10 Questions with Orlando Soria

Oh, happy day lovies! I am so excited about today's "10 Questions With..."! You probably recognize this handsome fella from Secrets from a Stylist! What you probably don't know is that Orlando is way more entertaining than HGTV will allow for. Over the past six months this man has made me laugh so much, I thought it only fair you get in on the giggles and start reading his blog too. HommeMaker.com is packed with both pretty pictures and humorous chatter. Before you pop over there, get a taste below!

1. What's Your Name and URL: Orlando Soria, Hommemaker.com

2. When did you start blogging? What drove you to blog?: I started blogging in 2007 when I worked as a graphic designer. Because I was an entry-level designer, I had no creative control over what I was creating. Blogging was something I did completely for myself, where I could maintain creative control.

3. What has been your favorite post?: I did a post about gay pool parties which was pretty hilarious and fun to write. Sometimes I go back and read it when I'm feeling bored and it makes me happy. 

4. Where do you go to for inspiration? Dish blogs/stores/locations/etc: The most inspirational places in the world are art museums. I go to LACMA (LA County Museum of Art) on a regular basis and stare at the Richard Serra pieces, the Barbara Kruger's elevator installation, the Chris Burden streetlamps out front, etc. Like interior design, art is a form of expression. But unlike interior design, art isn't bogged down by practicality or useability. In designing spaces, art provides uninhibited visual inspiration.

5. Every dweller should: Fill their home with books and art. These two things make me happy because they provide endless information, entertainment, and beauty. They also provide perfect design elements because they don't just feel like random crapola sitting around. They have a useful function (which is to make life fun).

6. If you had unlimited funds you would buy: A huge art collection with work by Hedi Slimane, Yoshitomo Nara, and David Hockney.

7.Where would you buy a second home/rent a second apartment and why?: I have done my time in New York and probably will never live there full time again, but it's always been my dream to own a whole brownstone on either 21st or 22nd street between 9th and 10th avenues. I've lived in this part of the city and loved it. And the idea of living in one of those gorgeous old brownstones and having the whole thing to myself is the most extravagant and delightful fantasy.

8. What's your favorite piece of furniture in your home?: Right now I'm really into my bedside table, which is this old farmhouse piece with a lot of little drawers that I got a Wertz Brothers. It's one of the first things I see every morning and it's got a ton of age and character.

9. Your homes style is: Modern-Antique-Japanese-Grandpa-Rustic-Urban-Artist. I like everything, so my style kind of reflects that. I love paintings and photographs, but I also love furniture pieces with history, age and character. I don't like houses that look too themey, so my space tends to be an eclectic collection of stuff I love.

10. Three words to describe your personal taste: Fun, Found, Frugal.

Sofa Sourcing

Ahhhh....sofa's. A touchy subject around here. Our house is a traditional tutor and we have respected that, for the most part. We always pictures getting a big 'ol chesterfield couch, but that doesn't mean I haven't been day dreaming of something more....fun. 

                  

This blue belle is a perfect combo of Joey and myself. I hope we can find it in reality. Searching online is all well and good for pictures, but this specific one has been hard to come by. Oh soft and cozy-non-frumpy-couch, come to mama. 

    

This Restoration Hardware staple has been another one we agree on, but I worry about puppies and future babies smearing unthinkables on this linen covered masterpiece. We have matching wingbacks and that can get a little dull and matchy-matchy, but I still think she's worth looking at. 

This extra long bad boy is also from Restoration Hardware and is the one we agree on for sensible reasons. It's baby and pet friendly. It's deep and cozy, and it works with the over all voice of the house. 

Now this pretty Anthropologie piece is not a main couch by any streatch, but how pretty are those birds on the fabric of this couch? Swoon!

 

There is just something about this couch that gets my wheels turning! It's like Ikat meetc chevron with doily details. How sweet? Joey wouldn't go for it. But, remember, I am dreaming. 

5 Things I've Learned from Working With Emily Henderson, so far

Happy Monday! Did you get hit with the snow storm this weekend? It was a weird relief to finely get some seasonally appropriate action. It snowed here before Thanksgiving, then nothing! We didn't mind it so much. So today I am doing a little post about what I have learned so far, from working with Miss Emily Henderson. Ya know, HGTV Design star Winner? Host of Secrets from a Stylist, your favorite HGTV show. Personally I think she's the most relevant design on TV. She gets it. She knows how to make a room look like a million bucks, while looking lived in, while not breaking the bank. So what have I picked up in the 7 months I have been on board? 

1. Sometimes a turban and a Red Bull is all you need. This pic was taken after a Fashion Week Party. I learned something this past September while working with Emily. This girl wakes up early and stays up late in order to get things done, and she's always doing it in style. I once heard "We as people are only good at either fashion or interiors, never both". Emily is defiantly the exception to this rule. Cram as much as you can into a day, you'll be surprised what you can get done. 

2. Options. When we get a new client, it's all about sourcing options. I know it's easy to think designers know exactly what the room will look like as soon as they set eyes on it. I kinda did, but in reality that doesn't make any sense. I have learned that sourcing options is probably the most crucial thing you can do in the whole design process. You may know a perfect couch for the living room, but that couch can be 10K! Knowing how to source and having enough options something similar is way more important than I thought!

3. Ugly can be pretty. You know when you shop junk or vintage you pass by 99% of stuff and think "no way!"? Emily has defiantly taught me to look more deeply at objects. Shape, quality, scale. It can be transformed into something beautiful that works. Finding unique spots beyond the big box stores, and knowing how to find a gem has been so much fun!

4. You don't have to be one thing. People often compartmentalize themselves into a specific style, and it's OK to be attracted to two, three, or even four styles at the same time. We have a client that's Lake House with Japanese flair, in an un kitchy way - and one would think that's strange - but it's looking insanely amazing. 

5. Mixing is vital. Yes, we buy stuff from West Elm, CB2, and Room and Board like the best of them, but the majoity of styling is done with way off the beaten track items. This is where Emily sets herself apart. She takes the extra step to find those unique items the clients totally connect with and is a master at grouping them.

Sometimes you don't get it right on the first try. If you watched Design Star when Emily is on it, you remember this:

So don't beat yourself up. Try, try again. It's been a blast so far, and I am so excited to share finished projects. Emily and Orlando have been doing the majority of the designing (I don't want any confusion!), but just being around them is so inspiring.