apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Laura was kind to sit down with us and chat about their home, Porridge, decor trends, and what's in store for the future...

Your Style: Spanish style meets modern eclectic.
Inspiration for Your Home: Traveling is a huge inspiration. Lately, we've been traveling to Europe; but this year, we may go to India. I'm so excited--I love that mix of bright colors and patterns.
What About Inspiration for Porridge? I'll get inspired by things I see around the neighborhood. For example, I'll see a napkin at a restaurant with a cool pattern on it, and I'll take a photo of it with my phone; or I'll see a girl wearing a cool vintage skirt, and I'll make a mental note of it and start sketching the minute I get back to the studio. Also, other designers and what they're doing inspires me: Dosa, Paul & Joe, Tracy Reese, Dwell...
Biggest Decor Pet Peeve: Clutter. Luckily, we're on the same page when it comes to that; so we usually do a big clean two or three times a year--we give away books, old clothes, you name it.
On Combining Styles: Thankfully, Jason and I see eye-to-eye on a lot of the decor. However, his tastes definitely lean more towards modern, and I was taking cues from the Spanish style of our home. You can see it in our living room--we've got modern sofas mixed with that rustic armchair and coffee table.
Your Thoughts on Decor Trends?: Well, I thought that the modern trend would taper off, but it hasn't really. I think modern furniture looks really cool, but most of it isn't very comfortable. What I've begun noticing is that some of the modern furniture shops have begun bringing in more eclectic pieces that are comfortable. It's interesting to see how people are mixing these styles together.
Most embarrassing element: The kitchen. When we first moved in the house, we didn't have to do too much...but the kitchen is a sore spot. It's a bit small, and feels disjointed from the rest of the house. Oh, and the front door knob falling out!
What Friends Say About Your Home: That it's their second home.
Proudest DIY: After our honeymoon in Capri, we got inspired to make a bamboo roof for the deck...by ourselves. Well, I can't take all the credit because Jason was the one on the ladder, tying it all down.
Biggest Design Influence: My dad. He had a really funky, eclectic style that embarrassed me when I was young...and now, I realize that I love that element of surprise.
If You Weren't a Designer, You Would Be...:...A makeup artist. It was my first job when I was 15 years old.
Favorite Color Combinations: Browns and neutrals for a base palette...and then I like to add bold colors: a bright lemon yellow, or a teal blue, maybe an orange-red...
Dream Source: We try to hit up the Rose Bowl Swap Meet every month. And when we travel, we'll go to hole-in-the-wall vintage thrift stores and antique shops, like the small mom-and-pop kind of places.
Any Future Plans for Your Home?: We really want to replace the windows in the dining room with bigger ones that go all the way to the floor so it's looking out to the deck--the light would be amazing. Also, we're thinking about knocking out the wall between the kitchen and the dining room to unify those two spaces. And it would be nice to have a bathroom downstairs!
What About Future Plans for Porridge Home?: I'd like to expand and make placemats, napkin sets, and shower curtains. I'd love to do one-off furniture pieces: maybe find a few really cool vintage pieces, restore the wood, and reupholster with Porridge fabric.

Thanks Laura, Jason, and Hazel for letting us in your home! Also, thanks Bethany for arranging all of this!

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