A World Traveler Transformed This 1970s Townhouse into a “Buffet of Boho”
A World Traveler Transformed This 1970s Townhouse into a “Buffet of Boho”
Ericka Mills‘ home is a two-story, 1970s townhouse condo that she moved back to a year-and-a-half ago after renting it out for seven years while she lived abroad, and says that the home needed work before she could move back in. “I rose to the challenge and day-by-day for the past year-and-a-half, I have hustled to transform each room into a vibe that reflects the style I love most: bohemian,” Mills, who founded E.A.M Interiors, writes. “I set out to make each room a different take on bohemian, with my master bedroom being the most traditional, the guest room leaning towards Afro-centric, tribal influences, and my office being slightly more maximalist.”
“Being a graphic designer, I am also a very detail-oriented person and I put extra thought into each piece of decor in relation to the whole scheme of the room. In my guest room, for example, I started with the diamond and triangular shapes in the African mudcloth fabric as inspiration, which guided me towards my decisions for the color palette, bedding, rug and decor. Even my little giraffe on the shelf has triangles all over it!”
Apartment Therapy Survey
Tell us a little about your home and the people who live there: I identify as a creative, eccentric, empowered woman with an affinity for worldly objects and I definitely think it is reflected in my home. I gravitate towards natural colors and bold hues. You will find sandy oranges like the Moroccan desert and lush greens like the valleys of Bali, but most of my artwork features women and the use of bold contrasting colors. Brass, wooden and woven textures are evident all over my home as my favorite accents.
Describe your home’s style in five words or fewer: A buffet of boho.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I am a woman with many interests and, in addition to boho, I absolutely adore the opulence of the Art Deco style, so I had to create a moment for it somewhere in my home. My dining room already featured vibrant royal blue walls with sophisticated picture frame molding, brass accents, and a geometric print rug. One of my last refurbishing projects was turning an old cabinet into the perfect Art Deco-style bar, and the last thing I bought for my home was canvas art from Etsy to add above the bar. The art shows a moody, gold and blue-toned bar setting that I think really helps solidify my small bar area into the Art Deco era without overdoing it.
What’s your best decorating, shopping, cleaning, or organizing advice? My biggest word of advice is to think about the mood you want to feel every time you step into your space and the colors you associate with that mood. Don’t be shy to pull out a paper and pen whenever a word comes to mind that reflects that mood. Whether it’s relaxing, transportive, nostalgic, energetic, etc., once you think of how you want to feel, all the other pieces you get will help to accentuate that because every time you pick something up you can ask yourself, “Will this help my room feel even more ____ if I buy this?”
Thanks, Ericka!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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