Though there’s gorgeous and energetically patterned wallpaper accents sprinkled throughout the home, it’s Diane’s own paintings in and every room that really add color and life to the space. She creates these paintings in a dressing-room-turned-tiny-art-studio. Color can also be found in two other quarantine side gigs: Diane bakes cakes for sale and has been selling tie-dye suits. (If you’re interested in either, she can be reached through her Instagram account!). There’s a lot going on (in a good way) in her home, and with two kids and four animals one can imagine that the home feels and sounds as lively as it looks. Diane says that a friend recently described her house as one of the most most tasteful examples of maximalism he had ever seen. “So let’s call me a tasteful maximalist,” she laughs. “That’s a label I can get behind.”

My Style: My style is whimsy with a touch of the dramatic and a lot of artwork. I really love of a mix of high and low, and I love finding something I covet on sale. I also love areas of interest and filling nooks with things that are eye catching and fun to look at.

Inspiration: Alice in Wonderland meets Grace Coddington by way of a Parisian apartment in spring.

Favorite Element: I love my House of Hackney wallpaper; it’s the purchase that was the most indulgent and most adult.

Biggest Challenge: The house was really a blank slate with great bones and character and it was just about sprucing it all up cosmetically. I installed a chandelier for lots of light and made the outside bird cage into a sort of Moroccan lounge feel. It just needed love and attention and a lot of color. I made the dressing room into my art studio and it turned my bedroom into a little oasis where I can paint and sleep and keep the kids and animals out of any oil paint.

Proudest DIY: I painted the front door a candy pink and the interior a cherry red gloss. Felt like a success I managed while in quarantine with both kids and four animals at home with me!

Biggest indulgence: Outfitting my whole bed in @cozyearthbedding it was an incredible splurge (although they did gift me a set of sheets and made me an ambassador) but I bought the duvet and comforter and extra sheets myself. It literally feels like what I imagine sleeping in a cloud would feel like so, yes, it was worth it.

Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? Turning the dressing area into my art studio has been my favorite switch up in the house and is honestly where I spend most of my time in the house. It’s been an amazing creative space of my own while the kids do Zoom school in their rooms.

What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? Flamingo Estate Sage Muscatel Candle, Royal Albert fine China, Anthropologie vases, House of Hackney wallpapers, Cozy Earth Bedding, LoveShackFancy tablecloths, Cinnamon Projects Incense, dried bouquets from Oat Cinnamon or Urban Stems, and fresh flowers, even just from the market.

Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: Most people are afraid of bright or dark colors in small places but I have found that patterns and boldness actually add a lot of depth and interest to a small space. Even painting the ceiling to match with a trim can make a space seem deep and intimate. I wallpapered the ceiling of my entryway and suddenly it seemed grand and not just a forgotten quick pass-through. Also, little plastic bins from the Container Store in every cabinet and drawer that you can fit them. Life changing for organization. And lastly, don’t be afraid of pockets of colorful “clutter”; it’s homey and tells a story when a place looks lived in.

What’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? Find a site you love and build a ridiculous dream cart and then stalk a sale or coupon. Anthropologie regularly sends out a one-time-use 25% off coupon and I lived for those. If you buy multiples of the same item (like rolls of wallpaper) this kind of discount makes a huge difference. And then just decide what is most special and try to replace the other things with cheaper alternatives. I lusted over an $80 lightbulb that looked like a bunch of blown bubbles stuck together from their site but didn’t pull the trigger until I got a coupon and I paired it with a raccoon lamp I found in the nursery section. Now when you walk into my home, there’s a raccoon holding a bubble wand that illuminates the entry.

• Wallpaper — House of Hackney
• Racoon lamp — Anthropologie
• Bubble bulb — Anthropologie

• House of Hackney Wallpaper — Anthropologie
• Velvet stool — Anthropologie
• Cisco Home couch — Kathy Kuo Home
• Tent — Love Tree Kids Play Tent Castle
• Battery lights inside tent — ZOUTOG Battery Operated String from Amazon
• Shabby chic pillows — Shabby Chic
• Table throw — LoveShackFancy
• Honey comb vases — Anthropologie
• Dried flowers with vase — Urban Stems
• Rug — Anthropologie
• Ridable unicorns — Vroom Rider X Ponycycle Ride-On Unicorn for 4-9 Years Old – Medium 

• Tablecloth — LoveShackFancy
• Miranda Kerr Royal Albert China 15-Piece Tea Set — William Ashley
• Dessert plates — Amazon  
• Chinoiserie vase — Anthropologie
• Dried flowers — @oatcinnamon
• Chairs — Anthropologie
• Bar stools — Similar style, from Serene and Lily
• Alex Prager photograph — Alex Prager Studio
• Dave Pollot painting — Dave Pollot Oil on Thrift Art
• Chandelier — Similar – Lemanski 24-Light Sputnik Sphere Chandelier

• Smeg coffee maker — Verishop
• Smeg toaster — Williams-Sonoma
• Microwave — Lowes
• Sno cone machine — Macys
• Dried flower bouquet — Anthropologie
• Always Pan by Our Place — From Our Place

• Bunk bed — Similar from Pottery Barn Kids
• Rug — nuLOOM Tammara Hand Braided Square Rug
• Bedding — Jungle Tiger Complete Bedding Set by Drew Barrymore Flower Kids from Walmart

• Loft bed — Pottery Barn Teens
• Window bench — STUVA / FRITIDS Bench with toy storage from IKEA
• Quilt as cushion — Shabby Chic
• Shabby chic pillow — Similar print from Shabby Chic
• Curtains — Anthropologie
• Hallway Wallpaper — Anthropologie

• All artwork by Diane Gaeta; DM for info and commissions
• Candle — Flamingo Estate
• Bedding — All Cozy Earth
• Love pillow — LoveShackFancy
• Mattress — Tempurpedic Cloud Luxe
• Frame — MALM High bed frame/4 storage boxes — IKEA (Tip: splurge on the mattress and bedding and save on the bed frame.)
• Curtains — Anthropologie (Tip — prefab curtains (like those from Anthropologie) are massively cheaper than a custom curtain service and just as lovely. Just make sure to measure correctly and don’t forget your tie backs!)

• Sofa — Anthropologie
• Wire chairs — Similar style from Overstock
• Linoleum style vinyl floor cloth — Similar style from Rugs Direct
• Ceramic bird house — Similar style from Overstock
• Umbrella — Business and Pleasure Co
• Gold outdoor table — Target

Thanks Diane!

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