Blog Watch - Munster Interiors

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The word ‘blog’ is abbreviated from web log meaning a web diary but blogging is not just daily updates about a stranger’s life. It is a wonderful way to share ideas as well as giving your interest in interior design a focus. Interior design student Sheila O’Meara enjoys the interaction and feedback she receives from readers as well as the practical element of cataloguing her ideas and creating a digital portfolio within her blog Folder of Ideas. Naomi from inspire*inspire maintains that “finding material to write about can be the best part of blogging”. Ardent bloggers find material from interiors magazines, online shops, websites, other blogs, trade shows, design shows and exhibitions. They see a product they like and build a post around it. As you might expect, these blogs have beautiful photographs in almost every post. Interior design blogs can be grouped into various themes and every blogger finds their own speciality or niche. Some will concentrate on contemporary design, others on country chic or vintage style, others will be more craft-based. Jessica’s posts in How About Orange often include instructions for simple projects such as making newspaper flowers or cushion covers and she finds her readers appreciate the useful tips. I really enjoy writing my ‘Fix-it Friday - Interior Design Solution’ posts where I provide suggestions for any decorating or interior design dilemmas that readers send me. Others have blogs affiliated to their website or online shop. I opened an online shop six months after I’d started my blog and discovered that readers enjoyed reading reviews of new fabric and wallpaper collections and new products to the shop. Blogging also adds a personal and friendly aspect to the business. What all the bloggers have in common is an enthusiasm and love for interiors that’s Serial blogger Lorna Sixsmith ponders the merits of interior design blogs and checks out what’s happening in the blogging community blog watch 1. Lisa McGee whose blog NenaghGal includes a rundown on what’s happening in Munster 2. Outdoor fabrics designed by Irish-born Clodagh featured on the blog. 3. NenaghGal features gorgeous interiors and products as well as stories from around Munster 4. DesignHeaven blog 5. Melanie King blogger behind Design Heaven 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 6. Australian based blogger Sheila O’Meara 7. A diner discussed on the Folder of Ideas blog 8. This study is one of Sheilas favourite rooms. She shares what she likes about this room on her blog, 9. Sheilas blog is her digital folder of ideas blog:Layout 1 26/06/2009 14:37 Page 1

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Serial blogger Lorna Sixsmith ponders the merits of interior design blogs and checks out what's happening in the blogging community.

Transcript of Blog Watch - Munster Interiors

The word ‘blog’ is abbreviated from weblog meaning a web diary but blogging is not justdaily updates about a stranger’s life. It is awonderful way to share ideas as well as givingyour interest in interior design a focus. Interiordesign student Sheila O’Meara enjoys theinteraction and feedback she receives fromreaders as well as the practical elementof cataloguing her ideas and creating adigital portfolio within her blog Folder ofIdeas.

Naomi from inspire*inspire maintainsthat “finding material to write about can be thebest part of blogging”. Ardent bloggers findmaterial from interiors magazines, online shops,websites, other blogs, trade shows, designshows and exhibitions. They see a product theylike and build a post around it. As you mightexpect, these blogs have beautiful photographsin almost every post.

Interior design blogs can be groupedinto various themes and every bloggerfinds their own speciality or niche.Some will concentrate oncontemporary design, others oncountry chic or vintage style, otherswill be more craft-based. Jessica’sposts in How About Orange ofteninclude instructions for simple projectssuch as making newspaper flowers orcushion covers and she finds herreaders appreciate the useful tips. Ireally enjoy writing my ‘Fix-it Friday -Interior Design Solution’ posts where Iprovide suggestions for any decorating orinterior design dilemmas that readers send me.

Others have blogs affiliated to their websiteor online shop. I opened an online shop sixmonths after I’d started my blog and discoveredthat readers enjoyed reading reviews of newfabric and wallpaper collections and newproducts to the shop. Blogging also adds apersonal and friendly aspect to the business.What all the bloggers have in common is anenthusiasm and love for interiors that’s

Serial blogger Lorna Sixsmith ponders the merits of interior designblogs and checks out what’s happening in the blogging community

blog watch

1. Lisa McGee whose blog NenaghGal includes a rundown on what’shappening in Munster 2. Outdoor fabrics designed by Irish-born Clodaghfeatured on the blog. 3. NenaghGal features gorgeous interiors andproducts as well as stories from around Munster4. DesignHeaven blog 5. Melanie King blogger behind Design Heaven

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6. Australian based blogger Sheila O’Meara 7. A dinerdiscussed on the Folder of Ideas blog 8. This study isone of Sheilas favourite rooms. She shares what shelikes about this room on her blog, 9. Sheilas blog is herdigital folder of ideas

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infectious. Lisa McGee who blogs at NenaghGalsays her passion for interiors and blogging isderived from helping people infuse personalityand life into their homes.

Many interior design bloggers write aboutdecorating their own homes as well as anypurchases they make, thereby giving readers apersonal insight intotheir lives. A group oflike-minded bloggerscan become an onlinecommunity, so manybloggers get to knoweach other quite well,even though they maylive at opposite sides of the world. Australianbased blogger, Sheila comments that “the globalnature of the blogosphere and the fact that thepictures speak for themselves means that manyinterior design blogs I visit are not even inEnglish but it doesn’t matter.”

People seem to be divided into two camps:those who read blogs regularly and often writetheir own blog as well and those who areunsure what a blog is or how to go about findingone. The best place to start is to google‘interior design blogs’ or look up some of theblogs listed here. When you find blogs you like,it is a good idea to check out the blogrecommendations in their blogroll (often listedon the left or right side of theblog page).

If you wish to start your ownblog, it is easy and free. Simplyregister with one of the bloghosts such as Blogger, Typepad orWordPress, give your blog aname and choose a template,colours and photos. You will beled through the process step bystep. If you wish to host yourblog alongside your website,

”The word ‘blog’ is abbreviated from web log meaning a web diary but

blogging is not just daily updates about a stranger’s life. It is a wonderful wayto share ideas as well as giving your interest in interior design a focus.“

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10 How About Orange blog11. Jessica profiles some ofher own fabrics on her blog12. Jessica Jones who writesthe blog How About Orange13. Connemara-based bloggerBrid who writes the blogPretty Far West. She discoversnew blogs through checkingout the recommendations onother arts or design blogs andis impressed by the courtesyand supportiveness of thedesign blog community inIreland 14. Brid's pink andyellow kitchen in her house inConnemara, featured on herblog 15. Pretty Far West blog.

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specialist knowledge of HTML coding wouldbe needed.

As Mel from Designheaven says, “writing ablog really helps you find your likes anddislikes as well as making you more confidentwith your own design ideas andexperimenting with different trends.”

Interior design blogs are a wonderful sourceof inspiration, tips and information and offer asteady stream of beautiful interiors, wallcoverings, fabrics and products to view. Thespeed with which the latest trends arepublished on blogs is one of their mainadvantages. An interior designer can blogfrom an exhibition or trade show whichmeans new collections and new products canbe viewed on blogs weeks before the printmedia is distributed.

Bearing in mind some blog etiquette,remember to source your own images andideas. Not only does this prevent plagiarismbut your readers will appreciate it. Brid ofPretty Far West has discovered that “thedesign blog community is extremelycourteous, supportive and friendly.”

B L O G S T O W A T C Hhttp://inspireinspire.typepad.comNaomi wanted ‘stay in touch’ with the world of art and design whilewaiting to start a design course and enjoys writing, reading, participatingin and reviewing various designers, artists and products.www.folderofideas.blogspot.comAustralian based Sheila O’Meara’s blog is her digital folder of ideas - aninspiring collection of images depicting interior design and decoration,furniture, art and accessories. Well written, visual, interesting, inspiringand worth checking out.www.prettyfarwest.blogspot.comBríd ní Fhlathúin’s blog contains details of decorating her house in theWest of Ireland, her online ‘gorgeous finds’ and wonderful designers.http://howaboutorange.blogspot.comJessica dedicates her blog to all things orange as much as possible as it’ssuch an energetic and optimistic colour. Lots of handy craft tips coupledwith lovely images of interiors and her own fabrics from her Etsy shop.http://designheaven.wordpress.comDublin based Melanie showcases fabulous products from online shops - agreat source of inspiration for gift and home shopping.http://nenaghgal.blogspot.comAuthor of At Home in Nantucket, Lisa writes a lovely interiors andlifestyle blog. Gorgeous interiors and products are featured as well as arundown on what’s happening in Munster.

”Interior design blogs are a wonderful source of inspiration,

tips and information and offer a steady stream of beautifulinteriors, wall coverings, fabrics and products to view. “

Blog Watch

Lorna Sixsmith blogs atwww.garrendennylane.ie/blog- her blog is a mixture ofgorgeous interiors, interiordesign solutions, informationon the latest design trends aswell as occasional posts basedupon living in the countryside.

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16 Naomi from inspire*inspire says that“finding material to write about can be thebest part of blogging”17. Naomi wasdelighted to discover this little Moroccanstyle tray-table and tells her followers(readers) where to find it 18.inspire*inspire blog. 19. Garrendenny LaneLiving Interiors blog 20. Lorna Sixsmith

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