I asked 31 bloggers the same 35 questions for my 31Days Series.
Here are their answers:
To say I was floored that Grace Bonney, owner of Design Sponge, replied back to me, when I emailed asking if she wanted to participate in this series, would be a major understatement. I dropped my phone, literally, when I read her reply.
You see, I have been following Design Sponge way before blogging existed in my world. My babies were actually still babies when I found her and I was instantly hooked. I literally could not get enough. And still can’t.
The NY Times declared her the ‘Martha Stewart Living for the Millennials’. She has worked as a contributing editor at Domino, House & Garden and Craft magazines. As a freelancer with top publications like New York Home, Food and Wine, In Style, Better Homes and Gardens, New York Magazine, The New York Post, Everyday with Rachael Ray and others. And has worked as Style Editor of HGTV’s Ideas Magazine.
She was also a featured guest on Good Morning America, The Nate Berkus Show, The Martha Stewart Show, Martha Stewart Radio Show.
She wrote a book a little while later, Design Sponge at Home, that became a fast favorite and a great reference to go back to. You know it takes the cake when it becomes the center of your coffee table 😉 It was one of the things I hated to lose in our fire, it was one of my design bibles, so to speak.
I am just thrilled to introduce Grace to you guys.
1. A bit about yourself, where did you grow up?
Virginia Beach, Virginia.
2. Main subject of your blog?
The creative community. Everything from homes to the people who design the things that decorate them.
3. Was a design background something you were interested in when you were young?
Definitely not. I wanted to be a political journalist. But then I discovered printmaking in college and Trading Spaces and the rest was history.
4. Fall or spring?
Spring- I prefer the promise of warmer weather.
5. If you could have a different profession, would you?
Not right now, but one day, definitely. I like to keep challenging myself to learn something totally different as much as possible. I’m happier when I can see and feel my learning curve and have something new to catch up to.
6. If so, what would that be?
I’d love to do something with gardening or flowers, or, in a totally different vein, animal rescue/rehabilitation.
7. What style do you usually post about?
I’d say casual? I think most of the homes we feature and projects we share are around things you can actually live with, maybe with a dash of reclaimed something or other. But that dash tends to change every few years as we grow up more and our styles evolve.
8. What is a style that you are drawn to, but isn’t part of your normal material to talk about?
Minimalism. I’ve become a pretty decent minimalist, but that’s not a look that jives with our whole audience right now, especially the younger readers. But I totally understand that. The older I get, the less I want to own- and the more I want to own only things that have some personal or family significance to me. But that takes time to build and you have to let your style evolve on its own- you can’t rush (or buy) that sort of lived-in comfort that comes with time and age. (I can’t wait to live in my 70 year old self’s home, basically).
9. East Coast or West Coast?
East coast, because my family is here.
10. Main go-to colors?
Black, off-white and grey. (and pink for furniture)
11. Color combo’s you have been dying to try?
Indigo and pretty much anything.
12. Antiques or new pieces of furniture and decor?
I’ve been eyeing antique rounded newel posts lately.
13. Avid DIY’er or would you rather buy it finished?
Both. I’ll never want to buy everything in my home, but I’ll also never have the energy (or talent) to DIY everything either. I like a mix so I can see my family, friends of our own hard work in as much as possible.
14. Favorite Music to work to?
Nicki Minaj
15. Early Bird or Night Owl?
Early bird to the max. Even in college I had a hard time staying up past 11pm. Now I have a dog as my excuse.
16. Eat in or Go Out?
Eat in. I married the most amazing cook and food writer and there’s hardly ever a reason to dine out when she can make something amazing at the drop of a hat. (I try to do the dishes as much as possible to balance it out).
17. Coke or Pepsi?
If I had to drink a soda, it would be Dr. Pepper. But I try more water than soda.
18. Carpet or Hard Flooring?
Wooden floors whenever possible, but I’ve seen plenty of homes that make a mix of carpet and area rugs look great.
19. Country you want to visit?
Scotland (where my family name is from originally)
20. What do you do to unwind?
Spend time at home with my wife and our pets watching a movie and eating popcorn.
21. Who is your Design Icon?
These days it’s good old Martha Stewart. I’m getting into simpler interiors with more neutral and historically accurate color schemes, so she’s become my icon (again).
22. Outside or Inside?
3/4 inside with 1/4 of the wall exposed to the outside? Basically a sun room or screened-in porch is my heaven.
23. Piece of work that still makes you proud till this day?
Launching the Biz Ladies series on DS. Best decision I’ve ever made without thinking about it and it has a life way beyond me now- that makes me very happy.
24. What is the movie that you can watch over and over and it never gets old?
PCU and Thirteen Going on 30. I love Jennifer Garner and Jeremy Piven, though not together.
25. Favorite Social Media Platform?
26. What movie character do you think you identity the most with?
Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama. I was a real pill after I went to NYU, but when I came back to finish school in Virginia I think I got the chip off my shoulder and learned to be a better person. But I still have to find the right thing by choosing a lot of the wrong things first.
27. Cupcakes or Cake?
Birthday cake, all day every day. Cake is the answer to every question in my book.
28. Best gift you have ever received?
Love.
29. Best gift you have ever given?
Trust.
30. Would you rather talk to or text someone?
Talk, in person. If it has to be on a phone, texting. I was the only girl in high school who didn’t want a phone.
31. Coffee or Tea?
Coffee.
32. One thing you cannot live without?
Family.
33. Favorite type of flower?
Dahlia
34. Best thing about this year?
Building a life and family with my wife.
35. What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming months?
Hopefully building a home together, too. Fingers crossed….
Be sure to hop on over and check Grace out at Design Sponge, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.
If you are here for the link party, feel free to link below!
I am making my Casual Friday Pinterest Board an open group board. yesssss.
If you link up here, then you are invited to join us and pin your link there too. It’s all sorts of wins coming in every direction.
It’s quite easy. Make sure you are following me on Pinterest (I can’t add you as a contributor unless you are), comment or email me your Pinterest email and bam…that’s it. You can Pin away!
Notice:Many have asked again about being added, Pinterest won’t let me add you unless you are following me.
BIG thanks to ALL of you who linked up this past week! We had an amazing link up last week!!! Your sweet comments and awesome emails that you continue to send are absolutely amazing!! You sure know how to rock a girls world 😉
Now, onward with the rules for linking up, easy peasy:
1. Be a follower of the blog (there are lot’s of ways, via GoogleFriendConnect,Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Email, etc., hey you can follow me on Pinterest too!)
2. Link to your specific post, not your main blog page, and any post goes, whatever makes you be you.
3. Please link back here so all of the casual business makes sense, I even have a rockin’ button on the sidebar!
4. Check out others links! We all know we dig followers and comments on our post we work so hard on, it’s just cool to play nice. And you never know what other awesome blogs you will find!
{I send out email reminders for this link up. Click HERE to be added instantly. This reminder is one email a week for the link party}