How to Find and Vet Home Contractors
This year, why not go beyond spring cleaning and give your home a major upgrade with a spring kitchen renovation? This…
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7 Unexpected Places Interior Designers Find Inspiration (That Aren’t Pinterest or Instagram)
It’s hard to remember where we turned for quick interior design inspiration before Pinterest and Instagram. These two ubiquitous digital platforms…
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Project Reveal: Cali Girl Blue Renovation in Lakeview
A California modern home… in the heart of Chicago? This is a project we’ve been working hard on lately for a…
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Our Holiday Home Goods Drive with Schlep and Humble Design
With the end of the year fast approaching, we’ve been thinking about a meaningful way for us, as a business, to…
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Top Spots to Buy Wallpaper Online, According to Interior Designers
They say everything old is new again. That cliché holds true when it comes to a trend being revived from the…
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A Guide to the Best Vintage Home Goods Stores in Chicago and Beyond
Vintage home décor and furniture add so much depth and character to a home. Rather than filling up a space with…
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The Warwick Reno – A Classic Black & White Bathroom with Flair
This summer, I decided it was time to finally renovate the bathroom on the main floor of our Chicago bungalow — the…
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How the Architecture of Your Home Should Inform Your Design
Your styles and tastes may change throughout your life, but the architecture of and era in which your home was built…
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5 Ways to Visualize Your Design
Ready to design or re-design a space in your home, such as your kitchen, family room, or master bedroom? Let the…
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5 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with a Bathroom Reno
Thinking of doing a bathroom reno? Great idea! Not only can a bathroom reno make this essential space more functional and…
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An Interior Designer’s Guide to Nursery Design, 2 Ways
With our leader Claire expecting baby No. 2 later this year, we’re abuzz with talk about nursery decorating ideas these days….
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Holiday Gift Guide 2020
The holidays are always a special time. But after a year like we’ve had, we’ll all cherish the coming weeks more…
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Our Greatest Hits: Wallcoverings
Not sure what to do with your blank walls? Wallpaper is a great place to start. It’s majorly back in style,…
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How to Update a Kitchen Without a Total Gut Rehab
A major kitchen renovation usually means a major investment. While a brand-new kitchen designed to fit your family’s lifestyle is a…
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Your Kitchen Renovation Questions, Answered in Our New PDF Series
At Centered by Design, we’re big believers that interior design—including all those kitchen renovation questions you might have—doesn’t have to be…
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High Impact Design Ideas for Your Kid’s Room or Playroom
Design ideas for kid’s rooms can feel limiting. I often see people gravitate towards animals, pastel colors or stereotypical motifs like…
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How to Use Wallpaper in Your Kitchen Design
Wallpaper in the kitchen? Don’t think that tile and stone are your only options. This article outlines how to use wallpaper…
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Why We’re Loving Dark & Moody Kitchens
Are Dark Kitchens Trending? In a word: Definitely. While white, airy kitchens have been popular for years, dark kitchens offer a…
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Creating Sacred Space at Home
My Thoughts on Sacred Space + Personal Sanctuary: Happy New Year friends! This year Centered by Design is not going to…
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North Shore Reveal – Elegant Tone-on-Tone Decorating
Tone-on-tone decorating may sound easy but it takes a keen eye to keep your home or rooms from looking basic and…
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Evanston Kitchen Reveal: Making the Most of a Small Footprint
Designing kitchens is one of my absolute favorite parts of the interior design process. It’s the heart of the home and…
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Our Top 9 White Paint Colors
White is white, right? WRONG! There are thousands of white paint colors. You can drive yourself mad finding the right one….
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Claire Speaks on Style/Library Panel @ NYC Design Week
I’m thrilled to be attending NYC Design Week for the very first time! I will be speaking on a panel with…
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Personal Post: Family Photography Session at Home
There is something so personal about a family photography session at home. Capturing special moments in the chaos that is your…
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Style Library Announces Partnership with Centered by Design as 2019 Brand Ambassador
Style Library Announces Partnership with Centered by Design in Chicago as 2019 Brand Ambassador MARCH 2019 (New York, NY) –…
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Marble vs Quartz: The Great Countertop Debate
Should you choose marble, quartz or granite in the kitchen? The great countertop debate begins right here! Put on your scientific…
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Getting Organized with NEAT METHOD
It’s a brand new year – happy 2019 friends! In honor of starting the year off on the right foot (and…
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Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Hello friends, happy holiday season! It can be tough to find fabulous gifts and new trusted brands, so I always turn…
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This Chic Holiday Brunch is Beautiful and Delicious
Happy Holidays friends! Christmas music starts playing in my head just looking at these gorgeous images. It was so much fun…
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“Metropolitan” Color of the Year 2019
Benjamin Moore, my personal go-to paint company, just announced Metropolitan AF-690 as color of the year 2019. I usually don’t pay a…
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Starting An Art Collection: What You Should Know
Hey, hey, hey! It’s my birthday today and there’s nothing that excites me more than sharing great design inspiration and knowledge…
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Color Therapy: We’ve Got a Crush on Powder Blue
We have seen pastels popping up in fashion and interiors in a big way over the last five years. Different shades…
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Centered City Guide: Northern Michigan
If you are new to the blog, you may not realize I have several CENTERED CITY GUIDES – don’t miss these…
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Chicago Design Alliance + St. Jude Fundraiser
Chicago Design Alliance + St. Jude Walk/Run 2018 Fundraiser This is a personal post, but also a post topic that impacts…
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Window Treatments: Roman Shades & Drapery Panels
One of my very favorite ways to transform a room is window treatments. When I started the blog back in 2015,…
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Color Therapy: Decorating with Yellow!
Decorating with Yellow: Chances are you have a specific opinion on yellow, you like it or you don’t. There are so…
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High Point Market Spring 2018: Tres Chic Cocktail Tables
It’s my last post in the High Point Market series! I participated in a wonderful sponsored blogger trip to High Point,…
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Powder Room Makeover with Ferguson Showrooms
I’m so excited to be revealing our Powder Room Makeover Challenge with Ferguson Showrooms today. This little room has gone from…
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Color Trends at High Point Market 2018
One of my favorite parts of visiting High Point Market is looking for color trends 2018 or validating what seems to…
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Insider’s Guide to High Point Market
An Insider’s Guide to High Point Market: My first visit to High Point Market was quite the trip! I attended a…
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Color Therapy: The Evolution of Blush
It’s no secret that pink has been huge for the past several years. It surfaced as Blush and was then coined…
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Design Bloggers Conference: High Point Tour Announcement
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be participating in the DESIGN BLOGGERS CONFERENCE – HIGHT POINT MARKET TOUR, this coming weekend!…
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Kitchen Design Trends 2018
Before we get too far into the year, I want to share a few predictions for kitchen design trends 2018. I…
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How To Pitch & Get Press For Your Interior Design Business
Interior design inspiration and education are my main focuses here on the blog (with some personal updates sprinkled in of course)….
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Year in Review: 2017 Highlights
As I write this post at more than 8 months pregnant, I can no longer balance my laptop on my stomach…
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The Best of High Point Market Fall 2017
I was not able to make it out to North Carolina for High Point Market this year, but luckily for all…
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Our Maternity Photos & Holistic Thoughts on Pregnancy
I’ve been trying to name and start this post for at least thirty minutes! “Our Maternity Photos and Holistic Pregnancy Tips”…
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Baby Shower Highlights
Pregnancy is such a time of anticipation, with both wonderful moments and stressful ones. For lots of women and couples, I…
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My Favorite DARK Paint Colors
DARK paint colors scare a lot of people. Typical concerns you get from clients sound something like: “Will dark paint colors…
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10 Best Apps for Your Interior Design Business
Everyone has a different path to walk when opening their interior design business and beginning the journey of entrepreneurship. We all…
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CBD Interviewed on our first PODCAST!
Hello there friends, Excited to have made it through my very first podcast interview!! I was recently interviewed by LuAnn Nigara…
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Highlights from the Design Bloggers Conference
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You guys I cannot believe it, but this little blog WON BIG at the Design…
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Save the Date: Art Fair Fundraiser
SAVE THE DATE!! – FRIDAY, MARCH 24th, 6pm – 9pm Very excited to announce a fundraising shopping event to benefit Loom…
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Outfit to Room: February Edition
It’s time for a monthly does of fashion with guest contributor, Alyssa Doorhy, of CoChic Styling. Alyssa and I both love…
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One Part Plant Book Release & Prop Styling Secrets
You guys!! I have a friend who is now a published cookbook author and I’m making her recipes in my kitchen….
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Centered City Guide: Minneapolis, MN
Last weekend, I had the good fortune to be invited on weekend trip to Minneapolis, MN with some inspiring creatives and…
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Fashion and Interiors with CoChic Styling
Hey there, I’m excited to share a new monthly post concept and my latest collaborator! Alyssa Doorhy is a Chicago-based stylist…
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2016 Review: Popular Posts, Inspiration & What’s Your Mantra?
Happy New Year friends! I’m not one for resolutions per say, but my yearly tradition seems to center around the notion…
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CBD Featured: Domino Mag Online
It’s a pretty exciting day when one of your favorite shelter magazines not only features your work, but asks you to…
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A New Home for the Holidays
We haven’t been religious about sending a yearly holiday card, but I sent one the year we got married, and this…
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Shopping Vintage like a Pro
I’m excited to be featured on my friend Erin’s blog today! Erin is DIY maven behind Francois et Moi, and it’s…
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The Warwick Reno: Mudroom Planning
I am loving how recently it seems mudrooms and laundry rooms are taking on a design life of their own. They…
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Looking For the Perfect Settee
My middle name as been settee this week! I’ve been looking for a streamlined settee or bench for my own living…
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Design Advice for a Kitchen Renovation
It’s been everything KITCHEN these past two weeks as we gear up for demolition! Luke and I have had a lot…
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DIY Paper Marbling with Clementine Studio
By now you’ve probably noticed the marbling craze. Wallpaper, gift wrap, even fabric – I’m seeing it everywhere and that’s cool…
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The Warwick Renovation: Hollywood Regency Style Dining Room
Let’s start from the beginning. If you’re new to the blog or this series, welcome (if you’re not, thanks for reading…
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Favorite Thrift & Vintage Shops in Minneapolis and Chicago
You guys! I’m excited about this post for so many reasons, but primarily because it means summer road trip season is…
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Top Ten Moving Tips with Organizer Sadie Road
Top Ten Moving Tips. We just moved and bought our first home! It’s a little fixer upper on the northwest side…
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Baking with Dinah of Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain – Almond Biscotti Recipe
We are lucky to have the talented Dinah of Spinning J Chicago share a delicious recipe with us today. Her light…
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Women Who MAKE: Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain
I’m really excited about this month’s WWM feature friends. Mostly because it involves ice cream, pie and cookies!!! Okay, while that…
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Damn Good Design Articles: Edition 3
It’s a holiday weekend, and hopefully you’ve got a little extra time with friends, family or to check up on your…
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Damn Good Design Articles: Edition 2
Two articles for price the price of one today friends! For this second edition of Damn Good Design Articles, I’ve paired…
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Damn Good Design Articles: Edition 1
Today I’m starting a new kind of post, my first “round-up” of sorts! I’m always scouring the web for all things…
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A Quick Look Back on 2015
It’s been quite the eventful year and my top nine posts on Instagram sums it up pretty well – design, design,…
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Holiday Shopping Throwdown
Holiday shopping. Some people love it and some people hate it. When shopping for other people is part of your job,…
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Women Who MAKE: Sophia Reyes Designs
Today, I’m thrilled to bring you a behind the scenes look into the studio of womenswear clothing designer, Sophia Reyes David….
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Women Who MAKE: Five Month Round Up
This month, I wanted to take a quick pause and recap the amazing ladies featured on Women Who MAKE thus far….
Continue reading →Shopping Modern & Vintage: Back to School Chicago Style
We’ve all heard the old saying, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” I’ve always been a little nerdy when…
Continue reading →Styling Lesson: Designer Tips for Decorating with Books
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have fabulous built-in bookcases (how about this entryway) or miles of wall space to install custom…
Continue reading →Affordable Nursery Design with Target and buybuy Baby
Alrighty! Today I’ve got a short and sweet post all about decorating an affordable nursery. I find that lots of people…
Continue reading →Women Who MAKE: Convivial Production, Inc.
Hey beautiful people! Thanks for following along with the Women Who MAKE series. This marks month number five of the series,…
Continue reading →Apartment Therapy Feature
Last week our apartment tour went live on Apartment Therapy! I was really impressed with how well our AT editor seemed…
Continue reading →Women Who MAKE: The Nate Berkus Studio Team
Hello world! I’m super smoking excited to bring you this month’s Women Who MAKE interview x3! As some of you may…
Continue reading →Centered By Design is featured in Germany!
I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from German design blogger Maria Spassov a few weeks ago. Through the wonders…
Continue reading →Women Who MAKE: MegMade
There is so much good stuff happening with this month’s Women Who Make! #1 – My interview with Meg Piercy was…
Continue reading →Speaking Engagement at WeWork
I’m honored to have the opportunity to share more about my career journey with Quarterlette and WeWork next Wednesday evening. YOU…
Continue reading →Flea Market Fabulous
Summer flea market season officially opens this weekend! Here in Chicago, it’s marked by the Randolph Street Market taking their festivities…
Continue reading →My Favorite Art Resources
There comes a moment in most 20 or 30 somethings lives when you realize that you need art, you need art…
Continue reading →Photoshop Tutorial: Create Your Own Color Palette
I’ve been slowing building my Photoshop skills. Digital design skills are very important for interior design work today and there are…
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Shibori Dyeing Tutorial
Shibori fabric has hit the mainstream design market big time this spring. You will see designer dresses, pillows, bedding and scarves…
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Wallpaper Resources and Trends
Wallpaper is making a huge comeback, and I mean HUGE! You can’t look at any interiors focused site today without an…
Continue reading →Navigating a Career Change with Compassion
Many of us leave college with a degree, but not with a direction. In my eight years since college graduation I…
Continue reading →Tips & Resources: Great Interior Design Books
I am definitely a book lover. These days with my Kindle, Iphone and Amazon it’s rare that I actually get to…
Continue reading →Branding Your Small Business
Hello, I’m so excited to welcome you to the Centered By Design blog! I’ve spent the past six months developing my…
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