Brass vs Bronze vs Gold

Although I'm not against mixing metals, as they've grown in popularity, I've noticed people using them haphazardly without any regard for how they'll play off of one another. This has been especially the case when it comes to rose gold, copper, and gold. Albeit similar, these are all very distinct metals, and when used in decor, these distinctions can make or break a design. Use correctly, they can absolutely elevate a design to something elegant and timeless; however, done incorrectly, and it'll be a piping hot mess!

The EditAlbie KnowsAugust 30, 2020national kitchen & bath month, metals, design therapy, color

House Beautiful Magazine Advisory Board 2020-21

Two months again when I decided to adopt the #sharethemicnow initiative for the home industry, I knew what I wanted to see happen, but I had no actual idea of what would happen. There are certain things you can anticipate but other things you can never see coming...and that's precisely what happened to me.

StudioAlbie KnowsAugust 28, 2020house beautiful, black lives matter

Shop With Me: What's In My H&M Home Cart?

It's been a while since I've done an H&M Home haul and that's definitely not for lack of shopping; but with the recent decision to make some changes around the house, now seemed like a great time to do some window shopping, especially with so many of their new releases giving me all the hygge vibes my little heart can handle.

The EditAlbie KnowsAugust 23, 2020h&m home, hygge, my home, shopping

Award Nominated Blog Announcement

As I sat down to write an entirely different blog post, it dawned on me that I do a really poor job at sharing when pretty amazing things happen, especially here on the blog. Some times I am so bad at celebrating myself but when I do remember, it's usually just on Instagram. Yet for whatever, at this moment I realized I hadn't shared some pretty epic news about the blog — Albie Knows was nominated for an Amara Interior Blog Award in the Best Company Blog category!

StudioAlbie KnowsAugust 21, 2020amara ibas, design bloggers tour

Living Room Refresh: Summer Hygge

Earlier this year, I'd made the decision to stop messing with my house — I literally decided to stop doing home projects, choosing to just focus on the day to day styling and organizing, but also (mostly) enjoying the home I'd created thus far. Paired with my husband being on deployment and not knowing where we'd be a year from now...yeah it was time to just chill.

But then 'rona came to town and, like everyone else, I was forced to appreciate but also reevaluate our home.

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsAugust 9, 2020hygge, my home, living room, design therapy

Books About Diversity & Racism For Adults

While an important conversation, it isn't always an easy one to have. Yep, we're talking about diversity & racism. Imagine, if adults can't bring themselves to have these difficult conversations, then it'll be even more difficult with a child. If your child is at the age where you're still reading to them and/or they're reading on their own, there are a countless number of books available — past and present — that make having the conversation of diversity and racism just a tad bit easier.

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsJuly 27, 2020books, diversity & inclusion

Amazon Fresh 120 Day Review

I'm sitting here, as we head into the fifth month of quarantines and stay-at-home orders from COVID-19, awaiting my 19th Amazon Fresh order this year. Yes, in the past 5 months I have placed 19 Amazon Fresh orders for groceries, but let's just go ahead and round up to 20. While a lot of states have been opening up and loosening up their restrictions, I am in no rush to go outside, so after having used it for most of the year, I am pretty confident in whatever comes next because at least I know we'll be fed.

So what has it been like doing my grocery shopping almost* exclusively on Amazon Fresh for the past 4 months?

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsJuly 26, 2020amazon, covid19, shopping

Apartment Must-Haves: Essentials For Every Room In Your New Home

After countless moves, I like to think I know a thing or two about apartment readiness. I’ve learned what to prioritize, what’s a necessity, and what can totally wait when it comes to making our rental feel like a home. Not to be confused with moving essentials, whether I was starting from scratch or bringing things with me, there were some things that I found myself always needing in my apartment.

The EditAlbie KnowsJuly 25, 2020moving, design therapy, shopping, reversible design

Mood Board Inspiration: June + July 2020

The only thing that inspired me recently is Black people.

Black culture.

Books About Diversity & Racism For Children

While an important conversation, it isn't always an easy one to have. Yep, we're talking about diversity & racism. Imagine, if adults can't bring themselves to have these difficult conversations, then it'll be even more difficult with a child. If your child is at the age where you're still reading to them and/or they're reading on their own, there are a countless number of books available — past and present — that make having the conversation of diversity and racism just a tad bit easier.

Vibe Check, The EditAlbie KnowsJuly 19, 2020books, diversity & inclusion

Wayfair Alternatives: 10 Major Retailers For All Things Home

When it comes to social causes and political matters, I do my best — by choice — to keep that off public radar. I prefer to keep those types of conversations at the dinner table or in my text messages, not on my timeline and certainly not on the blog. But earlier this week, a retailer I’d shopped for years — for myself and for clients — did something some really stopped me dead in my tracks and forced me to reevaluate my relationship with them.

The EditAlbie KnowsJuly 11, 2020amazon, cost plus world market, the home depot, ikea, overstock, target, design therapy, shoppingComment

5 Lessons I Learned From Share The Mic Now

Rolling into June, we were at the start of a Civil Rights Movement, which isn't something I imagined ever saying in my lifetime...yet here we are. I've seen a number of heinous acts become hashtags over the years and have almost never offered up a public opinion, on everything from mass shootings to police brutality.

This time feels different.

Everything right now is different.

As I prepare for more #sharethemicnowhomeedition activations, I'd be remiss if I didn't take minute to think through all that the first iterations of the sharethemicnowhomeedition has taught me thus far.

StudioAlbie KnowsJuly 6, 2020black lives matter, share the mic now, designpreneur

How I Purged Using The Home Market On Poshmark

Last summer I found myself in the middle of probably my biggest purge since moving — except we weren’t moving. I got to a point where I got tired of seeing “stuff” at every turn — from the clothes in my closet to the decor in my mantle — so I started pulling things out to trash, sell, or donate…

Enter Poshmark!

I was able to list small kitchen appliances, dinnerware, and decorative accents and I felt so much better about being able to pass these items onto someone who wanted em but could now get them at a fraction of the cost; and while I love being able to donate, it didn’t hurt that I could make a little play money in the process.

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsMay 14, 2020poshmark, organization, my home, shopping

Stay At Home Order: Comfort Essentials

For the past month (maybe longer?), I have been blessed and fortunate enough to have been working from home as we try to protect ourselves and prevent the ongoing spread of COVID-19...aka flattening the curve. Yes, “working from home” sounds fun & easy, but being at home for both work and home life isn’t exactly a pleasure picnic. I also know, firsthand, that working from home as an employee versus working from home as an entrepreneur are two similar, but different experiences; and I had to make adjustments to my mindset and home accordingly.

I had to invest in making sure I was both comfortable and productive.

The EditAlbie KnowsMay 12, 2020covid19, work life balance, workspace, mompreneur

Mood Board Inspiration: May 2020

How is it already May?!

And yet here we are…

About halfway through the second quarter of the year and nearly 3 months into a global pandemic that has all but crippled our “normal” way of life. Now for me, I am thankful that COVID-19 and the stay-at-home order hasn’t too much impacted my day to day — changes have happened but nothing drastic — but I also couldn’t think about all the changes happening in nature that we can’t see… and possibly all the changes happening because we aren’t out in the world messing with things.

I remember reading about reports that indicated a decrease in air pollution across the world because factories were closed, cars weren’t on the road, and just overall how our being home was giving Mother Nature a much-needed reset of her home. Imagine that!

I thought about how clear skies and vibrant colors, and my may mood board inspiration came into bloom…

How My Anxiety May Have Prepared Me For COVID-19

It’s not easy for me to admit that my character isn’t naturally a “calm” one and I don’t know anyone that would use the word calm to describe me either. I have always danced on the edge of worry and even occasionally tangoed with straight-up paranoia, and yet in the midst of a pandemic, I find myself probably the calmest person in my circle. Why is that?

Vibe CheckAlbie KnowsMay 10, 2020covid19, mental health, mompreneur

5 Year Old Girl Birthday Wishlist

If you’re a parent, then you’re likely used to your kid telling you they want something new & shiny...

24/7/365

While my baby girl doesn’t ask for things often, when she fixates on a new activity or toy, you better believe she wants everything that’s in its orbit.

So what does my soon to be five year old have her eyes on these days? American Girl (Wellie Wishers) | Lego | Melissa & Doug | Disney

The EditAlbie KnowsApril 23, 2020mompreneur, toddler bedroom, shopping

Building A Capsule Wardrobe When You Stop Working From Home

After my daughter was born, it wasn’t long before I became an accidental stay at home mom. I eventually transitioned into a work from home mom, juggling growing an interior design business with raising a whole new human.

While I’d heard the term tossed around a few times, and was intrigued, I’d never really put any thought into creating one for myself...till now. I didn’t want to fund a brand new wardrobe that I’d toss and replace again. I didn’t want to buy things on a whim. I didn’t want to replace the things that I clearly kept for a reason. I just wanted a complete assortment. Also mindful of changes my body would be going through, I knew I had to be intentional and creating a capsule would be the best way to go about that.

The EditAlbie KnowsApril 20, 2020mompreneur, work life balance, amazon, organization, h&m home, shopping

Budget-Friendly Shopping Hacks: How To Use Ebates

As someone who does a lot of online shopping — be it for a project or for myself — a question I get asked a lot is how I shop. The time I put in at the beginning saves me time and money in the end. Which brings me to another common question — how do I save money! I’m going share a little secret with you about one of my fav shopping “hacks” that not only helps me save a coin or two, but is basically like getting paid to shop. While a lot of steps go into my online shopping strategy — yes, strategy — this is one step I cannot do without.

The EditAlbie KnowsApril 18, 2020budget friendly, ebates, shopping

Mood Board Inspiration: April 2020

Living in the Pacific Northwest gave me a newfound appreciation for nature’s beauty, but specifically the colors in nature — I didn’t exactly always get the benefit of seeing a crayola assortment of trees and clear blue skies while living in Hell’s. Kitchen. While I’m sure this is problem the first spring for all of us, where we’re spending most of it in our homes, there is still so much beauty out there in the world to appreciate — and with any luck, that we’ll be able to enjoy before the season changes.

Welcome to The Journal

A cozy collection of stories, reflections, and inspiration for creating a life (and space) you love — one quiet moment at a time. Brew a cup, get comfortable, and stay awhile.

But then 'rona came to town and, like everyone else, I was forced to appreciate but also reevaluate our home.

So what has it been like doing my grocery shopping almost* exclusively on Amazon Fresh for the past 4 months?

The only thing that inspired me recently is Black people.

Black culture.

Enter Poshmark!

I had to invest in making sure I was both comfortable and productive.

How is it already May?!

I thought about how clear skies and vibrant colors, and my may mood board inspiration came into bloom…

24/7/365

So what does my soon to be five year old have her eyes on these days? American Girl (Wellie Wishers) | Lego | Melissa & Doug | Disney

That was my inspiration for this month’s mood board — bringing home the simple beauty around us.