Reader Design: Lisa's Scandinavian Style

Let's take a field trip to Canada and Lisa's neutral, simple, and modern home. It's the kind of place where you can relax but also feel like you're in an upscale hotel - possibly one situated in an urban Scandinavian city. 

“Growing up I spent a lot of time in Denmark visiting family, and I was definitely influenced by their modern, simplistic and practical style. I remember being surprised by the bright, open spaces and simple decor. It contrasted so much with our own 80’s home that seemed dark and congested in comparison. I haven’t been back in ages, and now that I have a better understanding of modern design I think I would be in heaven.”

Sometimes Scandinavian or minimal style can read as cold, but Lisa still finds a way to make it warm and inviting for her family. 

“More than anything I want my home to be a comfortable and inviting place for my family. I don’t think we get that feeling when a space is visually cluttered. On the other hand, too few things can make a place seem sterile, so I try to create balance by adding warm, natural elements like wood, leather, plants and textiles. I also prefer a neutral colour palate which creates a sense of calm. I recently purchased a couple of rugs for my home and they both have a rich colour to them, but work well with the surrounding neutrals. Textiles and artwork are two categories where I will make an exception to the no-colour rule. ”

“I try to avoid anything too trendy, preferring instead to invest in pieces that have been around for decades and have staying power. Also, for me, design has to be practical first, then stylish, not the other way around. I once purchased some gorgeous bedside sconces from a well known company, but when I turned them on they cast such a harsh light in the room. I was sad to return them, but there was no question about it. ”

Morale of the story? Focus on timelessness, balance, and authenticity in the design. You will not get it right on the first try, but that's why stores have return policies, right? And eventually, you'll strike the perfect match with pieces like last, like this 85-year old Iranian bedroom rug from @rugandweave.

Great work, Lisa! You'll clearly created a home that works for your family - and that's quite the accomplishment! Thanks for the tour. 

Follow Lisa along on Instagram @lisafogt for more great design!

See you next week,

Reader Design: Michelle's Suburban Escape

As anyone who has lived in a major city knows, sometimes you just need to get out. It took starting a family for Michelle and her husband to call it quits on New York City and Hoboken and make the move to the suburbs.

From MIchelle:

“We spent years living in New York City and then Hoboken, but as soon as our son became a toddler, we started looking at homes in neighboring suburbs. There’s just something so calming about having your own personal space; no upstairs neighbors, your own backyard, and enough room for overnight guests! We moved into our new house exactly one year ago, and I swear, it’s taken that amount of time to really turn it into a home! ”

“Even though we live in a suburb just outside New York City, but my style is definitely more “modern farmhouse” than anything else. I like the look of natural wood against more modern pieces, and in my opinion, you can have have too much white. I knew that I wanted our home to have a laid-back, cohesive feel. Nothing too bright or jarring, but still interesting, and most importantly, cozy. Plus, we have a 2 ½ year-old and a large dog, so it needed to be kid- and pet-friendly above all else! ”

Now, you all may not be seeing the family practicality in this design, but Michelle swears it's there!

“When people come to visit, they usually laugh at the fact that nearly all of our furniture is white, despite having a toddler and a large, black dog — but I swear, it works for us! Everything is stain-resistant. My one tip of advice is to fill your home with pieces that you love, and to not worry too much about them being on-trend or getting destroyed. If you love the look of something, get it and keep it! I’d much rather live with a piece of furniture I love and have it fall apart after several years, vs. settling for something that never feels right.”

“Our kitchen is a simple and white, which is what I’ve always wanted. It’s bright even on a rainy day, and the closed cabinets offer tons of storage (which is good because we love to cook and have nearly every contraption you could think of!). The one thing we really insisted on when looking at houses was an open floor plan; we needed a kitchen that opened into the family room and dining area so we could prepare meals and entertain, while also keeping an eye on our son. ”

“Our son’s room is probably the most colorful room in our house and I’m ok with that. The furniture is neutral, but I chose a colorful dhurrie rug and some fun garland to hang above his crib. And his toys and books add even more color. ”

The whole house is cozy, inviting, and classic, making it the perfect escape after years in the crowded city. Good choice, Michelle, and thank you for letting us in today!

Follow Michelle along on Instagram @girlonthehudson.

And now, I'm off to celebrate my birthday! Till next week,

Reader Design: Abbie's Layered Look

Off we go to California! Abbie's home is layered with textiles and fun finds, but all of it cohesively ties together for a home that's consistent with it's Southern Cali location.

From Abbie:

“We are influenced the the beach community around us. There’s a certain lifestyle here that promotes approachable interiors. We have a large indoor/outdoor space that we use for get togethers and family events. When we remodeled to create a dining room, so many people questioned why we would want such a “formal space.” It actually isn’t formal at all. Our dining space is a common room that facilitates our lifestyle. We love design and modern living, but it has to be approachable. I would also add that the “cool” part of our space is the approachable, laid back feel. We want friends to visit and not be afraid to touch things or sit on things.”

“When I’m designing and decorating my home in particular, I always want to feel that our space is fresh and not too on trend. I love the look of a well-curated, well-traveled space. I want each item to feel like it has a story behind it, not just some piece that was acquired to fill a spot. The more time we spend here and the more places we travel to, I think the better our home will “age.” I also think it’s important that our space reflect comfort as well as spirit! I want our home to have a personality!”

“I love to mix textures. I’m big on sticking to a neutral color palette but then layering that color with various textures, materials, and patterns. I’m a true textile lover being that I have my own line of pillows and blankets. I’m always on the hunt for unique textiles to liven a space. I also feel that my space is a true reflection of high and low as well as collected items. If I’ve purchased furniture from a larger company, I make sure that my smaller furnishings are unique and special to me. That means that I try and collect items from my travels to incorporate into my space. That personalizes a room so much! ”

A perfect example of Abbie's use of textiles is right in the living room. All those pillows are stand-outs on their own, but when paired together, they create what may possibly be the most inviting couch I've ever seen! 

In the office, one of the best elements has to be the polished concrete flooring, which speaks the same language at the floors throughout the rest of the home but adds a surprise element.

In the nursery, Abbie picked out this wallpaper from Ferm Living before she chose anything else, even though she was aiming for a neutral space. But let's be honest... slate-navy wallpaper is pretty much a neutral and makes for a pretty stylish nursery! 

All these details have come together to create a truly perfect family home. It certainly didn't happen overnight, but it was absolutely worth it.

“We closed on the house on our wedding day and went into renovation immediately. It was a 1960’s original. We pretty much gutted it all, and it was a labor of love. Last May, we did another remodel, turning our outdoor pergola into a dining space. We also added 4 feet off the kitchen to make a cozy breakfast nook. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect with our little one starting to walk (and now run).”

Abbie, thank you for showing off your space - you have a lot to be proud of! Follow Abbie along on Instagram at @anaberdesign for more.