Those of you who've been following our quest to create a CultureLounge in only 30 days with not one, but two amateur designers vying for the helm probably knew that my co-designer Steven Thomson and I have ... uh ... differing views on the project. IKEA Houston may be providing the furniture for this challenge, but it's up to us to work through the disagreements.

Now that we've made our first trip to IKEA and returned with stuff (lots of stuff), it's time to lay out our often opposing visions. And we'll be calling on you to decide which one better fits our unique space and office needs.

Steven will get the spotlight to talk about his tastes in a few days, so let's say we just leave him out of this one — let's talk about me.

I was one of three girls and spent the majority of my college career living in my (impeccably decorated) sorority house. I've got a thing for paisley. I like lots of color, I like flowers and I like anything that makes me gasp and clap simultaneously.

If forced to come up with three cardinal rules of interior design, I suppose mine would be thou shalt be comfortable, thou shalt be kitschy, and form over function — which, coincidentally, is also the way I feel about shoes.

But there are greater influences at work than Kappa Kappa Gamma's Southern colonial-style architecture and estrogen.

I also happened to grow up in the Houston Heights in a historic home filled with contemporary art hung over my mother's antiques, so I'm all about the mix of old and new. I used to skip out on the remainder of church service after communion and hit 19th street, skipping through Chippendale's and other now-shuttered boutiques looking for antique-y doodads.

True antiques being well out of my reach, however, I settle for vintage — even vintage-looking, with a twist. I'll put it this way: if I had my way, all my wooden furnishings would be stripped and painted something fun, likely turquoise.

Our blank canvas at the CultureMap office has three things that make it an ideal space, in my thinking: hardwood floors, exposed brick and high ceilings. I've got some big ideas that I don't dare give away, or what would be the point of a grand reveal cum cocktail party?

But I will say this — think chocolate brown, crisp-but-comfy whites and accents that P-O-P pop. I'll sneak some faux flowers in there, too, if it kills me . . .

Coming up Tuesday: Steven Thomson reveals his sleek modern aesthetic, and says to hell with phony petals. Then, you get to choose sides and push for your favorite philosophy as the lounge moves forward.

Other articles in the IKEA Challenge series:

Creating a lounge in 30 days without killing each other

Sizing up the room specs, spots for the Shelby Hodge statue & kissing booth

The meddling begins: Our room makeover designers face opposition in the office

The room makeover duo hits the store and encounters a velvet divide