   Not to mention, my own home is coming along…

Before dining room:

Current day:

I am also taking classes in interior design and I’m grasping as much knowledge as I possibly can.  I’ve met the most amazing bloggers and designers and I’m constantly in awe of the design community.  My cup runneth over this year.  We shall see what 2011 brings, but I’m thinking more growth and change and that is what I’m looking forward to the most!

There is no way that I would be here without you!  When I feel its hard to keep my head above water, it is my readers that keep me afloat.  Thank you for reading!  You mean the world to me!  Happy New Year!