Blogger: Kirsten of 6th Street Design School
Now:
and Then:
What makes me cringe when I look back:
It is so funny because back when we lived in this apartment I thought that I was a good designer. I had just started design school and I thought I knew it all. Wow. I was so stuck on the "utah style of decorating". Fake plants, dark furniture, red and tan accents. What really makes me cringe is how "typical" my home looked. It had absolutely nothing unique or special about it.
What I love most about my house now:
My home now is completely me! I have finally found my style and it is wonderful. My home is colorful, fun and unique.
The biggest influence on my evolving style has been:
I have to say blogs, work experience and my design degree have been the biggest influence on my style. Blogs opened my eyes to a whole different world of design. I started to see how people were taking risks in their homes. I remember the first blog post I ever saw about white kitchen cabinets and I thought it was crazy! No one in Utah had white cabinets. Everyone had dark wood in their homes. I think it's natural for people's styles to evolve so my advice would be, don't buy furniture for a few years after you get married. Buy used and save the new furniture for after you have a better defined style. My bed and futon were big purchases that now I regret. Give yourself time to evolve and be patient with your home. It will all come together eventually!
Thanks, Kirsten! I think this post makes us all feel better :) See more of her home & design ideas here.
I love Kirsten's fresh and colorful style and am floored to see that she too had fallen into the "brown hole". Sure makes me feel better:)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE her new style! It's so funny how we all go through phases in our tastes. What a great series, Emily!
ReplyDeletei'm def not a pro.. just a wanna be! ha! but i can so relate to this. i look back, even as a recent as a couple of years, and realize that my design style has evolved into the REAL me. also agree that blogs have been very influential in broadening horizons for most of us! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an AMAZING transformation! I love it!
ReplyDeleteNatasha
http://www.lovedesignbarbados.blogspot.com
I thought Kirsten's advice on being patient with your home and not splurging on furniture until later on was spot on and wise.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to regretting a piece or two of furniture. Live and learn. Thanks for sharing another beautiful space!
Holy Moly!! What a difference!Such a great post because we all can relate to this. Lesson learned - never be afraid of color.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! Our first big splurge was a seafoam green and white striped pillow back sofa with matching loveseat. I thought I was really "edgy" because half the pillows were floral. :-) Ooooh . . . I thought it was so beautiful! Totally impractical for moving forward, though. And we just ditched our futon last week after about 15 years!
ReplyDeleteI adore Kirsten's style now. It's very chic, fresh and colorful. This series keep getting better and better. Plus, Kirsten has great advice to share!
ReplyDeleteThanks for wonderful series, Emily!
Jessie
www.mixandchic.com
Oh I LOVE this series. I just posted pics from our Atlanta home, and I was mortified when I found some pics that were somewhere between the before (when I bought) and the after (when I sold)- lots of YELLOW and florals that just aren't me! I would say I found my style in the just in the last 4 years and I am 36- eek! Better late than never, right? lol. Thanks for sharing xoxo shel
ReplyDeleteWOW! What a transformation!
ReplyDeleteI follow Kirsten's blog and I just adore her home.
ReplyDelete~Kristy
www.idesignlove.com
Isn't it hard to believe it's the same place? I can't see it! Wow... what a huge transformation!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
OMW - this series is genius!!!!!!! Everyone loves a makeover, I guess. :) Thanks for sharing, Kristen. The "after" is just stunning!
ReplyDeleteHoly transformation, Batman! That's amazing.
ReplyDeleteI love her colorful home! I also love how she called it "Utah style" so true! I totally regret 90% of my newlywed purchases. I love seeing all of these now and then posts!
ReplyDeleteI love your new style, it makes me want to add so much color to my home!!
ReplyDeletePlease check in to my latest post- I have a design question and would love everyone's ideas!!
http://whitneybrock.blogspot.com/2011/06/skirt-or-bare-leggin-it.html
Thanks!
What a difference! I just did a post on my office and even though it was a only a few months ago, I can't believe how much my style has changed. I think (graphic) design school and blogs have definitely opened my eyes and changed my style a lot too.
ReplyDeleteI always love Kirsten's work! She does such a lovely job!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this style and the description of Utah decorating. hahahaha. (which also applies to every home we looked at in Idaho).
ReplyDeleteI love the advice of being patient and waiting for your style to evolve. Great advice! I have also been in the frame of mind to "get it all done now- fast!" The problem with that, is you look back in a few years, wanting to make changes that are expensive. I love Kirsten's home and unique style. Great series, Emily!
ReplyDeleteUtah is STILL in the brown mode! My SIL(who has a brown and red house) went to some Parade of Homes there a couple of weeks ago and thought this one was terrible: http://www.houseofturquoise.com/2011/06/day-four-dream-home-tour.html
ReplyDeleteShe said, "What's with all the blue and white and color and stuff?" HAHAHA! Not to say brown is bad...but Utah has a unique brown style all it's own.
Thanks for the post!
I love these posts - I learn something and it's comforting that we all make design mistakes! I agree on blogs being such a great learning/inspiration tool...the whole world of design inspirations is open to us now - it's so amazing. Wonderful post and beautiful "afters"!
ReplyDeletehttp://bjdhausdesign.blogspot.com/
Emily, I love this series! Mostly I feel like I'm on par with the "befores" so it's encouraging to see how rooms evolve into something beautiful and fun! And, YAY!- there's hope for all of my brown! In fact, I may head right over to my sewing machine and whip up a skirt for my (yes, brown) sidetable!
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy to think those before pics belonged to Kirsten. Her style is so colorful, bright and fresh and the before pics are anything but.......it's amazing how one's style really transforms.
ReplyDeletei love kristen's advice--so true about how your style changes after a few years in your home. i'm not married, but i can relate to that bit!
ReplyDeleteI just love this post, it makes me less inadequate when trying to find my style! x
ReplyDeleteI almost laughed out loud at Kirsten's description of "Utah Style" because it's true! I grew up in Utah, but I've never been into the dark wood that seems to be so dominant here! I LOVE white kitchens! And Kirsten's style is FABULOUS!
ReplyDeletelove her fresh and vibrant style..makes for such a welcoming sight! xx meenal
ReplyDeleteBEST before and after! She is so talented ;)
ReplyDeleteI love Now and Then. I look forward to it every week!
ReplyDeleteI love Now and Then. I look forward to it every week!
ReplyDeleteso pretty! it looks so fun and sophisticated at the same time. i love how she said she was stuck on "utah decor" because that is where i am and i am so sick of that overdone, brown style too! i love your blog emily and you make me miss nc (where i am from). have fun decorating your new house!
ReplyDelete