Reader Design: Lara's Canadian Hide Out

Hello, dear friends! Today, I'm writing to you all from my new home: sunny (yes, sunny... for now) Seattle, Washington. I'm just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Canadian border, which we're headed across for today's tour. 

Meet Lara and her eclectic home in Ontario, Canada.

Lara is a style mutt through and through and describes her own style as a mishmash of tastes. 

From Lara:

“I am a child of the seventies, and that is reflected in my home. The house I grew up in was all earth tones with lots of wood, and that is something I am still very drawn to.

And plants, of course. I’ve been decorating with houseplants since I was a university student living in a dorm twenty years ago. It’s come as something of a surprise to me that houseplants have made such a huge comeback after years of being relegated to granny status! But I love it. ”

It's hard to remember a time when plants weren't 'in' - who could even imagine passing on all the huge benefits of having greenery in your home!? Thank goodness that, eventually, everything comes back into style. Lara has actually has over 50 plants in her home and definitely takes after her grandfather who was an agronomist for the Canadian government.

Lara's home evokes major #calihomevibes, despite the fact that she has yet to visit the state. It's "light, bright, and casual, with a bit of edge." After a recent trip to her home country of Latvia, Lara realized that she's subconsciously been pulling in some European elements as well, with the focus on earthiness and comfort. Like many homes in both locations, Lara has created a space that pulls you in and invites you to stay a while. 

“First and foremost, I want my home to feel welcoming and homey. I want people to feel comfortable, but also, hopefully, a little inspired. I love a home that exudes creativity and reflects the personalities of the people who live there, and I hope that my home does that.”

Now, it just so happens that these tendencies of Lara's are totally 'on trend' right now... but Lara assures me that she's been decorating her home this way for years!

“It’s funny because I don’t think my house has ever been as on-trend as it is now! My style has been very similar for many years, but the “jungalow” look has never been as hot as it is now!”

Things break away from the laid back and neutral scheme a little bit once you reach the bedrooms, where Lara is open for lots of color exploration and pattern-mixing.

“As much as I love earth tones, I also love color, and the kids’ rooms are where I feel I can really let loose with that.”

The bedrooms also show off Lara's thrify side - from the band posters used as art, to the clearance sale mid-century dresser that Lara's husband Rob miraculously brought back to life. 

The rooms are just fun - lucky kids who get to call those home!

Lara, thank you so much for showing us around. Your home is clean, simple, but perfectly reflects your sweet family. 

Follow Lara along on Instagram @thehydeoutblog for more inspiration, courtesy of our neighbor to the North. And thanks to Kiely @kielyramosphoto for capturing Lara's home so beautifully.

Reader Design: Aftan's Multi-Faceted Home

We're off to sunny North Carolina! It's a state that I hold dear in my heart, after spending four years at Wake Forest for college. But today, we're headed a few hours away from Wake to Raleigh, North Carolina where Aftan lives with her husband and Lucy, their 150 pound Newfoundland dog!

Aftan's home is multi-faceted - it is eclectic, traditional, Southern, and modern all at once, with each item selected for a specific reason. 

From Aftan:

“When I’m styling our home, I like to try and make it feel cozy and inviting for others while still keeping the fun and funky vibe that I feel my husband and I bring to our home. I love when you walk in someone’s home and feel their personalities throughout the space. Not only that, but I feel like your home should tell a story. Who you are, places you’ve been, how you’ve acquired certain pieces, etc. So I try to make sure my husband and I are represented accordingly.”

One of Aftan's go-to moves is mixing and matching patterns and colors. Luckily for Aftan, that is super on trend right now, but she's been doing it for ages. So what if 'color' mostly refers to neutrals - black and white are neutrals, right!?

That said, a favorite of Aftan's are the stunning emerald green chairs in her living room. 

“Our green chairs are definitely one of my favorite things in our living room. They were thrifted and given to us by our aunt when we moved into our home. They’re the first thing you see as you walk into the room, so they’ve been a great conversation piece as well as adding that pop of color that our space needs. ”

“Our chandelier was given to us from my in-laws who had it in their home for all throughout my husband’s childhood. Not only that, but they got it in a lighting shop Austria which is where my father-in-law grew up and his family currently still lives. Our dining room table and bench is also unique, and I can say one of a kind because it was made for us by a friend. It’s important to my husband and I to have unique pieces that are special to us while also supporting local artisans.”

This home is just chalk full of treasures, some collected home, some new, but all special. 

Aftan, thank you for showing us around! And Mutts, follow Aftan along on Instagram @aftanbrown for more. I'll see you all next week. 

Reader Design: Megan's Eclectic-Boho Retreat

It's Friday, and I'm on a train to Long Island to witness one of my best friends' marriage. It's the happiest of occasions - so let's keep the good vibes going! 

Today, we're touring Megan's California family home, a space which is clearly a sanctuary away from this busy world. Her home is full of neutral bases, like whites, grays, and natural woods, with accents of brass and added texture. 

From Megan:

“I like when something in the room is slightly off but just works.

I want our home to feel styled and put together but inviting and lived in. I don’t want things too fussy. I want guests to feel comfortable to grab a drink from our fridge, put their cup down on our table without fussing for a coaster, or even put their feet up on our coffee table. ”

To achieve that feeling, Megan carefully curated this space, keeping in mind the needs of her family and friends and giving a nod to trends without tying herself to them. 

“The big thing I wrestled with was picking large furniture pieces that I wouldn’t fall out of love with, quickly. I don’t want the urge to change out my couch, coffee table or dining room table six months from now. I wanted pieces that would grow with our family for years to come. So, we really avoided making impulse buys for the big items. ”

That same mindfulness with the big purchases extends to decor too. At least a handful of items, items you see on a daily basis, should have a story and bring you a sense of nostalgia and joy when you see them. For Megan, an example is the collection of photos in the dining room, which were taken by her sister-in-law Anna when she and her husband, Megan's brother, were road tripping down Route 66.

In the master, Megan has two favorites - any guesses? 

“The Bison photograph above our bed (though, this piece’s final home is our son’s room) was a photograph I took on a family trip to Yellowstone.

Also, our headboard. It was a purchase we bought right after we got married and had moved to NYC. I love that headboard. I love the clean lines, the subtle tufted detail, and the neutral base. It’s a piece I haven’t tired of in nearly 9 years!”

See! There the same photo (not a copy, Megan assures me they just strategically moved it around) is in her son Beckham's room. And the photo in her daughter Waverly's room is another one courtesy of Anna, featuring a carefully organized collection of buttons.

Megan, that's some awesome indoor/outdoor living you have there. What a dream. Thank you for showing us around!

Follow Megan along on Instagram @everydavismoments for more! 

See you next week,