redesign!
It was 1992 and I was getting ready to start my first day of middle school. Like most kids, I was apprehensive about the transition, especially when it came to the one thing that strikes fear in every newly-minted 6th grader – lockers. But I wasn’t only concerned with memorizing a combination, I also needed to figure what I was going to do with this metal storage unit that I would occupy for the next year. (Because, obviously it needed to be improved upon.) The week before school started, when most kids were swimming or vacationing or otherwise enjoying their last bit of summer, I dragged my little sister to the middle school to help me remodel my locker. Contact paper in a floral print? Oh yeah, this was 1992! Applying the sticky-backed paper within the narrow confines of a school locker was no easy feat, but before long I had (sort of) mastered the technique. Next came the Locker Mate (those flimsy shelving systems) a locker mirror (duh!) and finally, all of my class folders – neatly labeled and in rainbow order. There, I was ready.
Despite my questionable fashion and hair choices, I had a functional and pretty locker and with that – I felt empowered to tackle anything.
And that’s similar to how I feel right now. Oh, you don’t notice anything…different around here? This blog started out with humble beginnings (a Blogger format that is now extinct) and three years ago I moved over to WordPress where I dabbled in theme manipulation and developed all sorts of coding bad habits. Although part of me wanted to learn how to properly design a custom blog, I finally decided that I just didn’t have enough time. I needed professional help. Fortunately, Anna came to my rescue.
It’s pretty, isn’t it?
We are so thrilled with the redesign and not just with the new colors and sexy graphics (hover over the header – oh yeah!), but because it is also way more functional and cleaner than the old format. [That being said, if you notice that something isn't working, please let me know!]
While Anna worked her magic, I’ve been updating pages that had grown stagnant over the last few years. Looking for before and after floor plans? Design! Want to know where something came from? Resources! Curious about how we’re making our house as green as possible? Sustainability! Looking for a comprehensive summary of all of our “before and afters”? House Tour!
And if you want to find us in other parts of the interwebs, check out all those little social media icons on the right!
I’ve got a bit more organizing and cleaning up to do, but it feels so good to have a fresh start for our 4th year of chezerbey. Just like the first day of middle school, but without the culottes and layered bangs.
Looks great! Nice and organised!
Looks wonderful!
Great job! Looks beautiful!
Anna did you proud. Both of your aesthetics were merged beautifully.
Aww, thank you! I agree, I think Anna really “got it” on this one.
Congrats on the redesign (and the new addition!). It looks great. Were you also a middle schooler who rearranged their bedroom furniture layout every three months? Combine that with your locker renovation and that’s how you know you’ve been bitten by the design bug. Cheers – CT
very nice, love the simple graphics.
i was hoping to see a photo of this locker!
Haha, if I had a photo I would have included it for sure!
beautious!
Oh, I remember being very concerned with how I’d decorate my locker!! (Except middle school for me started in 1986.) I actually made a thing that would attach with magnets under the slots at the top to catch any notes that might be shoved in there. In high school I had battery-operated Christmas lights in my locker! Geez.
I’m happy you like your new blog.
Slipping notes through the vent holes – yes! Totally forgot about that!
New baby, and you’re still able to renovate your blog? You’re making the rest of use very ashamed of our sloth.
Haha, I’m trying to take advantage of her “sleepy baby” period b/c I’m pretty sure it’s not always going to be that way. =)
Lovely and thanks for the 4 years of great reading. I love your blog and admire your taste, hard work and design very much.
Thank you Jacqui!
Wow it looks brilliant!
Congrats!
When you mentioned the other day you were redesigning, I KNEW it must be in Anna’s hands. And, as always, it looks terrific. Great job all of you
Lockers were such a big deal. To this day, I still remember the combination of my 6th grade locker at Central. I guess I was so nervous that I stored it in my “long term memory” Blog looks great!!
Ha! I still sometimes have dreams about forgetting my locker combination (though I think that might be a universal “bad dream” for some reason!).
Sleek, easy to read, great fonts. Good job!
Looks awesome!! Another great blog design by Anna!
Looks fantastic!
Btw, I still have my 7th grade locker mirror…it is on the side of our fridge just to remind me of the awkward years!
Ha! Love it!
I think all this locker talk is funny stuff. As a junior high boy, lockers were more for pulling pranks than decorating;)
Wow! I love it!
Anna Dorfman is the best! Your blog looks great!
Congrats to you two, I guess it feels even better than having a fresh new haircut!
Your blog looks great and what you post about even better!! Thank you for taking the time to write here, I love reading your adventures and it will definitely become handy whan I’ll be an owner!
Thank you Mariane!
It is hard to read the est. date with the lines behind it in the header. Could a hover over it ‘pop’ the numbers out into a bold font and have the lines disappear? It might be nice to add a splash of color with a hover of some sort. Just my 2cents. Lovely blog. Kudos on all the work you’ve done on your house. It is impressive!
Thanks Daria, it’s really helpful to get feedback like this!
Congrats on your appearance in NW Magazine next week!
Thanks Ruth, good eye!
The blog looks good and you can tell its an Anna design…..But I wish she had added a bit more architectural features that says chezerbey. As architects I love your technical design with a twist of artistic impressions and how that was reflected in your blog.
Nice clean design. It’s so great to leave the wp.com and go self-hosting. So many more options and ways to make the blog yours. Congrats on the redesign and all the great things in your life worth celebrating! Ahhh… gorgeous home, new baby, new blog design, and of course all the inspiration you provide to readers. It’s always a pleasure to check in on your progress.