Art & home decor
I’ve always loved decorating and analyzing how a home is setup. I can remember being young and re-arranging my room when I got home from school, just to get a feel for how things looked in different layouts. Fast forward 30 years and I’m loving the process more than ever!
It’s definitely an overwhelming process if you don’t know where to start, but I found that once I started decorating small corners or areas, the rest followed. I now have a pretty good idea of what I like, although that has changed over time.
That being said, I’m always really proud when people ask me for art or decor recommendations! Right now I’m really loving playful, colorful art with more of a neutral furniture palette. Texture is also a big selling point for me — anything with a herringbone pattern on it makes me melt. When I’m looking for art, I think of the space. For example; our bedroom is a space that we wanted to be calming and a true zen zone. Having art in there that felt simple and clean, yet soft and calming was really important. Our living room has a playful tone to it, but not overly obscure. I like having a mix of colors, because it feels inclusive and inviting, but we kept the pillows pretty standard (Serena & Lily) so it feels approachable. Our office is the least-finished space, but we wanted that to feel clean yet warm. We have a framed aerial shot of Chicago that my brother took with a Serena & Lily blue and white waffle-patterned rug. The blues in the photo play off of the blues in the rug and it’s a very safe combination while also letting our roots shine through.
My go-to’s right now for art are below:
Some aggregators I love: Tappan Collective, One Kings Lane, 1st Dibs, Artspace
Our bedding is the linen set from Parachute Home. It’s cozy, has texture, and looks well-loved. The dark green pillows are Serena & Lily and the lumbar was on clearance at Pottery Barn. I wanted to mix as many textures as I could to really make it feel cozy.
The nightstands are from Crate & Barrel, lamps are from Soho Home and the art is Dawn Wolfe.
This art has been with us since we moved to San Francisco in 2021 and it reminds me of a bluff at dusk. It’s so calming, and I wanted the greenery with it to reflect the mood it gives off. We matched the black dresser with the black frame and liked the simplicity of those paired together.
The vase and lamp are from West Elm, the dresser is vintage (similar here) and the art is Collection Prints.
I wish I could express my love for this artist over a blog post. He is just the best and has become a good friend of ours. This was the first piece of fine art we bought as a couple and it was an interesting process. I like softer (think Jackson Pollock; No. 1 Lavender Mist) and Mike likes more bold, primary colors. We had a hard time finding a piece that we both agreed on, and when we saw this it felt like the perfect mix. There’s some softness in the coloring but it has that bold texture as well — and we’ve actually found that it’s fun to decorate with. My favorite thing to do is have fresh, colorful flowers next to it which really brings out the pops of color.
The credenza is old CB2, speakers are Kanto (highly recommend!) and the art is Jimmy McCaffrey.
I’ve really loved learning more about myself throughout the process and am in the process of understanding if I have a future in interior design (which is fun to think about!!). For now, I’ll continue to just lean into the hobby and am always happy to help you pick things for your home. The feeling that other people get when they are proud of their home brings me so much joy.
Cheers!