A lot of my freelance work to date has centered on writing and blogging, with interior design as a key subject. I've developed and refined my own point of view on interior design trends and sensibilities. But having an eye for the subject matter does not always translate to being able to actually do the job.

So, when my friend and coworker Allison reached out with the opportunity to redo her kitchen, I was very excited, but intimidated and humbled nonetheless.