Monica is proud to say that 90 percent of the furniture and decor elements in their home are thrifted pieces they have collected over the years. She is a big advocate for sustainable living and almost always shops secondhand. “We try really hard to find things that are reused or sustainable. When you look for secondhand, you often have to collect items first, and then find places for them. It’s also fun to think about how the pieces played a part in so many other people’s lives around the world as we have collected. I think it brings a great energy to our home.” 

Their home consists of a living room, a small kitchen, a dining area, a DIYed office space, an outdoor terrace, one bathroom, a walk-in wardrobe, and a master bedroom with a gorgeous bay window. 

My Style: Sustainable, Bohemian, and Eclectic

Inspiration: Wes Anderson, Domino Mag, Lonny Mag, thrifting, estate sales, vintage design books, Pinterest and Instagram

Favorite Element: The reading nook in our bedroom vestibule is my fave although Jordi’s inspired built-in desk between the patio entry and living room is pretty amazing too… Also, PLANTS.

Biggest Challenge: Space for storing things! I have a big collection of vintage kitchenware and vintage clothes. Finding ways to store it and enjoy it is hard. I think we did a great job with vitrines, bookshelves, and armoires that allow the pieces to be seen and inspire us to cook with and use them to eat and (hopefully very soon, once COVID vaccines are in place) entertain with!

Proudest DIY: For sure the office space Jordi designed. We pride ourselves on reusing anything we can, and he used an old desk he saved to make something eco-friendly and truly original and functional.

Biggest Indulgence: For us, we don’t usually spend a lot on things, and I think we work really hard to find things that are sustainable and/or secondhand. We purchased a gray bench and four dining room chairs from a small boutique in our neighborhood that were indeed new items. We felt since the small store was struggling and had a pop-up for the holidays to stay afloat, and we both truly loved the items, it was well worth it to support a local store during the COVID closures. It was slightly more than we would normally spend, and also new, and that for us feels like an indulgence more than spending sometimes.

Is there something unique about your home, or the way you use it? Our entryway armoire doubles as storage for towels and sheets along with office items and miscellaneous storage. I also collect vintage bowls, baskets, cute cups… anything I can use for organizing, I grab it. I use bigger vintage bowls and baskets for planters and Jordi and I grab them and use them as a cute way to stash everything from daily vitamins and meds to dog treats in easy access places.

What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? This is so hard. I think, though, it’s the vintage art. I don’t have items that cost thousands of dollars or that we got in galleries. It’s stuff we stumbled upon and bought secondhand, but that speak to us. We use a lot of the vintage knick-knacks and statues, pottery, baskets, and bowls to decorate, too. It’s fun to think about how the pieces played a part in so many other people’s lives around the world as we have collected. I think it brings a great energy to our home.

Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have. I always try to think upwards. It sounds obvious but adding shelves, tall furniture, or lighting can really make a difference. I am also obsessed with bowls, cups, baskets… any type of vintage vessel that can be used to organize and store random papers, keys, make-up, food. I collect them and use them for everything. Buy them if you like them, you will find a use!

What’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? I think the best advice I can give is, if you want to create a space that is unique, inspiring, and fits your family, add things that are meaningful. We have little items tucked away in our home that remind us of happy moments in our past: A drawing from a trip to Belgium where a stranger at a bar drew types of beer glasses for Jordi, a pool ball nestled into the office space organizer from Jordi’s younger years sits in the kitchen, a few of my childhood horseback riding ribbons and a big jug of maple syrup from my home state of Michigan appear in our food dispensary and laundry room. It’s so fun to have those little reminders daily of a life so well-lived. We add new touches as we go!

Dream Sources: Estate sales, antique markets, garage sales, Everything But The House, Facebook Marketplace, etc.

• Blue dresser — Alameda Flea Market (San Francisco Bay Area), similar on Chairish
• Wooden chair — Value World Thrift Store, similar on Etsy
• Small baskets — Value World Thrift Store, similar on Etsy
• Area rug — Found in Street in San Francisco, similar on Etsy
• Wicker basket — Estate Sale,  similar on Etsy
• Umbrella holder — Muy Mucho, similar found here

• Table — Columpiu
• Chairs — Purchased at temporary local boutique pop-up shop
• Sideboard — Wallapop, similar on Chairish
• White Lamp — Estate sale, similar on Chairish
• Ceiling Lamp — Gift from electrician 🙂 (He keeps things that his customers no longer want and gives to new ones if they like them)
• Vintage Turkish area rug — Turkish Rug Silk Road – Etsy
• Turquoise wire rack — Elepe, similar on Chairish

• Spice rack — Value World, similar on Etsy 
• Oil pourer — Boutique in El Born
• Cilantro mug — Value World Thrift, Similar on Etsy

• Sofa — Grace Center of Hope Thrift Store
• Yellow Antigua pillow — Archive New York
• Grey & Black/White Pillows —  Ikea 
• Tie-dye, wool beige & orange woven pillows — Value World Thrift, similar on Chairish 
• Light gray bench — Purchased mine at temporary pop-up boutique shop 
• Folding stool — Rooster by Dirt Road
• Low side table — Odd Fellows Antiques, same on TheRealReal
• Tall side table — Encants Antique Market, similar on Etsy
• Black and gold table lamp — Estate Sale, similar on Charish
• Coffee table — Barcelona Poblenou Thift Store,  similar on Chairish
• Beige lamp — Barcelona Poblenou Thrift Store, similar on Chairish
• Pink lamp — Estate Sale, similar on Chairish
• Black table — Grace Centers of Hope Thrift, similar on Chairish
• Area rug by Artisan de Luxe — Facebook Marketplace, similar on Wayfair
• Yellow hanging shelf — Antique Shop, similar on Chairish
• Ceiling lamp — Wallapop, similar on Wayfair
• Triangular tables — Estate Sale, similar on Chairish
• Rattan pouf — Jaime Bereistain Shop (now closed), similar on Wayfair
• Gallery wall art — SOOOO Many different places! 

• Ceiling lamp — Jordi’s great grandfather’s Iron Shop from late 1800’s, Similar on Overstock
• Desk — DIYed by Jordi. He bought the desktop 15 years ago at a local woodshop, and re-worked it to fit into the space. 
• Chair — Found in street, similar on Chairish
• Distressed cabinet — Wallapop, similar on Chairish
• Table lamp — Similar on Amazon

• Bedside tables — Estate sale
• Bedside lamps — Encants Antique Market, similar on Etsy
• Wall-mounted candleholders — Value World Thrift, similar on Etsy
• Painting — El Rastro Antique Market Madrid, similar on Etsy
• Green plant holder — Estate Sale 
• Armoire — Wallapop, Similar on Chairish
• Barcelona Chair (In bay window) — EBTH, similar on Chairish
• Red/White Striped Antigua Pillow — Archive New York
• Small area rug — Royal Oak Antique Market
• White side table — Grace Centers of Hope, similar found here and here 

• White swing — Alameda Flea Market, similar on Chairish
• Two white chairs — Alameda Flea Market, similar on Chairish
• Small table — Estate Sale, similar on Chairish

Thanks, Monica and Jordi!

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