Megan Hopp

As a NYC interior designer, lifestyle consultant, and writer, Megan believes in small spaces, big choices, and doing things the old fashioned way.
Your 5-Step Plan for Open Shelving in Your Kitchen
So you’ve decided to make the switch from classic cabinets to open shelving. Congrats! This is a big renovation (even if you’re not gutting the entire kitchen) and you have a lot of things to think about. Here are a few things to consider — beyond the obvious question of what materials the shelves should be — and some pointers for arranging all your stuff. Trust me — I’m an interior designer and I’ve helped tons of clients transition to open shelving.
Sep 22, 2017
5 Rules for Choosing a Dining Room Table (Plus Some to Buy)
Whether you’re looking to buy your first table or you want to upgrade the hand-me-down you’ve been eating off of for years, the market can be overwhelming. A single search on Overstock for “dining room and kitchen tables” comes up with 2,380 results. And that’s just one site! To help you narrow it down, I’ve distilled my five key rules for picking out a dinner table. What do I know, you ask?
Sep 21, 2017
The Top 5 Objections to Open Shelving (and Answers from People Who Love It)
Change is scary and can often leave a person full of excuses. Take open shelving, for example. If you’re used to having doors on your cabinets, the idea of putting everything you own out on display could make you very nervous. But you might actually end up loving it!
Sep 15, 2017
The One Time Open Shelving Is a Terrible Idea
Do I like the look of open shelving? Check. Am I organized enough to rock it? Check. Do I think it adds an extra layer of design and personalization to any kitchen? Check. Would I recommend it to my own design clients? Check, check, check. Will I be ditching my cabinets for a fresh new open shelving look? Negative.
Sep 12, 2017
The One Time Open Shelving Is a Terrible Idea
Do I like the look of open shelving? Check. Am I organized enough to rock it? Check. Do I think it adds an extra layer of design and personalization to any kitchen? Check. Would I recommend it to my own design clients? Check, check, check. Will I be ditching my cabinets for a fresh new open shelving look? Negative.
Sep 12, 2017
Take This Personality Quiz to See If Open Shelving Is Right for You
Are you OSP (Open Shelving Positive)? Or is it best you leave those cabinet doors on and closed to create your ideal kitchen space? Take this quick, five-question personality quiz to find out. If the sight of a few messy dishes piled up in the sink is enough to make you go running for your dish gloves, you will do very well with open shelving.
Sep 6, 2017
Take This Personality Quiz to See If Open Shelving Is Right for You
Are you OSP (Open Shelving Positive)? Or is it best you leave those cabinet doors on and closed to create your ideal kitchen space? Take this quick, five-question personality quiz to find out. If the sight of a few messy dishes piled up in the sink is enough to make you go running for your dish gloves, you will do very well with open shelving.
Sep 6, 2017
You Should Totally Steal This Cute Snack Table Makeover Idea
The party problem: You want to have a movie night (with lots of food), but your plain snack tables are just that — plain. The party trick: Jazz them up with a custom paint job. We used eggshell paint because we like the matte look, although a satin or gloss finish will work just as well, if not better because glossier paints are easier to wipe clean if you spill food on them. You don’t even need a big thing of paint for this. In fact, a quart will be too much.
Feb 24, 2017
An Interior Designer’s Tips for Building an Awesome Indoor Fort
You probably have some experience from your childhood building forts, yes? Chances are, though, your structures never looked quite this good? That’s because you were a child and you didn’t have the design sense or the wherewithal to make something so Instagram-worthy. You’re an adult now! And that means you have the skills (and the permission) to take your fort-building to the next level. Trust me — you can do it. Here are my best tips to help you.
Feb 22, 2017
5 Reasons You Should Build a Fort in Your Living Room
When I was a kid, I used to build a fort any chance I got: A rainy day was always a good excuse, but growing up in temperate Northern California, it really was a year-round activity despite the constant 74-degree weather. It wasn’t the same fort over and over again, either. Every indoor structure had a very specific purpose and story.
Feb 17, 2017
Make Your Cake Do Double Duty This Holiday Season
So, you made a cake and it’s a real show-stopper. The only problem? Your guests won’t get to see it until the end of the night and then, before you know it, it’s gone. Well, no more, I say! Have your cake, gaze at it, and then eat it too. As an interior designer and stylist, I can’t help but think that how the food looks is just as important as how it tastes. It follows, then, that my absolute favorite culinary project is a big and beautiful well-frosted cake.
Nov 30, 2016
A Bright Idea for Your Holiday Table
When thinking about what to put at the center of your table, why not use something you actually need? Like light! So often we clutter our tables with thematic decor that takes up space and gets in the way. Using light as your focal piece is an elegant and easy way to make your table look creatively curated and perfectly paired down. Plus, it’ll help you see your dinner.
Nov 28, 2016
3 Easygoing (Yet Polished) Outfits for the Thanksgiving Cook
We know that the turkey and all the fixings, not to mention your perfect apple pie, take center stage during the holidays. But lets not forget about the cook — that would be you! This is especially true if you’re hosting for the first time and are anxious to make a good impression on your mother-in-law, who is coming, by the way. No big deal, right? First and foremost, your outfit should never get in the way of what you have cooking.
Nov 18, 2016
Dole Out Thanksgiving Dinner with These Pretty Serving Spoons
Ever sit down to a beautifully prepared meal, with wonderfully enticing dishes from end to end of the table, when suddenly a hodgepodge of mismatched serving spoons clang onto the scene? This holiday season, put a little thought into your serving spoons. Here are 10 stylish ones worth scooping up. Copper Serving Set, $49 at West Elm: Wouldn’t it be nice to have a serving spoon as rich and smooth as your perfect mashed potatoes?
Nov 10, 2016
10 Dish Drying Racks That Are Better than a Tea Towel
Whether or not you have a dishwasher (you lucky ducks, those of you who do!), you still need a handy dish rack. Why? What if you just have a few things to wash and you need them sooner rather than later? What about those precious items that can’t go in the dishwasher? Or again, what if you don’t have a dishwasher? No matter what, precariously stacking dishes and knives on a tea towel just won’t cut it. Instead, consider pick up one of these dish racks.
Nov 9, 2016
10 Wine Glasses That Can Go in the Dishwasher
With the holiday season officially in full swing and batches of bashes ahead of us, there is so much to look forward to. The friends, the food, the drink, and the dishes. Back up! Not the dishes! Nothing puts a damper on a night of good drinks than knowing you’re gonna have to wash each and every glass by hand. Before you reach for disposables in attempts to cut the cleanup time, try swapping your hand-wash-only glassware for these spectacular dishwasher-safe options.
Nov 8, 2016
Can Someone Please Get Married on Halloween?
Have you ever been to a wedding on Halloween? I haven’t, but this fake wedding reception from Hey Gorgeous Events has me wishing I was going to one this year! See how a romantic black, gold, and blush color palette transforms the holiday from eek to chic. Rhiannon Bosse, the talented blogger behind Hey Gorgeous Events, thought of the idea to create a Halloween wedding more than 10 months in advance. The first thing that came to her? The tablescapes.
Oct 24, 2016
When Serving Sandwiches, Use This Instead of a Platter
We know it’s a little early to start talking about the holidays. Although, to be fair, we’ve already seen Christmas decorations on the shelves at T.J. Maxx! So, just hear us out. This super-easy holiday cocktail party by Emily Henderson is Christmas-y without being over-the-top. And while it’s a perfect party to emulate come December, there was one extra-savvy element that we want to steal right now. That one element? Sandwiches wrapped and piled into a bowl!
Oct 23, 2016
Put All Your U-Pick Apples to Good Use
Picture this — you’ve just come home from your annual apple-picking trip, with baskets and baskets of apples and a smile ear to ear. You’re all set to bake your special apple pie, which calls for five or so apples, and then you realize you have 35 more and not a single thing to do with them! Why not make a few extra pies to share with friends and family — and set the table to match!
Oct 21, 2016
These Bowls Make Us Want to Eat Soup
This time of year, soup is a pretty enticing meal. As it starts to get chillier out, a bowl of something warm is just the thing. Not to mention soup is a vehicle for all of our favorite fancy crackers. The point is, we don’t need a lot of enticing when it comes to making soup our dinner date. But these bowls, which run the gamut from utilitarian-chic to pretty-in-pink, really seal the deal.
Oct 21, 2016
The Best Way to Make an Outdoor Party Actually Feel Comfortable
When I think tailgate, I think cans of beer, screaming fans with painted faces, and processed cheese. I always wish I could partake in the festivities and merriment — just in a way that feels a bit more comfy. The solution? Bring your rugs outside! While this boho-chic tailgate party from Style Blue Print is more backyard party than parking-lot bash, it features a great idea to use the comforts of home at a classically outdoor event.
Oct 20, 2016
A Modern Tea Party (No Doilies!)
Take everything you think you know about a tea party. Got it? Now, forget about all that.
Oct 18, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Coffee Station
What do most of us do every day — and, let’s be honest, many times a day? Yes, drink a nice cup of coffee or tea. Now, how many of us have a designated coffee cart in our homes? Crickets. That’s what I thought. Why not give the ritual we hold so dear a platform to live on? IKEA’s RÅSKOG cart proves its usefulness once again.
Oct 7, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Linen Storage
As you may have figured out by now, you can put pretty much anything in the IKEA RÅSKOG cart, including kitchen linens. Your clever and styled cart will look right off the showcase floor, which in turn will inspire you time and time again to tightly tie that apron, lay the tablecloth down, and reach for your favorite embroidered napkins.
Oct 6, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Breakfast Station
“But this is my favorite cup,” says everyone, everywhere. Why we latch on to certain dishware is not for me to answer, but ask me where to store it, and I will gladly tell you: in the IKEA RÅSKOG cart, of course! But this small-space saver isn’t just good for storing that coffee cup or three that you really (really) need; it’s also the secret to making your mornings that much easier, by keeping all your breakfast essentials in one place.
Oct 6, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Cleaning Kit
Never wonder, "Where did I put that sponge?" again.
Oct 6, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Pantry Organizer
Never pass up the two-for-one sale at the supermarket again.
Oct 5, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Dining Room Sideboard
Serving pieces can be awkward to store. They come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes they are seasonally specific. For example, you need your red glass, gold-rimmed condiment tray out and at the ready the entire month of December, but the rest of the year it goes into hiding. That’s why I love this tiny cart, which is the perfect home for pieces on deck. Rotate pieces in and out: Similar to transitioning in a seasonal wardrobe, you can do the same with your dishware.
Oct 5, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Mobile Kitchen Tool Box
One of my favorite ways to make the most of the incredibly versatile IKEA RÅSKOG cart is as a mobile tool box. With its compact size, rotating wheels, and deep shelving with plenty of space in between, this cart can definitely hold its own as you toss your spatula in, while pulling out your tongs all in one fell swoop! Put your tool VIPs on the top shelf: We all have the tools that we turn to again and again.
Oct 4, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Herb Garden
Out of something the same can grow something new. Not to get too precious, but it really is the miracle of life — and there’s something wonderful about bringing that miracle into your home, in the form of plants, flowers, or herbs. The RÅSKOG cart can play the role of plant stand quite well, but I like it in particular for a good old-fashioned herb garden. The sturdy casters allow for easy transportation, letting you wheel the cart into the perfect afternoon sunny spot.
Oct 4, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Spice Rack
Variety is the spice of life — so they say — but even a few good spices can make a difference, turning that ho-hum bowl of chili into a sweat-inducing zinger. Still, whether your spice collection is comprehensive and abundant or small and selective, there is the question of how and where to store them. May we suggest the IKEA RÅSKOG cart?
Oct 3, 2016
The IKEA RÅSKOG Cart as Home Bar
A bar cart should never be a luxury — we’ll drink to that! But wait, where are you going to fit it? The crowd-favorite, small-scale RÅSKOG cart from IKEA comes to the rescue again. It’s the perfect size for any space, whether that’s a tiny apartment or not-so-noticeable nook in the corner of your dining room. Ready to turn the RÅSKOG cart into a home for all your tipsy treasures? Here are a few tips.
Oct 3, 2016
10 Beautiful Bowls for Displaying All Your Apples
Tis the season to hit the farmers market — or, for the more ambitious, the U-Pick farms — and with so many of our favorite fruits ripe and ready to come home, it’d be a shame to hide them away. A beautiful bowl can make all the difference in displaying your sweet and fresh finds. Here are my top 10 picks — so good-looking they rival the fruit inside them! 1.
Sep 21, 2016
10 Gorgeous Wooden Spoons Almost Too Pretty to Use
When I think about a traditional wooden spoon, I am reminded of children’s book illustrations of tiny grandmothers and enormous pots of spaghetti sauce. Wooden spoons are excellent at standing strong against a thick batch of dough, staying cool in a blazing pot of sauce, and, most importantly, fit so comfortably in your hand it’s as if you were never meant to hold anything else.
Sep 6, 2016