Blogger Spotlight: Tate Gunnerson

Want to know what inspired us to start this blog? Actually, it is more of a matter of who inspired us because the answer is interior design bloggers. Now that we've been up and running for a few months, we want to start sharing our favorites with you by providing a glimpse into their lives and their blogs.

First up is Tate Gunnerson from Strange Closets. While I have never had the pleasure of meeting him in person (I can't believe I didn't get to meet him when I was in Chicago last fall for Merchandise Mart!), I have thoroughly enjoyed our email exchanges and have become a huge Tate fan. Here's our Q&A with him:

When you aren't blogging, what do you do? I'm a freelance writer who contributes regularly to Chicago Home + Garden, CS Interiors, Make It Better and other home and garden magazines.

How did you become interested in interior design? When I bought my 2-flat, I became obsessed with transforming it from its dingy and dated state. Eventually I started writing Strange Closets to chronicle my projects, the various shops I was discovering and my general thoughts about design. (I called it Strange Closets, because every change I made to the house - adding a staircase to the basement, expanding the kitchen, etc. - resulted in  strange closets). After a few months, I started posting weekly Open House posts, and the rest is history. In 2009, I left a career in sales to pursue a career as a freelance writer.

What is your favorite post that you've written on your blog and why? It's difficult to choose a favorite post, because I tend to fall in love with every home I write about and every store I visit. If I had to choose one, I might pick Barri Leiner Grant's Open House. In addition to being an all around great person, Barri's an editor for Chicago Home + Garden, author and terrific stylist.

Thank you, Tate for being our first featured blogger. We look forward to continuing to visit Strange Closets for fabulous stories and beautiful photography!

Comments

[James]

I became curious with the title, strange closets, so that's how it had it's title. I guess the same will happen on my next project. I will be putting up my second floor hence there would be a staircase and guess what, a closet under it. I will be using hip furniture such as those coming from siekaup.

[Tate Gunnerson]

Great idea James! Mine are strange but generously useful. (I just wish I had more of them).

Cheers,

Tate
http://www.strangeclosets.com