The Sisterhood of Blogging

Lunch with Barbara Elza Hirsch of Elza B. Designs // Feb. 13

Three years ago this week, I was flying home to a blizzard-weary Boston from a most fabulous (and snow-delay extended) blogger trip to New York with my dear friend and fellow designer, Barbara Elza Hirsch. Being invited guests of Jason Wu during New York Fashion Week courtesy of the Brizo brand was an experience that neither of us will ever forget, and I am so glad we got to share in the fun together!

Blogger experiences have a way of bonding people, and even though we know each other pretty well and have participated in plenty of events together since then, Barbara has asked me to answer 10 questions about myself in honor of the “Sisterhood of the World Blogger’s Award.” Well, I am honored to be asked, Mon Amie, and at long last I have my thoughts in order! I figured that most of us use Instagram these days to share our thoughts, inspiration and adventures, so I have decided to tell my story with images from my feed and answers below. To learn more about each image, visit me here.

1. what I love about blogging

2. a favorite movie

3a. preferred pet

3b. my “wish I could have one” pet

4. a favorite designer: Alexa Hampton

5. a favorite meal at Temazcal

6. inspired by these design friends

(and many more!)

7. what’s on my nightstand

8. a favorite place to visit

9. a favorite room to design

10. “yes!” to vessel sinks

1. What do you love about blogging?

What started out back in 2009 as a way to express myself creatively through words and pictures, has turned into so much more than that. While at first blogging provided a platform to share my thoughts on interior design with an unknown audience, it quickly evolved into a way to bond with a larger community and to do business with brands. The opportunities I have had to attend blogger events both near and far and to develop relationships with others, has been greater than I had ever anticipated when I penned my first post. And even though blog readership is probably decreasing, I still value knowing that I can easily catch up with other bloggers, or get to know someone new, by visiting their online diaries or gathering at a blogger event. Bloggers essentially are writers, and there will always be readers along with a growing need for fresh content, so while the industry has changed a bit, I am hopeful that it will remain relevant even as it reinvents itself.

2. What is your favorite film?

A recent movie that I actually paid to watch in a theatre was “Joy.” First of all, it was pretty cool that parts of it were filmed in my hometown of North Reading, Massachusetts, and Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper were in places that I pass by regularly (and have since taken a selfie in front of!) Second, I loved watching the story of how an outside-the-box thinker brought an idea to life and created a successful business by solving a common problem, in turn improving her own life and her families lives. I love entrepreneur success stories, especially when they feature women who succeed despite the odds against them.

3. Are you a dog or a cat person and why?

While I had both growing up, and my husband and I had cats when we were first married, I have since fallen in love with bunnies as a favorite family pet. Once they are tamed, they are just so sweet! Understanding bunny language is definitely a learned art. To get a small typically timid animal to trust a large human feels like a real honor. If we were to get a dog, however, I would choose a Pomeranian and it would be a girl since I am so outnumbered by the male species in this house!

4. Who is your favorite interior designer and why?

While I have had the opportunity to meet or be in the presence of many celebrity interior designers over the years including Nate Berkus, Candace Olson, Thom Filicia, Jonathan Adler, Iris Apfel, and other design superstars who I completely respect and admire, I have to say the one that stood out to me as someone who could make you feel like you could easily be her friend was Alexa Hampton. She actually spent a lot of time hanging out with myself and some other designers during Blogfest one year, sharing some funny stories about being a mom, etc. Of course we live completely different lives, but for that evening we were design friends (I am sure everyone else who meets her feels the same way!) A favorite design team that I admire (but have never met IRL) is Joanna and Chip Gaines from HGTV Fixer Upper. I really love how they work together, how they take their business seriously, and have so much fun doing what they do. Secretly, I wish my suburban farmhouse life was a little more like theirs in that they quickly finish all their projects and someone else pays for them : ) 

5. What are you cooking/eating tonight?

Feeding a family of six that includes four teenage boys is typically a buffet style event featuring some type of chicken with pasta, and often times take-out. I used to love to be all Martha Stewart with my recipes (this was pre-Pinterest days and definitely before children!) but now I would much rather whip up a simple green smoothie or go out for a beet or kale salad (with wine of course!)


6. Who is the person in your life who most inspired you professionally?

I am always inspired by the people around me, including my family, but especially my friends who are also in the business of design. In addition, I often look for inspiration by connecting with people via social media who are at the top of their game (whatever that game may be), people who are pushing themselves past their comfort zone, people who are willing to share what’s important to them, and those that offer advice to help others live better lives. Most people that I follow on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook or on blogs, have all inspired me in some way to try new things, travel to new places, participate in opportunities, and to share what’s possible. 


7. What do you have on your nightstand right now?

My nightstand is actually a vintage chair. We have them on either side of our bed. I like that there isn’t much room for clutter to accumulate on them. I always have the following beside my bed: my kindle for reading (back lit so that I don’t need to put a light on to read late into the night), lip balm (a must have), aromatherapy items for relaxation, a heart shaped selenite crystal for energy clearing and chakra balancing (goodbye stress), and at the end of the day my eye glasses (can’t see a thing without them!)

8. Share a favorite travel destination.

I have really loved the trips I have taken to New York over the past few years. I have gone by car, bus, train and plane (my favorite is air travel for this one!) They have always been blogger or design related events that I have shared with good friends (or have made friends while there) and most have been recorded on this blog. Whenever I see NY scenery on TV or in a movie I long to go back. I would, however, like to discover a new favorite destination that we can enjoy as a family while our kids will still travel with us!

9. Tell me your favorite room to design or blog about and why.

Although I have done my fair share of bath design related posts, and living room makeovers run a close second, I would have to say that public spaces are now my favorite “room” to design. Show house spaces like the ones I designed for the Endicott Mansion at Glen Magna Farms are my favorite way to design as I wish, using the fabrics and furnishings and objects that I love most. A current “public space” project that I am working on involves designing retail visuals for a local high-end dress shop. I have some neat conceptual ideas and design selections in mind for this boutique-style shop and I can’t wait to share the end results!

10. Do you think vessel sinks are in or out?

As a former full-time marketer for a luxury bath showroom, I have seen some really beautiful vessel sinks over the years, from marble to brass to ceramic to bamboo. My instagram photo above features one from Gessi that I saw while on #BlogTourLA. Specifying a vessel sink in a bath design is an excellent opportunity to add a sculptural shape or a unique visual art form to a room that is usually all about function. When paired with the right faucet, counter, and tile combination, they can be elegant and timeless. They are always interesting!

Now that I have officially answered Barbara’s questions, I am posing this challenge to one local design friend who is relatively new to blogging plus 7 bloggers who I have recently met via online blogger communities/events and would like to get to know better. There are a few that I have actually never met in person, but perhaps I will someday? For your assignment, if you choose to participate, please do the following:

Select 7 of your personal Instagram photos and share in a blog post why these moments are among your favorite online memories. Then share your post with me via your favorite social media channel (Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook) and link back to this blog post. Be sure to invite 7 bloggers to participate when you post your answers. I look forward to reading YOUR visual story!


Diana of The Delightful Diary

Corinna of A Designer at Home

Alex of Literally Everything

Quiana of Harlem Lovebirds

Ashley of Simply Designing

Toni of Design Dazzle

Athena of Fitness and Feta

Allison of MrsKTechnology 

Birthday Wishes and Fairy Dust

My Birthday Surprise: London Calling

So today is my birthday. I should be taking the day off from social media, but I had to pop in to share a special gift I received. Yesterday afternoon I was on twitter and noticed that a bunch of people – many that I have met at various blogger events – were being introduced as being selected to travel to London to attend the London Design Festival.

Check it out! The London Design Festival

BlogTour by Modenus

11 people were named, all of whom had expressed interest in being on this very exclusive list. Several times a year, Veronika Miller of the interior design curated site Modenus, organizes these all-expense paid blogger participation trips as a way to introduce fabulous products and share design inspiration with bloggers who then share what they discover on their journey with their audiences. Pretty amazing, huh?

From my recent Brizo trip to Memphis (More on that later! Still working on posts!)

on left: my friend Barbara Elza Hirsch went to BlogTour in New Orleans in April

middle/right: Marilyn Russell and Laura Bielecki are on the list for BlogTourLondon

It was fun to see each blogger being introduced. Especially when I saw a number of friends from my recent trips with Brizo and the Blogger19 filling the coveted spots. This is very much like winning the blogger lottery! Plus it is an incredible opportunity to be exposed to cutting edge design while in the company of some amazing (and seriously fun!) people.

Then I saw my name in a tweet. What’s this? Something about a vote? One blogger (there is supposed to be 12) was unable to attend. All of a sudden there is an open spot and six bloggers have been selected as vote-in candidates. To see my name on this list came as SUCH a surprise! I felt like I had been handed a golden ticket! Honestly I never even put my name in the running to go as I have been sincerely fortunate this year to be able to travel to a number of blogger events that were also unexpected opportunities. What an honor to be chosen!

At Itta Benna in Memphis for the Blogger19 Reunion hosted by Brizo

Cast your vote before 5pm today!

So now I have until 5pm today to find out if my name ends up filling the 12th spot on the London BlogTour list. But you know something? I already feel like I have won something. I have been blogging for five years. I have written over 500 posts (hello, could have written that novel by now!) I have made some wonderful connections and real life friends as a direct result of engaging with the creative community I have found online. Just being selected and having my blog recognized for the original content I work so hard to create is the real gift. It makes it all worth the effort. Tonight I will eat cake with my family, drink champagne and celebrate the fact that doing what you love is its own reward. In the meantime, if you would like to vote for me, click here. Cheers!  xoxo yvonne

York Show House Preview!

 with Katherine Hawkins and Rosanne Palazola of Trio Design

After months of traveling back and forth to work on our four spaces at the 24th Annual York Decorator Show House, my Trio Design friends and I celebrated with the other show designers at a special preview party gala on Friday night. We were all very happy to ditch our painting clothes, get dressed up, and celebrate with a round of bubbly ... the hard part is over!

The view from the guest cottage at Secret Cove

This was the first time that we got a chance to see all of the transformed spaces by the many talented designers who are part of this year’s show. Watching bits and pieces of the rooms come together during our weekly visits built up a lot of excitement! Stunning furnishings, luxurious materials, freshly painted walls in seaside hues, dramatic artwork and fabulous light fixtures, have all come together to tell a new story for this seaside home. The resulting spaces, with their special touches and designer style, show just what can be accomplished with a lot of planning, dedication, and real teamwork. Having beautiful resources available for our use, like paint and paper from Farrow and Ball, fixtures from Designer Bath and accessories from Blue Peacock Home for example, made the job that much sweeter. While I can’t show you what’s behind all of the closed doors, I can share some sneak peeks and gala photos ...

SNEAK PEEK: In Syrena’s Bath, a sea fan and ocean coral fabric from Thibaut was my starting point. I paired it with rich, chalky paint colors from Farrow and Ball (from top to bottom: Borrowed Light, Manor House Gray, and Pitch Blue). This full-size bath coordinates with an adjoining teen bedroom filled with thoughtful details selected by Katherine. When you see playful shades of purple and lavender combined with lots of silver sparkle, you will know you are in the right place!

SNEAK PEEK: my husband John in a Trio Designed space.

I couldn’t have pulled it off without him! xoxo

Rosanne and I worked with Mary Donovan of Landry and Arcari to select carpets for two of our spaces. Mary has been by our side for many design shows! Rosanne’s “Poolside Portal” is really fabulous and the new carpet she selected for the custom install is the perfect combination of practical and pretty.   

SNEAK PEEK: accessories in the Petite Powder Room

If you like “runway-to-room” design translations, don’t miss the Petite Powder Room that I decorated based on the aesthetic of fashion designer Jason Wu. It is just around the corner from the show house kitchen and at the end of the hall in Rosanne’s Poolside Portal. Thanks to my friends at Brizo, visitors to the show can see the Jason Wu for Brizo matte black collection in real life. The collection is super glamorous, as is the wallpaper from Farrow and Ball

My Brizo traveling companion, designer Barbara Elza Hirsch (on the right), has decorated a very elegant screened porch at Secret Cove. In it she features mosaic work by tile artist Ariel Finelt Shoemaker (on the left). Their design collaboration is beyond lovely!

SNEAK PEEK: a glimpse of Barbara’s screened porch with vintage accents

with Katherine, Michael Nest, designer Frank Hodge,

designer Helen Hanan, and Dave Hawkins

Frank Hodge and Helen Hanan have both designed unique interiors for the show. While Frank’s study is right next to Katherine and my space on the second floor, Helen’s guest suite is on the other side of the house. It was fun to be able to meet up at the gala and compare design notes, since we didn’t often get a chance to connect while busy working on our separate rooms.

Friends at the gala included artist Susan Siefer (whose gorgeous commissioned works of art grace the halls in one of the spaces designed by Meredith Bohn) and my Blogfest 2013 companion designer Linda Holt. Linda loves color as much as I do, and no we did not coordinate our outfits!

SNEAK PEEK: the master bedroom suite by Pat Finn

Pat Finn of Finn-Martens Design and I have worked on a number of design projects together over the years. Her work always impresses me with its good Feng Shui. Just walk into her rooms and immediately you will feel relaxed! Her Secret Cove master bedroom suite (bedroom, bath, and screened porch with hot tub)  is quite the “after” and includes a few pieces selected from the Designer Bath showroom along with a lighting favorite from my friends over at Dunes and Duchess.  

There are lots of other designers involved and more pictures to come, but do try to make it up to Kittery Point before the show ends on August 15th. It will conclude with a designer auction at a Secret Garden Party and Closing Soiree. Super fun!

While up Maine for the preview party, my husband and I took the kids to stay at my mom’s cottage near York beach. We couldn’t let the weekend go by without a quick visit to Nubble Light, Kittery Trading Post and the Weathervane for seafood. Now that the show house has opened, I am planning to enjoy lots more day trips and summer travel, starting with a quick visit this week to Memphis, courtesy of the oh-so-generous team at Brizo. Stay tuned for updates on my reunion with the Blogger 19 and a special day spent with Brizo’s chosen charity St. Jude’s Hospital. I am excited to see what they have planned for us, and am so looking forward to seeing all my design blogging friends who will be in attendance. Over 100 of us are Memphis-bound, so it should be quite an experience! Follow us at #blogger19 on twitter for real-time updates throughout the week. And if you make it to the show house while I’m away, tag your thoughts on twitter with #yorkshowhouse.

I’d love to hear what you think!

Designers at Work + Play

Now that I have your attention, I am ready to share some behind the scenes of the #YorkShowHouse! Trio Design (myself, Rosanne Palazola and Katherine Hawkins) have been traveling to Kittery at least once a week to prep, prime, paint, and determine our design installation plans for our spaces (bedroom, bath, mudroom and powder room).

Lately, our early morning commute from Massachusetts has set itself on auto pilot, navigating us to Beach Pea Baking Company in Kittery to grab coffee, delicious sandwiches for lunch, and sometimes a sweet or two (the ginger snaps with lemon creme filling are heaven!) When we are completely done setting up our rooms, one of their decadent cakes is on my reward list.

Katherine, myself, Rosanne, Barbara Elza Hirsch

In mid-April, before the house was made available for its transformation, the show house committee hosted all of the designers at a meet and greet at the Remick Barn in Old York. It was a great chance to catch up with some old friends and get to know the other artists we will be working alongside of this spring and summer. The media sponsor for the show, Maine Home + Design Magazine, was there, as was Jay Goldsmith, our official portrait photographer. He took a group photo while we were all gathered, and later in the evening a bunch of us went out for more Maine goodness (When Pigs Fly Wood-Fired Pizzeria) and took some candids of our own. 

We shared small plates and design discussions with Meredith Bohn

(I highly recommend the roasted brussel sprouts!)

And shared lots of laughs with Frank Hodge and Valerie Jorgenson (on right)

and their significant others who have witnessed many a show house together.

Each day when we show up for work, I like to go by the salt water pool first. The grounds are starting to fill in with lush perennials, but I have heard the landscape will look completely different by the time the show opens.

The view outside the screened porch is another favorite of mine.

Bathroom Number One, Day One

I brought a postcard from work to mark my territory

Bathroom Number Two, Day One

Bye Bye Birdie ... wallpaper removal time

At our front door (after a long day of prep work)

On a return visit, Katherine has recruited help (with her husband, Dave)

After three days on-site, I have managed to make some progress (hello two coats of fabulous Farrow + Ball paint on one ceiling!) For now, however, all I can show you is a sneak peek of the guest soaps I have chosen for each space ...

Hand-cut soap from Saipua // Hand towels from Frette

For show house updates, follow the #YorkShowHouse tag on twitter and instagram, and be sure to visit our Trio Design blog posts where each of us will be sharing our behind-the-scenes adventures. While it certainly takes a lot of work and resources to pull off a design show, I know it’s well worth the effort. Spending quality time with the other designers and watching how they go about accomplishing their visions is a bonus.

Stay tuned for more fun from York ...

New York Look Book

For my last Brizo post, I want to share some visual bits from the Eventi Hotel and the city outside its doors. We spent a lot of time in the conference room above, although it was arranged for meetings at the time. The color palette in this suite was punctuated with creamy white, mixed with cinnamon papaya, pomegranate red, and watery blue. 

A multiple panel image of a young couple swimming fully dressed underwater forms an intriguing art installation outside of the restrooms.

Medallions were repeated throughout the hotel. From wallpaper patterns to ornate mirrors to decorative embellishments on the boutique-like furnishings. 

The guest rooms featured simple line art drawings, luxurious robes trimmed with zebra prints, textured wallcoverings, and fabrics etched with NY cityscapes. 

Outside my window, a roof top garden is blanketed with fresh snow. The streets are quiet on this mid-winter morning.

In the hotel lobby, a mystery closet beckons with its brightly colored jungle wall paper. Yes, a few of us did explore inside.

Filigreed shutters mimic the dappled leaves in the ceiling art. 

A cyclist prepares to ride.

On this Saturday morning after the previous day’s fashion marathon, a few of us met in the lobby – in our comfortable clothes – to brave the elements and head outside the building to grab some breakfast. What I thought was going to be a short walk ended up being 16 blocks, but it was actually nice to get some fresh air and travel the city on foot with camera in hand.

Our enthusiastic tour guide, Judd Lord of Brizo, brought Donna and I to a small coffeehouse, The Grey Dog, favored for its casual ambience and delicious servings. We probably talked more than we ate, but the food was definitely worth the trek through city slush to discover this hidden gem.  

Industrial chic decor, the perfect setting for design enthusiasts!

After breakfast window shopping.

The souvenir I wanted to take home.

The rest of the afternoon was spent packing for my Sunday departure, and checking on the family back home, but I was happy to meet up with the last remaining Brizo bloggers for dinner and drinks early that evening.

Marilyn and I enjoying dinner AND a movie ...

Movies play on a super sized flat screen on the adjacent building.

Laura Brooks of Brizo stopping by for a final farewell.

After dinner we took over the Eventi lounge, which is a cozy mix of modern decor and retro chic. Barbara was the first to join us, then Donna stopped by for a bit. We may have gotten a little carried away on Instagram that evening, but we shared a lot of laughs and an equal amount of Prosecco with Saint Germaine (our signature cocktail!)

The golden ram was declared our Brizo-adventure mascot!

Or was the waiter our official mascot?

{Our last day}

The next morning we enjoyed one last meal as the final four!

After breakfast, it was just Barbara and I until our flight to Boston was scheduled to leave in the early afternoon. We spent our free time on a self-guided tour of the hotel to record favorite details and stunning views.

A super-sexy green velvet tufted bench on the top floor.

A unique way to reflect light in a long hallway.

A second ram.

Leaving our beloved mascot behind!

Our trusty driver delivered us to the airport where we were informed at check-in that the only seats available together were in first-class and would we be willing to upgrade for $50 each? Seriously? Barbara and I looked at each other and practically burst out laughing! Good thing we decided to splurge (we thought about it for about a milli-second before jumping at the chance) because my luggage ended up being beyond the weight limit by 3 pounds and I would have had to pay over $100 to check my bag had we flown coach! What a delightful ending to our Brizo-in-New York getaway : )

It was so much more fun flying home with a friend!

The view from my window seat to show my boys.

Landing in Boston right on schedule ...

What I missed while I was gone!

While this marks the end of our trip, it’s just the beginning of our new friendships as Brizo #Blogger19 Alum! It was so nice to connect in person with other design professionals from across the country, to share our stories about work and life, while learning about the Brizo brand, and having a LOT of fun! Thanks again, Brizo, for the extremely generous invitation and for being the Best Host Ever!