Reader Design: Diane's Intuitive Home

It's clear when you peek into Diane's home that she really went with her gut. Diane shares her PNW home with her boyfriend, and its laid back vibe and simplicity make it the perfect place to unwind. No item necessarily comes from the same family - some are boho, some traditional, and some minimalist - but every piece works together to create "home."

“I’m a firm believer that if a product speaks to you, it will work with your aesthetic because it will be among other items you love and are drawn to. Letting my intuition steer my decisions helps create a space that evokes who I am without adhering too much to trends.”

This often requires patience. Diane is rightfully focused on carefully and intentionally creating a home not just for herself but also for the other very important person who lives there. After all, a home is meant to be representative of all who live in it. 

Take the living room for instance.

“The print is a film photo my boyfriend took during a vacation to Europe - the space above our couch was bare until a few weeks ago because we were waiting for the perfect piece, and I’m glad we prevailed. It was meant to be.”

Another example in the value of patience? Diane's perfectly on-trend dining chairs. 

“They have been my best Goodwill score to date; I got all four for $20, and they just needed a little polish on the chrome. The wood has a perfect weather to it and the cane is still in tact.”

At the end of the day, Diane is focused on one thing. 

“It’s as simple as coming home to a space you enjoy and want to spend time in. I feel much more at peace when I’m surrounded by beautiful things I love. You have to appreciate the journey knowing the effort you’ve put into curating your home, even though I always feel it’s a work in progress (as I’m sure many others do as well! We are ever-evolving as human beings).”

Diane, you keep doing you! For more, follow Diane along on Instagram @dklawrence.

Enjoy your Thanksgivings next week, mutts, and we'll see you back with more Reader Designs in December.

Reader Design: Jo's California-meets-Canada Home

Today we're off to a location in Ontario, Canada that has seriously the best name: East Gwillimbury. How fun is that?? Don't you wish you lived there? Jo is showing us around her California-meets-Canada spot, which is a perfect mixed bag of boho, modern rustic, and traditional design elements.

Jo's home brings the Cali elements we've come to love - natural wood, white walls, leather, and pottery - to our neighbor to the north. The home doesn't feel like a replication though; it has a clear sense of family and individuality. 

“I want someone to walk into our home and know who lives here right off the bat. I love that we have a mix of big-box + thrifted + antique pieces which gives our home that curated vibe. I love adding unexpected items on selves and mixing textiles so there is always something interesting to discover.
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While the home doesn't have the open concept that we've come to know and love, the spaces still feel cohesive. That hasn't, however, come without difficulties. 

“We are constantly trying to come up with layout ideas and seating arrangements. I tend to go for the side that is visually pleasing (and Instagram friendly!) while my boyfriend is very practical and wants the space to have maximum use.

I’ve also tried to keep trends at an arms-length, because if you get caught up in everything that’s being thrown at you, you will always be in a state of flux trying to hit on the next thing. My boyfriend recently told me I need to design slow – meaning I really need to take the time to think things through until we make the best decision, which usually means going with more permanent ideas/concepts vs. fast trends. ”

Jo and her boyfriend navigate any differences they may have by bringing in meaningful pieces, like the harvest table in the dining room that came from her boyfriend's grandparent's farm.

In the office, Jo has gone way above and beyond with her shelf styling skills. Her favorite element is the old slingshot sitting on the shelves. 

“We were at an antique tool show and I bought this off of the cutest old man in history – complete with suspenders and all – for $1. While it was missing the actual sling, I just threw some wood beads on a string and set it up. It has the original paint chipping off but looking at it makes me happy + it’s a great random addition to a shelf. ”

Both the master and guest bedrooms are stunning rooms, full of vintage pieces, fresh textiles, and white and bright hues. Even the leather headboard was a vintage find from a local buy-and-sell.

Jo is clearly an absolute expert on thrifting and vintage shopping, so today, we'll close with her tips. 

“1. Go often and don’t get discouraged. I usually go to three different thrift stores 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I buy nothing at all or come away with a seriously amazing find. Persistence is key, especially when you are spending hours hunting and coming away with nothing. Once you find an amazing item you realize its totally worth it.
2. Go with your gut. I never have a plan when I’m at thrift stores. I usually just hunt and if I get that lurch in my stomach when my eyes hit an item, it goes in my cart. Even if it isn’t totally my style, I’ll pass it over to some of my friends.
3. Always buy the vintage books, the pottery, and anything that makes you happy. Whether it’s on trend or not, if you love it you will most likely find a spot for it in your home so snatch it up.”

Jo, thank you so much for showing us around. We seriously love your home, and I think I speak for all us mutts when I say that I'd love for you to visit my city to teach me your thrifting ways.

Follow Jo along on Instagram at @jmwearing for more; seriously, do it. 

See you in September! 

Reader Design: Amy's Bright Bungalow

This post-Memorial Day weather has been quite bipolar recently, from gray to humid and hot. Thank goodness we have Amy's always-consistent, bright, and refreshing 1920's craftsman home to spotlight this week!

Amy and her husband bought their home in the up-and-coming Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Brookland just over two years ago, and they quickly went to work to bring it authentically to life. 

From Amy:

“When I first started the decorating process, I knew I wanted to embrace the home’s cozy vibe that I feel every time I walk in the front door. I have always been drawn to color and textures, and I practiced very little restraint when picking out some of the more eclectic pieces. My husband often jokes that I am the queen of tchotchkes, and I’m OK embracing that title.”

Inspired by the bohemian and natural elements mastered by Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow, Amy set out on a mission to adopt a 'try and see' mindset. That approach allowed Amy to have the freedom to experiment and just see what worked. More often than not, she ended up with something seriously cool and intriguing, like pairing competing patterns or textiles or putting plants in seemingly odd places. 

“Plants, though, can warm up any space and studies have shown that they boost mood and are good for the air quality so I think I can safely justify this obsession.”

Keeping all those plants company in the dining room is a piece that solved many of Amy's art commitment issues - that gorgeous Juniper Briggs original.

“One of the biggest decorating obstacles I have is committing to artwork for the walls so I framed a lot of our travel pictures. They always start a conversation when we have guests over and they evoke my favorite memories when I look at them. That being said, I finally purchased a beautiful print from the lovely and local artist Juniper Briggs. It was the one piece that really finished off my dining room, and I tortured myself for months trying to decide on which one of her pieces to buy.”

And finally, we come to Amy's favorite room in the house: her bedroom (and 'dog's palace').

“It is hands down my favorite room in the house. Almost all of the objects including planters, the brass mobile above the bed, and the light fixture are handmade. I love supporting artists, and I can spend hours scouring Etsy for that one unique item that I know I will treasure for years to come. ”

Amy, you have quite the comfy home! Thank you for sharing it with us today - and for those who want more, follow Amy along on Instagram @lilyslovelies.

See you next week,