Meet Emily A. Clark

#CelebrateBallard with Emily on Pinterest

Ballard Designs is turning 30 years old! To celebrate the occasion, we’ve asked one of our favorite bloggers – Emily A. Clark – to curate her very own Pinterest board featuring 30 of her favorite things from Ballard Designs. Emily, whose own home has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, loves easy-to-achieve projects that make a big impact. Her mantra? “I strive to share easy, unintimidating and affordable design ideas and projects that any busy girl (or guy) can do.” We couldn’t have said it any better ourselves. Let’s get to know the woman behind the blog, shall we?

“I’m inspired by design and ideas that aren’t only pretty, but also function well for our big family.”

 

 

The Scoop

If you could describe your decorating style in one sentence, what would it be?

I describe my style as affordable eclectic because I usually buy what I’m naturally drawn to, as long as it’s a good deal.

How and where do you find your inspiration?

I love Pinterest as much as the next person, but sometimes, it leaves me feeling a little overwhelmed. Often, I get more inspired by getting away from my computer and plugging into real life. The colors of nature are one of the best places to start. I’m also inspired by design and ideas that aren’t only pretty, but also function well for our big family.

What’s been the most challenging part of your home to decorate, and how did you overcome it?

Our kitchen is full of golden wood tones on the cabinets and floors and is a little more traditional than I usually like. A major overhaul of any kind, or even painting the cabinets, wasn’t in the plans. So, I worked with what I had by removing some cabinet doors, adding colorful accessories, painting the pantry doors and replacing the lighting (with the Eldridge Pendant) for a fresher look.

What’s the one thing every style-conscious homeowner should have?

Something personal. Whether it’s an oversized vintage print of your grandmother or a souvenir from one of your favorite trips, I think every home should have pieces mixed in that are meaningful. To me, just buying decorations for the sake of decorating leaves a home feeling like it’s lacking something.

And last but certainly not least, what do you love most about sharing your home on your blog?

Working on our home is my obsession, and it’s fun to share my progress with readers who feel just as passionate about their homes. My “real-life” friends may not be all that excited about my new sofa pillows, but you can bet my blog readers will be super happy for me!

 

Want to see more of Emily’s work? Follow her on Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook.