Compared to welcoming Kat, and our upcoming announcements, this one isn't quite as exciting ;)

OrangeBeautiful has launched a company page on Facebook
+plus we now have a twitter account!

Log on to your Facebook account, and become a fan and if you're on twitter, be sure to follow us!

More (bigger) announcements coming soon!

Just returned from celebrating the wedding of my sister and her new husband in Palm Springs, CA! To say the weekend was incredible is pretty understated...I could go on and on. There will be much more to come on the wedding, but for now I will wait to post the "official" photos and just give a glimpse of the gorgeous bride herself. As I said in my toast to the couple: it was such fun for me, as an older sister, to witness my innately stylish baby sis playing ultimate dress-up on the day her beloved pledged to always "take care of her". What could be sweeter?

Photo by bridesmaid, Jenima Hadjian.

e Laura leans toward classic design & interiors, while I tend to post about funky, more modern fashion & typography. What do you see yourself focusing on in your posts?

k I find that I'm drawn to interesting graphic patterns, whether they show up on paper, pillows, tote bags, rugs, etc. Whatever looks cool, you'll know about it.

I'm also always on the hunt for the perfect gift. Two shelves in my closet are filled with goodies I pick up over the course of the year. Hopefully, I can provide interesting resources for wedding, housewarming and seasonal gifts.

e What inspired you to start your own business?

k My mind wouldn't stop thinking about it. Good Stock Designs is still in its infancy, as I still work in development, but I'm learning so much. It's a good balance between my business side and my creative side. Most of all, I got hooked on making people happy and seeing their excitement when they see the finished invitations or favors all wrapped up, just for them. There is such pride from creating something from scratch that clients will share with family and friends for a wedding or special event.

e All three of us have a special affinity for paper. What is your favorite thing to make/design/use that involves paper in some way?

k Beautiful paper always inspires me to find a way to use it. My favorite way to do so is wrapping gifts. I get so excited just walking into a paper goods store, or finding a clearance on beautiful paper. The texture, design & color of the paper can transform even the simplest gift into something spectacular.

e What are you most looking forward to in your new role as a SCOOP blogger?

k Sharing local "scoops" with you, Laura and all our wonderful readers. Chicago has so many talented people that have ventured into design and I learn so much when I hear their stories. I would love to highlight local interior and graphic designers that are creating exciting new work!

Thanks so much for answering my questions, Kat! On behalf on myself, Laura and all of our SCOOP readers, WELCOME!

images (top to bottom) from the Flickr photostreams of Smock Letterpress, For Goodness Cake and karaku*.

In introducing Kat to all of you, I've asked her to send me a list of some of her favorite things...

1. Built NY Shopping Tote :: Kat says, "I have a serious weakness for tote bags. I love them, and will always find a new reason for another.... (this tote) is fantastic. I use it every day."

2. Canon EOS Rebel XSi :: "I get giddy just touching it... my DSLR camera. It makes me smile and makes everything else look good, too."

3. 3M Scotch Adhesive Transfer Tape ATG 700 Dispenser :: "Found at the 2009 Do It Your Own D*mn Self show, my 3M Scotch Tape Dispenser... has saved me hours of work on projects."

4. Pure Home Soda Maker :: "A friend received this soda water maker at Christmas and I was hooked. With a fresh squeeze of lemon, I'm finally drinking more water and loving every fizzy drop."

5. Banana Republic Jersey Scarf :: "Like Emily, I love scarves. They go well with my totes ;) My most recent find... this great jersey print."

"I love a good sale - everything on this list I found on sale. I always check out these two links prior to making a purchase. Who doesn't love to score a deal?"

6. Retail Me Not

7. brads deals

I love seeing how Kat, Laura and I are very much into the same things, but we're also obviously very different. Check out these past favorites posts from me and Laura to see for yourself!

More about Kat later this afternoon when I interview her about our mutual love of paper, what she'll be posting about, and the inspiration behind starting her own business...

Over the weekend I decided that - since there are so many new announcements - I should announce one new thing each day this week. I may very well get too excited and post the biggest announcement before Friday, so definitely check in each day to see what craziness we've been up to!

The first big announcement is that Laura and I are welcoming a 3rd blogger into our little SCOOP mix... her name is Kat Rojina - and well, I think she's going to be a smashing new addition to our design "conversation" and we hope you'll enjoy the new perspective that she'll bring to the blog.

Kat, with her dog, Oscar!

So that you can get to know her a little better, I've conducted a short interview with Kat, which I'll post tomorrow... but for now, here's a few little tidbits about Ms. Rojina ::

• Chicago-based commercial real estate developer...

• runs a side-business called, Good Stock Designs

• placed 3rd in the 2008 Scotch Brand Tape Most Gifted Wrapper in America Contest!

I love that last one! ;)

Please give Kat a warm welcome! Laura and I are extremely excited to have yet another design nerd in our mix, and we can't wait to start reading her posts!... hope you're excited, too!

I'm terribly excited about all of the new things that we're gearing up to share with you. This print (Hell, Yeah! by Nick Schmitz), hung up for all to see, would be the perfect way to express how thrilled I am about everything that's been going on lately.

Can you stand to wait 'til Monday?

To follow E's prom post, I think my 31-year old self would be in a quandary having to choose between the shiny, mermaid-y sheath by Hunter Dixon, above, or the Peachy Keen dress (good for twirling) by Sarah Seven. I like this prom idea though. I think we should have one...

(I did two different takes on prom back in the day: one was a red, thirties-inspired, bias-cut satin dress - though I unsuccessfully tried to do my hair like Veronica Lake, it was kind of a classic look that wouldn't be so bad today. The other was a long lavender sheath embroidered in silver with matching silver strappy heels. Eek!)

Top images from Hunter Dixon. Bottom images from Sarah Seven.

Jovani Mad Hatter Dress, $400.00 at Unique Vintage.

I didn't go to my senior prom, but I did go to prom with a senior when I was a sophomore. I wore a tuxedo. And floral-print converse sneakers. I'm not kidding.

But if, back in 90s, I had been more like my present self, I would buy this dress and go to prom like a rockstar.

image c/o Unique Vintage.

If you're a regular reader of our little blog, well, first off :: thank you!
secondly, you've probably noticed some weird things going on around here... but the look of the blog isn't the only thing that's changing.

We've got a lot of big announcements coming up... some for OrangeBeautiful, some not. But don't be alarmed. Things are only changing for the better.
So stay tuned!

*keep in mind that some of the buttons/links may not work, or have yet to be updated. That'll all be resolved within the next week - so thanks in advance for your patience while we're reworking everything!

These images of new projects by interior & graphic designer, Angie Hranowsky, have left me longingly breathless this afternoon. That floor-to-ceiling wall of art from the Lakeshore Drive residence is so beautiful - it reminds me slightly of this room by Richard Mishaan - and I must have something like it, somewhere in my home.

Behold, this to-die-for kitchen (also from the Lakeshore Drive project), above. I love the aqua dishware openly displayed against the white tile, as well as the silhouette portraits against the backdrop of subtly funky Minaret wallpaper.

A different take on an elegant kitchen (from the Lattitude Lane residence) incorporates Ann Sacks' Nottingham tile so perfectly that Ann Sacks uses it as the sample image for that product.

And really, I don't think anyone else does purple like Angie Hranowsky. These built-ins speak right to my heart. (To see one of Hranowsky's former, and equally great, exercises in purple, click here.)

Images from Angie Hranowsky.