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If you couldn't tell from my recent dispatches (heavy on home goods, suspiciously light on fabulous fashion finds), I am currently consumed in making my once-half-flipped millennial gray house feel like a Trash Head kind of home.
Summer is beginning its slow (or is it fast?) descent into September (sorry to you summer lovers, who loathe to be reminded of this) and I have every intention of embracing hygge this cozy season as I enter my third year as a Midwesterner.
The downside of refusing to buy overpriced veneer furniture masquerading as “timeless” heirlooms is that two years into living here, there are still rooms that feel empty and a little sad. Corners full of weird little tchotchkes waiting for the right place to land, shelves that know they're missing something, even if I don't yet know what it is.
It is an exercise in delayed gratification and oh boy, is it hard!!!
The upside is that very little in my house is linkable. There isn't an Amazon storefront dupe for my living room shelves or a viral West Elm collaboration sponsored ad for my bedroom furniture — almost everything in here has arrived via a weird Facebook marketplace interaction, scrolling 1000 pages on eBay, roaming a small town antique mall, or finding a small business tradesperson willing to make something for me. It feels distinctly ME and truly one-of-a-kind, which makes the wait feel worth it.
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I consume a decent amount of design media.
World of Interiors, Cultured‘s new At Home, Domino Magazine’s Substack, Home Front, and more Architectural Digest Open Door tours than I care to quantify. They’re seductive! sexy! alluring! because they offer the fantasy that good taste is simply a matter of assembling the right objects. How simple!
Yet having worked in celebrity styling, I'm a little less susceptible to that illusion than I once was. I know how much editing goes into creating an aspirational image, whether it's a wardrobe or a living room. The homes in these tours are often styled specifically for the shoot, filled out with borrowed pieces or adjusted to tell a more coherent visual story than the vibrant chaos of everyday life usually allows, making us believe that you can simply acquire the vibes, rather than having to do the work to actually develop your personal taste.
Whenever I find myself on “Interior Design Tok” I am overwhelmed by the amount of people willing to furnish their entire homes around a Nancy-Meyers-collected-cottage-90s-cozy-home aesthetic rather than listening to their own instincts. It might look “nice” but it feels sterile and lifeless, even through my phone screen.
The best rooms have a pulse! They’re alive and breathing! They reveal the peculiarities of the people who live there! They’re filled with objects that earned their place rather than fulfilled a mood board.
You can admire a designer’s eye or a specific aesthetic without photocopying their entire house!!!!!!!
Here, I’ll show you.
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Let’s imagine Architectural Digest just knocked on your door and asked for a tour.
Here are three interior designers whose work I return to constantly and how I’d translate their worlds through my own lens, using vintage finds and secondhand treasures that feel special, unique, wonderful, and weird — perfect for my own personal universe.
And because we love to complete the fantasy, I’ve also included some fashion finds à la The RealReal so you’re ready for your celebrity close-up.
Let’s get into it.
PIERCE AND WARD
If Nancy Meyers traded New England for Laurel Canyon, the result might look something like Pierce & Ward.
Founded by Los Angeles-based Emily Ward and Louisa Pierce, the design studio has become known for interiors that feel deeply collected rather than carefully decorated—rooms layered with antiques, vintage finds, rich patterns, worn-in textures, and a touch of Americana folk. Their spaces feel particular and curated but are rich in lived-in warmth.
search terms to play around with: american primitive, american folk art, tramp art, original oil painting, arts and crafts style, rattan, wicker, woven, burl wood, art deco
THE FINDS
ROW 1:
original oil portrait of a woman ($200)
these colors! her smile! her bright cheongsam! i love amateur art and think it says a lot about the owner on what they gravitate towards in colors, themes, and skill level1960s rattan swivel tabletop mirror ($160)
for your bedroom vanityornate carved wooden arts and crafts wall cabinet ($245)
needs a little love but nothing a day with some wood filler can’t fix
ROW 2:
tortoise brown blown glass swirl ice bucket ($100)
the swirl handle is so good!1930s french cottage floral wallpaper (3.3 yards, $285)
for a pop of fun inside a bar cabinet? coffee bar closet? tiny laundry room?shanghai handicrafts black rattan cat basket ($98)
a real functioning basket (its head pops off lol)
ROW 3:
vintage 1800s tramp art wood mirror ($125!!!)
it’s been repaired in one spot but this price is good!!! it’s 11x13(ish)1920s arts and crafts hammered brass pendant light ($450)
this is from my local architectural salvage, which ships! they take great care in restoration and have really fair pricing — i’ve purchased quite a few things for my home from them!vintage brass alexander the great greek bottle opener ($10.50)
i see these on fancy pants designer vintage sites all the time for like, $100 when they’re just a cutie little simple souvenir
ROW 4:
art deco ceramic drip glaze pitcher ($30)
your trader joe’s flower arrangement never looked so prettyemerald green martini glasses (set of four, $52.98)
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WEAR THIS
The Pierce and Ward girly pop feels flirty and feminine to me. She loves pattern and doesn’t shy away from color, but she prefers pieces that live in a rich, romantic kind of color palette.
ROW 1:
zimmerman white layered skirt set (fem xs, $366)
doen gold cage heels (fem 8, $325)
tory burch floral print pant set (fem m, $212)
this is so fun for tory
ROW 2:
valentino animal print jacket (fem m, $717.50)
expensive but better than paying Blazy Chanel prices… you could even have a tailor add some insane metallic trim to this to exude the same vibes…kenneth jay lane wood drop earrings ($59.50)
ROW 3:
lizzie fortunato resin bangles (tortoise, $115) (blue, $195)
chloe green silk blouse (fem m, $241.50)
golden goose black slip-on boots (size 6, $297)
golden goose hater for life but these boots are good! these are waiting for your hipster ass to wear them until they fall apart!
BEATA HEUMAN
Beata Heuman's rooms are proof that “eclectic” doesn't have to feel gauche and that more is more is more is more is often the move.
The Swedish-born, London-based designer mixes classic English decorating with bold color, unexpected pattern, quirky antiques, and custom one-of-a-kind artisan details that somehow feel both wildly whimsical and incredibly sophisticated. Nothing is overly matched or too perfect, every room has a wild kind of eccentric confidence.
search terms to play around with: murano glass, swirl glass, folk art, primitive art, woven, lacquer, studio pottery, josef frank, vintage textiles, vintage coverlet
THE FINDS
ROW 1:
vintage millinery paper maché mannequin head ($109.18 on sale)
for the entry table because she wants to make a first impression on your guestsvintage striped murano glass wall sconce light ($399.99) (confetti glass alts here)
a truly unique little accent light
ROW 2:
fostoria iridescent glass swirl drinking glasses (set of 4, $98) (honorable mention here)
last time i visited LA i went into a designer store selling a set of 6 of these for $475….feliciano byan figures art ($275)
by Mexican artist Feliciano Byan - SO FUN AND WONDERFULLY STRANGEshanghai handicraft woven nesting duck set ($105) (honorable mention to this adorable owl with crooked eyes)
ROW 3:
vintage woven round rattan light fixture ($84.99, two available!)
FUNgreen moroccan pedestal bowl ($175)
ROW 4:
black art deco floral rug (8x10, $5749.99) (a much more affordable NEW option here that is more worth your money than anything at target or home goods)
josef frank botanical textile (3.25 yards, $1755, ships from New Zealand) (a pillow that gives this vibe, here)
very rare josef frank print, just waiting for you to upholster an ottoman with it
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WEAR THIS
If you're drawn to Beata's design aesthetic, you likely believe "the limit does not exist"—including when it comes to mixing patterns and colors in your own wardrobe. Layers and texture are a must!
ROW 1:
aje floral dress (fem l, $261.25)
an interesting take on a floral print and a very fun silhouettevalentino yellow polka dot blouse (fem m, $375)
ROW 2:
loewe crystal beaded floral heels (fem 5, $521.50)
good good price
ROW 3:
sacai knit striped sweater (fem m, $565.25)
i love this color combo — the pop of sea foam green is a delightmarc jacobs blue mini dress (fem m, $380)
khaite animal print wide leg pants (fem m, $445)
the beata girl knows animal print = neutral
REATH DESIGN
Saving my absolute favorite for last, Los Angeles-based Frances Merrill of Reath Design.
Her rooms aren't built around a single aesthetic or theme so much as an approach to a very in-depth, imaginative color story and interpreting the sentiments of the building or space. She embraces textiles, patterns, and proportions in a way that feels indulgent and decadent yet also loose and casual and bohemian.
I am constantly returning to her work for inspiration and a new approach to experiencing color and texture in a room.
search terms to play around with: art nouveau, arts and crafts, gothic revival, spanish revival, bulgarian drip glaze, splatterware, tramp art, art deco, chinese art deco, chinoiserie, kantha
THE FINDS
ROW 1:
1920s art nouveau painted pendant light ($95!)
shipping is a little steep, which i assume is due to this being so fragile, but similar lights are often much, much, more — this is asking for an entryway, powder bath, tiny nook home!1950s original kodachrome slide of bridal party ($7.99)
what an incredible photo, i love the lighting - have this scanned and printed! Reath is always doing interesting things with big, bold photography and i imagine this hanging somewhere unexpectedbulgarian drip glaze pottery plates (set of four, $129.99)
ROW 2:
1920s hand painted floral wallpaper (1.4 yards, $155)
these colors 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 - i would consider even framing this as art!!! top mounted over some linen or something1800s tramp art wooden wall frame ($149)
very good shape and price for its age and comes without a haunted photo in it — huge bonus
ROW 3:
vintage chinese art deco rug (4' x 5'9", $1295, seller accepts offers)
i have a personal weakness for antique chinese art deco rugs, which is terrible for my wallet since they are incredibly pricey — don’t sleep on buying rugs from eBay! many sellers accept offers, discount shipping, and have pre-cleaned their inventoryfloral jardiniere planter ($149)
ROW 4:
moroccan pierced brass table lamp ($599) (a fun sconce alternative here)
if you ever go to Bar Stella in LA, you’ll recognize this as the lamps on the bar top are very similar — this price is pretty solid (shipping is a little steep) for what i usually see them go for at antique malls ($1000+) (you’ll want to rewire this one)arts and crafts walnut table ($124.49)
this is small, 18” tall by 13” but it’s VERY coolred floral kantha blanket ($35+, ships from India)
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WEAR THIS
The Reath lover approaches getting dressed by mixing something severe with something eccentric. A wild brocade with a sumptuous cashmere sweater, a gothic, dark floral with a rich pony hair pump — she’s a little goth, but she loves color.
ROW 1:
prada black woven lace up shoes (size 8, $369)
rodarte spiderweb knit sweater (fem s, $238)
the true meaning of the word “iconic” to a very millennial me who LOVED this rodarte collection
ROW 2:
acne studios floral silk long dress (fem s, $282.50)
good spooky floral!prada green brocade print pants (fem m, $441.75)
ROW 3:
zankov gold metallic cardigan (fem xs, $237)
bottega veneta purple ponyhair pumps (fem 7.5, $245, never worn!)
so so witchy and delicious and delightfulvalentino black pant suit (fem m, $255)
gotta love a good power suit
And some extra one-of-a-kind finds for paid subscribers….
Well, there ya have it.
Isn’t it crazy all of this is vintage and secondhand? Proof there’s so much out there awaiting a new chapter of life with you that you’ll never find scrolling TikTok shop or clinging to an influencer haul!!!
Now go forth and find something fun for your house!
Until next time,
xo,
G
Really enjoyed this! Having made two international moves in the past 10 years I truly believe in only buying things that resonate with you! Love Beata Heuman’s use of color and print-she’s so good at filling a space but keeping it from feeling heavy. A California interior design company that you might already know that is also great is Commune Design!
This is great, can we have a sequel (and then some)??