House Tour-Rachel

Name: Rachel
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Square Footage: 2900
Years Lived in: 3 months(!)
Rent or own: own
Describe your style: Whimsical Traditional

What's your favorite free/found item?
My favorite free item would probably have to be my Grandmother's china cabinet that I inherited a few years ago. It also came with a matching buffet. I love not only the style, but also the fact that it came from my Grandmother's house. I have a lot of childhood memories associated with them. They were originally a stained wood; in the 60s or 70s, my aunt got ahold of them and painted them avocado green. And green they remain today!


What's your favorite purchased item?
Oooh, where to begin? I don't know if I could pick one thing. I really love our Williams-Sonoma Home upholstered headboard (the Newport style). I fell madly in love with it in the catalog, and we finally went and checked it out in person when we were in LA last summer. I know that we'll love it forever.

What has been your biggest obstacle in decorating/design?
I think having champagne taste on a beer budget is an obstacle for everyone. I seem to have a knack for picking out the most expensive thing in the store/magazine/etc. I really don't like to pay full price for things, so the obstacle is tracking down what I want, but finding it at a deal.


Is your design style organic or planned?
Probably a little mix of both. I believe in surrounding yourself with things that you love. Sometimes you spontaneously see that one thing somewhere, and it's like, "Wow! I've got to have it!" But I also find that my design is improved when I take the time to cull together various images, colors, and inspiration pieces and make a great big mood board. It helps me to focus on the style that I really want to be. Otherwise, I could definitely get lost and overwhelmed.

What is your favorite spot in the house?
Either the kitchen or my son's playroom. Both spaces are just so cheerful!


How has your style changed in the past 5 years?
I've definitely evolved from a contemporary aesthetic to a more traditional vibe. Five years ago, I was in college, and my apartment was a mishmash of all kinds of things. Lots of bad art school paintings and Ikea furniture.

What is your favorite resource or store?
I love Pottery Barn lately, for all their bright colors, etc. But eBay and local antique stores are so much fun -- it's all about the thrill of the hunt!


What is your biggest decorating/design pet peeve?
Beige walls everywhere. Soooo boring! Also, the big trend here is what we jokingly refer to as the "Ye Olde Worlde Style" : lots of overstuffed, over-scale furniture in heavy fabrics. It's just not my style, but it's over-prevalent here. I'd like to see a variety of styles, just for the fun of it.

What in your home dictates how you design/decorate?
Currently, the biggest dictator of design in our home is my son, Jude, who will be 1 in October. Childproofing is a big deal these days! But my goal is to create a home that is child-friendly, but not necessarily child-centric. I believe that we can have a pretty, well-designed home, but still have a good time without reverting to primary colors and ugly kid stuff. I really believe in form and function: I want something to be beautiful and functional. Unfortunately, a lot of baby and child products are just functional, and flat-out ugly!



What is the simplest thing you have done that has made the biggest impact?
In my mind, a gallon of paint is the easiest way to make the biggest impact. I haven't gotten terribly far in this venture yet, but I've made a start by painting my son's playroom, as well as one of our bathrooms and my office. Color is such an easy way to unite rooms, as well as brighten an otherwise dull or uninteresting space. Eventually, I would like to paint our bedroom as well as the living room. All in good time!

Be sure to check out Rachel's blog!