Lee Mayer - Design the Home You Love: Practical Styling Advice to Make the Most of Your Space

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, we want to thank the entire team at Havenly. Countless people put time and effort into helping us pull this book together, and many ideas and learnings in the book were derived from insights developed by our incredibly talented team. In particular wed like to thank Heather Goerzen, who tirelessly shaped the imagery on these pages, and Shelby Girard, our very first designer and our design guru for life, who taught us so many of the things we know about design. We feel honored to be able to curate their collective wisdom and bring it to the world here. Wed also like to give a shout out to Veronica Collins (our very own Veronicalligator), who taught us so much about how content works hand in hand with our brand, and whose energy contributed so much to this effort.

Wed be remiss if we both didnt thank our families, particularly our Dad, Asok Motayed, for teaching us a love of reading and writing, and our Mom, Saswati Motayed, for first introducing us to the world of home design. Wed also like to send love to our respective husbands, Jason and Chase, who support us in everything we do, and dont even seem to mind when were up in the middle of the night doing edits.

This book would never have happened if Kristyn Benton at ICM hadnt found us, encouraged us and held our hands every step of the way. Last, but not least, a huge thanks to Dervla Kelly, Lizzie Allen, Lauren Kretzschmar, Andrea Portanova, Dan Myers and the rest of the fantastic team at Ten Speed/Penguin Random House, were grateful to have a phenomenal crew of talented people supporting us, without whom we would never have seen this come to life.

Lee & Emily

FREQUENTLY ASKED DESIGN QUESTIONS

I HAVE ALL THE BIG PIECES, BUT MY HOME DOESNT FEEL DONE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

First, congratulations on getting most of your big pieces rightthats a great place to start. But just like any outfit, your home wont feel done until its fully accessorized.

Heres what Id suggest: make sure you actually do have all the foundational pieces you need. Did you buy a rug? Accent chairs or tables? Storage? Do you have layered lighting? If not, make sure that you have all the key components to making your room fully designed.

Avoid the matchy-matchy. If you made the mistake of buying items that are only one-note in color or style, thats okay, you just have to mix things up a bit. In a living room that has too many items in the same shade of blue, try adding pops of black or green, and varying your shades of blue to create contrast. If youve got things that feel too much in the same style note, bring in complementary but thoughtfully curated pieces to create a more done feeling.

Accessorize. Look at the small thingscan you add in more decorative elements? I love bringing in plants to elevate a space. Make sure you style the tabletops, nightstands and consoles with combinations of coffee-table books and curated objets dart.

Find art. Fill up those wallsblank ones will always feel a little incomplete unless its highly intentional, and in keeping with a minimalist look.

I HAVE A BIG BLANK WALL THAT IS JUST SO BLANK, PLEASE HELP!

Okay, this is the fun part. You can really do whatever you want. There are so many options, but Ill list some of my favorites here:

Large-scale art. Find a statement art piece that you love. Art at this scale can be expensive, so consider investing in something that really speaks to you. A few dramatic art pieces can really make a difference in a room. I actually love the look of adding a large piece of art that really complements the room, and then adding a gallery light above the piece for an added emphasis, a bit of a layering, and a touch of elegance.

Gallery walls. Gallery walls continue to be popular, and why shouldnt they be? They are an excellent way to cover space and curate an interesting collection that represents you. Dont be afraid to mix and match frames, art, and other objects to create a look that feels collected but cohesive.

Wallpaper. Add fun wallpaper to bring in some variety. This is especially useful in rooms that dont get used a ton (guest bedrooms, bathrooms), so you wont get sick of the pattern but can go a little bit more spicy than the rest of the house.

Shelving. If your wall is in a space where you might need storage, consider shelving or bookcases. For example, I had a big blank wall in my kitchen, and I bought some wood shelves to display dinnerware. In a living room or study, bookcases can do the trick and also add opportunity to display interesting objects and your favorite books.

SHOULD I BUY THINGS FROM A MATCHING SET?

No. I know a lot of retailers like to run combo sales, and buying a matching set is relatively easy and thus incredibly tempting. But whether its a bedroom set or outdoor furniture set, just. dont. do. it.

But maybe you already have things from a matching set. Its okay, you can fix this by moving things between rooms or adding in complementary but not fully matching items. For example, if you bought a matching bedroom set, consider moving your nightstands to a guest bedroom and moving the dresser into the kids playroom.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE INDOOR PLANTS FOR MY SPACE?

Theres nothing like greenery to brighten up a home. Here are some of our favorites:

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Can a tree have an it moment? If so, the plant thats really basking in the proverbial Instagram sun is the fiddle leaf fig. With a tall trunk and large and dramatic leaves, this is an elegant option for any well-lit room. This plant needs a lot of sun and weekly watering, so it can still be a little more fickle than other indoor plants. Give it a bit of love, and youll find it pays back in spades.

Olive Tree

I wont lie, Im obsessed with my olive tree, even though it doesnt bear fruit indoors. I think its a tree that adds some color to my neutral dining room without overpowering the space. The ancient olive tree is from the Mediterranean, so it does well indoors, even in drier climates, like Denver, where I live so you dont have to water too frequently.

Rubber Plant

I have rubber plants scattered throughout my house because theyre both easy to maintain and lovely to look at, with thick waxy leaves and substantial vertical growth. Rubber plants do also require bright natural light, but they can survive without a lot of water, so if you sometimes forget to water (like me), its a perfect option.

Bird of Paradise

This tall tropical-looking plant can add a bit of drama to any indoor space. I love the bird of paradise because it reminds me of the banana trees I encountered during my childhood trips to India. Outdoors, these plants bloom with bright wild-looking flowers, but indoors, the plant grows tall with beautiful foliage. These plants are native to tropical regions, so will need constant care to keep the soil and environment moist to grow appropriately.

Snake Tree (Sansevieria)

These plants, with their upright sword- or tongue-like leaves, are extremely easy to care for, and would actually work in low-light situations too. In planters, they make a versatile plant that can top off a dresser, but they also brighten up an unused corner.

WHATS THE BIGGEST DESIGN FAUX PAS THAT OTHERWISE STYLISH PEOPLE MAKE?

Honestly, I hate to call anything a faux pas, because if something really works for you, well, you do you. However, there are mistakes that I see in otherwise adorable rooms that sort of hurt my heart because theyre simple to fix, but the mistakes really take away from the feel of the room. Once you learn about them, its hard to not notice them and want to fix them. Here is a list of some of the most frequent little design mistakes we see: