Congratulations, tell us how it feels to have your home featured in City Farmhouse Style?
I am very honored to be a part of Kim Leggett’s “City Farmhouse Style” book. I have always wanted my home to be published. It has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. It started with a bond between my dad and I, over real estate, interior design, and antiques. After Kim let me know my home was being included in her book, my dad was my first phone call.
Have you always been creative and into designing and decorating?
Being creative has been my passion since I can remember, although it took me some time to allow myself to appreciate my creative side. When I met my husband, he helped me believe in myself, and that I could be successful being a creative person. Ballet was an excellent outlet for me, early on, and has been a continued passion of mine as I’ve grown. What I love about how Ballet and Interior Design correlate, are the lines, and how elegant they both can look and feel, revealing their beauty to you. That is how I relate to a space that looks aesthetically pleasing to me. It gives me a feeling of euphoria.
How would you describe your decorating style and design philosophy?
My decorating style is defined by character pieces that tell our story of traveling, our family journey, and also adding the balance of a clean, modern style. I love blending contemporary and traditional styles. I enjoy what the clean feeling of modern lines offer, and the warmth and familiarity of traditional pieces.
Which designers do you love and why?
Kim Leggett has helped me find so many of my storytelling treasures. We instantly bonded over antiques. City Farmhouse pop up shops, is a sea of beautiful decor, furniture, and trinkets. Currently, I am in the middle of a kitchen renovation and started working with Lori Paranjape. Lori’s talent is combining functionality, modern design, and traditional style. She does it beautifully. I follow her Instagram, always watching what she is creating next! Also, I am a big fan of Chad James. Not only does he have a massive talent for interior design, but he also has the heart to match. He currently has a line of furniture that a percentage of each sale goes to The Brett Foundation, a charity that enjoy supporting.
Where else do you look for inspiration on design?
I enjoy looking through magazines like Architectural Digest, Dwell, and one of my favorite local magazine-Sophisticated Living. I also find inspiration in the architecture and designs of different places that I visit while traveling. My ideal way to find inspiration is being able to walk through local properties, which have been recently built or renovated. Last week, I toured a parade home, which Lori Paranjape was the Interior Designer of, and found some great ideas for my future kitchen renovation.
What impression do you hope to have on people when they’re visiting your home for the first time?
When my guests first walk into my home, I want them to feel a sense of warmth and welcoming. That’s very important to me. As they walk in, I want the space to feel inviting and cohesive, and yet the stand out pieces that we have collected in our home to tell a story about our life. I could spend hours talking about my 1940’s piano, or my 300-year-old Grandfather clock… or about one of my favorite pieces that my husband and I purchased in Seattle, and we packed away in a storage bay of his tour bus, to get it home.
Thanks for the great interview! And if you love design, inspiration, and decor tips, follow along via Email Subscription, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/City-Farmhouse-Style-Designs-Country/dp/1419726501
Website: http://www.sweetladijane.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetladijane/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetladijane/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sweetladijane
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sweetladijane/
