Plants and Pattern Add Color to This Beach Bohemian Bungalow in California

Name: Janelle Burnett, husband George, daughter Sienna (2 years old) Carson (3 months old), and two fur babies Lola and Marilyn
Location: Mission Viejo, California
Size: 2,000 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, owned

My husband and I bought our home over two years ago when I was pregnant with our daughter Sienna. We could only afford a fixer upper so we gutted it and redid almost everything on our own. Remodeling a house while pregnant is something I wouldn’t recommend; it is no joke. We finished it just in time to welcome Sienna, who is now 2. It is a labor of love and we are proud of everything we did and all that we learned (Google and Youtube were our new best friends).

When I got pregnant with Carson I started to get the itch to change things up again. My style is constantly evolving, as am I. I started reinventing the house, one room at a time. Once Carson was born I began to document my journey on Instagram (what a place of inspiration!). I am an elementary school teacher but have been part time the past couple years to raise my children.

In between motherhood and work, I experiment and explore my third love, which is design. I am doing what I like, it doesn’t fit into a specific category but it is turning our house into a home, and having a place I love to raise my children in.

What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the dining room. We just redid it all and it is the place where we all tend to gather. I love a space that is functional yet styled. I also incorporated a lot of my late grandmother’s pieces into our styled shelves. I love having old pieces mixed in with new, that tell a story. Granted, once Carson starts moving and grooving, things may have to be moved around!

Any advice for creating a home you love? My advice would be to do what you love. It doesn’t have to fit into a specific category, make it fit you. I have many different styles incorporated throughout the house, but every room is a reflection of myself in some way. Make the house an extension of yourself because that is what turns a house into a home.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Beach bohemian, pops of color.

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? If I could change one thing it would be the second fireplace. We live in Southern California and rarely use one fireplace, let alone two. I love the stone we used on it, but, if we took the whole thing down it would really open up that space. We worked with what we had at the moment though, got to keep on rolling with the punches.

Thanks, Janelle!

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*This submission’s responses edited for clarity and length.