Friday Guest Blog Interview: Three Men and a Lady

I recently discovered a neat little blog (while participating in this series) that has become a regular in my reading: Three Men and a Lady. I asked Michelle if she’d like to participate in PDB’s Friday Guest Interview posts so that I could introduce her to you as well!

This mom of two boys has a wonderful knack for interior design. She fills Three Men and a Lady with inspirational ideas and documents her own home design progress (isn’t that striped entryway wonderful?):

Michelle has a beautiful, modern sense of style with an emphasis on refashioning the worn-down and old, bringing new life and meaning to each of her pieces.

I love her answers to PDB’s four interview questions and you’ll thoroughly enjoy the eye candy too (especially her grey and yellow living room).

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{PDB Interview with Michelle}

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What inspires your design style?

I wish I could give a tangible answer as to what inspires my design style but really it’s just a feeling. I’ve seen designers go in to a space and start immediately give orders to, “rip this wall down, paint this ceiling gold, bring in the yellow rug…” I prefer to sit in a space for a time and get a feel for the energy and personality of a room then design from that perspective. The process is quiet and thoughtful.

What do you love most about what you do?

What I love most about what I do is that it makes me feel good. When I was young and imagined what I’d be doing when I grew up it probably included something in philanthropy or working towards world peace…something much more important than decorating rooms. However, a wise man once told me, “you don’t get to vote about what makes you happy.” meaning, you come to this earth with your likes and passions in place. Interior design speaks to me and I’m following my dream despite how unimportant I make think it to be.

What are three design suggestions that you would like to offer our readers?

Many people’s wardrobes have about a 2 year life span before they go out of style and get changed out. Your furnishings also have a style lifespan as well. People tend to get so excited about new trends that they run out and spend an “obscene amount of money” on a trellis printed sofa which goes out of style in a few years. Then when they’re ready to change it out in a few years they find they’re still making monthly payments it.

{1} Shop second hand as much as possible and perform a little DIY surgery if necessary. Not only will have pride and satisfaction from working on it but if you tire of it in a couple of years you won’t feel guilty passing it along or changing it out.

{2} Use neutral colors as much as possible on your large scale items such as carpet, sofas, bedding. When you use neutral colors on your big ticket items you can add pops of color or pattern through your accessories. Changing out the accessories is much less expensive than changing out your sofa.

{3} Use trendy and upscale stores as your inspiration then shop thrift stores to copy the look. It will save you money and save things from the landfill.

Thank you, Michelle!

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Images in this interview are from Michelle at Three Men & a Lady and Ashley Ann Photography.