This Artist’s Bright Modern Rustic Home Is Her Sanctuary

Name: Johanna Sprague, friends, guests, and creative collaborators
Location: Lake Merritt — Oakland, California
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 1100 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: People often tell me that my home is a direct reflection of me, and as an artist and Feng Shui interior stylist, I suppose that means my work is genuinely felt. Every item in here is either sustainable, artisan made, or deeply considered down to the handmade plates, bowls, and mugs.

This space has become my laboratory for implementing Feng Shui techniques and I feel like it truly relays my personal history and deep love of nature. I strive to make it inviting for guests while also keeping things clean and minimal. I always tell clients that their home should be a visual journal of their story, and I fully embrace that.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Bright Modern Rustic Artist Sanctuary

What is your favorite room and why? It depends since each room is wonderful for various reasons, especially at different times of day.

Late afternoon light floods the dining and living room in a gorgeous, nostalgic way that reminds me of my parents’ home back in Massachusetts.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? Always more pottery! I’m forever antiquing, thrifting, and buying ceramic vessels from artists because I feel that eating from something handmade is so much more nourishing!

Any advice for creating a home you love? Allow space to tell your personal story. We don’t need much, so all the more reason to only acquire things you love as you travel and move through life. Be intentional about what you bring in and don’t feel obligated to fill rooms according to standard norms; take your time finding the pieces that truly resonate with you.

This submission’s responses have been edited for length and clarity.

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