January 28, 2025 • 30 mins
Welcome to our first episode of Boulevard Beat! The lanes of life and style are blurred. Boulevard Beat the podcast, crafts them into one. Hosted by designer Meghan Blum, editor Krissa Rossbund, and gallery owner Liz Lidgett, Boulevard Beat approaches topics that translate into a “how-to” for living with intention. In a world made chaotic, albeit beautifully chaotic, with so many stylish options for every slice of life, this podcast focuses on daily highlights instead of the hustle. Entertaining, design, fashion, travel—Interviews with tastemakers and personal conversations between the hosts highlight achievable style.
You can only stroll one street at a time. Boulevard Beat proves the one you should take.
On Today's episode we get to know our host Meghan Blum and learn more about her career in design. Meghan is the creative director and founder of Meghan Blum Interiors and House of Blum. She leads a seasoned team of talented designers at Meghan Bum Interiors. The team consistently delivers projects that embody casual, timeless elegance that blend function and form. Meghan believes that being able to work as a designer is a gift—it’s an amazing opportunity to connect families and design spaces that truly inspire others! Meghan brings sophistication and refinement to every project. Her skill at artfully blending styles and periods has made her a tastemaker and trendsetter with a reputation for having intuition, a keen sense for detail, a fresh eye and a down-to-earth personality that makes everyone feel at home. Additionally, Meghan expanded her aesthetic into home décor with her brand House of Blum. She has curated a selection of home goods and décor to help bring timeless elegance to all design enthusiasts. Meghan’s work has been featured in national publications and most recently, was named in Taditional Home’s 2023 Rising stars of design, a huge honor to her team and firm. The podcast is a great way to get connected and know our host better. Here are some the Street Style Takeaways from this episode:
Street Style Takeaways
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15! Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/ Episode Website
You can only stroll one street at a time. Boulevard Beat proves the one you should take.
On Today's episode we get to know our host Meghan Blum and learn more about her career in design. Meghan is the creative director and founder of Meghan Blum Interiors and House of Blum. She leads a seasoned team of talented designers at Meghan Bum Interiors. The team consistently delivers projects that embody casual, timeless elegance that blend function and form. Meghan believes that being able to work as a designer is a gift—it’s an amazing opportunity to connect families and design spaces that truly inspire others! Meghan brings sophistication and refinement to every project. Her skill at artfully blending styles and periods has made her a tastemaker and trendsetter with a reputation for having intuition, a keen sense for detail, a fresh eye and a down-to-earth personality that makes everyone feel at home. Additionally, Meghan expanded her aesthetic into home décor with her brand House of Blum. She has curated a selection of home goods and décor to help bring timeless elegance to all design enthusiasts. Meghan’s work has been featured in national publications and most recently, was named in Taditional Home’s 2023 Rising stars of design, a huge honor to her team and firm. The podcast is a great way to get connected and know our host better. Here are some the Street Style Takeaways from this episode:
Street Style Takeaways
- Life and style intersect and creativity plays an important role in developing that.
- Tune into the emotions of the home and how you want to feel while doing certain activities in your home.
- Beautiful never goes out of style.
- Design is so much more than copy and pasting. True design is having a space that has a personality. It tells a story and is interesting on all levels.
- Boulevard is a place where beauty, culture and nature intersect, creating an experience that nurtures the soul, leaving you feeling recharged and connected to both your surroundings and yourself.
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15! Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/ Episode Website
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Boulevard Beat, a podcast we're life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom, along with my co hosts, editor
Chrissa Rossbund and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses
on the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with
taste makers, and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable
style you control one street at a time, Boulevard Beat
(00:29):
proves the one you should take.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Megan, here we are. What an exciting day.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
After so much planning, it's time we're launching this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Let's do it.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
You're the designer here, so let's talk a little bit
about what led you to think of this and what
you do.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Definitely, Chris, I'm so excited to start this journey with
you guys and excited to share all about that. I've
been in Tier designer for almost nineteen years, which is crazy,
and I have had my own business for ten now.
I'm the owner of Megan Bloom Interiors, an in Tier
design studio and a sister brand, House of Bloom, which
(01:12):
sells all kinds of fun home decre items all around
the country. So I like to dabble in a lot
of things. So podcasts came naturally, and it's one of
those things too. In my design business, we get to
do full scale and tier design, and we get to
really help all ends of the design projects, you know,
making selections from cabinets, counters, tile design, flooring, lighting, plumbing,
(01:36):
into all the soft goods furniture, window treatments, rugs, down
to every little piece of accessory on the book case.
And you know, as that led me to a house
of bloom and being able to share my designs with
other people just that wanted to buy pieces of our designs,
it also gave me the itch to want to do
a little bit more too. The idea of home is
(01:58):
something I think about all the time, not just the
setus of how it is, but how people live in them.
And I knew that I could share that with a
bigger community, and so the idea of a podcast kept
coming to me and tugged at me a little bit.
And I know you and I are very avid listeners
on different podcasts, and so the idea to have a
(02:18):
community where we could share with other creatives their stories
and how they live their lives more beautifully. And I'm
excited to be able to share that with other people
and kind of inspire people in new ways.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
I think it's interesting when you are a part when
your job is part of the design industry.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
And in a bit we're going to talk a.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Little more about the three of us, so our audience
and you know, listeners can get to know us each
individually a little.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Better and how we're coming at this.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
But when you're part of the design community, it's interesting
and so much fun because what we do is how
we live. It's very difficult, don't you think to separate?
Speaker 2 (03:06):
For sure?
Speaker 1 (03:06):
The separation is so hard because it's such a part
of who we are, of like making every day that
much more special and that much more intentional. On how
you're using the spaces.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Absolutely, you're designing spaces for people and how they eat,
how they prepare food. I'm writing about people and how
they eat and how they prepare food. You're shopping at
markets to find great product. I'm shopping at markets and
when I travel to find great things.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
But I would do that anyway.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
And so I think again, when you're in this community
that we are, it's really fun because we can live
and work.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
It's sort of the same bucket.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
It definitely is.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
So we're coming at this podcast from three arms of design,
You as the designer, myself as a design editor, and
then Liz, who our listeners will meet in a couple
of weeks. And Liz comes to us from the art
world and is so schooled about that community. So from
an interior design perspective, what sets you apart just the
(04:11):
way that you are looking at things and that lens.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
You know, Chris, there are so many good designers, and
I'm constantly inspired by many of them as well. But
I think I think great design lies in several factors
that elevate a space from being merely functional to truly transformative.
Good design should balance aesthetics, functionally and emotional connection. And
I think the emotional connection is really one thing that
(04:37):
I like to hone in on as I design and designers,
I think take this to another level. Is they really
tailor to the lifestyle. They have a deep understanding of
how clients are living, what they're using in the space.
You know, I want to know where are they having
coffee in the morning. Do they get to sit for
a while and enjoy that cup of coffee? Does the
sunlight change when they're having that cup of coffee in
(04:58):
the morning, what is the music they're listening to in
the kitchen as they cook, and how they move around
the space. It's understanding lifestyle and those emotions and making
that a better design for their home and how they
use spaces. And I think along with that comes the storytelling.
I think a truly inspired design tells a story through
(05:19):
its elements, you know, through unique pieces of furniture, custom artwork,
or inherited heirlooms that reflect the owner's history, culture and passions.
And I think through both of those key strengths, we
then really hone in on the details of design, and
that makes us a better designer and a better overall
design scheme. A truly inspired design is in the details.
(05:40):
That's what makes the room, the bondosed edge of a
marble countertop, the wood grain on the flooring, or just
a plete and the drape. I think great into your
design pays close attention to the small things.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
You know, you use the word emotion a moment ago,
and there is seemingly more attention paid to design. I
think about the emotion that emits from it.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
In the past. I think people why they're.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Intrigued by design and what draws them to it is.
It's pretty right. It's interesting to look at aesthetics that
are polished and put together with all of those elements,
the artwork, the textiles, the flooring, all of those elements
that you mentioned a moment ago, but we don't always
think of the emotion part of it first and foremost.
(06:30):
So it does seem like people are paying attention to
that piece of it a little more and how design
makes them feel in addition to being beautiful.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I agree with that so much, and I think it's
because as a society we have become more help and
wellness conscious about things, and so we want our spaces
to make us feel good energetically as a person go
on our day and be a more productive person into society.
And it's not something you think about as a designer,
but we have we have that capability to do that
(07:03):
for people so that way they wake up recharged and
are able to face the day and do wonderful things
in a different capacity than in our design world.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
It's true, and I think it's exciting that design can
offer more and address that emotion part of it, because
sometimes we do think, oh my gosh, is this a
frivolous business. You know, I mean, who, at the end
of the day, who cares about a pillow?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Right?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Right?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
But how does that pillow make you feel? And those
colors and all of those things. It does make a difference.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
So it does because that pillow is what you're grabbing
when your family's all bundled up on the sectional sofa
watching your favorite movies. So that pillow does make a difference.
But sometimes sometimes we just choose it because it's blue.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
So right, agree, that happens as well.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
So let's pivot for a moment and go back to
this podcast that we are launching today. We named this
podcast Boulevard Beat because everybody lives where. Everybody lives on
a street, and that can look so very different depending
on where you're located and what kind of dwelling.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
You are in.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
And then on the backside of that, every person is
in charge of figuring out what the beat is of
their own life.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So let's start in the early.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Days of Megan Bloom. Tell us a little bit about
this street where you grew up.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Well, I grew up in a small town, just ten
thousand people, and I lived in an area called Rolling Hills,
So it was an obviously kind of large, rolling hills neighborhood,
and I lived on top of one of those hills.
And this typical small town, you'd ride your bike everywhere,
and the challenge of riding my bike all the way
(08:42):
to the top of that hill was one that was hard.
And I think in my stronger days of my athletic ability,
I could write it all the way to the top.
But a fun fact, I actually lived in two houses
on that street. So I started in one that was
a ranch house, and I lived there until I was
in fourth grade, and then moved next door, actually in
(09:03):
the cold February days, so similar to where we are now.
Moved next door and carried all of our items and
to a two story colonial and have just a charming
upbringing of remembering lots of good memories in that home.
It was a street where, you know, we had a
little tree lined force in the backyard of some of
(09:23):
the neighbors that we would play in and make up
stories and build forts and things like that and play
until until it was dark and went home.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Was there anything that you missed from that early childhood
home or you.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Know that when you moved to the new house, it's like, oh,
I wish I still had that window seat or anything
like that.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And what did you love about the new house?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Well, you know, we had a corner stove fireplace, one
of those old school ones that you would open it up,
and I remember my dad had everything around it to
protect us so we wouldn't get burned on it. But
I remember making popcorn on that stove, and that's something
that's pretty unique. I've never lived in a house like
that since I'm not sure I ever will, but had
(10:08):
that charm of that. The new house had some neat
characteristics to it. And in fact, the foyer had black
and white striped wallpaper, which was pretty chic at the time.
And maybe it was my early love for black and
white inspired me more than I ever know, I guess,
but that's kind of a fun little memory as well.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
On that note, what is your earliest memory of being
interested in style and design?
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I love the.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Answers for this when I interviewed people, only because not
everybody comes into design as a career like you did.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Some people go on and do other, you know, numbers sorts.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Of jobs before they dabble in design. So what is
your earliest memory of style and design to where you
knew you were really interested in that.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
You know, I would say I grew up always wanting
to move furniture around, bedroom around, redoing my room, all
those things that looking back now makes sense, and even
just helping my mom rearrange the living room or holidays
are always a thing to decorate, and I was always
a big one to help partake in that. And I
actually remember looking at magazines at an early age and
(11:21):
just getting to see what was around the world and
the homes my mom would get design magazines, and I
still I saved him for the longest time.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
I feel like I still.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Have a few here and there that I feel like
we're early inspiration for me that just, you know, good
design has standing power. And I think the fact that
I was interested to actually look at that. I can't
remember how young I was, if it was middle school probably.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
And in general just creative.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
On all levels. I mean I was always doing arts
and crafts and things that just honing in and figuring
out how I could use my mind in different ways.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Well, and I think.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
That's you mentioned something that I think is so important.
I think that so many people can relate to you
when you talk about you know, when it was holiday
time and you like to partake in that.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Decorating, you were you were raising your hand first.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I imagined, yes, to help get the Christmas decorations out
and things of that nature. But you know, the way
that we talk about creativity, people will say, oh, I'm
not a very creative person, or I'm a really creative
person and I liked arts and crafts as a kid,
or I didn't like arts and crafts as a kid.
(12:34):
I mean, when we're small, we don't ever think, oh,
I'm helping mom with the Christmas decorations.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
I think I'll be an interior designer. We don't quite
think about it that way.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So it is interesting always to look back and identify
those moments where it's like, oh, you know, it's interesting
that I pursued this as a career because I enjoyed
this so much as a kid.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
And I think every little child is creative in one
way or another. They just don't know what it is yet.
Even every kindergarten knows how to paint a picture, it's
at some age they kind of get pushed down that
they don't think that they're good at that. And I
think as a human we're always needing to kind of
filter what we are good at in a creative world
and figuring out if it's writing or design or sculpture
(13:19):
or what that is well.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
And I think that creativity sometimes gets a bad rap
only because again we oftentimes define it by people who
are good at art or something gets artistic, And really
you need to be creative no matter what field you're in.
You use creativity everywhere. You use creativity in your home
(13:43):
to problem solve. Being creative is really about problem solving,
and so the definition of it I think has been
simplified when it really.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Means so much more so.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Megan, you've been a designer for a while now, and
I know that you've seen changes along the way.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Tell us where design is right now from your perspective.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
You know, christ I think interior design is constantly evolving,
which is good. You know, you see trends. We're not
something that just stays the same year after year and movements.
There's a lot of technological advancements influencing how we design
and how we live in our homes.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Some of these changes.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Also reflect broader social shifts, such as increased emphasis on sustainability,
the rise of smart home technology, and I would definitely
say the importance of mental health and well being, which
we kind of talked about earlier. I just this last
year I put in several saunas in our new construction
homes and a couple cold plunges as well. And you know,
(14:42):
that's a trend we're seeing. It's not just how to
have that home gym that has your loctical and treadmill
and weights, but what are the other things that can
help us be better all.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Around for our well being.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
I also think as an industry, we've gotten much better
at honing in our processes and also our ability to
help our clients visualize things. Our three D renderings have
really come a long way. They're so realistic, and just
the ability to let homeowners know how their spaces are
(15:14):
going to look so they know they're making the right decision.
You know, as designers were visual people, so it's easy
for us to kind of imagine what that all looks like,
but for the homeowners sometimes it's very difficult. And so
the fact that we can give them these visuals from
an early start really helps, and we're designing so much
of that early on as well. It helps us be
(15:35):
able to make all the right decisions along the way too.
I know often we might be just talking about the
kitchen and cabinet redesign, but I already know what that
dining room looks like across the way, or the living
room that's attached, and my mind can see that. But
now being able to visualize that to our clients, I
think has been a really big part of the industry,
(15:56):
just letting us continuing to be dynamic and innovative around.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So while we're talking about changes, While we're on that subject,
how would you say your clients have changed over time?
Because I think you mentioned it technology, and there's the
technology that goes into the home, but there's also the
technology that you.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Use as a designer's tools. And I think that.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
One challenge is a lot of people don't know how
to articulate design. They don't know the proper terminology. They
have to be educated. So how would you say technology
has played into you as a designer. How have you
watched that piece of it evolved so where your clients
have a better understanding.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Well, and I think that's just what you said too.
A lot of times people think they know what they want,
or they show you pictures of what they say they
want and how they articulate it is different. So sometimes
they might tell you they want a really warm kitchen
and you come in with some nice warm cabinetry Walnut
Island or some thing, and they see it and they're
(17:02):
just like, oh, that's way too dark for me. And
so it allows you to be able to make the
right decisions that they're not then ordering the cabinetry that
they're going to hate down the road. So I would
say it definitely just makes both designer and the client
more comfortable with all the decisions that you're both on
all the same pages along the way.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
On that note of clients, we know that design has
become a popular pastime, and I'm sure you have many
clients who maybe like to dabble or think they want
to dabble, and people who aren't interior designers or who
aren't clients we.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Know, like to dabble in design.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
I have said for about fifteen years that there seems
to be an epidemic and good taste, and I don't
really know where that comes from. We can maybe credit
Martha Stewart. She certainly got us all interested in everything.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
About the home.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
But you can even look at collaborations like the early
days of when target it sort of rebranded itself and
started partnering with designers to create wonderful little collections at
the mass level. So we've seen it all across the board,
and then of course with social media and the Internet,
(18:15):
people have so many additional platforms other than books and
magazines to be exposed to design. There are mistakes to
be made, though, and you've seen them and I've seen them.
So let's talk a little about what formal training and
design provides and why hiring a professional is important.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
I think this is a really great conversation CHRISA. And
just a little bit about my background. I do have
a bachelor's of Fine Arts and into your design, so
I did go to college for it, and think I
think in schooling and formal training you learned some really
key foundational elements obviously just your design elements that will
(18:57):
take you a long ways in all types of design,
but you also obviously learn the technical skills. And my schooling,
I knew I wanted to do residential design, but I
also was able to learn about commercial, hospitality, all different
types of design, and I think that makes you more
well rounded to understand how people use space, how they
(19:19):
go about their day and how they think about things,
and to think how other people use spaces and then
how they're coming back to their home to use their space.
So it allows me to think from a little different
perspective as well. And I also think just through schooling,
it allowed me to think a little bit differently about
(19:40):
just getting from point A to point B. I had
many professors that really just stretched your mind that you
can't take the easy route and that's not always sometimes
the easiest answer. It really challenged my thinking on how
I would approach a design problem and go about it,
you know, and as a professional, and how I've used
that into my professionals skills. I think, hands down it's
(20:02):
so important, especially when you talk about these large scale
residential projects. They take a ton of time and details.
I've worked on over one hundred new construction projects. I
know the answer to all the questions, and when the
clients are coming across us for the first time, they
don't know the right answer of like let's just make
this decision now of where this is going to go,
(20:24):
or you know, mismatching finishes in the scale of things,
scaling the lighting appropriately and the mirrors appropriately and just
coming up with more unique designs. I think, I think
kind of back to what you said too, of just
we live in such a copy and paste society.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
It's easy to be.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Influenced online and or open up a catalog and want
to buy that room, but that's that's vanilla, and I
think as designers were able to really take those ideas
and adapt them to become so much better and more
depth to the space and more of that storytelling we
talked about earlier. We're able to take those designs and
(21:05):
think about how it's going to look at different times
of the day, and how the light will affect it,
and how color and pattern and all of the textures
will move throughout the space. Even as I mentioned too,
our brain thinks big scale and we're able to see
the whole vision early on, so we know those decisions
are the right decisions and that you're not going to
(21:26):
be changing things after you move in or have missed
an outlet where we needed a lamp, and just all
those other little details that go along the way. So
obviously I'm a huge proponent of hiring a professional designer,
and I think ultimately you'll end up with a better
end product in your home.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Oh, most certainly. I think that's true.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And the one thing I will say, because there are
so many people in this industry who were not formally trained,
and I think that's fine. I don't think you have
to be. However, there is something to be said for curriculum,
because the way curriculum is laid out in a school
setting is you learn the elements in a certain order. Yeah,
(22:09):
and I think that's important where over time any of
us can learn a lot about all sorts of topics,
but it may not be the best order. So that's
what I really appreciate about that formal training.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
And even too, just the formal training in art, history
and architecture. I think that's one of them that I
have used so much over the years, of just being
immersed in learning the vocabulary and proportions of all of that.
How that creates this backdrop for a home.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Well in the history of everything also, I mean decorative
arts are otherwise.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
I think that a lot of people don't understand that
history plays such an important role in interior design and
exterior design as well architecture because it talks about what
was going on at that time. And again this is
all just a standard for us having houses that stand
(23:07):
up straight, and having beautiful wallpapers to decorate our walls,
and you know, a whole slew of paint finishes and
options galore. But at a certain time in history, those
elements were created for very specific reasons that had to
be problem solving, not just aust to look nice. All
(23:27):
of that leads back to hiring a professional, I think,
And at least if you do want to be one
of those people who is a dabbler, you have to
educate yourself too.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Yes, Like I said, don't just copy and paste. Have
some authenticity in what you're creating.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Yes, So design and lifestyle are such a large umbrella
that encompass all sorts of ideas and concepts. What are
some of your passions, both within and outside of design?
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Well, as I mentioned earlier, I'm super fortunate, or we
both are as far as design is my passion. And
so the fact that I get to wake up and
go to work and actually get to do what I love,
I know I'm a very fortunate person in that, and
I am.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
I come home and I'll dabble around my house.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I'm constantly thinking about a new project, or how to
tweak something or just adjust a bookcase or rearrange a
room and change the rugout to give it a different
look too. So I'm fortunate that my passion is designed,
so I'm constantly in that. But I also would say
I have three children. I didn't mention that earlier, and
(24:35):
I'm busy with them obviously, but we also I enjoy
doing creative things with them. We constantly are making something
or have a little craft project out that we like
to create and do together. And I love to instill
that in them at young ages, as they are just ten,
seven and five, so we're still in kind of the
thick of that busyness. Outside of design, I would also
(24:58):
say that I get lot of inspiration from just making
sure that I get out and walk. I absolutely love
taking my walks. It's a little hard this time of
year right now, but both getting outside and just moving
my body, those are key things for me to stay
both healthy in my mind and my body and move
throughout my day in a good manner. And I also
(25:20):
I think back with the design and creativity, I enjoy
constantly kind of having a little party or something I'm
planning with kids birthday parties or just a dinner party
or different things throughout the year too, and using my
creativity and how to use those beautiful pieces of dishes
and vases and different things and how they get made
up together too. So I'm constantly creating, I guess, lifelong
(25:42):
learner in the creative world.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
That's so important.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
And when you talked about taking a walk outside, I
think every designer, and there are many in this industry
all will hands down say that none of them are
the best interior designer. But it is Mother Nature for sure,
and so much can be taken away from that and
the materials that we use. You know, seeing the beauty
of a tree and how that translates into a piece
(26:07):
of furniture that you specify must be really exciting.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
It is, and then even I mean just on another
whole different element of how you take that inspiration. I
have one of my favorite pieces of bookcase that I
have I share all the treasures from nature, our beach
vacations we take as a family together and how those
hold memories and also just the texture and connection back
to mother nature as you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
So we recently turned the calendar to a new year,
and I am not a super fan of the New
Year's resolution, just because every day, in my opinion, is
the beginning of a new year. But do you have
a goal or something new that you want to incorporate
into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Well, I would definitely say it's probably this podcast. I
think it's exciting that we're getting it launched and off
the ground. I had it on my goal a little
bit for last year and the fact that I spent
a good amount of the year getting that up to
fruition and working on it in the fall. I don't
necessarily taken the cliche of a lot of the New
Year's resolutions either, but I do like to kind of
(27:12):
have something in mind, and for me, it is kind
of the idea to dream a bigger dream. And I think,
you know, I constantly like to evolve as a person,
and I've done that through my business and then starting
you know, our e commerce site, and the idea to
add to as a podcast and what that can bring.
And I'm so excited to talk to all the different
(27:33):
creatives and get to know people better and how they
live and how they bring their creativity to the world.
I'm just super excited about that. For the New Year.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
So on the note of dreaming a bigger dream and
launching this exciting podcast, we thought about the name for
a really long time.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
We looked at the dictionary, we looked at a thesarus,
we made list.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
We may have used AI a little bit too to
help us out and give us some ideas. So we
came up with boulevard Beat because again, everybody lives somewhere.
We love the name boulevard, and everybody has a different beat.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
So if you could design.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Your own street and dream a bigger dream, as you
just said, what would be on your perfect boulevard?
Speaker 1 (28:19):
I love to think about that and just dreaming that
bigger dream. And to me that boulevard would be a
tree lined pathway with lush landscaping and gardening, you know,
elegant architecture with charming facades. I would have some artistic
influence that inspires me on a daily you know, that
sense of discovery, a coffee shop, a store, somewhere to
just wander into. But most importantly, I think it's about
(28:42):
the community and connection. It's not just a place to
pass through or destination for gathering. It's the sound of
the laughter, the conversations, you know, whether you're walking alone
to clear your mind on that boulevard, or meeting friends
for coffee or soaking in the vibrant energy. I think
the boulevard, in my mind offers something for everyone being
you feeling recharged and connected to both your surroundings and yourself.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Well, that sounds like a boulevard that I would want
to stroll down, preferably by myself. I think it's used to.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Take things in sometimes when you don't have other voices.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Which right, yeah, you truly get inspired then, I think too,
because you wouldn't notice it otherwise.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Sometimes absolutely absolutely Well, Megan, here we are. We can
check off our very first podcast episode.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Thank you for your time. I know that our listeners will.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Enjoy getting to know you and hopefully me and Liz,
our third counterpart as well over the next few weeks.
So thanks again and we will be back with another
episode next week.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Thanks Chris.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
It was wonderful chatting with you and getting to share,
and I'm so excited to connect and talk more with
you next week and Liz as well, so everyone can
learn more about our conversations. Because this isn't just about
beautiful things, It's about the connection of getting to know you.
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
(30:08):
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
so you never miss an episode, And of course, follow
your hosts on Instagram at Megan bloom Interiors, at CHRISA. Rossbund,
and at Liz Legit. We'll be back next week as
we take a stroll down another boulevard
Welcome to Boulevard Beat, a podcast we're life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom, along with my co hosts, editor
Chrissa Rossbund and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses
on the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with
taste makers, and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable
style you control one street at a time, Boulevard Beat
(00:29):
proves the one you should take.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Megan, here we are. What an exciting day.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
After so much planning, it's time we're launching this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Let's do it.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
You're the designer here, so let's talk a little bit
about what led you to think of this and what
you do.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Definitely, Chris, I'm so excited to start this journey with
you guys and excited to share all about that. I've
been in Tier designer for almost nineteen years, which is crazy,
and I have had my own business for ten now.
I'm the owner of Megan Bloom Interiors, an in Tier
design studio and a sister brand, House of Bloom, which
(01:12):
sells all kinds of fun home decre items all around
the country. So I like to dabble in a lot
of things. So podcasts came naturally, and it's one of
those things too. In my design business, we get to
do full scale and tier design, and we get to
really help all ends of the design projects, you know,
making selections from cabinets, counters, tile design, flooring, lighting, plumbing,
(01:36):
into all the soft goods furniture, window treatments, rugs, down
to every little piece of accessory on the book case.
And you know, as that led me to a house
of bloom and being able to share my designs with
other people just that wanted to buy pieces of our designs,
it also gave me the itch to want to do
a little bit more too. The idea of home is
(01:58):
something I think about all the time, not just the
setus of how it is, but how people live in them.
And I knew that I could share that with a
bigger community, and so the idea of a podcast kept
coming to me and tugged at me a little bit.
And I know you and I are very avid listeners
on different podcasts, and so the idea to have a
(02:18):
community where we could share with other creatives their stories
and how they live their lives more beautifully. And I'm
excited to be able to share that with other people
and kind of inspire people in new ways.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
I think it's interesting when you are a part when
your job is part of the design industry.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
And in a bit we're going to talk a.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Little more about the three of us, so our audience
and you know, listeners can get to know us each
individually a little.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Better and how we're coming at this.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
But when you're part of the design community, it's interesting
and so much fun because what we do is how
we live. It's very difficult, don't you think to separate?
Speaker 2 (03:06):
For sure?
Speaker 1 (03:06):
The separation is so hard because it's such a part
of who we are, of like making every day that
much more special and that much more intentional. On how
you're using the spaces.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Absolutely, you're designing spaces for people and how they eat,
how they prepare food. I'm writing about people and how
they eat and how they prepare food. You're shopping at
markets to find great product. I'm shopping at markets and
when I travel to find great things.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
But I would do that anyway.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
And so I think again, when you're in this community
that we are, it's really fun because we can live
and work.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
It's sort of the same bucket.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
It definitely is.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
So we're coming at this podcast from three arms of design,
You as the designer, myself as a design editor, and
then Liz, who our listeners will meet in a couple
of weeks. And Liz comes to us from the art
world and is so schooled about that community. So from
an interior design perspective, what sets you apart just the
(04:11):
way that you are looking at things and that lens.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
You know, Chris, there are so many good designers, and
I'm constantly inspired by many of them as well. But
I think I think great design lies in several factors
that elevate a space from being merely functional to truly transformative.
Good design should balance aesthetics, functionally and emotional connection. And
I think the emotional connection is really one thing that
(04:37):
I like to hone in on as I design and designers,
I think take this to another level. Is they really
tailor to the lifestyle. They have a deep understanding of
how clients are living, what they're using in the space.
You know, I want to know where are they having
coffee in the morning. Do they get to sit for
a while and enjoy that cup of coffee? Does the
sunlight change when they're having that cup of coffee in
(04:58):
the morning, what is the music they're listening to in
the kitchen as they cook, and how they move around
the space. It's understanding lifestyle and those emotions and making
that a better design for their home and how they
use spaces. And I think along with that comes the storytelling.
I think a truly inspired design tells a story through
(05:19):
its elements, you know, through unique pieces of furniture, custom artwork,
or inherited heirlooms that reflect the owner's history, culture and passions.
And I think through both of those key strengths, we
then really hone in on the details of design, and
that makes us a better designer and a better overall
design scheme. A truly inspired design is in the details.
(05:40):
That's what makes the room, the bondosed edge of a
marble countertop, the wood grain on the flooring, or just
a plete and the drape. I think great into your
design pays close attention to the small things.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
You know, you use the word emotion a moment ago,
and there is seemingly more attention paid to design. I
think about the emotion that emits from it.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
In the past. I think people why they're.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Intrigued by design and what draws them to it is.
It's pretty right. It's interesting to look at aesthetics that
are polished and put together with all of those elements,
the artwork, the textiles, the flooring, all of those elements
that you mentioned a moment ago, but we don't always
think of the emotion part of it first and foremost.
(06:30):
So it does seem like people are paying attention to
that piece of it a little more and how design
makes them feel in addition to being beautiful.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I agree with that so much, and I think it's
because as a society we have become more help and
wellness conscious about things, and so we want our spaces
to make us feel good energetically as a person go
on our day and be a more productive person into society.
And it's not something you think about as a designer,
but we have we have that capability to do that
(07:03):
for people so that way they wake up recharged and
are able to face the day and do wonderful things
in a different capacity than in our design world.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
It's true, and I think it's exciting that design can
offer more and address that emotion part of it, because
sometimes we do think, oh my gosh, is this a
frivolous business. You know, I mean, who, at the end
of the day, who cares about a pillow?
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Right?
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Right?
Speaker 1 (07:27):
But how does that pillow make you feel? And those
colors and all of those things. It does make a difference.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
So it does because that pillow is what you're grabbing
when your family's all bundled up on the sectional sofa
watching your favorite movies. So that pillow does make a difference.
But sometimes sometimes we just choose it because it's blue.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
So right, agree, that happens as well.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
So let's pivot for a moment and go back to
this podcast that we are launching today. We named this
podcast Boulevard Beat because everybody lives where. Everybody lives on
a street, and that can look so very different depending
on where you're located and what kind of dwelling.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
You are in.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
And then on the backside of that, every person is
in charge of figuring out what the beat is of
their own life.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
So let's start in the early.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Days of Megan Bloom. Tell us a little bit about
this street where you grew up.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Well, I grew up in a small town, just ten
thousand people, and I lived in an area called Rolling Hills,
So it was an obviously kind of large, rolling hills neighborhood,
and I lived on top of one of those hills.
And this typical small town, you'd ride your bike everywhere,
and the challenge of riding my bike all the way
(08:42):
to the top of that hill was one that was hard.
And I think in my stronger days of my athletic ability,
I could write it all the way to the top.
But a fun fact, I actually lived in two houses
on that street. So I started in one that was
a ranch house, and I lived there until I was
in fourth grade, and then moved next door, actually in
(09:03):
the cold February days, so similar to where we are now.
Moved next door and carried all of our items and
to a two story colonial and have just a charming
upbringing of remembering lots of good memories in that home.
It was a street where, you know, we had a
little tree lined force in the backyard of some of
(09:23):
the neighbors that we would play in and make up
stories and build forts and things like that and play
until until it was dark and went home.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Was there anything that you missed from that early childhood
home or you.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Know that when you moved to the new house, it's like, oh,
I wish I still had that window seat or anything
like that.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And what did you love about the new house?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Well, you know, we had a corner stove fireplace, one
of those old school ones that you would open it up,
and I remember my dad had everything around it to
protect us so we wouldn't get burned on it. But
I remember making popcorn on that stove, and that's something
that's pretty unique. I've never lived in a house like
that since I'm not sure I ever will, but had
(10:08):
that charm of that. The new house had some neat
characteristics to it. And in fact, the foyer had black
and white striped wallpaper, which was pretty chic at the time.
And maybe it was my early love for black and
white inspired me more than I ever know, I guess,
but that's kind of a fun little memory as well.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
On that note, what is your earliest memory of being
interested in style and design?
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I love the.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Answers for this when I interviewed people, only because not
everybody comes into design as a career like you did.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Some people go on and do other, you know, numbers sorts.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Of jobs before they dabble in design. So what is
your earliest memory of style and design to where you
knew you were really interested in that.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
You know, I would say I grew up always wanting
to move furniture around, bedroom around, redoing my room, all
those things that looking back now makes sense, and even
just helping my mom rearrange the living room or holidays
are always a thing to decorate, and I was always
a big one to help partake in that. And I
actually remember looking at magazines at an early age and
(11:21):
just getting to see what was around the world and
the homes my mom would get design magazines, and I
still I saved him for the longest time.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
I feel like I still.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Have a few here and there that I feel like
we're early inspiration for me that just, you know, good
design has standing power. And I think the fact that
I was interested to actually look at that. I can't
remember how young I was, if it was middle school probably.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
And in general just creative.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
On all levels. I mean I was always doing arts
and crafts and things that just honing in and figuring
out how I could use my mind in different ways.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Well, and I think.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
That's you mentioned something that I think is so important.
I think that so many people can relate to you
when you talk about you know, when it was holiday
time and you like to partake in that.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Decorating, you were you were raising your hand first.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I imagined, yes, to help get the Christmas decorations out
and things of that nature. But you know, the way
that we talk about creativity, people will say, oh, I'm
not a very creative person, or I'm a really creative
person and I liked arts and crafts as a kid,
or I didn't like arts and crafts as a kid.
(12:34):
I mean, when we're small, we don't ever think, oh,
I'm helping mom with the Christmas decorations.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
I think I'll be an interior designer. We don't quite
think about it that way.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So it is interesting always to look back and identify
those moments where it's like, oh, you know, it's interesting
that I pursued this as a career because I enjoyed
this so much as a kid.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
And I think every little child is creative in one
way or another. They just don't know what it is yet.
Even every kindergarten knows how to paint a picture, it's
at some age they kind of get pushed down that
they don't think that they're good at that. And I
think as a human we're always needing to kind of
filter what we are good at in a creative world
and figuring out if it's writing or design or sculpture
(13:19):
or what that is well.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
And I think that creativity sometimes gets a bad rap
only because again we oftentimes define it by people who
are good at art or something gets artistic, And really
you need to be creative no matter what field you're in.
You use creativity everywhere. You use creativity in your home
(13:43):
to problem solve. Being creative is really about problem solving,
and so the definition of it I think has been
simplified when it really.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Means so much more so.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Megan, you've been a designer for a while now, and
I know that you've seen changes along the way.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Tell us where design is right now from your perspective.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
You know, christ I think interior design is constantly evolving,
which is good. You know, you see trends. We're not
something that just stays the same year after year and movements.
There's a lot of technological advancements influencing how we design
and how we live in our homes.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Some of these changes.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Also reflect broader social shifts, such as increased emphasis on sustainability,
the rise of smart home technology, and I would definitely
say the importance of mental health and well being, which
we kind of talked about earlier. I just this last
year I put in several saunas in our new construction
homes and a couple cold plunges as well. And you know,
(14:42):
that's a trend we're seeing. It's not just how to
have that home gym that has your loctical and treadmill
and weights, but what are the other things that can
help us be better all.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Around for our well being.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
I also think as an industry, we've gotten much better
at honing in our processes and also our ability to
help our clients visualize things. Our three D renderings have
really come a long way. They're so realistic, and just
the ability to let homeowners know how their spaces are
(15:14):
going to look so they know they're making the right decision.
You know, as designers were visual people, so it's easy
for us to kind of imagine what that all looks like,
but for the homeowners sometimes it's very difficult. And so
the fact that we can give them these visuals from
an early start really helps, and we're designing so much
of that early on as well. It helps us be
(15:35):
able to make all the right decisions along the way too.
I know often we might be just talking about the
kitchen and cabinet redesign, but I already know what that
dining room looks like across the way, or the living
room that's attached, and my mind can see that. But
now being able to visualize that to our clients, I
think has been a really big part of the industry,
(15:56):
just letting us continuing to be dynamic and innovative around.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
So while we're talking about changes, While we're on that subject,
how would you say your clients have changed over time?
Because I think you mentioned it technology, and there's the
technology that goes into the home, but there's also the
technology that you.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Use as a designer's tools. And I think that.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
One challenge is a lot of people don't know how
to articulate design. They don't know the proper terminology. They
have to be educated. So how would you say technology
has played into you as a designer. How have you
watched that piece of it evolved so where your clients
have a better understanding.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Well, and I think that's just what you said too.
A lot of times people think they know what they want,
or they show you pictures of what they say they
want and how they articulate it is different. So sometimes
they might tell you they want a really warm kitchen
and you come in with some nice warm cabinetry Walnut
Island or some thing, and they see it and they're
(17:02):
just like, oh, that's way too dark for me. And
so it allows you to be able to make the
right decisions that they're not then ordering the cabinetry that
they're going to hate down the road. So I would
say it definitely just makes both designer and the client
more comfortable with all the decisions that you're both on
all the same pages along the way.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
On that note of clients, we know that design has
become a popular pastime, and I'm sure you have many
clients who maybe like to dabble or think they want
to dabble, and people who aren't interior designers or who
aren't clients we.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Know, like to dabble in design.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
I have said for about fifteen years that there seems
to be an epidemic and good taste, and I don't
really know where that comes from. We can maybe credit
Martha Stewart. She certainly got us all interested in everything.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
About the home.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
But you can even look at collaborations like the early
days of when target it sort of rebranded itself and
started partnering with designers to create wonderful little collections at
the mass level. So we've seen it all across the board,
and then of course with social media and the Internet,
(18:15):
people have so many additional platforms other than books and
magazines to be exposed to design. There are mistakes to
be made, though, and you've seen them and I've seen them.
So let's talk a little about what formal training and
design provides and why hiring a professional is important.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
I think this is a really great conversation CHRISA. And
just a little bit about my background. I do have
a bachelor's of Fine Arts and into your design, so
I did go to college for it, and think I
think in schooling and formal training you learned some really
key foundational elements obviously just your design elements that will
(18:57):
take you a long ways in all types of design,
but you also obviously learn the technical skills. And my schooling,
I knew I wanted to do residential design, but I
also was able to learn about commercial, hospitality, all different
types of design, and I think that makes you more
well rounded to understand how people use space, how they
(19:19):
go about their day and how they think about things,
and to think how other people use spaces and then
how they're coming back to their home to use their space.
So it allows me to think from a little different
perspective as well. And I also think just through schooling,
it allowed me to think a little bit differently about
(19:40):
just getting from point A to point B. I had
many professors that really just stretched your mind that you
can't take the easy route and that's not always sometimes
the easiest answer. It really challenged my thinking on how
I would approach a design problem and go about it,
you know, and as a professional, and how I've used
that into my professionals skills. I think, hands down it's
(20:02):
so important, especially when you talk about these large scale
residential projects. They take a ton of time and details.
I've worked on over one hundred new construction projects. I
know the answer to all the questions, and when the
clients are coming across us for the first time, they
don't know the right answer of like let's just make
this decision now of where this is going to go,
(20:24):
or you know, mismatching finishes in the scale of things,
scaling the lighting appropriately and the mirrors appropriately and just
coming up with more unique designs. I think, I think
kind of back to what you said too, of just
we live in such a copy and paste society.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
It's easy to be.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Influenced online and or open up a catalog and want
to buy that room, but that's that's vanilla, and I
think as designers were able to really take those ideas
and adapt them to become so much better and more
depth to the space and more of that storytelling we
talked about earlier. We're able to take those designs and
(21:05):
think about how it's going to look at different times
of the day, and how the light will affect it,
and how color and pattern and all of the textures
will move throughout the space. Even as I mentioned too,
our brain thinks big scale and we're able to see
the whole vision early on, so we know those decisions
are the right decisions and that you're not going to
(21:26):
be changing things after you move in or have missed
an outlet where we needed a lamp, and just all
those other little details that go along the way. So
obviously I'm a huge proponent of hiring a professional designer,
and I think ultimately you'll end up with a better
end product in your home.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Oh, most certainly. I think that's true.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And the one thing I will say, because there are
so many people in this industry who were not formally trained,
and I think that's fine. I don't think you have
to be. However, there is something to be said for curriculum,
because the way curriculum is laid out in a school
setting is you learn the elements in a certain order. Yeah,
(22:09):
and I think that's important where over time any of
us can learn a lot about all sorts of topics,
but it may not be the best order. So that's
what I really appreciate about that formal training.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
And even too, just the formal training in art, history
and architecture. I think that's one of them that I
have used so much over the years, of just being
immersed in learning the vocabulary and proportions of all of that.
How that creates this backdrop for a home.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Well in the history of everything also, I mean decorative
arts are otherwise.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
I think that a lot of people don't understand that
history plays such an important role in interior design and
exterior design as well architecture because it talks about what
was going on at that time. And again this is
all just a standard for us having houses that stand
(23:07):
up straight, and having beautiful wallpapers to decorate our walls,
and you know, a whole slew of paint finishes and
options galore. But at a certain time in history, those
elements were created for very specific reasons that had to
be problem solving, not just aust to look nice. All
(23:27):
of that leads back to hiring a professional, I think,
And at least if you do want to be one
of those people who is a dabbler, you have to
educate yourself too.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Yes, Like I said, don't just copy and paste. Have
some authenticity in what you're creating.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Yes, So design and lifestyle are such a large umbrella
that encompass all sorts of ideas and concepts. What are
some of your passions, both within and outside of design?
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Well, as I mentioned earlier, I'm super fortunate, or we
both are as far as design is my passion. And
so the fact that I get to wake up and
go to work and actually get to do what I love,
I know I'm a very fortunate person in that, and
I am.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
I come home and I'll dabble around my house.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
I'm constantly thinking about a new project, or how to
tweak something or just adjust a bookcase or rearrange a
room and change the rugout to give it a different
look too. So I'm fortunate that my passion is designed,
so I'm constantly in that. But I also would say
I have three children. I didn't mention that earlier, and
(24:35):
I'm busy with them obviously, but we also I enjoy
doing creative things with them. We constantly are making something
or have a little craft project out that we like
to create and do together. And I love to instill
that in them at young ages, as they are just ten,
seven and five, so we're still in kind of the
thick of that busyness. Outside of design, I would also
(24:58):
say that I get lot of inspiration from just making
sure that I get out and walk. I absolutely love
taking my walks. It's a little hard this time of
year right now, but both getting outside and just moving
my body, those are key things for me to stay
both healthy in my mind and my body and move
throughout my day in a good manner. And I also
(25:20):
I think back with the design and creativity, I enjoy
constantly kind of having a little party or something I'm
planning with kids birthday parties or just a dinner party
or different things throughout the year too, and using my
creativity and how to use those beautiful pieces of dishes
and vases and different things and how they get made
up together too. So I'm constantly creating, I guess, lifelong
(25:42):
learner in the creative world.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
That's so important.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
And when you talked about taking a walk outside, I
think every designer, and there are many in this industry
all will hands down say that none of them are
the best interior designer. But it is Mother Nature for sure,
and so much can be taken away from that and
the materials that we use. You know, seeing the beauty
of a tree and how that translates into a piece
(26:07):
of furniture that you specify must be really exciting.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
It is, and then even I mean just on another
whole different element of how you take that inspiration. I
have one of my favorite pieces of bookcase that I
have I share all the treasures from nature, our beach
vacations we take as a family together and how those
hold memories and also just the texture and connection back
to mother nature as you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
So we recently turned the calendar to a new year,
and I am not a super fan of the New
Year's resolution, just because every day, in my opinion, is
the beginning of a new year. But do you have
a goal or something new that you want to incorporate
into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Well, I would definitely say it's probably this podcast. I
think it's exciting that we're getting it launched and off
the ground. I had it on my goal a little
bit for last year and the fact that I spent
a good amount of the year getting that up to
fruition and working on it in the fall. I don't
necessarily taken the cliche of a lot of the New
Year's resolutions either, but I do like to kind of
(27:12):
have something in mind, and for me, it is kind
of the idea to dream a bigger dream. And I think,
you know, I constantly like to evolve as a person,
and I've done that through my business and then starting
you know, our e commerce site, and the idea to
add to as a podcast and what that can bring.
And I'm so excited to talk to all the different
(27:33):
creatives and get to know people better and how they
live and how they bring their creativity to the world.
I'm just super excited about that. For the New Year.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
So on the note of dreaming a bigger dream and
launching this exciting podcast, we thought about the name for
a really long time.
Speaker 2 (27:52):
We looked at the dictionary, we looked at a thesarus,
we made list.
Speaker 3 (27:56):
We may have used AI a little bit too to
help us out and give us some ideas. So we
came up with boulevard Beat because again, everybody lives somewhere.
We love the name boulevard, and everybody has a different beat.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
So if you could design.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Your own street and dream a bigger dream, as you
just said, what would be on your perfect boulevard?
Speaker 1 (28:19):
I love to think about that and just dreaming that
bigger dream. And to me that boulevard would be a
tree lined pathway with lush landscaping and gardening, you know,
elegant architecture with charming facades. I would have some artistic
influence that inspires me on a daily you know, that
sense of discovery, a coffee shop, a store, somewhere to
just wander into. But most importantly, I think it's about
(28:42):
the community and connection. It's not just a place to
pass through or destination for gathering. It's the sound of
the laughter, the conversations, you know, whether you're walking alone
to clear your mind on that boulevard, or meeting friends
for coffee or soaking in the vibrant energy. I think
the boulevard, in my mind offers something for everyone being
you feeling recharged and connected to both your surroundings and yourself.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Well, that sounds like a boulevard that I would want
to stroll down, preferably by myself. I think it's used to.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Take things in sometimes when you don't have other voices.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Which right, yeah, you truly get inspired then, I think too,
because you wouldn't notice it otherwise.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Sometimes absolutely absolutely Well, Megan, here we are. We can
check off our very first podcast episode.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Thank you for your time. I know that our listeners will.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
Enjoy getting to know you and hopefully me and Liz,
our third counterpart as well over the next few weeks.
So thanks again and we will be back with another
episode next week.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
Thanks Chris.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
It was wonderful chatting with you and getting to share,
and I'm so excited to connect and talk more with
you next week and Liz as well, so everyone can
learn more about our conversations. Because this isn't just about
beautiful things, It's about the connection of getting to know you.
Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat.
(30:08):
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave
a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
so you never miss an episode, And of course, follow
your hosts on Instagram at Megan bloom Interiors, at CHRISA. Rossbund,
and at Liz Legit. We'll be back next week as
we take a stroll down another boulevard
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