Over the past two years, interior designer Alissa of Lenore Design has had the task of turning her family’s rental into a home. With an industrial feel (“overhead pipes and very little overhead lighting”), the space wasn’t an easy project to tackle. Luckily, Alissa had knowledge, experience, and a strong eye for design on her side.

Alissa says her “love for unique spaces and travel give her a design perspective that allows her to blend old with new, and traditional with modern, to create cohesive and aesthetically pleasing environments on any budget.” Alissa has managed to mix wooden antiques with bright modern staples and colorful finds from inspirational travels…and the combination looks amazing!

Our Style: Eclectic mix

Inspiration: I love following Amber Interiors and am constantly impressed by her ability to mix prints + patterns and take design risk, but my biggest inspiration comes from my travels and being able to use my adventures and objects we bring home as design elements in my own space.

Favorite Element: I love spending time in Tibbie’s nursery + our living room. It’s probably no coincidence that those are also the two most “designed” areas of our house.

Biggest Challenge: Exposed overhead pipes + very little overhead light!

What Friends Say: That they can really feel my style when they enter the space + that our home is comfortable. Both of which are so important for me as a designer!

Biggest Embarrassment: That there is so little on the walls of our bedroom! Still looking for the perfect pieces of art to flank our dresser + in the process of having some family photos framed for above our bed.

Proudest DIY: Our wood + piping book/media shelf! It was definitely a labor of love! It was designed by me and built by my husband who was not only able to execute the design flawlessly but also used reclaimed lumber from his home state of Pennsylvania.

Biggest Indulgence: Art! Particularly the piece in the living room, which we purchased on a trip to Quebec in 2012. I remember being torn about purchasing it at the time due to cost, but we invested and have enjoyed it ever since and it still brings back great memories of the trip.

Best Advice: The two things I stress to my clients are 1. Good design doesn’t always need to mean expensive design. Invest in items that will last and are the key design elements of the space. Pairing these items with more cost effective ones that enhance, but aren’t the focal points. 2. If you have the constant need to change the design up like myself, go neutral for your big elements (furniture and rugs) and add pops of design in areas that are easy (and cost effective) to reconfigure (pillows, throws and window treatments).

Dream Sources: I could spend hours (and all my money) on 1^stDibs

⇒ House Tour & House Call Submission Form

See More:
⇒ Recent House Tours
⇒ House Tours on Pinterest