When I found this house I was looking to downsize, and for a project. I have always lived in historic homes (this one is from the 1930s) and fixing up historic properties is one of my great passions in life. Being such a small home, I was able to do a pretty large remodel on a small scale, which made it affordable to design exactly what I wanted in a home. It had great bones like a good layout, lots of light for plants, great hardwood floors, and original cabinetry. It just needed some updating and some love. Living in a walkable neighborhood is also really important to me. I love being in Nob Hill and able to walk to the grocery store, restaurants, parks, and coffee shops. We walk down to get tacos and ice cream all summer long, which is just a great way to live.

I’m kind of a homebody so my home space is super important to me. I like to be quiet and creative and cozy up with movies, my dog, and a plate of nachos. My 8 year old daughter and I like to cook and bake together, play board games and do creative projects like making slime and coloring. We love to have friends over to watch “Mamma Mia” and sing and dance loudly around the house. I also love a rainy day in the desert curled up on the couch with my dog, a good book, and a cup of tea. My daughter and I are currently going through the “Harry Potter” series for the second time.

My Style: Desert modern. Inspired by mid-century design, vintage furniture, the Southwest, and natural landscapes—with enough color to keep things fun.

Inspiration: Living in New Mexico we are surrounded by the neutral color palette of the desert, but also by so much great color—from sunsets, cactus flowers, the art and textiles of the southwest, and the big open skies. I take inspiration from the peacefulness of the desert, the wide, open spaces, and the bursts of joyful color where you weren’t expecting them.

Favorite Element: I love the central sun porch area and all the natural light for plants. It makes the space feel much bigger to have so much sunshine all day long.

Biggest Challenge: I love a more minimal and neutral style but in my heart I’m a maximalist, so I have to keep myself from throwing every color in the rainbow into one space. I love color, but I feel better living in a more toned down environment, so I try to keep myself reigned in and to use color really strategically. My daughter’s room is a great outlet for playing with more color, although she picked all the colors herself. She asked me to do an ombre wall in her room in sunset colors, which was a fun challenge!

Proudest DIY: Designing the remodel plan for this house was the biggest project I had done to date. I had a wall torn out, reworked the entire kitchen, created a built-in island, had the wood floors refinished, and much of the house had this awful splotchy wall texture so it was ground off and the walls replastered to be smooth. Then I repainted the entire house and just those changes made a huge difference in the livability and coziness of a home this size.

Biggest Indulgence: My minty blue Smeg refrigerator. It has been on my bucket list for a long time and I finally splurged for it.

Best Advice: Fill your home with things that you love and that bring you joy. The best thing about living in a small house is that it forces you to really limit the items you surround yourself with and I try to make sure each one is meaningful and has a place in my life and in my home. Add my dog and my daughter and I am always surrounded by things that bring me meaning, and a sense of peace and home.

What’s your best home secret? My tip for designing a beautiful and unique home on a budget is to splurge on a few special vintage or handmade pieces of art or furniture that fill your heart with joy, and keep the rest simple. I mix more basic items from Target or wherever with things that are really special and unique, or that have special meaning to me. This gives a warmth and character to a home and keeps it from looking too much like a catalog.

• I’m not going to lie, the bright white I used in my home is the base white untinted Valspar paint from Lowes! Nothing fancy.
• I don’t have the paint color names for the other rooms unfortunately, sorry (I’m terrible about saving these sorts of things)! They are all Valspar from Lowes though.

• Plants from Spurline Supply Co, No Longer Wander and @aloetheshop, three of my favorite local resources for plants and vintage furniture!

• Sven Charme Tan Sofa — Article
• Broyhill Brasilia Credenza — Vintage, bought secondhand
• Throw Pillows — Target
• Coffee Table — Given to me used by a friend, but originally from World Market
• Rug — Vintage Persian rug
• Eames style Chair — Vintage bought 2nd hand
• Plants — Spurline Supply Co and No Longer Wander
• Lamps — Target
• Arrow Beige Blanket — Sackcloth x Ashes
• Ceiling Fans — Minka
• Paintings — Made by friends

• Mid-century dining table — Target
• Bistro chairs — Target
• Desk — World Market
• Desk Chair — Amazon
• Lamp — Target
• Art — Jodie Herrera

• Refrigerator — Smeg / West Elm
• Atlas I Tile on island — Cement Tile Shop
• Walnut Butcher Block Counter — Lumber Liquidators

• Hemnes Dresser — IKEA
• Art — World Market
• Lamp — Target

• Blue table — Vintage, bought locally
• Rattan Chair — World Market
• Hemnes Daybed — IKEA
• Nightstand, lamp, cloud shelf, unicorn — Target

• Shower Curtain — Target

Thanks Kelly! See more of Kelly’s designs on her website NOPAL HOME + DESIGN.