The movement to democratize interior design has been building steam for a while, from magazines like Domino that broke the mold of the unattainable and unaffordable in traditional shelter magazines to blogs and books that break down the basic principles of design.

Creating beautiful things from ceramics comes naturally to Paul Burns. He grew up in a family where everyone painted and threw pots and created murals and mosaics with ceramics, and spent summers making tiles in his uncle's shop. These days, he's the president and Chief Ceramicist at Fireclay Tile, a company comitted to creating beautiful tiles using “old world” methods that are unique, affordable, and friendly to the environment. 

Q: I am having a hard time figuring out how to lay out my living room furniture. We have a fireplace, so the one corner is used up. Most of the right hand wall is a patio door with three panels. The middle one opens to the balcony, so that limits what I can place on that wall as well. 

I can never get enough of color, so of course I fell in love with this apartment in Madrid. It's full of beautiful modern pieces, with just enough color to keep things interesting (very interesting) but not overwhelming. 

These canopy beds all look rather dreamy to sleep in. They're pretty, unfussy, and just plain cool. They've also been rigged as DIY projects, rather than purchased in stores. 

Green is having a moment. Since emerald became Pantone's 2013 Color of the Year, this vibrant shade, and others on the same spectrum, have been popping up all over the home furnishings world. Green is somehow invigorating and calming at the same time, and with versions from mint to olive to forest, there's a green for everyone. 

I recently moved across the country and, let me tell you, squeezing my roomy Los Angeles sofa into my tiny New York City apartment was nothing short of a miracle. And while my sofa may not be perfectly sized, yours can be if you do your homework and ask yourself these four questions.  

Q: I'll be heading off to college soon (my first year!!) and am super pumped-up about the prospect of redecorating "my room." I've done my research on your site and others and have come up with my own vision in terms of design! So what do you think?

Name: Robert Siegel Handmade Ceramics
Location: Downtown Los Angeles, California
Size: 2,000 square feet
Years in business: almost 3 years

Ceramic artist Robert Siegel's name kept coming up on blogs, with everyone raving about his handmade designs. I was curious to take a peek inside his studio and see his work process, and then I found out that he actually lives in the studio as well! 

My favorite part of Jacey & Grant's Modern Eclectic House (besides their adorable bulldogs, of course!) is their effortlessly chill bedroom. Pops of graphic color mixed with clean, classic design make this a perfect space for leisurely enjoying breakfast in bed on a sunny LA morning.