Navajo/Diné knitwear designer Jennifer Berg grew up on the Navajo Reservation, and when it came to decorating the house she and her husband, Anders, purchased five years ago, she wanted to embrace a love of clean spaces and make sure to incorporate her Navajo/Diné ancestry. “I love adding my culture and heritage to each of my rooms,” she writes. “It might be in a subtle way or in a big way, like the turquoise wall. I grew up on the Navajo Reservation and have collected pieces of jewelry (turquoise), pottery, and artwork that I display in my home to remind me daily of my culture. It’s important that my children are surrounded with elements from Dinétah (the homeland).”

Jennifer and Anders bought this house, which she says was built in 1954, when they needed more room for their growing family AND her growing business, Native Knitter. She designs and sells knitting patterns (you can find her patterns on Ravelry and on Etsy), teaches knitting, has collaborated with Seek & Swoon on a line of knit throw blankets, and creates a supportive community for Indigenous artists. And with so much going on, she wanted an inspiring space of her own to be creative in. “As a knitwear designer I’m able to work in many spaces of my home,” she writes. “I physically knit in the living room and design at my desk or the kitchen table to be around my children. I needed a room to store all my yarn and crafts but also because I have young children I wanted every space to allow them access.”

Jennifer admits she doesn’t like cleaning, and with two young children as well as two dogs and a tortoise, it’s understandable that she goes by a “less to pick up or dust, the better!” approach to decorating. Warm woods anchor much of the design, particularly in the main living area with its vaulted ceiling, and cozy textures and textiles are sprinkled around the space (not surprising for a knitter!). But it’s not just their house she loves, Jennifer also appreciates its location — in central Albuquerque a short walk away from their favorite bakery, Swiss Alps Bakery. “I’m grateful for my home and how well suited it is for my family.”

My Style: Scandinavian/Navajo

Favorite Element: I love my turquoise wall and my wooden ceilings in our living room, also how much natural light comes through the windows.

Biggest Challenge: Keeping a minimal amount of items. I like clean table tops, with only a few items out for decor, because I want our space to be easy to tidy.

Proudest DIY: My proudest is my free-hand mural in my daughters room. I love her room because it’s so bright and fun! It is of a Southwest landscape with tones that I love.

Biggest Indulgence: Windows. Our house is a 1954 build and we purchased it with the original, single-paned windows. Last year we replaced all 11 windows and it was completely worth it! We went with Window World and they were able to make custom windows since we loved the framing of the originals.

Is there something unique about your home or the way you use it? My husband and I both work from home. He works on a desktop and I work in my side of the office and in the living room and dining room. My job allows for movement but also I love having a space that can transform to whatever I need.

What are your favorite products you have bought for your home and why? We bought shelving for our office (IKEA) and hung a peg board up over my desk to store my yarn skeins. We bought the peg board and the pegs at Home Depot. I have a wire hanger that I pin my knit wear up on so that I can draw inspiration from it every time I sit down. 

Please describe any helpful, inspiring, brilliant, or just plain useful small space maximizing and/or organizing tips you have: I have a Knitting notion Shop on Etsy and needed storage and needed space for yarn that I use to design with. We bought shelving from IKEA and maximized my storage for mugs and organized my yarn with bins, as well as a peg board to hold the rest of my yarn skeins. I feel like I have a mini yarn store in my office! Being able to see the colors and textures allows for inspiration.

Finally, what’s your absolute best home secret or decorating advice? I love adding my culture and heritage to each of my rooms. It might be in a subtle way or in a big way, like the turquoise wall. I grew up on the Navajo Reservation and have collected pieces of jewelry (turquoise), pottery, and artwork that I display in my home to remind me daily of my culture. It’s important that my children are surrounded with elements from Dinetah (the homeland). I like a clean wall with a simple piece added, plus I don’t like cleaning, so the less items to pick up or dust, the better!

• I don’t specifically know these colors but they’re all Benjamin Moore (we just got samples without the can being labeled).

• Modular couches — Costco
• Coffee Table — Target
• Pillows — World Market, Target, and IKEA
• Throws — Designed by myself, produced by Seek & Swoon. We collaborated on these designed for the Heritage Collection.
  

• Table — We had refinished by a friend
• Chairs — IKEA
• Shelving — Target
• Artwork — Hogan by ABB from Thoreau, New Mexico
• Pottery — Varies artists from New Mexico. Goat pottery piece is by Jared Tso.

• Storage — Baskets from Target and Home Depot 
• Sweater Containers are from the Container Store
• Chair — Office Depot
• Desk — IKEA

• IKEA Kitchen
• Shelving — IKEA

• Bed Frame — IKEA
• Dresser and side tables — American Home
• Jewelry Boxes — Stackables from the Container Store
• Black small lazy Susan — Target
• Hat — Thundervoice Eagle Custom Hat
• Ladder — Target
• Moccasins — City Electric from Gallup, NM
• Rug — Family rug
• Big turquoise ring — Chee’s Indian Store, Artist Doris Small Canyon

Thanks Jennifer!

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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