The "Mission: Design" series is back with a wonderful blogger.  Meet Dina from Honey & Fitz Blog!

I am always on the lookout for inspiring and creative design blogs. A few months ago when I started considering different looks for my little one’s nursery I naturally started my search on Google. I typed in nursery ideas on my computer and the journey began. BTW, if I am looking for specific design ideas I always start with Google images. While searching through the vast amount of pictures on the web, I stumbled upon the most adorable blog, Honey & Fitz. 

I immediately fell for the design savvy and too cute purveyor of Honey & Fitz, Dina. I poured over her many design conquests that she has chronicled in her blog. Dina has spent the last few years thoughtfully tackling many of the rooms in her new home. In addition to her many décor projects, Dina also shares her flea market finds, crafty DIY projects and her obsession for organization.

But this isn’t just any design blog. Readers quickly see that Dina has a certain je ne sais quoi. She is talented, charming yet approachable. Unlike some high-end design bloggers, Dina doesn’t take herself too seriously. Her crafty, quirky personality shines through all her blogs and her zest for life is contagious. It is always nice to take a trip to Honey & Fitz. I promise…you will leave with a smile.

But don’t take me word for it; just look at her famous fans. Dina’s blog and home design recently caught the eye of Oprah’s design BFF, Nate Berkus.  You will have to read on to discover more about Dina from Honey & Fitz.

DC Metro Mom: I think the obvious place to start is “What made you want to start blogging?”

Honey & Fitz: I was a die-hard Domino Magazine reader and, like many of the magazine’s fans, was devastated when it folded. When the print publication disappeared, the website went with it, including their “My Deco File” service where for years I had been cataloging inspirational images and “must do this someday” projects. This was way before Pinterest so it was a big deal! I started Honey & Fitz as a way of collecting all of my favorite images, products and ideas and keeping them all under one virtual “roof” that I knew wouldn’t be going anywhere. When I got pregnant with our first child the blog became a great way to document the milestones along the way and share them with out of town friends and family.

DC Metro Mom: Honey & Fitz is a unique name.  What is the origin of Honey & Fitz?

Honey & Fitz: I have been pretty obsessed with all things Kennedy for as long as I can remember. The name Honey & Fitz is a take on the "original" Kennedy, John F. Fitzgerald.  The maternal grandfather to the Kennedy clan (JFK's grandfather) was the first American born Irish-Catholic mayor of Boston. His nickname was Honey Fitz and the Kennedy family yacht is still named the Honey Fitz. I just threw an “& “ between the words and loved how it sounded. I also love that most people don't know what the heck the reference is but occasionally I get an email from a reader who totally knows where it comes from.

DC Metro Mom: You mention on your blog that you are life long Bostonian that has been transplanted to North Carolina. I am well acquainted with the Boston area. That is a BIG culture change! How are you adjusting to life as a Southerner? What brought you to North Carolina?

Honey & Fitz: Culture change? More like culture SHOCK! My husband (then fiancée) and I were just looking for a change of pace. With no kids and minimal obligations we thought it was a perfect time to try something different. We wanted a break from the weather, traffic, cost of living…y’know the usual reasons people leave Boston! So we got new jobs and headed south. Looking back now it seems insane but at the time it was just an adventure. We didn’t know a single soul. That was definitely the hardest part. I grew up and went to college in Boston. All of my family and friends were (and still are) there.

Starting over was really hard but as a young couple it was just the kind of challenge we needed. We had no one else to rely on but each other and it definitely brought us closer. Truthfully I hated North Carolina at first. Sure the weather was wonderful, traffic was non-existent and the mortgage on our gorgeous new home was about half of what our rent in the city was. But I was soooooooo bored. I missed everything about the city. The cobblestone streets, the brownstones, the Red Sox, smell of salt air as soon as you step outside at Logan Airport (delicately mixed with exhaust fumes of course). I missed it all.

Boston Back Bay

Just something about that Dirty Water that gets in your blood I guess! But 7 years later I appreciate North Carolina so much more. I’ll always be a Yankee at heart but I’ve happily adopted lots of Southern –isms. I’ve learned to slow down and appreciate the stuff in life that really matters – time with family under a gorgeous Carolina blue sky with a tasty glass of cold sweet tea in hand (now if I could just get some good chowder down here, I’d be set!)

DC Metro Mom: You have an incredible eye for decorating. It is obviously a passion for you. Why did it take three years for you to start dedicating time and resources to designing your own home?

Honey & Fitz: I think the short answer is I was just completely overwhelmed! We went from a 600 sq ft apartment to a 3,600 sq ft home. Suddenly there were rooms that needed filling and walls that needed art and windows that needed curtains. The list just went on and on! But in the end, I’m actually happy I waited a while. I think it’s important to live in a space for a while (maybe not 3 years!) before you start investing in furniture, etc. It’s important to understand how you’re going to live in a space.

Creating a mudroom type area by your front door is great but if you’re always going to come in thru the garage what good will it do you? Are you really going to entertain in the dining room or are you actually much less formal? Could that space be better utilized for your family? I’m big on making whatever square footage you have work for your needs at that particular time. Just because something is called a “formal living room” doesn’t mean you can’t make it a playroom if that’s what makes sense for your family. I also really love unique pieces, transforming thrift store finds and digging at flea markets. It takes time to collect the things you love and turn them into a room but the rooms where I’ve done that are by far my favorites in the house.

Dina's Living Room ~ A 30 Minute Makeover!

DC Metro Mom: Your blog is full of so many rich design ideas and inspirational shots of art, furnishing and accessories. What I really love is how you make even high-end design accessible to readers. How did you cultivate your unique style? How would you describe your design aesthetic?

Honey & Fitz: My style is pretty much driven by the fact that I love the designer look but can’t afford it! Rather than flipping through magazines or blogs and superficially taking in the prettiness I really try to force myself to identify what it is about a room that I like. Things like bright pillows and interesting art are what catch your eye but furniture placement and the “flow” of a room are just (maybe more) important. Once I started paying attention to those things I began to realize that it’s all about layering and scale.  

Somewhere along the way I also had an epiphany that every time I looked at a gorgeous room in a magazine, the things I really loved were the original, one of a kind pieces. You know, the stuff that’s always listed as “vintage find” in the source list in the back of the magazine! I love a really layered look with lots of textures and those vintage treasures peppered about. Spending time in thrift stores and flea markets has also really helped me identify the silhouettes of furniture that I love the most. I’ve realized that there isn’t much that’s “new” in the world of design. Something becomes new when it’s a traditional silhouette reinterpreted in an interesting color or material and a lot of times that can be accomplished with paint, fabric and elbow grease.

DC Metro Mom: You are admitted fan of flea markets. What have been some of your best flea market finds?

Honey & Fitz: I LOVE flea markets! The thrill of not knowing what treasures await and of course, the bargains! What’s not to love? I try to go to markets wherever I am and I have carried some crazy stuff onto planes. In Paris I found this amazing collection of 9 copper pitchers ranging in size from 1 gallon to 1/8 of a gill. Who the heck even knows what a gill is? I don’t! But they look incredible all lined up above my kitchen cabinets. In Thailand I bought over 60 yards of the most beautiful silk for $200. I dressed nearly every window in our home with silk curtains that would have cost me thousands! In Mexico I bought this great, carved wood architectural relic. It weighs a ton but there was no way I wasn’t bringing it home. Now it lives in a corner of a dining room. And in Raleigh (which has a fantastic flea market by the way) I bought a gorgeous, HUGE vintage blanc de chine lamp with the most delicate ceramic flowers

DC Metro Mom: You inject a fair amount of DIY craft projects into your blogs. Have you been blessed with a Martha Stewart gene or do you seek out ideas on the web?

Honey & Fitz: Both I think! My mom is a professional seamstress and my dad is a carpenter so I definitely have the “I can make that!” gene. Trust me, it’s both a blessing and a curse. At any given time I have about two dozen projects in various states of completion around the house. But I am also not above searching out a YouTube video on how to sew the perfect pinch pleat! And of course, Pinterest has completely changed my life as far as amazing “why didn’t I think of that?!” ideas!

DC Metro Mom: Do you currently offer design services for a fee? Would you consider designing from a distance over email for those folks that don’t live in the Raleigh, NC area?

Honey & Fitz: I haven’t really thought of offering my services for hire but maybe in the future! On my blog, I invite readers to submit their design dilemmas/questions and once a week I select one and respond with my thoughts on how to tackle the issue including inspiration images. But it’s certainly something I’d consider if someone was looking for a more full service design solution.

DC Metro Mom: What would your dream design job look like?

Honey & Fitz: My dream would be to design a beach house. I’m not a big fan of themed rooms. Even though I adore the beach, anything more than a pretty shell or coral piece in a non-beach home is too much for me. But in an actual beach house I could indulge all of my nautical whims! A jute rope handrail up the stairs, a driftwood coffee table, a room wallpapered in vintage nautical charts and lots and lots of pieces upholstered in chic outdoors fabrics to withstand all those late afternoon naps in wet bathing suits.

DC Metro Mom: You clearly have an affinity for nursery design. Did that grow from your own experience putting your son Knox’s room together?

Honey & Fitz: It did! Before I got pregnant, I didn’t think much about nursery design so when it came time for our own nursery I hired a designer. While I had some thoughts on the overall feel that I wanted, I definitely benefitted from the professional guidance. I like a lot of different styles so it can sometimes be a challenge to edit myself and commit. But once the process got started I absolutely loved it!

DC Metro Mom: For all of my readers who are struggling to put together a nursery, toddler or child’s space, what advice can you give on pulling a room together that is rich with design, easy on the wallet and is durable enough for little ones?

Honey & Fitz: The best way to save money when designing a nursery is to look beyond baby furniture. Oftentimes, things that are baby “specific” (i.e. sold at baby stores) are more expensive. So get out of there! If you really think about it, the only ACTUAL baby specific piece of furniture you need in a nursery is the crib. Any dresser can be turned into a totally functional changing table when topped with an $11 changing pad. This is a great place to save money!

Get on Craig’s List and find something vintage that you can make really special and unique just for your little one’s space. A coat of paint, fresh new knobs, some fun drawer liners…have fun with it! The other piece in a nursery that can be a wallet buster is the glider. But you have options beyond the standard baby big box store gliders! Virtually every upholstered chair can be turned into a swivel glider with the addition of thissimple piece of hardware? I think that equal parts Etsy scouring and future grandparent’s storage scouring is the best formula for a charming, personalized nursery. Your beat up, well-loved Chatter Phone pull toy is far more charming and meaningful on a shelf in your little one’s room than anything new you could buy. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

It’s small touches like that that make the space special, sentimental and uniquely yours. As far as durability goes, consider putting down a rug even if the room has wall-to-wall carpet. While the nursery years are short lived, it’s a very hard working room. Between diaper changing, feeding, crawling and playing there’s lots of opportunity for “accidents”. You’ll be thankful when you can peel back that rug and reveal a nice, clean carpet when it’s time to convert the room to a toddler’s space.

DC Metro Mom: What would you say is your favorite space to decorate in a home?

Honey & Fitz: I think kid’s spaces are my favorite because they are sort of the perfect storm of decorating. Typically there’s tons of stuff to organize, budgets are tight and those tiny clients can be demanding! But all of that just means you get to be really creative which I think is the absolute best!

DC Metro Mom: Your blogs have tons of amazing home organization ideas. Has the need for home organization always been high on the priority list or has it evolved with the advent of a new home and busy family life?

Honey & Fitz: I’ve always considered myself neat but the true organization bug didn’t kick in until I started a family. Especially in those early months when sleep was at a premium I found that the more organized I could keep the day-to-day stuff in the house, the less stressed I was. Every second you don’t have to spend looking for those AAA batteries is another second you can stay sane and focused on more important things!

DC Metro Mom: What are your “Top 5” organization tips and tricks?

Honey & Fitz: Even with iPhones, iPads and iEverythings, people still have drawers full of handwritten recipes and magazine clippings. With just some inexpensive cork tiles, 3M command strips and push pins, you can create a little “recipe center” for yourself on the inside of a kitchen cabinet. You’ll reclaim some valuable drawer space AND always have your recipes close at hand when you need them.  

If you have the choice between a basket with straight sides and one with angled sides, always pick the straight-sided basket. Not only will it hold more, but you can line them up side by side on a shelf with zero wasted space. Inches matter!

Over the door shoe organizers are not just for shoes. They take up no room and hold a ton of stuff. They are perfectly sized to hold everything from cleaning supplies to small stuffed animals. I like to use the clear vinyl variety so I can quickly see what each pocket holds.

Most women I know have a tangle of makeup supplies in a drawer in the bathroom but use the same 5-7 products every day. Take those 5-7 products and hot glue a magnet onto the back of them. Mount a piece of sheet metal to the inside of your medicine or vanity cabinet and stick those everyday products up there. I swear this trick can save you 10 minutes of digging around looking for stuff in the morning!

Put your bed on risers. With an extra long bed skirt, you never even have to see them and you’ll reclaim all that unused space. I especially like this trick in a kid’s room where you can mount casters to the underside of old drawers and create easy to move (and hide!) toy boxes.

DC Metro Mom: What is next on your decorating “hit list” for your home? What rooms will you be conquering next?

Honey & Fitz: With a young family I feel like the demands on your house shift so rapidly. I’m currently working to transform our home office into a dedicated playroom space for our son and relocate the office to another room. I bet by the time I’m done with that he’ll have outgrown his crib and nursery so a big boy room is in the works as well!

DC Metro Mom: When designing a room, where do you begin? What do you draw on for inspiration when creating a space?

Honey & Fitz: I am most inspired by fabric. With a seamstress mother, I grew up surrounded by textiles and it’s still the first place I look for inspiration. But from there, I like to take a hard look at what the room will be used for and try to identify seating, storage and display needs. If you can nail down those 3 things in a room, you’re 80% of the way there!
 

DC Metro Mom: You were recently profiled on the Nate Berkus Show in the “House Proud” segment. That must have been a thrill! How did you find out you were picked?

Honey & Fitz: It was a thrill! It all happened very quickly. One of their producers contacted me thru the blog completely out of the blue. That was in August and by mid-September they flew me up to New York to tape a segment on the show. I’m a huge fan of Nate’s work and his show so it was super exciting!

DC Metro Mom: What was it like to meet Nate and be filmed on his show?

Honey & Fitz: I didn’t actually meet him until the moment I stepped out onto the set to tape my segment with him! I kept waiting to be nervous but I think because I watch his show so often, I had somehow deluded myself into thinking that I was just going to chat with my buddy Nate. So it was really natural actually. It was short and sweet but VERY exciting. Before I knew it I was back in the car headed to the airport wondering if the whole thing was just a dream.

DC Metro Mom: What surprises has blogging brought you?

Honey & Fitz: Well certainly being on national television with Nate Berkus is an enormous surprise that would not have come to me if it weren’t for the blog. But I continue to be surprised by the connections I make with other likeminded women through our collective appreciation for beautiful design and creating beautiful homes for our families. It is such a great virtual community to be a part of! I love it!

DC Metro Mom: What is next up for your blog, Honey & Fitz? Will you have design pursuits outside of your blog?

Honey & Fitz: Yes, I hope to! I’m working on the details of an online store where I can share some of the spoils of my flea market and thrifting adventures. Vintage pieces that need a little love but are ready to be customized just for your space. In the future I would love to create a great line of outdoor fabrics specifically designed for indoor use. I don’t believe just because you have a young, active family you have to resign to a completely slip covered world!

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Many thanks to Dina.  Visit Honey & Fitz today @ http://honeyandfitz.blogspot.com/#axzz1eUEx4700.

Note, in addition to Honey & Fitz, Dina has an insanely addictive Pinterest page. Take a peek @ http://pinterest.com/HoneyandFitz/.

Image Credit:

Honey & Fitz

Kaplan International - Boston Back Bay