KyIe's Pen: Don’t Be Scared

Kyle Schuneman has shown the world what he can do from a young age, designing popular TV sets and residences throughout the Loa Angeles area. I am excited to announce that Kyle will be a regular guest blogger at The Love List. And, starting August 6, Kyle will become our resident pro, dispensing free design advice and answering questions for readers! Email Kyle with your design questions (have a peek at the sidebar, where a link to contact him will always be for your convenience) and see them answered the first Wednesday of each month right here. Today, Kyle guest blogs about his own design fears. Both of us hope that it encourages you to step outside your comfort zone :

I’ve always felt the interior design world was a mixed bag, full of conundrums and contradictions. I grew up feeling there were things that were tangible to me like IKEA and Pottery Barn, and then there were places I wouldn’t even dare think of going into, like those design showrooms that would remind me of a museum. I think the design world always has been intimidating for most people, including myself.

Why I became a designer however was in paradox to the intimidation I felt. At age 12, I became a subscriber to Architectural Digest and ever since then, I was hooked. I saw the importance of design instead of seeing it as superficial décor. It created a mood for me and I realized that walking into any room the design is the first thing that makes an impression. A sleek corner office tells you that important business happens there, but the design also creates responsibility for that same business to take place. Once I figured out that design was important, I knew it was for me. But I wanted to do it on my own terms.

I was blessed to know what I wanted to do from an early age, and now I find myself at 22 being cursed with a self-imposed expectation of greatness. However, I love that curse and only want to live up to it. I want to bring inspirational design to the masses in a way that doesn’t include the usual bully-tactics of high end design.

My style mavens, Tom Ford and Frank Gehry, have created their own iconic brands- and I want to be next.

- Kyle

Read more about Kyle's extensive design background by reading an earlier post; Meet Kyle Schuneman. Kyle is The Love List's resident designer, Email Kyle with your design questions .You can visit Kyle's website at KyleSchuneman.com