NEW SERIES: DESIGNING MY SUBSCRIBERS SPACES

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Ever since I began my YouTube channel, I have been thinking about a way for me to incorporate my passion for interior design! I began decorating my own house and documenting the process. I quickly realized, yes, this was sharing my design/decor ideas with my subscribers, but it may not have been directly helping people decorate their spaces! 

Interior design is all about problem solving, combining good form & function, and obviously improving the aesthetic of the space! Being a designer, is all about helping people one on one to make improvements in their personal space based on their lifestyle. It takes time and attention to come up with the perfect design solution to solve all existing problems. I wanted to create a series where I could help specific people, one on one, transform their spaces! 

I wanted to use my YouTube channel as a way to connect and communicate with those who needed/wanted design help and advice! I think everyone deserves to have spaces they are proud of, can grow in, and feel good in... so I knew I could help! 

I like to keep it real on my channel...I don't decorate/furnish my home with expensive pieces, so I would never suggest unrealistic, expensive items to you! I like to keep things affordable, doable, and add in some DIYs here and there to create a unique space! Interior design doesn't have to be luxurious and expensive! I want to share my money saving ideas, and affordable solutions with everyone so we're not all braking the bank! 

Now, keeping in mind all of these factors... I finally came up with the idea to help my subscribers redesign/decorate their spaces through YouTube videos, and I called it...

"DESIGNING MY SUBSCRIBERS SPACES"

I thought it would be so fun if my subscribers sent in photos and videos of their space they needed help with, told me what they wanted changed, what they wanted to keep, and what style they hoped their space could be! Once I could gain an understanding of what the subscriber wanted, I take their space and throw it into a floor plan! I play around with the layout until I come up with a great solution to better suit their space. I then draw up a new floor plan! I start pinning some inspiration photos on Pinterest, creating an entire mood/direction board for the new design plan! After, I take that inspiration, and go "shopping". I head to my favorite online websites to search for the perfect pieces! I find everything the subscriber would need to redecorate their space, and put it together into a shopping list! Once the perfect pieces are chosen for the design, I create a 3D rendering of the subscribers space, implementing the new furniture layout, and new pieces so they can fully visualize what their space could look like!! 

My hopes are, that I can provide everything you would need to redesign/decorate your space on your own using all of my design suggestions and resources! I walk you through the whole design process so that you could successfully create the space you have always imagined! 

It is seriously the most fun and satisfying thing I have ever done on my channel! I love having you apart of my videos... it really feels like we are working together to create a special space! And who knows... maybe one day we could turn the plans into a reality together! 

So if you guys have a space in your house/apartment/dorm room that you really would like some design advice on, send it my way! I would be more than happy to help you! Any project, big or small, I can for sure try and work some magic to create a space you love. 

I hope you all enjoy my new series on my channel, and I really hope it can provide some help and insight to all of you! 

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DO YOU WANT YOUR SPACE REDESIGNED??

1. Take photos of your space! (they can just be iphone photos) 
2. Take a walk around video of the space. (if you're using an iphone, turn it horizontal to film)
3. Record a quick video of yourself introducing yourself, and letting me know which design style you would like for your space.
4. DM me on instagram (@kristenmcgowan) the photos & videos you took. 
5. If you want to be super helpful... measure your space!
6. Send me inspiration photos for a style reference!
7. WAIT & WATCH to see if you were chosen for the next episode! 

How To: Style Your Bed

A bed to me is comfort, safety, warmth... and probably my favourite place to be! I have ALWAYS gotten work done in my bed, journaled, had my coffee, and probably had the best talks ever in my bed! To me it represents so much, and I guess that's why I find so much importance in having a good/good looking bed! I am all about fuzzy blankets, cozy layers, clean sheets and pillows!! If my bed has all of those things I'm happy! 

I'm sharing with you my BEFORE and AFTER bed decor/styling, and showing you how easy it is to change your bed from drab - fab!

Before starting this, I had some old white duvet we have had since our apartment days, and some cheap grey sheets I found on sale one day! Like every white material in this world, my bed didn't stay white! It was screaming to be changed and updated... So I went off to Target and grabbed all new stuff! 

How to: Style Your Bed - kristenmcgowan.com

I started off with some nice soft white sheets I grabbed at Target! I love just getting plain white sheets... it feels like a hotel bed to me! I really wanted to get a nice knit blanket to layer under my duvet... but settled for a cozy grey one I've had around the house! 

The most important thing I needed was a new duvet!! Mine has totally turned from white to... umm off white? I know getting another white duvet may not have been the smartest move, but I can't help it, I love the look of a nice white bed! I grabbed a king size duvet from Target, and it had a simple pattern that went well with our tufted headboard! It's PERFECT (also machine washable).

I then strolled by this amazing grey faux fur throw, and I instantly loved it! I styled this thrown across the corner of the bed for an effortless cozy look. 

My next mission was to find pillows to dress up the bed! I wanted a pair of large pillows to create some height... and decorative smaller pillows to layer up! I found two white ones that had a simple textured look, and a few other small throw pillows all within the grey and white family! 

How To: Style a Bed

Shop Bedding Here: 

• Sheets: http://bit.ly/2wcZZh5 
• Duvet: http://bit.ly/2ykCRhd
• Throw: http://bit.ly/2xZXhzU
• Large Pillows: http://bit.ly/2hopeui
• Small Decorative Pillow: http://bit.ly/2xql35d

What I love about styling a bed is that it can ALWAYS be changed! The style never has to stay the same, and this can be done through changing out pillows, throws, quilts and knits! You can add more colour, organic patterns, prints... anything that speaks to your style! 

I put a quick little video together on how to achieve this layered look step by step! 

Check it out below and let me know what you think! 

xo - Kristen

COZY LIVING ROOM SNEAK PEAK

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Some of you may know my boyfriend Christian, and I recently moved into a new home in Los Angeles! We went from an apartment to a house, and boy does it make a HUGE difference when trying to decorate! There are so many rooms to fill, small moments to design and create! It can be VERY overwhelming...but fun! 

I decided to start my decorating journey in our living room! It is the first room you see when you walk in our home and I wanted to create the right vibe! I also wanted to make sure whatever living space I created also worked well with our existing furniture and decor.

I'm getting ready for the full design reveal of our living room... and I am just getting too excited I wanted to share with you a sneaky SNEAK PEAK! The look I am going after is a cozy, farmhouse, glam look.... if that makes any sense! But I'm pretty much mixing a few of my favourite styles and making it work!

Here are some sneak peak photos of our living room that I will soon be revealing!

Let me know what you guys think in the comments below!

I CANNOT WAIT to show you guys the entire room reveal, look forward to a new YouTube video on the entire process! 

xoxo Kristen