For Designers
The Top 8 Most Educational Podcasts About Interior Design Business You Need to Be Successful
I can say with 100% certainty that I would not be where I am as an interior designer or an interior design business owner without
Jillian Lare is a Des Moines based interior designer. She started this blog in 2009 when she moved to Iowa from her native North-eastern, Pennsylvania. She is currently co-owner of the interior design firm Morris Lare. This website is her personal blog, which is a constantly evolving journal of her creative journey, current inspirations, and life in the Midwest.
Blog Posts
Life
Our 1980s Contemporary Home Exterior Makeover Before & After
We purchased our 1980s contemporary style home in West Des Moines five years ago right before our son was born. We looked at a dozen
Interior Design
Winterset Kitchen & Laundry Remodel
We have a new project up on our Morris Lare project portfolio. We designed this kitchen remodel for a young family in Winterset, Iowa, which
Kitchen Design
How to Determine Your Kitchen Remodeling Budget
This post was originally published in May 2020. Costs for remodeling have shifted so dramatically in the last two years that I edited this post
Life
Quitting Instagram Was the Best Thing I’ve Done Lately
Two months ago, I signed out of Instagram on all of my devices and deleted the app from my phone. Except for one very brief
Life
Quick Decorah Iowa Weekend Getaway
Last weekend Keegan and I took our first “vacation” alone in a whole year and drove up to Decorah, Iowa, for a quick weekend getaway.
Interior Design
Twelve Tips to Upgrade Your Guest Room so Your Guests Will Never Want to Leave
Covid-19 has disrupted every facet of our lives. Even though we probably won’t be vacationing this year or any time soon, we may still travel
Kitchen Design
Before and After: Incredible IKEA Kitchen Remodel with Semihandmade
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know I love a good IKEA kitchen remodel and have used IKEA cabinets in
Interior Design
Why the Not So Big House Is More Important Than Ever Before
The Not So Big House, A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live, by Sarah Susanka, was originally published in 1998. Twenty-two years later, as Americans struggle with a global pandemic, we are spending more time together in our homes than we have in decades. For the last few months, families have been experiencing the nuances of our personal dwellings, for good or bad, all day every day with little relief.
Popular Articles
The Best Light Gray Paint Colors for Walls
This post was originally published in March 2015. It was updated in February 2020 to reflect my new favorite light gray paint colors for a
Five Simple Ways to Make IKEA Cabinets Look Expensive
It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of IKEA kitchen cabinets. I’ve used them in three of my own houses and specified them
Historic Fells Point Row House IKEA Kitchen Remodel
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive
My Master Bathroom Before and After
I’m very excited to finally share our master bathroom before and after photos. We have enjoyed every minute of using the new space for the past
Resources
How to Pick the Perfect Paint Color E-Book
Choosing the right colors for your home can feel incredibly daunting. There are so many popular colors all over the internet – just like my list of favorite grays – but do they actually work in your home?
$12.99
For Designers
The Problem with Those Fancy Interior Design Renderings and Why I Don’t Offer Them
During my second semester as a graduate student at Iowa State, I learned how to create those fancy photo-realistic interior design renderings that are all
Advice for Interior Design Students: How to Get the Most out of Your College Experience
I was immersed in the world of design education for eight and a half years – first as a graduate student and teaching assistant and
Discussing 3D Modeling Software on The Chaise Lounge Podcast
The Chaise Lounge Podcast, hosted by Nick May, is one of my favorite podcasts and an absolute must-listen for anyone interested in the business of
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