EMMAS DESIGNBLOGG

Holly Becker, 34, freelance writer/interior design consultant/runs the decor8 design blog, living in Hollis, New Hampshire USA

1. What is your background/education?
Studied business and marketing in college and proceeded to study graphic design, and now interior design. I take art classes at least twice a year just to expand my knowledge and appreciate the arts even more.

2. Why did you start your blog?
To catalog my finds for design clients, myself, and my friends, as a "social bookmarking" tool where I could hear instant feedback from people I knew. It grew almost instantly into a community of now nearly 10,000 daily readers worldwide.

3. What are you working on at the moment?
I'm working on my flower garden and preparing for a flea market I'm having at my home in June. I'm also working on a trend piece about cane as a motif for HGTV.com and an article for Adorn magazine where I was asked to design a room for them.

4. Some things that you like:
How my husband supports and loves me, people that respect themselves enough to show the same respect and support to others, the smell of apple blossoms in the orchard behind my house, the sound of frogs at night in our pond, long talks with good friends, early morning walks before the world wakes up, outdoor concerts, cooking with others, singing show tunes, Morrissey.

5. Some things that you dislike:
Dishonesty, war, littering, drivers using their cell phones, negative people.

6. What inspires you?
My husband Thorsten, sincere goal-oriented people, travel, textiles, art, the ocean, my friends and family in Hannover, Germany, exploring cities like Berlin and Istanbul, contemporary art galleries, flea markets, book stores, architecture, fashion + design magazines, cafes, thinking about all the things my mother taught me - from landscaping to floral design - and her kindness, beautiful imagery, color, and music.

7. Favourite designers?
I admire anyone that is a trend setter vs a designer that simply follows them. Anyone can follow, it takes talent and innovative thinking to lead.

8. Your latest purchase for your home?
Two gorgeous vintage Suzanis from a flea market I attended a few days ago in Brimfield, MA.

9. What is your best decorating advice?
If you love it, it will work. Less is more. Don't decorate to impress others, decorate to impress yourself.

10. Do you have any tips for people who want to become successful design bloggers?
Be supportive of others in the design blogging community and do not isolate yourself, comment on the blogs of others and show genuine support.

Thank you so much Holly!