I’m pretty bad at goodbyes. I’m also the last one to leave every party or gathering. Wrapping things up isn’t my forte. I’m best at lingering. As I watch the cursor blink, blink, blink, bumming a desk space at the studio as I write this post, I’m having trouble wrapping up this project too. The Pinch of Yum Studio, a project that began 6 months ago, has come to an end. I’ve learned so much, mostly learning how much I’ve yet to learn. What is it they say—the more you know, the less you really know? And yet, I’m so proud of what we created. And proud, too, that I took my own advice, to play, and figure out where The Faux Martha is headed in the future. OK, without any further awkward lingering at the front door, come on in. I’d love to walk you through the Pinch of Yum Studio Kitchen and Dining Room reveal, where the magic happens, especially that magic green sauce. (PS—Here’s the office tour in case you missed it.) Read more
Sometimes, my yes is fast. Maybe too fast? A couple weeks before they asked the question, Kev and I were sitting on the kitchen counter talking about what’s next. I had finished designing our home and was itching to keep designing. Not a week later did our friends ask if I’d be interested in helping design their new studio space. “Yes!” I said without hesitation.
I thanked my lucky stars that Kimberly, who works with me, was along for a new ride without a paved road. Somehow, we did it. (I couldn’t have pulled this off without her.) Or without IKEA, who partnered with us to furnish the space. Or without Bjork and Lindsay, who believed in me enough to ask. And without further adieu, I’d love to share my fast yes and slow execution with you; the Pinch of Yum Office reveal is below. Thank you, too, for being along for my many rides—from dinnertime to the dinner table to the Pinch of Yum Studio. Read more
We’re really close to wrapping up the Pinch of Yum Studio design project, a project that started a whopping 6 months ago. A project that began with me asking a lot of personal and professional questions that seemed to keep running into each other, begging for answers. I took the one-word advice I’ve given to others with a pile of questions that need answering: Play. That’s just what I did. In this case, play looked like designing a space outside of my home, for a client other than myself and Kev, thankfully for friends. It’s been messy and amazing, fun and hard. I’ll tell you more about all this playing another day. A couple weeks ago, I shared the office design plans and the aesthetic for the studio. Later this week, I’ll share the final reveal of the office spaces (!). But today, I’m sharing the kitchen and dining room renderings. Read more
It’s finally come time to start sharing the Pinch of Yum Studio design (!!). If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, you can catch up with this post from August. Design is a whole lot of talking about design, like months of it, and all of a sudden it just takes shape overnight, which is what is happening right now. As I type, the drills are drilling along to Michael Bublé and Adele in the background. The IKEA kitchen is going in. (Not by my hands, though I’ve put together my fair share of IKEA projects for the studio, a favorite pastime of mine.) I’m excited to share the final reveal next month. But before we jump straight to the finale, I’m sharing the Pinch of Yum office renderings today. (NOTE: all sources and details will be posted in the final reveal posts.) Read more
This summer I’ve been doing a lot of work offline. And I sorta love it, the cadence and pace and quietness of it all. I’ve carved out space to create and think, a space without double taps and stats and algorithms. I’ve jumped off the hamster wheel of hustle, too, a wheel I used to do a lot of spinning in. I don’t sorta love it. I love, love it. As someone who makes her living online, this makes for a muddy reality. Though, I think these two worlds can coexist with each other—online and offline—as long as I pay close attention to the ratios I give each of those spaces, as well as the places I go to get refueled. One of those offline spaces I’ve been working in this summer is the new Pinch of Yum Studio, helping to design the interior of their workspace. It’s a project that makes me feel my heart beat, a project that makes me feel alive. I’d love to share it with you. Read more