Welcome to Kipi, a world where life is lived in pastel. Launched in 2013, Kipi is a creative outlet that features original ways to fill your home, passport, and imagination with color. Here you'll find eye-popping DIY projects, travel guides, and lifestyle topics focused on artistic living and design. Oh wait, there's plenty of fun here too!
My name is Marjorie Lacombe, and I am the creative voice and founder of Kipi. I was born and raised in San Diego and embrace nearly every Californian stereotype, except that I don't know how to surf...(yet!). I live for exploring my imagination, creating art, helping others, macaron indulging, and traveling this colorful life with my husband.
I could never think of this as a job. It's my passion and my happy place. But if you're asking if it pays the bills, well yes and no. I am currently pursuing a medical degree at University of California in San Diego (UCSD), so my professional goal is to be a Pediatrician to treat children. It also seems like the best specialty to find innovative ways to fuse together wellness, creativity, and positivity since children tend to naturally look for these things anyways.
I started Kipi during my last year in college at Harvard University. It was a means to express all these bubbling ideas and creations in my head. It was also a great excuse to avoid facing hundreds of pages of textbook readings. Since then, it has quickly evolved from a tiny, college blog to a recognized name in photography, decor, and travel due to my focus on capturing life in a pastel framework. Over the past four years, I've taught myself how to do graphic design, photography, web design/development, and freelance business. Everything is always a work in progress, which pretty much feels like a perfect combination of determination and satisfaction.
I started Kipi during my last year in college at Harvard University. It was a means to express all these bubbling ideas and creations in my head. It was also a great excuse to avoid facing hundreds of pages of textbook readings. Since then, it has quickly evolved from a tiny, college blog to a recognized name in photography, decor, and travel due to my focus on capturing life in a pastel framework. Over the past four years, I've taught myself how to do graphic design, photography, web design/development, and freelance business. Everything is always a work in progress, which pretty much feels like a perfect combination of determination and satisfaction.
The word "kipi" actually started as a nickname I was called by my dad since I was a little kid. Now as an adult, the word has grown to embody all things delightful about childhood - fun, adventure, simplicity, and the freedom to make a mess of things.
I've been lucky enough to have the chance to travel to the following countries over the past several years: Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, France, Ghana, Greece, Haiti, Italy, Kenya, Maldives, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Togo, Turkey, and Vietnam.
I didn't start out focusing on pastel colors, but it sure ended up that way! Over the past year, I began to focus a lot more on my photography and, especially through my Instagram, I was able to notice my tendency to capture soft, playful colors time and time again. Ever since this realization, so much more of my creative life has grown clear. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but me and pastels are kind of like soul mates.
Glad to hear it! In the past, I've worked with big brands (such as Target, Pinterest, Glade), luxury brands (such as Dior, fine dining, and 5-star hotels), and small businesses (such as Love, Oh Lou and Happy Socks). I'd love to learn a bit more about your brand, project, advertising, or collaboration ideas. Go ahead and shoot me an email (hello@thekipiblog.com), or use my contact form here, to get the conversation started.