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This year has been a really exciting one both personally and professionally. Sometimes it feels like everything always happens all at once, but the momentum has been building for years now! I've always admired Traditional Home's Trad Classes and am beyond honored to be named in the class of 2023! I am celebrated among such a talented group of interior designers and I couldn't be more thrilled for this. Thank you so much to my talented team who delivers exceptional talent to every single project we get to touch! I'm inspired by them daily and enjoy working alongside them each day. Also, thank you to my dear clients who trust me and my team to bring their dreams to life! I wanted to share a little sneak peek into the issue! I've always admired Traditional Home and its dedication to showing immaculate interiors. Pick up your local copy at Barnes and Noble or any store that sells TH magazine!

40! Wow, did I really just say that?? Here, I am in the last days in my 30s and to be honest I couldn’t be more excited about this next phase of numbers. I know everyone handles birthdays and numbers differently but this number doesn’t really bother me. Maybe as I’ve heard so many great things about your forties! Or, that I’ve worked on myself so much these last few years that I feel more in my skin than ever! Or maybe that I just feel more at peace and present in my life! Whatever it is I will take it and move forward into this exciting new decade! I’ve achieved much more at this age than I ever thought I would have dreamed. And I am so very thankful for that! I have a successful design firm and a team that inspires me every day! A career that allows me to grow and be challenged in new ways which I love. A schedule that allows me to take care of myself mentally and physically and embrace things that are good for me. Most importantly, I have a family that sparks my soul! I love this crazy busy age that we are embarking on and all the wonderful memories we are making as a family! I’m guessing that is part of my ease into this age as I feel at peace on many levels of my life right now and that feels good. I love the glitter that lays on my path ahead and I am more excited than ever to embrace each day with the love and abundance I am feeling! Cheers to 40 and to the beautiful life I am creating!! Thank you for following along and being a part of it! With the excitement this week, I wanted to do a big thank you and have a huge sale on House of Blum! Enjoy 25% off the entire weekend through Tuesday, August 8th. I hope you get what you've been eyeing- we really don't do sales like this! I'm so thankful for all of you that follow along and support my small businesses. It really means the world! I'm sharing below my Top Forty at 40!

Interior design is constantly evolving to adapt to new trends and inspirations. It's one of the reasons designers adore this profession! The creativity and potential are limitless! One question we keep getting is how we incorporate color into our design projects! There's always a fine line, but we're getting more confident and daring with our choices. Here are our top tips for bringing color into the home! #1 Balance the Color This entry is at our #RevivedGlam project which pulled colorful throughout the entire home. This was a remodel project at a home that was 20 years old. The grand foyer was classic and traditional with the wainscoting and two-story entrance. We kept it fairly neutral, but layered in colorful artwork to balance with the rest of the home! The colorful artwork and hot pink book balance color beautifully on this entry console. #2 Our Favorite Pairings It's okay to branch out to different color shades in one room! Some of our favorite combos are blue and purple, blue and orange, pink and green, and blue and pink! We went with a deep lavender for the throw pillows and a true blue drapery pattern to bring these colors together. #3 Tie In the Elements When planning for color in your space, start with your favorite and layer on the others. Green is the star of the show in this space and blue is the secondary. We kept these shades consistent in the drapery trim, rug, chair backing, and tones in the cabinetry. Our goal was not to be monochromatic with this room, so we selected a chair fabric that had pink and orange. The colors marry together so well! In our design process, we put all the fabrics together in the home so our clients can see all the upholstery laid out. It's one of our favorite meetings to present! #4 Start with a Table Setting The best way to bring color into your home is in a temporary way. It's your time to play with different hues and textures to see what you love! You can have a neutral-designed room and layer in pops of color for a fresh look! Switch it out seasonally for more experimentation. We love the blue and orange table setting for and end of the summer bash! Comment below your favorite color combos when it comes to home! See you next time, friends! Cheers!

Is it a surprise that my bedroom was one of the last rooms to complete in my home? As a parent, sometimes it feels like we take the backseat so our kids can take the lead. My sons share a room now that has been complete since we moved in and I designed Lillian's room during my pregnancy three years ago. My husband and I's bedroom finally had its turn to be remodeled. We have an early 1900s Tudor Style home that had some beautiful bones to work with. I knew I wanted a retreat- something relaxing, feminine, and welcoming after a long day. I can't wait to share this space with you and hope it inspires you to make your personal spaces as comfortable as you can! AFTER BEFORE When we moved into the home, I knew the bones were great in our bedroom! We took away some of the built-ins but left one for picture frames and some of my favorite antiques. We mostly just made cosmetic changes to our bedroom, which made plenty of room for detail. Wallpaper, new flooring, light fixture, draperies, and bedding made all the difference in this space! Blush is one of my favorite colors of the home! It's truly neutral in my book! Let's talk about the bed and bedding first. Layers are the best way to make your bed look like the epic beds you see in the showrooms. I usually opt for three euros, two 22x22 pillows, and a 14x20 lumbar or bolster-style pillow in the very front. I pulled the greyish tones, blue, and baby blue to tie it all together. Antique brass and grey studded jeweled tape on the lumbar match the tape on the draperies too. I LOVE adding a scaldino to the foot of the bed for an extra layer but it's also known to keep your feet warm in the night. What a charming touch, right? As a designer, there are so many wishlist items that we always keep in the back of our heads. This bed was one of them. The beautiful beveled edges and tufted headboard are elegant and class- my two favorite descriptors when it comes to design. For the other areas of the room, I brought in accessories and artwork from some of my favorite brands. I love to source art from Liz Lidgett any chance I can get and when I saw these gorgeous pieces I knew I had to have them for my bedroom. I don't usually keep symmetrical, but for this space, I knew it would pack the punch to mirror the design. Besides different accessories on each nightstand, the rest of the room was mirrored intentionally. Visual comfort beveled crystal lamps and cabinet-style nightstands sealed the deal! I love the look of a statement chandelier for master bedrooms, but knew I needed functionality too. The perfect compromise... a fandelier! This antique brass one is one of my favorites and its scale was perfect. I don't have super high ceilings, so it sits lower and creates more of an impact. The antique brass carries through the lamp hardware, drapery rods, and even in the wallpaper. I went for a textured gold grasscloth and love the shimmer is provides! Email us at hello@meghanbluminteriors.com with any questions you have about this space or anything else! As always, thank you for being here, friends! Cheers!

Everything has a foundation. From homes to relationships, great things are built on an even better foundation. Rooms have the same equation! When we're designing any room, we always have the rug at the forefront of our minds. Rugs can be the most difficult piece to get the right scale, pattern, and material just right. Here's our take on how to get it RIGHT when it comes to the "anchor of the room"! Here are our 4 quick tips when selecting a rug for your space: Always go bigger! For living rooms, make sure each piece of furniture touches the rug, but that is doesn't extend past the backsides of the furniture. Most living rooms can handle an 8x10, 9x12, 9x14, or even custom sizes can go larger. Natural materials elevate your environment. Hand-knotted wool rugs bring lively energy to your space because they have natural fibers in them. For the areas we plant our feet into, it's important that it hold quality and brings good energy into our bodies! Know when to go bold or keep it calm! Rugs can be the artwork for the room but also can become too overwhelming when the pattern is too heavy for the space. See below the times we kept is subtle and went bold below! Double-check measurements... and then double-check again! The worst feeling is when something doesn't fit just right that you've been so excited for. Make sure to check your measurements before ordering so you receive the perfect fit! Email our experienced team at hello@houseofblum.com for a free consultation to see if your rug will fit. Email them the measurements of your space and they will select the perfect size for you! Our first ever Rug Collection just launched over at houseofblum.com! It's beautiful, effortless, and pulled from our favorite design projects so you can enjoy it in your home too! Tell us which room you are needing help with adding a rug to! We would love to help you! We adore this collected selection of rugs in our first launch! With different styles and price points, we can't wait to see which rugs you love!

Designing for clients is a gift we don't take for granted at Meghan Blum Interiors. When our clients come back for 1,2, or even 3 more projects with us- that's really a treat! This was a full furnishings & decor design project for our client at their family home in Clear Lake, IA. This home had been passed through generations, so we knew we had something special cut out for us. Keep scrolling to see the full reveal! THE MOODBOARD timeless, traditional. & playful design PROJECT SCOPE furnishings & decor The palette for #LakesideCharmer was blue, white, and green. Designing with a blend of pattern fabrics and solid staples brought these spaces to life. Texture, authenticity, and softness were a priority so it felt inviting and comfortable for family and guests visiting. For this project, we designed the living room, sitting and dining room, master bedroom, three guest bedrooms, and a kid & adult-friendly bunk room. We also provided mirrors and lighting to the bathrooms. the living room: the not-so-formal sitting and dining room: From patterns to colorways, we love the way this space turned out. It's a restful spot to watch the lake activity and catch up with family on life. We designed the full space with new furnishings, decor, and rugs. However, two things we used from our client were the dining table and chairs. We had the dining chairs painted in Inland by Sherwin Williams with a high gloss finish to bring in that coastal touch. The peekaboo fabric on the skirt of the head dining chairs was matched to the side dining chairs and it made such an impact! the bedrooms: Designed for fun and resort-style stays, we love how the bedrooms of #LakesideCharmer turned out. This family has generations coming to the lake so the styles and comfortability of the spaces were thoughtful. I always recommend a bunk room for lake homes. We decided to do full-size beds on the bottom bunks with twins on top. That way if more room was needed for adults, they could be comfortable too. the window treatments: Captivating custom details are found throughout #LakesideCharmer that we can't go without sharing. The window treatments were some of our favorite pieces to design for the main living rooms. The living room draperies were a beautiful creamy white linen and we paired a scalloped white and blue trim vertically down the sides to offset and create contrast. The baby blue tone on the trim worked perfectly with the bright green and soft blue tones of the sofa pillows. The roman shades to the right really packed a punch for the not-so-formal sitting and dining room. We didn't want to disrupt the lake views but knew it needed an extra layer to bring warmth and decoration. The Schumacher fabric worked perfectly in our medley or traditional hues. THE FULL GALLERY

There isn't a holiday we don't love decorating for. Each holiday and each year gives us the opportunity to try new combinations of items we have at House of Blum and trends we're loving. This year, we thought it would be fun to use this gorgeous waterfront veranda as the setting of the Fourth of July tablescape. The setting, natural materials and rattan furniture gave us the starting point for the overall aesthetic for the Independence Day table design. We selected serving accessories made from bamboo, teak, rattan, wicker and caning to add to the natural, summery feel of the space. We had the perfect things from House of Blum to make our table refined with these natural elements. BASE LAYERS To set the stage, we started with a lux linen table runner. The dark grey wash was the perfect anchor for us to layer serving ware as well as the red, white & blue treats. For a centerpiece, we placed a gorgeous scalloped bamboo tray, arranged with a large striped vase and adorned with faux wild raspberry stems. Cocktail/mocktail essentials filled in the rest of the tray, including our rattan cocktail shaker. Flanking each end of the table, we styled our caned candleholders with vases of water to become floral arrangements. The American flags added the festive, Americana look we were after. We always love to have fun with food and nothing says summer and Fourth of July like strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. We used our Kate Rattan Casserole Basket to bake a delicious cake, frosted it with a vanilla frosting and topped it with red and blue berries. Small teak bowls with the sweetest footed detail hold loose berries for serving on the side or in beverages. SETTING THE TABLE The fringe placemats and drink coasters brought whimsy to our spread, giving the table texture and a feminine touch. The perfect layers of our blue bamboo dinner plates and accent plates nodded to the bamboo used elsewhere on the table and gave the color story a beautiful blue boost. The sleek Amalfi Glasses look stunning with mint, blackberries and a wedge of lemon. Our Crimson Blossom Napkins knotted and dressed up with American flags made a simple yet significant statement for the overall patriot concept of the table. Last but not least, our favorite detail for the place-settings has to be the adorable hand-pies on each guests' plate. What festive decor or food are you planning for this year's Independence Day? Celebrating our country's freedom, liberty and democracy is always worth giving an extra effort to make it special and memorable. Thankful to live in the land of the free! Happy Fourth of July!

Meghan Blum Interior's Designer Clearance Sale is approaching! This only happens once a year, so you won't want to miss it! Keep reading for more info! Here are a few items that we will be having! From designer lighting you will recognize from our projects to hand-knotted rugs, custom furniture, and pretty artwork and accessories- we really will have it all... at a major discount! a sneak peek of sale items Cheers, friends! We can't wait to see you next week!

As we enter some of my favorite months of the entire year, I thought it would be fun to share a few wardrobe staples when it comes to summer styling! The girls at the office know I am a true fan of wearing dresses almost every day when the sun is shining. It's an easy decision when you only have to worry about one thing to put on! Many of you have asked where I get my summer dresses, so here it is, friends! *I am not making any commission off the links in this blog post. We had our HOB Summer Collection photoshoot a few weeks ago and this dress was the perfect piece for comfort, a pop of color, and just made me feel good too. I love the poppies in a bright red hue for summer! If you look closely too there are little caterpillars dressed around the poppies! Such a cute detail! I love shopping locally and try any chance I can. I picked this dress up at Velvet Coat! https://caracaranyc.com/products/robin-dress-poppies-tomato https://velvetcoat.us/products/robin-dress Last year, my family and I went to Nantucket for an end-of-the-summer vacation! I have heard wonderful things about Hill House and had to pop in when we walked by. It's such a charming brand and I love the way their iconic "Nap Dresses" fit! This dress pictured was dressier in the image on the website, but I kept it casual with sandals and minimal jewelry. I wore this dress for our Lakeside Living shoot and it would be so perfect for an evening dining al fresco! Pair with my go-to outfit add-ons below for an easy summer look! https://www.hillhousehome.com/collections/midi/products/the-ophelia-nap-dress-black-cotton-voile I just recently got my colors done at House of Color in Des Moines! I can say first-hand... it's a life-changing experience! I am a 'spring' and have had more confidence shopping this summer. I would have never pulled a lavender dress before, but once I put it on I saw how it complimented my hair, eyes, and skin tone! This dress is effortless in the way it feels, but can be dressed up so easily! The silky material is breathable and comfortable too! The shape flows with your movement and it just fits perfectly! https://evereve.com/annette-dress-54602-c MY FAVORITE DAY-TO-NIGHT DRESSES Dress #1 https://velvetcoat.us/products/fiona-dress Dress #2 https://tnuck.com/products/grosgrain-trim-oxford-stripe-bouvier-dress?variant=43476849721566 Dress #3 https://www.hillhousehome.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/the-ellie-nap-dress-blueberry-stripe-1?variant=40731577909291 Dress #4 https://tnuck.com/products/blue-stripe-chessie-dress?variant=44165264900318 Dress #5 https://tnuck.com/products/blue-wiggy-yoke-dress?variant=44199556677854 Dress #6 https://tnuck.com/products/navy-ikat-kenzo-dress?variant=43477443838174 EVERYDAY OUTFIT ADD ON'S Sunhat https://tnuck.com/products/natural-harley-hat?variant=43479792091358 Leather Sandal https://tnuck.com/products/cognac-leather-alibi-sandals?variant=43470887747806 Gold Chain Necklace https://tnuck.com/products/gold-snake-chain-necklace?variant=43982346322142 Gold Bangle- https://tnuck.com/products/gold-gia-bangle?variant=44195574841566 Studded Sandal https://tnuck.com/products/beige-siel-sandals?variant=43477335605470 Gold Huggie Earrings https://tnuck.com/products/gold-infinity-huggie-earrings?variant=44127208177886 Cheers, friends! Let me know if you want to see more blogs like this!

Remember the homes with the formal living room no one was ever allowed to enter? The pieces in those spaces were prized possessions, rarely used in case of wear or staining. Luxury was meant to look at but not touch. Thankfully a whole lot has changed. When we are designing living rooms, we have several priorities that all need to work together. These spaces need to: 1. represent our clients' goals, style and lifestyle 2. include highly durable and well-made furniture pieces 3. have an elevated look for entertaining and comfortability for lounging We love designing living rooms, whether that's part of a whole house project or a single room design for a client. It has become even easier now that lead-times from our favorite, trusted furniture brands have gotten much better! We want to design places that guests can enjoy, family members can relax and no one is worried about the upholstery being damaged. Let's walk through some of our favorite living room projects to showcase how we achieved this for every client and taste. Nothing looks fresher than a white or light colored sofa. This living room has a large footprint and fills with natural light. To anchor the space, we started with dark flooring, layered a colorful rug in a traditional pattern and set furniture with performance fabric in a conversational arrangement that really highlight the view from the windows. This is a sophisticated space without being stuffy. Guests won't want to leave the custom couches because they're so comfortable while looking so tailored and clean. Velvet chairs in a reddish hue also feel like an elevated addition but are really supportive and easy to maintain. We love finding (and custom creating!) the pieces that look and feel good. The details make an every day living room into a stunning environment to entertain in. Nail head trim, custom drapery, the gorgeous bevel on the coffee table surface and the details down to the accessories, patterns and textures make this space a standout. The best part? It all feels incredible to the touch and will be the perfect setting for cocktails after a formal dinner or a movie night with the family. This room has high-fashion all over it. Light leather, sculptural accent tables and surprising details. The most surprising? That high-fashion and every day usability can go hand-in-hand. The incredible picture frame windows make the trees and surrounding landscape feel like part of the palette and design. Every seat in the room has a beautiful vantage point as the background for conversations with house guests. The TV is also easily view from the main seats of the room, perfect for evening unwinding and weekend watching. Custom pillows make this space feel inviting to sit and stay. This classic-meets-artful client needed a transitional living room makeover that reflected their unique style, sensibility and lifestyle. We filled this space with interesting furniture, art and objects that make everywhere you turn a focal point. While several pieces in this room feel "museum-worthy," it's a space that gets used daily from watching the game, hosting friends and lounging around. Refined furniture pieces are a great investment and should be used! We love this more traditional sitting room with a skirted sofa and classic styling. The blue grasscloth wallpaper and ceiling treatment give the room a serene statement to build off of. The comfortable and classy furniture and design elements make this a beautiful place to receive friends and family but also feel like the perfect spot for an afternoon nap on the weekends. If our clients feel like they can't use their rooms and furniture, we haven't done our job. A more modern motif with sleek furniture and a monochromatic palette can seem harder to keep pristine but it's all about the fabric choices that really keep each element looking new. Comfortability is the ultimate luxury so while these items look so refined, they are pieces you won't want to get up from. That's one of the (many) benefits of having MBI design spaces, we don't just want a room to look good, we want it to feel good and function well for daily use. You just can't get that at a big box store. Ready to reimagine your living room? Meghan Blum Interiors would love to help. Our design team has so much experience in designing for the full picture of your project goals- we want to bring something to your home that changes the way you live!

We have not 1, but 2 summer collections that launched this week on House of Blum! We could not be more excited to share these new products with you! This is by far the biggest collection we have done... we hope you love it! As interior designers, we touch so many different styles of projects. Serving the Des Moines metro primarily, the appreciation for art and style really has a play in our client's tastes. We decided to take a spin on a traditional collection and split them into two different styles! You will find the products intermix well but offer completely different looks. We have a Lakeside Living Collection- relaxed, casual, and ready to easily entertain lakeside or by the pool and our Colorful Coastal Collection- breezy, inspiring, and comfortable! I love to spruce my home each season and when I say "spruce", I mean completely switch out my decor for something fresh! The summer months are my favorite to decorate with so we went all out! I hope you find something you love to look at or share with a friend who may enjoy. The team has put their heart and talents to the test with this collection and we just can't wait to share! COASTAL COLORFUL LAKESIDE LIVING Which collection will you be shopping for this summer season? Please let us know! Cheers, friends!

Did you guess it?! We've been sharing a few sneak peeks on Instagram these past few weeks and some of you have been catching on to what we've been up to! This collection is exciting, fresh, and fun! Unique tabletop decor, beautiful accessories, and kitchen staples are all found sprinkled throughout this collection! When curating this collection, we wanted to blend Niñas signature coastal, with-a-traditional-touch, style and House of Blum's unique pieces. You will recognize a few of our classics in this collection because of the way those pieces just work in every home so well! ABOUT THE COLLECTION Niña has four children and I have three- so, we always have practicality in mind! One of our favorite pieces in the collection is our Taylor Rattan Casserole Baskets! With 2 sizes- they make the perfect entertaining staple this summer. Add your casserole dish full of delicious egg bake or birthday cake and layer in the basket for an elevated feel. These pieces are fun, approachable, and beautifully designed with you in mind. Entertaining was at the top of our minds when envisioning what would be included in this collection. When we stumbled upon this gorgeously massive clam shell at market, we knew it would be a hit! There are endless ways to style this summer staple, but a chic mimosa bar was so cute for entertaining! Think bridal showers, baby showers, or a fun morning with friends! Our Lillian Seashell Bowl also makes quite the statement (see right)! We were as excited as any other to see the backdrop in person to the beautiful content that Niña and her team create. It's even more stunning in person! We're so excited about this partnership and the beautiful things it will bring to all of you too. Cheers, friends! Thank you for following along on this journey and supporting MBI and House of Blum every step of the way. Please, let us know your favorites from the collection! We can't wait to see how you style your homes with the House of Blum x Niña Williams Blog collection! Thank you so much for your endless support! We appreciate you checking in on this new collection, your purchases, and your likes and comments on social media! It means the world to us to have you here! Cheers, friends!