The Life of an Interiors Blogger

Welcome to part five of the 'Life of a Blogger' series where I look at the different cultures in the blogging communities. All week I have been looking at areas such as fashion, beauty, books and pop culture. Yesterday I looked at pop culture blogging and today will be devoted to the glam world of interiors blogging. Adrienne S. from Mustard Seed Collective tells us all what it is like to be an interiors blogger.

Why did you start blogging?
I just stumbled across a blog one day, not really knowing what it was and after about an hour of going through the pages of the site I was amazed that it was an everyday person who wrote it. I�m everyday people. There�s nothing fancy about me and I though I could do it to.  So I did.

Why did you choose to write about interiors?
I�ve always loved interiors, but never really knew what to call it.  I would rearrange the living room when I was a kid and I was all about DIY projects but never knew it could be a profession.  So since I�m not a professional interior designer, I compensate by posting my favorite pics.

Are you a member of any bloggers groups?
I�m not a member of any formal groups but I would love it if bloggers, no matter their levels of expertise, could get together and come up with a brilliant project that could benefit everyone.  Actually, I have just started collaborating with Chic Modern Vintage and Chic Chocolate for a series of posts that have been a lot of fun to create.

Do you attend any blogger meet ups?
Unfortunately in New Mexico there are not a lot of d�cor bloggers, but I am relocating to California at the end of the month where I am hoping to meet up with a few of my faves who call the Bay Area home.

How do you find the interiors blogging community? 
Friendly?  Yes.  Really, it should be no other way. I�ve communicated with people like you, Beauty is Diverse, Haute Design, Get Togetha and so many many more who make it a point to share and care.  Unfortunately with the good comes the bad. Cliquey?  Most definitely. Competitive?  I�ve only heard that it is. I�ve never experienced it first-hand.

Are there any community blogging activities that you are involved in? 
Oh, I love to swap links.  Why not?  It�s a great way to make connections and to show yourself friendly.  Not everyone is into it, and for good reason, but I like it, especially if I�m linking to a blog that�s really on the verge.  I kind of feel like I�m letting the world in on a little secret even if I�m not the first person to discover it.

You can read Adrienne's blog here.

You can follow her on Twitter

Click here to read the other posts in 'The Life of a Blogger' series.

Tomorrow you will fid out what it is like to be a Travel blogger.

Home Sweet Home: The World of Interior Magazines

Location. Location. Location. Relocation. Relocation. Relocation. Property Ladder. Houae Doctor, To Buy or Not to Buy, Homes Under the Hammer. Just a taste of all the property programme that were all the rage just a few years ago. Back in 2004 when I bought my first home I could not get enough of these shows and watched them over and over again. Now I can barely stand the sight of them. I also went through the same thing with magazines; Good Homes, Living etc, Elle Deco all became my best friends and I used to spend many an hour pouring over them till I got to the point where even the masthead would make me recoil. Now after an absence of a year or two and a house that needs a revamp, I have rekindled my passion for interior mags. Then they do say that absence makes the heart go fonder. With interior bloggers coming to the forefront it made me wonder what interior magazines they read to get their inspirations so I set out to ask a few of my fav bloggers who write about homes and style what their best publication is.

My favourite interiors magazine is Elle D�cor because it has always showcased beautiful and inspiring interiors.  Over the past year, the magazine has made a wonderful transition including more modern homes and highlighting spaces that appeal to everyone whether an interior designer or just a design lover.  The trend spotting is also on point.  The latest feature on the ikat trend was my favourite thus far.  Every month I can't wait for more!

Jeanine Hays
AphroChic

I subscribe to a few different d�cor publications, but until I discover Domino�s rightful replacement, I�ll continue to resurrect old issues.  It�s my design Bible and is necessary for renewal of the d�cor mind.  It gives 200 pages of mind-inspiring, creative freshness, while touching the hems of the design elite.  Each section is like a different book of the Bible.  First, there�s the �Old Testament� which consists of decor traditions and wisdom.   Second, is the �New Testament� featuring the four gospels: trends, amazing finds, stylish spaces and today�s designers.  Its book of Revelations isn�t in the magazine itself, but in the inspiration it gives to create a beautiful lifestyle.

Adrienne S.
Mustard Seed Collective

My favourite interiors magazine is Ideal Home. It's mainstream and it's popular but it's always inspiring. I know that the products they feature are going to be things I can actually buy too and the rooms are rooms I can actually see myself living in. As nice as it is to see pics of a ch�teau, it's hard to see how that will work in a 1 bedroom flat and Ideal Home doesn't fall into that trap. The magazine really shows you how to use the high street to create an individual look but for the really unique and vintage inspired home ideas I still look to blogs to inspire me rather than magazines.

Jenny Haydon
The Style PA at Home

TGI Friday

This year seems to be racing by faster than speed lightning but thank god that the snow is thawing and we can all get on with our lives. Once again here are a list of blog posts which have rocked my world this week.

Mustard Seed Collective
Who doesn't love gay Paris? The fashion, the food, the wine and the wonderful architecture? Well the lovely Adrienne presents the French campaign by fashion brand, Forever 21.

Divalocity
It is a pretty dead cert that Precious is going to clean up at all the awards shows including the Golden Globes which takes place this weekend. This post looks at the star appeal of Gabourey Sidibe, the new star of Precious who has taken Hollywood by storm.

Yoruba Girl Dancing
According to Henry Reid, US Senate Majority Leader there is a negro dialect. Is there? Yoruba Girl was perturbed and discussed it in her blog.

Face Hunter
What you thought The Satorialist was the only street style blogger one capable of landing a book deal?
Not so. Yvan Rodic aka Face Hunter shows off his brand new spanking book.

The Stiletto Effect
Remember Taylor, the stroppy assistant in The Rachel Zoe Project? Well she has left the Zoe campy and gone onto pastures new. This post pays homage to her talents.

Her Best Food Forward - The Ondo Lady

The ever so lovely Adrienne from Mustard Seed Collective has featured me on her blog in part of her shoe week series. This is where she profiles various bloggers around the world and they talk about their favorite footwear. Other bloggers that have been featured are Get It Girl Style, Haute Girl and  God's Favorite Shoes. I was pretty chuffed to be asked to take place in this series.

You can check out the article here.

My Space - Adrienne Smith

Along with fashion, books and magazines; interiors is another one of my passions. Over the last few months I have come across a variety of fantastic interior blogs. Fashion bloggers may rule blogsphere with beauty bloggers not far behind but those who write about stylish cool living are a new force to deal with. Enter Adrienne Smith whose blog Mustard Seed Collective portrays the best in interior design, style and art.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?
The name is inspired by the Parable of the Mustard Seed has always been one of my favorites from the Bible, and it basically says that even a little bit of faith, when acted upon, will produce great things. And I consider myself to be a creative person, and all creative people know it takes more than just coming up with an idea, you have to act on it. So for me the combination of creativity and belief in a vision equal a collective of decor, fashion, art, etc. I have actually been considering changing the title of my blog, but time will tell.

Where do you scribe?
As far as my blog goes, I write from my bed. It's the most comfy place-- maybe a little too comfortable. It's not uncommon to find me falling asleep at my laptop but as long as I don't push it off the bed, I'm good.

Why that place?
I spend eight hours of the day at work behind a desk staring at a computer. If I am going to keep working on the computer once I get home I want to do it in the most relaxing spot possible. My desk is actually a sewing maching my father gave my mother before I was born. She made a lot of my clothes on that machine, it has a lot of knicks and scratches and I plan to refinish it one day but I have been more focused on my bedroom. If you're on a limited budget like I am you build a space piece by piece. Patience is a requirement.

What is on your desk at the moment?
A scarf to protect the desk from further scratches, which matches the one at the end of my bed. A few sketches, mostly doodling, notecards that I am designing, a bowl of beads that I am still deciding what to do with, dried pink roses-- which I love because they dried nicely, look great and I don't have to worry about watering them. Two white ceramic hands, a giant wax candle with intricate scrollwork and my favorite issues of Domino and Elle Decor.

What form of inspiration do you have on the wall or desk ie photos, magazine cuttings or extracts?
I wish I had the guts to cut and tear out pages from a magazine, but I usually tab the pages so I can keep them neat. My laptop has many saved articles, images, tips, and blogs, all of which inspire me in various ways.

Do you keep a tidy office or are you a messy worker?
I am more tidy than messy, but I definitely have my messy moments. Sometimes it's just easier to push something to the side or pile it as high as it can go, but I make sure to straighten up before it all comes crashing down.

What will your office look like when it is ready?
I am going for an eclectic look, so I might keep the sewing machine desk. New floor-length drapes are in order, even though I love the way the sunlight comes through the one pictured early in the morning. Also a nice wall treatment, two chairs, one for sitting and the other for a guest or to drape a scarf on, an area rug, hopefully from Designers Guild to anchor everything, and a white lamp to give it all light. I will also add my own crafty touches to make it mine.