It’s been 1 Year!

Sooo time really flies… I can’t believe it, but around this time last year, I “sort of” launched The Design Souk! Eekk!

A year ago, I had started writing a few home posts on my new blog and had only told my immediate family members about my idea. I was very hesitant to go public with it, but my sister loved the blog so much that she pretty much decided to announce it all over Facebook without asking… I could’ve killed her at the time, but I’m actually really happy with how it all turned out 🙂 So, since I was forcefully launched at the end of December, I’ll consider this time as my blog’s anniversary!

I’ve had so much fun exploring the city, getting to know some awesome people in my community, and meeting the owners of so many amazing businesses in 2015. So I wanted to take the time in this post to thank all of the wonderful people who participated this year. 

I am especially grateful to the people who let me photograph their beautiful homes and fully trusted my creative instincts. I owe most of the blog’s successes this year to the people who were kind enough to let me share their amazing ideas, their businesses, and their sense of style with The Design Souk community.

Also a huge thank you to all of The Design Souk readers for being so supportive and taking the time to read, like, share, and comment on my posts!! I can’t tell you how much it means to me, and really helps motivate me to keep writing for you all. I hope all of you enjoyed reading the blog this year and found some inspiration to create the best and most comfortable home life for you and your families.

So since it’s also the end of the year, I thought I’d share some of The Design Souk’s 2015 highlights!

There are lots of posts to see, but this should be great for the people who started following the blog later in the year, or for anyone who hasn’t gone through all of the posts…

In Home & Garden Tours…

1. Designing from the Inside Out
2. It’s All About Creativity
3. A Blend of East & West
4. Finding Antiques in the EP
5. A Pinterest-y Inspired House
6. A Very Stylish Halloween Home Tour
7. The Garden Group’s Annual Home & Garden Tour

In Makeovers…

1. Exterior Door Makeover
2. From Playroom to Dining Room

Your Local Businesses…

1. Backyard: The Middle East’s Grilling & Outdoor Living Specialists
2. From Fabric to Custom Upholstery: Ali Muhlhal (Al-Amodi)
3. RK Interiors: Design In Saudi Arabia
4. Arabian Collections Gallery
5. Desert Designs: The Artist’s Incubator
6. Arabian SAS: Custom Furniture
7. Your Local Photographers
8. ArtBahrain 2015

In DIY & Organizing…

1. DIY Guest Post: How to Create A Ramadan & Eid Mubarak Sign! 
2. DIY Personalized Doormat 
3. Kitchen Pantry Organizing Tips
4. BEFORE & AFTER: KITCHEN DECLUTTERING & REORGANIZING

And last but not least, the post I love the most – not design related – about my sister’s debut novel “Magic Within,” published earlier this year. So proud!! She was born and raised in Saudi, so this post might be interesting for those of you who have kids growing up here.

Well that’s it for now! I’m going to be taking a little bit of a break – about 2 or 3 weeks – so that I can find some inspiration in another part of the world 🙂 

Happy New Year and see you in 2016!