I couldn’t be happier to be part of the team working on the Design Center, because I have been obsessed with style, fashion, and design for as long as I can remember.

I think it must have started in second grade when I got my white bean bag chair. Some of my friends and family members had them too- – but nobody had one in white. I remember feeling so lucky to have one in what was surely the coolest color for this staple of 70’s interior.

Despite the fact that my bean bag chair was riddled with pen and marker spots within the first week of landing in my room, I loved looking at it, I loved sitting in it- – in short, it made me happy.

Fast forward a couple of years to fourth grade. I had hoped for months that I would be in Mrs. Fortner’s class. Her room looked absolutely amazing- I was mesmerized by its unique appearance. In an effort to foster creative thinking through unique environments, her husband had built 3-dimensional, wooden, octagonal cubes for every student to use as auxiliary workspaces. They were all equipped with carpet (each one had a different color), a pull-down work surface, and a back cushion. I was thrilled beyond belief to see my name on her posted class list the first day of school.

We got to pick our cubes about a week or so later. They were arranged in clusters, and built two high. I quickly chose a ‘downstairs’ cube with textured, light blue carpet. ‘Cube time’ was my favorite part of the day. Even more interesting than its look, was the ‘feel’ of my cube. I loved sitting in it, reading a book in it, even taking a quiz in it. And just like my bean bag chair- – it made me happy.

The excitement I felt upon learning that I would be in such a uniquely-designed, cool room was equaled only once that year, when I was one of the first kids in my school to own a cropped, sporty, satin jacket – the kind made popular by Shaun Cassidy and Cheryl Ladd (a.k.a. Chris Monroe on Charlie’s Angels).

Fast forward once again to today. My age now starts with a 4 instead of a 1, it’s not a bean bag chair that makes me happy when I come home- it’s my Eames Lounge & Ottoman, and my excitement about fashion now stems mainly from shoe and handbag purchases rather than satin jackets. But that’s just it- – although my taste and fashion preferences have evolved over the years, my fascination with design and style has remained steadfast- and I think that is fantastic. I hope I always look forward to the arrival of the Fall Fashion issue of Vogue, where I spend hours looking through its pages for style inspiration and formulating ideas for my own wardrobe. I hope I always get excited about wearing a new pair of beautiful black pumps, and I hope I continue to be awestruck by the sheer beauty and ‘cool factor’ of well-designed furniture and interiors.