I have the overwhelming urge to buy something, and it just might be a giant black leather couch

Who am I? A 20 year old frat boy who buys black leather in the vain hope it might hide evidence of keg parties and debauchery at large? Nary a few months ago I put my foot down and stated that I am, unequivocally, a brown leather kind of girl. And then I saw this: black couch leather

Except it comes in a super long four seat configuration and I think I must have it.

Am I crazy? I mean... yes. Of course I am. But will I regret selling my other couches and buying this? PS, our living room looks nothing like that right now. I keep planning to shoot it and post updates, but our couches continue to annoy me. I'm over them. I think.

We moved everything over from the old house and it just doesn't fit here. The chesterfield is pretty, but not big enough to be the main couch. The tan couch is pretty, but maybe kind of blah with the wall color. I can't really afford to buy an entire new room of furniture so I have to do it piecemeal, which means our living room will look terrible while I decide what to buy post giant sofa purchase... basically redecorating when you're poor is stupid, but I'm considering it anyway.

Here's some black leather inspiration:

black de sede

black nate berkus

black sofa oushak

black leather chesterfield

kelly wearstler desede

I hear once you go black you never go back.

What say you? Yay or nay?

What I'm Working On

I can't tell you how immensely grateful I am for all the positive feedback I've received regarding the new site design (and yes, the zebra is coming back), the nursery tour video, and the formal launch of my design business (!). Every kind comment brings a misty little tear to my eye, and reminds me of how far I've come since last year. Having a new baby is the most thrilling, exhausting, confusing thing that will ever happen to many people. It's a time of great joy, but the loss of self can be pretty overwhelming. Want to go to the movies? No. How about to dinner with other adults? No. What about to the bathroom by yourself? HELL NO. A mind once brimming with ideas and enthusiasm becomes hijacked by sleep deprivation and the accursed Fresh Beat Band (reach for the skyyyyyyyyy!). And then babies get older. Luke turned one last weekend, and although I still run into walls on occasion, I am slowly regaining my humanity. Work has a lot to do with that.

So to all my design clients, new and old, thank you for giving me a purpose beyond wiping butts. Here's some inspiration via pinterest for what I'm working on.

Moody traditional glamour with a global twist for a brave client with fantastic taste:

coco chanel apartment

glamorous gold mirror

Warm modern for clients in a trendy hood who just sprang for a fabulous antique kilim rug:

kilim vintage modern

kilim dark walls

Soothing blues with fresh contrasting colors for a talented photographer friend:

emily henderson

doung gene meyer

Crazy colorful with a palm springs flair for a swingin' vintage poolside home:

doug gene meyer

jonathan adler

And I have a brand new client with a 20s Dutch Colonial. Work hasn't begun yet, but I'm considering something along these lines... perhaps a little less trad and a touch more shiny modern:

classic clean stripes

kilimsofa

dutch colonial library

moody mudroom

Exciting!!! I love the variety!

Anyway, I have lots going on and I can't wait to share progress pictures with you. Also, my kitchen is still in a sad state of disrepair and SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. SOON. So stay tuned for kitchen talk, round 2000000.

In the meantime, if you're interested in design services drop me a line at erinwilldesign [at] gmail.com and we can chat.

And once again, thank you for your support! I'm not very good at accepting compliments, but I love them all the same.

You people are the best people in the world.

[pinterest]

In Which I Humiliate Myself, AKA Video of My Nursery Tour on House Proud

You know how sometimes you see pictures of yourself, or hear recordings of your voice, or -- you know -- see yourself on tv, and wonder how the pod people managed to take over while you were sleeping? You know?

ABSOLUTELY!

I suspect my parents will be confused when they discover I have transitioned from born and raised in east Texas to Jessica from Sweet Valley High (don't judge). Or maybe I always sound like that?! Either way, I need some elocution lessons.

Thankfully Luke is adorable and precious and pretty much steals the show. Plus Amy Hadley is utterly charming! If you live in Austin the segment will be airing on YNN today.

Enjoy the video and try not to hurl tomatoes at your screen.