Just to touch on the big, purple elephant in the room.

Posted on | February 22, 2012 | 20 Comments

I am not a designer.

I don’t pretend to be. I don’t claim to be. No one is paying me to put their rooms together. No one is asking me for design advice while I bill them by the hours.

I am a work-at-home mom.

I am a wife.

I am the mother to two beautiful babies.

I am a first-time home owner; thrilled to make my mark on this world and create a warm space for my precious family.

I am incredibly excited to share my journey with the thousands of people who have supported me on this blog day in and day out, and I can’t wait to show the steps we take along the way.

I will not allow anyone to rain on my parade.

I am not the first to paint a door yellow or buy an IKEA couch, and I don’t pretend to be. I constantly post inspirational ideas and link them to my sources. I also have a public Pinterest page that everyone is welcome to follow to see where I get some ideas. I also watch HGTV and the DIY network. I purchase Atomic Ranch Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, HGTV Magazine, and whatever other publication happens to catch my eye. I follow 50+ blogs, many of which post design ideas and pictures.

I will probably paint rooms the same color other home owners have painted their rooms. I will probably use a similar flooring as someone else. I bet you I even have the same dishwasher as someone out there. Maybe I’m not orginal enough for you.

AND THAT’S OKAY.

I will cite where I purchased my appliances, paint, furniture, lighting, etc. I will be happy to share my inspiration as I go on in this process. I will answer any emails or questions you have about my ideas/choices/decisions.

I will not cite every single blog/pinterest picture/magazine where I’ve seen a specific idea. If I copy a room top-to-bottom, I’ll let you know. If I have the same pillow, I won’t mention it. Otherwise? My blog will be one, big research paper. And that’s not okay. Design is a compilation of ideas. It is the reason websites like Pinterest and magazines like BHG exist. It is the reason bloggers have made a living…people put their ideas out there to be used.

Recipes and tutorials original to someone? Cited. Wall paint? Not cited.

Feel free to ask questions, email me, or comment with any opinions. But I will not allow anyone to be unkind to me on my blog. This is my blog. This is my space. If you don’t like what I do, feel free to “x” out. I’m totally okay without you here. If you can be here and disagree with what I do respectfully? Feel free to stay. I’m open to your opinions. I wouldn’t have even addressed this because honestly? The majority of my readers were kind and reasonable. I received many emails of support. I got tons of comments of support. Those who had ridiculous things to say were few and far between, but I want to make it clear that I own this domain, and with that ownership? I will be deleting any comments that I find hurtful. I don’t let people say mean things to me in real life. I’m not going to let them say mean things to me on the interwebz.

At the end of the day, no one is entitled to agree with me, but I don’t take kindly to ugliness.

It's always nice to share with your friends.
    Category: All About Me.
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    Comments

    20 Responses to “Just to touch on the big, purple elephant in the room.”

    1. Maggie
      February 22nd, 2012 @ 11:26 pm

      I CANNOT believe some people just troll the internet to put people down. Your house is amazing, your ideas are amazing…..you are amazing! I will personally kick these bullies asses if they don’t stop! My faith in humanity is certainly dwindling when I see comments such as those! Keep up the great work! Can’t wait to see it in person sometime soon!! Love you Sal!

      Sally Reply:
      February 23rd, 2012 at 10:24 pm

      Love you, Mags

    2. Leah
      February 22nd, 2012 @ 11:32 pm

      AMEN!!!

    3. Emily
      February 22nd, 2012 @ 11:48 pm

      I think ‘big purple elephant’ is my trademarked name. That will be $27.50. Kthxbi.

      Also, most bigwig HGTV designers get all warm and fuzzy when you draw inspiration from their designs. What’s with the idea-less Internet trolls trying to ding you for simply interpreting someone else’s stuff, which they put on the FREE for all to SEE Internet? ::head desk::

      Love you!

    4. Sarah O
      February 22nd, 2012 @ 11:55 pm

      I think your renovation posts have been great! Keep doing what you are doing, you have be an inspiration!

    5. Sarah Averett
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 12:53 am

      One day those people will realize it’s ridiculous to make jabs and then hide behind the Internet. You’re doing nothing wrong Sally and I love seeing your little house come together! We’re hoping to buy one at our next base and you’re blog will be a big help in knowing how to decide on things :) Keep your head up, chica!

    6. Katie
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 2:03 am

      I love everything you’ve shared with us so far and hope you continue to share your journey as you make your home your own. I look forward to seeing it all come together! My husband and I are buying a townhouse and are going through the process of picking out flooring, countertops, paint, etc. and I hope to continue to come here for inspiration. It’s exciting and fun to share in your journey. Love your blog.

    7. Ashley Hlavaty
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 2:16 am

      Some people. I’m glad you’re standing up to them. I LOVE your blog. All of it. Kids, design ideas, projects… all of it!

    8. Jess
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 8:09 am

      Sally,
      I loooove all of your house ideas…especially the corian. We have friends who used it on an island and it is soooo easy to clean and looks beautiful!

      I love your blog…you and your husband and kids seem like an amazing and ground family :)

    9. Jess
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 8:11 am

      Oops, that was supposed to say grounded :)

    10. erica
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 8:55 am

      Too bad you can let us know it was. I’d dedicate some time to looking into where they got THEIR ideas and then calling THEM out for it!

      Some people are just….negative. They need negativity in their life to live. (My MIL is a VERY good example of this, so I speak from experience on this topic) It’s sad and they are wasting SO much time attacking people than being nice. I feel sorry for individuals like that and I especially feel sorry for their spouse and kids!

    11. erica
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 8:56 am

      *can’t

    12. erica
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 8:56 am

      *who

      Geez, are my fingers asleep or something?!

    13. Sally
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 10:05 am

      Thank you for all the sweet comments, y’all. I really apprecite your kindness.

    14. Elizabeth
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 10:15 am

      I think your kitchen looks great! If I didn’t live in an apartment, I’d probably paint my cabinets as well, but I am thinking pink! Wonder who I should credit for that when I do it?!
      Your renovation is wonderful. Don’t let anyone steal your joy!

    15. Kerri
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 3:32 pm

      For real? People were mean about your yellow door? I mean, I didn’t read that entry all that carefully, but I sure don’t recall you saying, “Everyone, look at my original idea for a bright yellow front door! I will be copyrighting it!”

      Ridiculous. I’m glad you addressed it, too.

      And for the record? I love your home/house/renovations posts. I am far from creative or crafty, but I love reading about people who are. Maybe I’m hoping it’ll rub off on me.

      Sally Reply:
      February 23rd, 2012 at 10:25 pm

      Aww, thank you so much :)

    16. Caitlin MidAtlantic
      February 23rd, 2012 @ 3:59 pm

      IF I had a sense of style, I would LOVE for someone to steal my ideas! HA! In all actuality, I have been so impressed with your work on this new house, searching out styles and colors to fit the age of your home. It’s been inspiring. I live in a 1930′s bungalow – it should be decorated as such! I wish my little house could pull off a yellow door!

    17. jae
      February 24th, 2012 @ 9:19 am

      okay but HONESTLY, i think big purple animals started with barney. you should really be careful copying big purple animals from tv shows. sheesh.

      all joking aside, i absolutely hate when people think that the internet is their playground to try to bully others on. people need hobbies, seriously! you’re one of my favourite bloggers to follow (in the hopes that the awesome mama-ness will seep through the internet into my being, so when i have kids they will turn out just as happy as yours), and the thought of people saying all kinds of stupid things to you makes me upset.

      anyway, all in all, just let the haters keep on hatin’, because obviously they wish they had done yellow doors and white countertops and pendant lighting and ikea couches first. i seriously just wonder how they show people around their home:
      “this is my kitchen. the countertops, i got the idea from ___. the sink, i got the idea from ___. this tiling wasn’t here when we first moved in, i saw it on ___ and decided to put tiles in quite similar to it…”

      i’d be bored of their house within the first five minutes.

      ok enough long commenting. i don’t think my comment has a point haha. rant much? let’s just put it this way: you’re awesome. they’re not. the end!

    18. Jessica
      February 24th, 2012 @ 11:09 am

      Some people are just rude.
      I love your blog. I love what you have to say.
      Everyone else can just suck it. If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say. Simple enough.


  • "I'm a twenty-five-year old mama to two little boys and married to the love of my life. I have a serious Diet Coke addiction and a tendency to overshare. This is the story of us as we flounder through raising our wild, little boys, moving a million times, and buying and renovating our 1968 Ranch home."



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