Simply Centsational!

We feel super lucky to have nailed down fellow Blog Squadder, Kate! Kate runs an amazing Blog, Censational Girl. She is always conquering a new DIY project with style and grace. Her blogs is super well put together with LOADS of projects ready for you to discover. Go head, learn about Centsational Girl then pop on over and say hi to Kate!

1. What's Your Name and URL: Kate Riley aka Centsational Girl

 
2. When did you start blogging? What drove you in the cheap and chic design?: I started blogging in early 2009 after we survived a major remodel of our house.  I was inspired by other pioneering home improvement bloggers, so I started up one of my own.  

3. What has been your favorite post?: Oh, that's like asking me to pick a favorite child.  :-)  I've had fun with a few like this one about stripping (furniture, that is) and this one about my bistro makeover encounter with a spider. 

 

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/03/a-tale-of-two-strippers/

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/06/a-bistro-set-makeover-with-an-unexpected-surprise/

4. Where do you go to for inspiration?: Shelter mags, other blogs, the great outdoors.  I'm inspired by great styling in any form, whether it's a well decorated room, a freshly baked tart, or seasonal flowers from the farmers market casually placed on a farmhouse table. 

5. Every artist should: Trust their instincts.  Try not to second guess yourself.  Don't be be afraid to modify your design if it's not working in the execution, but I find most often your first artistic instinct is right.

6. If you had unlimited funds you would buy: 20 acres in Sonoma to plant a vineyard, orchard, and botanical garden to putter around in after the kids go to college.  And to someday build a wide open single story California style home (think 'The Parent Trap') where I walk around in my bare feet on radiant heat tile and drink iced tea by day and a glass of petite syrah by night.   Sorry, I rambled on there, I got a little caught up in my romantic fantasy!

7.Where would you buy a second home and why?: We dream of a little log cabin in the mountains by gorgeous Lake Tahoe.  There's nothing like the smell of pine trees in summer and a white Christmas in winter.  

8. What's your favorite piece of furniture in your home?: My dining room buffet/hutch.  I bought it ten years ago from Crate + Barrel.  It was manufactured in Italy and I still think it's beautiful.  It fits our home and lifestyle, and provides plenty of storage.

9. Your home's style is: Traditional French Colonial.

10. Three words to describe your personal taste: Elegant, playful, (plenty of) white. 



10 Questions with the Queen of Organization

Ashli lives in a magazine-ready-for-a-shoot townhome in Canada. Her blog is a perfectly curated flow of advise on how to live green and clean. We are honored she has agreed to do 10 Questions With, and we hope you find her blog as informative and beautiful as we do!

1. What's Your Name and URL: My name is Ashli, my husbands name is Lee and our blog is The Maillardville Manor www.maillardvillemanor.com

2. When did you start blogging? What drove you to eco chic as a topic?: I started creating the blog late last year but didn't release my first post until June of this year, and have been posting one a day ever since. I'm not sure I gave too much thought into what my blog topic would be, I just started blogging about what I do, and what I know. I've always been design conscious and have been making greener choices for a while now it only seemed natural that the two would blend together. Eco chic makes the most sense to us, we want to make sure we are making healthy choices for us, good choices for the future and if it can look stylish we've wrapped it up and taken it home.

3. What has been your favorite post?: My favorite post would have to be our Mudroom re-do. The bright green stripes made such a huge difference, and the pebble boot tray is both functional and pretty. There aren't too many places you can get away with Kelly Green rugby stripes but for some reason it works in the mudroom.

4. Where do you go to for inspiration?: For inspiration I do a lot of different things, I love store displays. There's nothing like a good Pottery Barn display to get your motor running :) I follow many different blogs and find all kinds of inspiration from real peoples homes. But mostly I find inspiration in nature. I know it sounds kinda "earth mother-y" but I find the homes I'm drawn to, have a fair amount of plants and greenery in them, as well as natural textures and colors.

5. Every home should: BE ORGANIZED!! There is so much piece of mind when you know where things are. When leaving the house is as simple as, leaving the house, not a treasure hunt to find what you need. When your organized everything is faster and easier. When you know what's under you kitchen sink (I mean way behind the garbage cans) it's a good feeling.

6. If you had unlimited funds you would buy: The Ovopur water filter. It is hands down the most stylish water filter I've ever seen. Style and function all in one.

7.Where would you buy a second home and why?: Italy, I would buy a little villa near the ocean, and George Clooney. Italy has everything, great food, little markets, designer duds, beaches, mountains, and the close proximity to the rest of Europe means you could hop in the car in be in any number of countries with in hours. And did I mention George Clooney.

8. What's your favorite piece of furniture in your home?: My favorite piece of furniture in the house is a tie, between our old Church Pew, turned dining room bench, and our 7 foot harvest table. Both Craigslist finds, both major scores. The Church Pew was a $60 find, + a little white paint.

And the Harvest table a steal, at $150

9. Your homes style is: Simple, we don't have too much in our home that doesn't have a function. We don't have special china for once a year dinners, our simple white dishes get used daily. We don't have furniture that we are afraid to sit on. . . . or spill on for that matter. Everything we own gets used regularly.  And our favorite decoration is a small, simple bouquet of flowers.

10. Three words to describe your personal taste:        SIMPLE        FUNCTIONAL        GREEN

10 Questions with an insomniac

1. What's Your Name and URL: My name is Duane Hosein and you can find me at www.duanehosein.com

2. When did you start blogging? What drove you in the direction or fine arts?: I became addicted to the whole concept of "online journaling" after joining Livejournal in the 90's. At the height of my addiction, I had three separate journals. As far as starting an actual blog, it's been almost two years. My first attempt was on Blogger, but I recently switched to Wordpress. Ever since I could hold a pencil, I knew that fine art was my calling. 

3. What has been your favorite post?: My favourite post has been the one that showcases my Hell-themed series. Here it is: http://duanehosein.blogspot.com/2009/03/hell-is-here.html

    

4. Where do you go to for inspiration?: When inspiration dwindles, I head to the nearest art store. Wandering through isles of supplies, is a great way to spark creativity. My bank account always gets very nervous during these visits.

 

5. Every artist should: Always maintain a vivid imagination.

6. If you had unlimited funds you would buy: A loft in DUMBO, specifically to house art supplies.

7.If you were to expand into another art medium, you would: Become a collagist. Admittedly, I am pretty terrible at it.

8. What's your favorite piece of art: I am going to be rebellious and name three. Here goes: "The Witches Sabbath" - Francisco Goya, "Rhinoceros" - Albrecht Durer and for something a bit more contemporary "The Hydra Of Babylon" - Camille Rose Garcia.  

9. Your style is: I have been told that my style is very whimsical and that definitely fits.

10. Three words to describe your personal taste: Odd, classic and colourful.

Thanks for the interview, Lana! :)