“Sometimes losing out on your ‘dream home’ can lead you to the right home!” Carissa exclaims. “After losing out on one that we loved (but was also at the top of our budget), we decided to open up our eyes to other options that we may have overlooked. After searching through listings, I stumbled upon our home pretty quickly. I soon realized that although it was ‘ugly,’ it actually had the bones to be exactly what we wanted. Plus, it was $50k less!”

Carissa explains that the biggest challenge of this house was just how “basic, old, and not well done any of the original changes were from the previous home owners. So for my personal needs, everything needed to be touched eventually. We budgeted for initial renovations when we bought the house, but we still had to figure out where we could work with what we had and where we needed to fully upgrade.”

Carissa also hoped for the house to “be my own art piece to transform,” she admits. “My theory was to hit the areas that most guests will see first, and then slowly work on the other rooms over time. Before we moved in, we started out with just the big things that would be a hassle to live through, so we updated the floors, opened up the kitchen wall into the living room, and upgraded some cosmetic features of our kitchen. From there, we have gone room by room throughout the years, and have even circled back to updating rooms that we already updated. OOPS.” (Apartment Therapy toured her home a few years ago, and you can see those updates!)

Carissa felt a lot of pressure to do something really great with this home’s design. So much so, she says she would second guess herself on nearly every design decision. “But this anxiety ended up stretching my skills to where they are now. With each room, my skills got bigger, better, and bolder. If there was an idea that I wanted to do, out of stubbornness, I got the courage to figure out how to make it happen in my own way, no matter what. A lot of YouTube videos, blog tutorials, help from my dad, and tears of frustration have been a part of our renovation journey. After never even using an electric drill when we started, I can now build full pieces of furniture all on my own, which is kind of crazy to me!”

It’s this courage to not only take on bold designs, but also push herself beyond her comfort zone that makes her both a great designer and teacher. “I also offer design courses and training to help the average homeowner/design lover create a maximalist home that is unique to them, all on their own!” she explains. The most recent design class offering is her Master Your Maximalism Design Challenge, enrolling through May 15th of this year. Carissa explains that enrollees will learn the “foundations of maximalist design and moodboard creation with a special online mini-course, create a moodboard for a room in your own home with personal guidance and feedback from a professional designer (me!), and submit your final board after five weeks for a chance to WIN a $500 Shopping spree to bring your moodboard to life!”

• Living Room – Valspar “Vivid Blue“
• Kitchen Walls – Valspar “Gentle Wind”
• Kitchen Ceiling and Upper Cabinets – Behr “New Age Blue”
• Kitchen Lower Cabinets – Behr – “Pumpkin Cream”
• Kitchen Fluting – Valspar “Apricot Haze”
• Breakfast Nook Black Mural – Valspar “Muskeg Grey”
• Den Pink – Backdrop “Shy Boys”
• Den Ceiling – Backdrop “36 hours in marrakesh”
• Den Purple – Backdrop “Gin Blossoms”
• Den Light Pink – Behr “Moxie
• Desk Colors – Custom colors
• Dining Room Mural Green – Sherwin Williams “Hunt Club”
• Dining Room Mural Dark Pink – Sherwin Williams “Salmon River Run”
• Dining Room Mural Light Pink – Valspar “Honey Suckle Delight”
• Bedroom Red Walls- Behr “Vermilion”
• Bedroom Ceiling – Behr “Green Tea Leaf”
• Bedroom Light Walls – Behr Moxie
• Primary Bath Walls/Doors/Trim – Sherwin Williams “Lichen and Liverwort“
• Primary Bath Vanity – Valspar “Gentle Wind”
• Primary Bath Ceiling- Sherwin Williams “Coastal Plain”
• Backyard Mural Dark Pink – Sherwin Williams “Salmon River Run”
• Backyard Mural Yellow – Sherwin Williams “Bosc Pear”
• Backyard Mural Light Pink – Sherwin Williams “Quaint Peche”
• Backyard Mural Light Blue – Sherwin Williams “Blue Slumber”

• Astrid Tile – Cement Tile Shop
• Icon Peel and Stick Wallpaper – Artemis Home
• Fabric Wrapped Mirror – West Elm
• Sofia Wall Hook – Urban Outfitters
• Table – thrifted
• Pink Bowl – Target
• Brass Candle Sticks – Target
• Brass Bowl – Target
• WENSHUO Chubby Jewelry Tray – Amazon

• Pasargad Home Simona Collection Sofa – Amazon
• Jonathan Adler Carnaby Mykonos Blue Rug – Ruggable
• Tasseled Cushion Cover – HM Home
• Euro Alligator Chenille Fringe Pillow – Target
• Tomorrow 1 Art Print – The Jungalow
• Bench – Vintage, found on Chairish
• Fringe Chandelier – DIY
• Picasso art and Shell Chandelier – Thrifted
• Double Asymmetrical Wall Sconce – Etsy
• Alfred Hitchcock Painting – Claire Tanner Art
• Amrane 28”” Wide Armchair (Set Of 2) – Wayfair
• Stormy Weather Throw Blanket – Taro Snow
• Pink Checkered Bolster Pillow – Wayfair
• Round Pink Ottoman – Amazon
• Terrazzo Round Coffee Table – Pottery Barn
• Black and White Small Glass Vase – H&M
• WENSHUO Three-Legs Ceramic Fruit Bowl – Amazon
• Gradvis Glass Vase – Ikea
• Face Pillow – Burke Décor
• Disco Ball – Party City 
• INGLENIX Ceramic Vase – Amazon
• First of a Kind Modern Round Side Table – Amazon
• Large Round Grey Vase – Target
• Pink Flower Art – Thrifted
• Arch Mirror – Thrifted
• Wood Hand Accent Piece – Viva Terra
• Reindeer – Thrifted
• Painted Guitar – Thrifted and Hand Painted
• Bar Cart – Thrifted
• Tessellated Stone Table – Thrifted
• Bust Statue – Facebook Marketplace
• Vintage Brass Mirror – Facebook Marketplace
• Bloomingville Resin Taper, Black Candle Holder – Amazon

• Bench – Vintage, found on Chairish
• Pink Chairs – Facebook Marketplace
• Rishel S Dining Chair – Wayfair
• Chandelier – Etsy
• Daisy De Villeneuve Art – I Am Fy
• Feel Good Art Print – I Am Fy
• Abstract Coral Printable Print – Etsy
• Large Abstract Minimal Art Circles Print – Etsy
• Dining Table – World Market
• Waterfall Table (painted) – Handed down
• Wicker Plant Stands – Thrifted
• Disco Balls – Party City
• Sun Palm Leaves – Afloral
• Large Patterned Glass Vase – H&M
• Wave Brass Candles – CB2
• Porcelain Serving Bowls – Amazon
• Yellow Curtains – Wayfair
• Isobel Floor Lamp – Urban Outfitters (found on Facebook Marketplace)
• Porcelain Tiger: Thrifted 
• Blue Lamps: Target
• Rug – Target

• Astrid Tile – Cement Tile Shop
• Terrazzo Blush – Cement Tile Shop
• Mcredy Semi Circle Knobs – Amazon
• Surpars House Wall Sconce – Amazon
• CosmoLiving Barstools – Amazon
• Art – Facebook Marketplace
• Jonathan Adler Venom Sapphire Rug – Ruggable
• Art – Thrifted
• Wood Shelves – DIY

• Chairs- Vintage found on @vintage_peonies_tx
• Medium Copper Pendant – Tom Dixon
• Jungalow and Opalhouse Vase – Amazon
• Toby Taper Candle Holder – Urban Outfitters
• Cushion Cover with Tassels – HM Home
• 18” Leger Velvet Pillow – Cb2
• 20” Asterix Geometric Pillow – Cb2
• Bench pad – DIY
• Blue Boy Art – Facebook Marketplace
• Dune Large Stone Pedestal Bowl – Crate and Barrel
• Barra Round Dining Table – Lulu and Georgia
• Abstract Planter Pots (painted) – Jo Ann Fabric and Crafts
• Blue Plates – Home Goods

• Basi Walnut King Bed Frame – Article
• Headboard – DIY
• Nightstands – West Elm
• Scrunch Table Lamp – CB2
• Arch bookcases – DIY
• Clipped Texture Quilt – Threshold™ – Target
• Velvet Comforter – Target
• Opalhouse black and white Pillows – Target
• Heavyweight Linen Blend Comforter Sham – Casaluna™ – Target
• Printable Portrait – Etsy 
• Printable Portrait – Etsy
• Striped Bolster Pillow – Target
• Floria Cowprint Chair – Urban Outfitters
• Stassi Indoor Outdoor NIghtstand – Urban Outfitters
• Harris Wall Sconce Light – Etsy
• Dresser – Vintage from Chairish
• Okooi White Table Lamp – Amazon
• Rattan Bench – Target 
• HEMLOCK & HENNA Art – Minted.com
• Yellow Curtains – Wayfair
• Jac-Dean Performance Yellow/Ivory Rug – Wayfair
• Oblong Oversized Tiger Pillow – Target
• Small Plant Pot with Bubbles – H&M
• Large Patterned Glass Vase – H&M

• Coffee Table – DIY
• Curved Sofa – Facebook Marketplace
• Pink Tufted Bench and Rounded Backs – DIY
• Blue Side Tables – DIY
• Nordic Chairs – AliExpress
• Yellow Fur Pillows- Wayfair
• Jiang Lilac Rug – Wayfair
• Zion Modern Ribbed White Vase- CB2
• Sia Modern Velvet Dining Chair – Overstock
• Holjes Pendant Lamp (spray painted gold) – Ikea
• HEMLOCK & HENNA Art – Minted.com
• Checkerboard Woven Pillow – Urban Outfitters
• Shag Puff Pillow – At Home
• Tufted Wood Pillow Cover – H&M
• Black Out Aruba Curtain – Target
• Bust Sculpture – Facebook Marketplace
• Large Glass Vase – H&M
• Large Stoneware Vase – H&M
• Stoneware Bowl – H&M
• Glass Plant Pot – H&M
• Oval Metal Tray – H&M
• Dina Fluted Glass Vase – CB2
• Padrag Vase- Ikea
• Ibnotuiy Face Flower Vase – Amazon
• White ceramic abstract vase – Amazon
• Anding White Ceramic Vase Lips – Amazon
• Wave Brass Candles – CB2
• Blue Candle Holder – Urban Outfitters
• Checkered Wallpaper – DIY
• Bookcase – DIY Ikea Billy Bookcase Hack
• Ingrid Chandelier – Mitzi

• Terrazzo Blush Tile – Cement Tile Shop
• San Giorgio Brindisi Bianco Porcelain Tile – Floor and Decor
• Vanity – Custom
• Glacier Bay Faucet – The Home Depot
• Features Nude – Murals Wallpaper
• Rug – Vintage found on Ebay
• Portrait of the Postman Art – Art.com
• Gold Frame – Facebook Marketplace
• Pendant Light – West Elm
• Side Table – Target
• Blue Vase – Target
• Mirror – Burke Decor

• Southport Wicker Motion Patio Set – Target
• Watercolor Pillow – West Elm
• Keter Cozy Urban Knit Ottoman Set – Overstock

Thanks Carissa!