Bio
I grew up in a small town in the southwest corner of Iowa. I lived in a charming bungalow. My bedroom was upstairs, and had a wall lined with windows. As a very young child, I remember one of my favorite pastimes was looking at the bedding in the JCPenny catalog. I wasn't a big fan of the Holly Hobbie bedspread that my mother had made, and longed for the rainbow heart pattern in the JCPenny catalog. I shared the large bedroom with two other sisters, and further decorated the room in my head, adding folding screens, which I thought would give me some privacy, and also look nice. I don't remember ever even mentioning these things to my mother.
One day, my parents gathered my sisters and I together to let us know that we were moving across the country. I still remember my sisters crying, sad to leave our lifelong friends, and I distinctly remember, in that moment, I was instead wondering if I'd be able to decorate my new room.
I remember as a teen, probably about 15 years old, I was having a sleepover at a friend's home. Her mother had a pile of wallpaper books, and was trying to make a selection. I spent some time looking at the books later that evening, and showed her my favorite paper. The next time I was at their home, I was surprised to see that my favorite paper was now up on the wall. My friend's mother told me that she had liked my suggestion, and decided to use it. I still recall the feeling of shock and pride that she had taken the suggestion of such a young girl.
During college I was a home appraiser. After working as an appraiser for about a year, I got to the point where I really felt like I "got it." I felt like when I finished the appraisal- the value was right on. I did not find it to be subjective or questionable. It's like it all clicked, and I knew the value was truly the value. I have found that interior design is more complicated than home appraising, but after 15 years of working experience - I feel like I finally "get it." I can look at a room and tell you what it needs. I no longer find it to be subjective or questionable.
Today, I am an interior designer, and mother of four. I got my degree in Interior Design at BYU. After graduation, I worked as a designer in the LA area for about 5 years. It was there that I met my husband and got married. We moved to Northern California in 2001. Here I started my own interior design business, and also started my family. We now have four children, ages 6,8,10, and 12.
In this blog- I give free advice. If you were to hire me as a consultant- I charge $150/ hour- but on this blog- it is free. If you would like to be on my blog, and get some interior design help- send me your questions. Make them concise. If you are too wordy- I might never feel like I have enough time to get to your e-mail. (Did I mention that I have both a job and four kids? And they have soccer and dance and baton twirling and girl scouts?) Also send me pictures of your room. Send them as jpeg attachments. I always want pictures. E-mail inquiries to: christine@fifefamily.net
My thanks to everyone that writes in- you give me content- and I appreciate it. FYI- I get many requests- and can't respond to them all. If yours does not get a response- send another- make it more concise- (not about your entire house- maybe just one room- or one issue) and I will try to get to it. Your questions can also be general- simple questions, rather than specific questions about your home. I also love it when people send me videos.
What started out as an interest, for me, has turned into a passion. It is a part of me. Thank you for letting me share a part of me with you.
XOXO
Christine