Home Design with Kevin Sharkey

photo by Jacob Kriese

My radio guest this week was the lovely and talented Sue De Chiara. Sue started a design blog which eventually led to her beautiful online shop Zhush. We talked about decorating her new house and Instagram inspirations.

What is your dream decorating project?

Since it's a dream, and money is no object, I would have to say building and designing my own home from scratch in either Malibu or Montauk. I would also gladly take a pied-à-terre in Manhattan -- that would be a dream project for me.

Who or what always inspires you?

The internet always inspires me. Back in 2008, I was literally just surfing around around for ideas and inspiration for my own home renovation. This surfing eventually led to blogging about what I found, and then ultimately opening up my own shop, also online. When I stop to think about the amount of information that we can access from our own homes and offices it really still astounds me. It's magical.

Sue's Office. photo from Muse Interiors

What’s your go-to work uniform?

Most days I'm in straight-leg or skinny jeans with flats or boots. A simple V-neck tee or blouse and, if it's chilly, a cozy cardigan. My clothes are fairly basic; I like to "zhush" with accessories. I'll throw on a patterned scarf or a statement necklace to dress up an outfit if I have a meeting or I'm running errands.

What’s your favorite color to decorate with right now?

Right now I'm all about black and white. We are in the process of setting up our recently purchased vacation home in Florida. When we bought the home last year it was decorated with a very heavy hand and drab paint colors. Painting all the walls and cabinets white was a great way to literally freshen it up. White paint is economical, easy to work with and gives off great light. Now that the setting is white, it seems fitting to add some bold glossy black elements to give the space some much-needed contrast.

photo by Jacob Kriese, styled by Ashlina Kaposta

Who are your must-follow Pinners?

This changes all the time for me, but right now I'm all about Kelly Wearstler and Lauren Santo Domingo.

Who do you follow on Instagram for inspiration?

I'm instagram obsessed! (@zhush) Lately I've been following Tory Burch (@toryburch), she's a huge inspiration for me on many levels.

Stylist and world-renowned blogger Holly Becker called into my show from her home in Germany. World traveler! Her blog, Decor8, is always beautiful and inspiring and I loved chatting with her. Listen to my show every week on SiriusXM channel 110 on Wednesday from 4-5p.m. ET.

What would be your dream decorating project?

I live in Hannover, Germany and there is a freestanding cafe in our city forest, Waldcafe Milchhäuschen, that has been around since at least a century and I dream of someday working with the owners to transform it into a stylish cafe and garden/lifestyle shop. The inspirations for my project would be The Royal Cafe in Copenhagen, Rosendals Trädgård in Stockholm,Terrain at Styer's in Glen Mills, PA and ABC Kitchen in NYC. I'd want to mix in fresh takes on more old-fashioned German motifs and recipes and prepare food that is light, healthy and delicious, too. As for the structure, I'd love to work with an architect to design a modern building with white 'fachwerk', skylights, transom windows, and lots of exposed beams using northern Scandinavian pine or better yet, pine from the Eilenriede forest where the cafe is located. I imagine brushed concrete floors since it is in a forest and receives a lot of foot traffic from muddy feet and lots of space to eat both inside and out along with community-style long tables that are very typical in German beer gardens using iron and pine, with industrial style lighting overhead. Of course, a wood burning stove would be a must for the Fall and Winter and in addition to German glühwein, I'd like to introduce New England style apple cider as it's hard to find here -- and homemade hot cocoa with marshmallows - of course! I already have the entire concept down - now I just need lots of money and the opportunity - the tricky part!

What’s your favorite color to decorate with right now?

I don't hone in a single color as much as complete palettes - I can easily become obsessed with a palette. I was shopping in Paris this past February at Merci and saw a splattering of orange, rust, gray and mint paint against a gray concrete floor in the women's clothing department -  and then the clothing directly above it had those same colors along with emerald green, peach and metallic copper and a little brass. Ever since March, all I can think about is combining emerald green with a very pale peach and mixing in some charcoal gray, mint and copper with a little orange. I'm thinking to decorate my classroom in my studio space with this palette for my next decorating workshop.

What was the last great book you read?

I recently read, and loved, a book called Woodcut by Bryan Nash Gill and another called One by Victoria Alexander - both were very inspirational and helped me to think in new directions - I didn't expect both books to touch me as much as they did - the inspiration was so random and not what I would normally gravitate towards yet I cannot recommend both books enough. My note: Holly's book Decorate Workshop comes out Nov. 21, 2012.

Who are your must-follow Pinners?

Stylist James Leland Day. I had lunch with him in Paris over the winter and can't get enough of his impeccable style so Pinterest is where I go to see what's on his radar. I also love Leslie Shewring's Pinterest boards - they're gorgeous and inspirational. I really like following @lottaagaton, @taza, @whimsyandspice, @ayu0319, @zooeydeschanel and @photoshome on Instagram.

At 27, Kyle Schuneman has already created a thriving interior design and art direction company for himself. His first book, appropriately called The First Apartment Book: Cool Design for Small Spaces, is a handbook of sorts for small-space dwellers trying to get away from the bachelor pad feel. We chatted about his work wardrobe and the places that inspire him.

What city or destination always reboots your creativity?

Well, I grew up in downtown Chicago, so that’s kind of my hood. It’s a beautiful city for architecture and design.There’s a chapter in my book about it. It’s a big inspiration and I think it’s a really beautiful city and sometimes overlooked.

What was the last great book you read?

The Steve Jobs book was fascinating because that one guy has touched so much of my life and everyone’s life. I found him really interesting because he’s a flawed person, for sure, but his strive for perfection was pretty impressive. I think so often it’s easy to say “Ok we did the best we could” but that was never his choice. There are these products now that we use every day that are beautiful and functional; I’m still kind of stuck on that even though I’ve read other books since.

What's your go-to work uniform?

Usually a button down, dark jeans, and sneakers. I’m kind of not the designer that you are used to in that regard; I dress like a 12-year-old.