Last month I had the honor of being featured on householdmag.com for own home and style. Hailey the curator and author of Household Mag has become quite a good friend that I hope to meet someday! She asked me some thought provoking questions about where I’m from and how I developed a sense of home and style with my own family of four. I loved this interview so much that I’m sharing it here as well. Hopefully it will help you know me more and help you identify your own style and create an interior space that makes your soul feel happy and rested.
How long have you lived in the area and this particular home? What made you choose Southern California?
We’ve lived in our home for about 3 years. We built it when Waylon our 5 year old was two years old. We love Southern California because it suits our beach lifestyle perfectly and the area we live in is very laid-back and full of families, makers, creators and surfers. Sam, my husband, grew up here so the roots are deep and we live on the same street at his parents so the built in babysitters are pretty awesome!
Where did you live before hand?
I grew up in the Bay Area in small town called Discovery Bay. I traded farm lands for the ocean!
What helps you establish a sense of home (material and nonmaterial)?
Oh such a good question…Material wise I would say have items old and new that represent you and the things you love helps me feel at home in our house the most. I’ve gone through phases where I decorated by following trends and forgoing things I really loved…it wasn’t until I combined mine and my husbands interests that I felt like our home was “us”…and that took awhile. After we got married I actually made my husband take the surfboard down that hung over his bed because I thought it looks to mannish but then a few years later it hit me that his surfboards are really beautiful and that hanging one above our bed would look like a cool art piece. It has meaning because of all the awesome surf sessions Sam has had with it and it reminds me of moments on the beach with my boys. In a non-material sense I feel most at home when we are hosting loved ones…it’s moments like that that make me so happy to have a house to make memories in with others.
Who lives with you in your space? Do you host a lot of visitors or entertain frequently?
My husband Sam and our two boys Waylon (5) and Ezekiel (2). Yes! I’m an extrovert and Sam’s an introverted extrovert ha ha so I have to be careful to not overbook our time together but I love hosting visitors and having friends over for dinner or coffee or impromptu playdates. We purposely changed my office into a guest bedroom so that my parents can come and stay comfortably.
What activity do you enjoy at home over any other place?
Drinking a glass of wine while watching the sunset over the Pacific…we lucked out when we found a lot with an ocean view….that or watching my kids play while I drink coffee in the morning.
Is there anything that helps you feel at home when you’re away on vacation?
Staying grounded and true to myself by reading a devotional or something inspirational like what I would normally read at home and then I journal about it. Keeping some of the same routines while away that I would normally do at home helps you feel comfortable everywhere.
After some time away from home what do you crave most about your space?
My bed and my kid’s toys ha ha.
What’s one thing you’re the most proud of about your home? Is there anything you’d change if you could?
I’m very proud of the fact that we built our home but I still would change a few things like light fixtures, facets and new bathroom sinks…. Oh and some day I will have a clawfoot tub! When we first designed our home we were a lot younger and on a very limited budget so I often see things now and think ah I wish we chose copper over silver but then I remind myself how great our space is and I love it for what it is and have fun dreaming of future projects.
What’s your definition of home?
Feeling loved and being filled with that love so you can pour it out to others.
Shop our home style:
Our bed, the boys bunk beds, rugs, arm chairs, and lamp are from Living Spaces.
Table and chairs are from Walker Edison Furniture. Toy Cushions: Nugget
Boys bedspreads are from IKEA.
Our Bedspread is from Anthropologie.
Pillows on couch are from Mae Woven.
Coach is from Article.
Hand-painted pot from Design Twins.
Pot and stand with cactus is from Modernica.
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