Reader Design: Ashley's Cali Cool Home

Let's go to California! It's finally starting to feel like springtime, and that Los Angeles sunshine is just what the doctor is ordering. Today, we're off to tour Ashley's home in the Mid City neighborhood of LA.

This home is the definition of cool, California style. It's laid back, has a healthy dose of mid-century modern design, and makes ample use of plants. 

From Ashley:

“I’d say my style is a mix of California casual and eclectic bohemian. I like to collect unique pieces and style around those. In our living room it is the colorful rug from West Elm. I picked pink pillows and mustard-colored throws to accent the room, both colors pulled from the rug. I’m also embracing the millennial obsession with plants. Every open space I find gets a plant.”

“I style our home based on the seasons, changing the color of our bedding and the centerpiece of our dining room table. I’ve had people comment on my Instagram pictures saying it looks like an LA winter. I have only ever lived in LA, and I hadn’t realized the influence the city had on me until I started following other interior accounts from across the nation. I have a lot of plants and cactus that require heat and bright light, and I decorate with a lot of warm colors and I throw eucalyptus pretty much everywhere. ”

“I want our home to feel comfortable. Every piece of furniture was purchased based on comfort. Our couch is a dream for binge watching the latest Netflix show and our bed is my sanctuary. I have layers of pillow tops and the most comfortable linen bedding. Our bed is always the thing I miss the most when we travel. It’s also important to me that our home represents us. I want people to walk in and know immediately that this is our home. They see my husband’s collection of DVDs and the art we brought back from our travels and know this is our home; they know our interests. ”

“In our bedroom, the weaving over our bed is by far my favorite piece. I commissioned this from Erin of Sunwoven right when we moved in to our place. It dictates everything I bring into our room. I love the texture, the pop of gold, the copper rod; everything about it makes me happy.”

(For those interested, check out Erin's work @sunwoven!)

We all have different items or pieces we prize in our homes, and the best to create a loving and welcoming home is to focus on those.

What's the prize for Ashley?

“Anything custom by a talented creator. Those are the pieces I will cherish and bring with me to future homes.”

Ashley, thank you so much for the tour! Follow Ashley on Instagram @ashleyhosmer for more!

Reader Design: Sarah's Urban Reno

This weekend, I'm in New York City for a friend's wedding... and that just so happens to also be the site of today's feature! Now, for many, owning your own place in New York City is an elusive pipe dream. But Sarah found a fixer upper with the right bones and embarked on a gut-job renovation to make her urban apartment a perfect fit. 

Let's take a look!

From Sarah:

“When I first started gathering inspiration photos for my renovation, I found myself bookmarking a mix of simpler, cleaner, more neutral spaces and ones with a bit more eclectic oomph and color to them. See, I want to be a minimalistic, neutral, Marie Kondo-esque type, but in reality, I’m much closer to a bohemian cat lady with a penchant for ALL the tchotchkes.

I balanced those two sides by keeping the bigger parts of my design (wall colors, tile, big furniture pieces) quiet so that my finishing touches (textiles, wallpaper, décor) could get loud. Cue the J. Lo and insert the dancing girl emoji here. That means my walls are a light grey, and my bathroom is all white—but I’ve got more vintage mirrors than anyone could possibly need, an antique Persian runner in my entryway, and gold Hygge & West wallpaper on the wall opposite my kitchen. ”

“The great thing about doing a gut renovation? You’re literally starting from scratch, which means your home (and your design!) can be anything you want it to be. The world is your oyster (within reason and budget, of course)! The terrible thing about doing a gut renovation? You’re spending a lot on your choices—so you better hope they’re good ones. I’m happy to say that while there are a few small things I’d do differently if I were to do it again, I’m mostly quite happy with how my little home turned out. ”

Comfort and ease were two huge considerations as Sarah was designing this space. After all, it's smack dab in the middle of the city that never sleeps, and it needs to operate accordingly!

“Above all, I want my home to feel comfortable. Yes, I have nice things, but I don’t ever want anyone to feel like they can’t drink red wine on my white couch (that’s why god made eco-friendly bleach!) or like they can’t make a mess in my kitchen (lord knows I do). Homes are meant to be lived in, and I hope to evoke that sense of warmth and comfort in every aspect of my design. ”

The exposed brick wall, which was a happy accident during construction, goes a long way in bringing those homey vibes to the space!

In the kitchen, Sarah maximized every inch she could by adding this extra counter space with the breakfast bar and keeping things light and airy with exposed shelving and natural light. Despite how practical the design was, there is certainly no shortage of personality!

“Cement tile is big right now (and has been for the past few years), and I put it in my kitchen. When I showed my contractor (who advised me a bit—even when I didn’t ask for it!—throughout the renovation process) the tiles I was planning on purchasing, he shook his head. “You should go for something simpler,” he said. “Something with resale value. This tile—it’s too trendy. It’ll be out in a few years.” And honestly, he may be right. In five years, I may look down at my cement tile and wish I’d done something simpler. Trends come and go, right? But since I renovated for me more than for resale value (my apartment isn’t a flip), I took a risk—and I’m glad I did. My floors make me happy every time I see them, and that feels worth it. ”

“My bedroom is the one space where I’m not quite sure I’ve nailed it (at least, not yet)—but one piece I know I love is my dresser. I found it in the basement of my rental building about a month before I started renovations and lugged it into the elevator and up to the 10th floor one Monday night. The streets (and basements!) of New York City are a veritable treasure trove. If you keep your eyes peeled, you never know what you’ll find—for free!”

This whole home feels completely personalized - Sarah, we think you nailed the renovation game! Thank you for showing us around. Follow Sarah along on Instagram at @_thegrandapt for more photos and before and after details! 

Reader Design: Gemma's Artsy Home

Today, we're off to visit Gemma's bright and fresh home; this Boston place boasts a ton of quirky prints, color and texture, tons of natural light, and some seriously amazing art. Ready for the tour? 

Even the entry way smacks you with style right away! From the design extraordinaire herself:

“I have a hard time defining or labeling my own design style in my home; it’s more of a feeling. I definitely have certain shapes that I prefer; for example, I always pick furniture with clean simple lines, and art tends to be the same way. I prefer minimal designs, and I don’t like anything ornate which is probably why I’m attracted to mid century furniture pieces. By sticking with fairly simple shapes, it gives me a lot of room to decorate with other aspects like color, wallpaper, art, and lighting.”

Each room uses that basic formula - simple, clean furniture + geometric shapes + interesting accents - and just knocks it out of the park. The use of natural elements like wood also helps each space feel incredibly balanced. 

“One of my major design goals is to have the house be interesting and inviting but not cluttered. Some areas have really bold wallpapers, but I try to keep all the other elements very simple so as not to overwhelm the room. ”

Even the mudroom gives a major statement!

“My mudroom is a good example of an over the top wall covering, balanced by very little else in the space - necessities only. But that said, the house is comfortable. We have 3 little boys and they play all over and do what little kids do, so storage is a must. Every cabinet in our family room is packed with games, toys, legos, and stuffed animals so that they can easily access stuff they want to play with, but also put it away again. ”

One of the key ways Gemma adds interest is art.

“My favorite design elements in our house are our pieces of art. Looking at beautiful artwork gives me such genuine pleasure and an emotional connection. We’ve collected our art from all over the place from varying sources, and the pieces are all very different. Many are one of a kind items we’ve found in vintage stores, others are from estate sales, and others are from galleries. Art is the one place we are willing to splurge.”

In the bathroom, the star of the show (other than that tub...wow!) is the iconic Slim Aarons Palm Springs photograph (he's a personal favorite of mine). 

Two other ways to add detail? 

“Lighting is another great way to express yourself; it can be a forgotten element yet can bring so much interest into a room. And a personal favorite of mine, books - I read a ton and I love holding and having books. My next project in fact involves some serious shelving to house all of our books that are currently homeless!”

This house has to be one of the most original ones I've seen in a while. What a place to raise and spend time with your family!

Gemma, thank you so much for the tour.  Follow Gemma along on Instagram @gemmavanderswaagh for more!