We’re super back on track with our Guest Correspondent Program after a winter of distraction. By the end of 2010 we’ll have over 50+ design bloggers (and alot of them actual interior designers) contributing to the Style Watch from cities around the world.
Today, meet the first one ever: Traci Zeller, from Charlotte, North Carolina. Why Charlotte? It’s a hotbed of design activity – and probably the nearest “city” of note to High Point, NC (the heart of American design).
We just reconnected with her at a tweetup in North Carolina of all places and have to tell you when we think SUPERWOMAN, Traci is it! Oh, and and a stylish one too; Charlotte’s Style Magazine just named her as part of the top 25 Most Stylish! \Mom to twin boys who just turned 4 years old; has a full blown design business; is one heck of dedicated blogger and wife; and she still manages to find time to keep us up to speed on what’s doing in North Carolina.
Stay up to speed with Traci on twitter @tracizeller and Facebook.
So Traci Zeller Designs comes first; then you decide blogging? How did you initially start the blog?
It was early 2009; I simply needed a way to connect with more people – clients, friends, friends of friends, just people interested in design.
Do you remember what your first blog post was on?
Yeah, no….but I can tell you it was probably not very interesting!
What do you love about blogging?
With my life, and my boys, it’s difficult to know what a day will hold. I schedule in my appointments with clients, working around whatever is happening in my personal life. The cool part about blogging is it’s like taking time for myself. I really get into whatever I’m writing about; whatever is inspiring me. It might be a great house that I’ve seen, something that’s going on locally that’s awesome, a new product I’ve just discovered or a new solution to a problem.
Are you the editorial calendar or write it as it comes type?
I started jotting down ideas that I wanted to write about and low and behold it would appear I have a few weeks worth of topics to write about.
What’s the most exciting event that has transpired from having a blog?
The response and community around the blog is the entre; I’ve connected with people from the Midwest to Paris and love the fact we can all relate. However, being recognized as a blogger and being invited to events like the Hickory Chair Breakfast for bloggers at Highpoint in October 2009 was an ABSOLUTELY incredible opportunity to hear from designers first hand. To be included in such a high caliber event was awesome.
What do you love about being in the home decor business?
Oh my…so many different things. I guess first the fact I get to exploring … its like a never ending journey. And no matter which path you go down that you always come back to one true style. There are just so many different expressions and so many facets into that; so many different ways to style a room.
How did you end up becoming a designer in the first place?
I grew up in Southwest Georgia. My father was a lawyer for the military so we were always moving around. After I finished school all I knew was that I wanted to go to a big city that wasn’t too cold (seriously!). My best friends from school were from Charlotte, so I moved here. 9.5 years later, I can confirm it was a great move. It’s a good mix of big city and small town with loads of southern hospitality to boot. There’s really no shortage of things to do – all very accessible – mountains, beach, bigger cities like DC, Atlanta, great airport that goes anywhere …and then there’s that weather again!
What can people expect from you as the Remote Stylist Charlotte correspondent?
Charlotte is one of those cities that gets NO credit; we have tons of great design events, stores and activities that get stuck in the shadows. The Remote Stylist gives me a great opportunity to help the Charlotte design community to show the outside world we have flair. We’ve got a lot of the traditional look but it’s infused with modern elements and has a very sustainable look….Charlotte is very contemporary in design and we get lumped into that traditional American category that hails from North Carolina. Hopefully my monthly updates will entice people to visit Charlotte for business and/or pleasure!
Tell us one thing about you that not even the Remote Stylist team knows.
I’ve always been somebody who likes to share my secrets! I find something awesome and want the whole world to know about it.
