I’m Clancy Simon of Simon Projects; nice to meet you! Being a Pasadena resident and enthusiast, it was only a matter of time before I would discover Pasadena Charm’s Instagram account. Taryn uncovers so many gems through her exploration of Pasadena and shares them with us, her tribe! After following her for awhile, I saw that she was hosting a social media workshop and I jumped at the chance to attend. I was eager to meet other small local business owners and to learn Instagram tips and tricks from Taryn, who had worked so hard to grow her social media following while building her followers up along the way.

I read a quote via @shopcapehouse that said, “Take a step back and look at who you can invest in, not what.” As small business owners, we can’t always spend extravagantly on marketing and advertising, but there are so many free ways that we can support one another in an effort to grow together. You can engage on social media by commenting with words of encouragement, sending emails to people you admire in your field of work, or offering to trade services with other local businesses.

I spent nearly ten years working as a commercial construction project manager, but my true love was homes, so I decided to start a residential interior design and project management business. After Taryn’s social media workshop, I offered to help her and her husband with design projects around their beautiful Pasadena home. I have valued our relationship since we started brainstorming ways to improve their digs, starting with the living and dining rooms. First, we discussed what they liked and disliked about the current space, their priorities for the new space, and their target budget. Then I created a 3D model so they could visualize different layout options and furniture sizes. I gave them some suggestions both for new furniture and for updating existing furniture by painting and relocating it, and with just a few changes the space became next level both functionally and aesthetically. For the last and most fun step, we styled the dining room together and were so happy with the result! Check out Pasadena Charm’s blog post for more photos and @simonprojects website simonprojectsdesign.com for design inspiration.

West Elm “Shelfie” Blog Post…See More

Interior Design: Simon Projects
Lifestyle Photography: Allison Maginn
“Shelfie” Accessories: West Elm Pasadena
Location: Taryn’s Home, Pasadena, Ca.
Table & Chairs: Living Spaces