Having studied Art History, Kate Pearce spent many years immersed in the art world, interning at places like the Guggenheim, the Whitney Museum, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, and more. But it wasn’t just art that fascinated her; she also fell in love with antiques. And after ten years of discovering sweet finds at estate sales for herself, she launched Kate Pearce Vintage in 2015.

A love of antiques and history hasn’t led to a stuffy, boring home, though. The 1910 farmhouse she’s working on restoring with her husband is a colorful mish-mash of mid-century furnishings and other thrift items, it’s true. But also lots of art, plants, and kid-friendly energy. You can shop some of her thrift finds on Kate’s Etsy and her website.

Our Style: Eclectic / Mid-Mod

Inspiration: Most of my design inspiration comes, ironically, from 2-D artists. I take a lot of color cues from masters like Warhol and Kahlo. I love the boldness of Lichtenstein’s art and the cerebral undertones of Basquiat, and even photographers like Nan Goldin and Annie Leibovitz. I do hold myself back because I share my home with a fairly traditional husband and young children. If I could just let loose, this space would look a bit different. My academic background is in Art History and I am not entirely well versed in the world of design, though more recently I have developed a bit of an obsession with the eclectic décor of Liz Kamarul and Justina Blakeney.

Favorite Element: My plants, specifically the ridiculously large cactus that smacks you in the face when you walk in the door. Plants are such a great way to easily add pops of bold color and loads of texture. And for those of us living in Northern climates, they rival even the most potent Vitamin D pill in their ability to carry us through the winter.

Biggest Challenge: Our budget, of course! Nearly our entire home is thrifted, and that is something I take a strange pride in. I’m always bragging about how my plant stand cost me $1 or how my six-piece dining set cost me less than the takeout I ordered last night. But sometimes I have big ideas that I can’t bring to fruition because, well, money. Especially when it comes to kitchen and bathroom spaces.

What Friends Say: “Why don’t you just move to the rain forest?” My obsession with plants has gotten a little carried away, but make no mistake, there is DEFINITELY room for more little green babies in this space!

Biggest Embarrassment: The bathrooms in our home, especially our one full bathroom, are just terrible. [Not photographed.] I’m usually fairly good at taking terribly ugly things and making them look at least presentable, but I’ve been completely ignoring our bathrooms until we have the proper time and funds to just gut them. There is almost nothing I want to salvage from them (except, of course, for the super cool vintage hardware). And that’s a big thing for me to say. I’m the queen of wanting to salvage.

Proudest DIY: The dresser that I upcycled in my daughter’s room. I found it on Craigslist after scouring the dingiest of places on the Island for a cheap fixer-upper. It was a beautiful mid-century piece with some really unique elements like the copper hardware, but it needed a lot of love. I cleaned up the copper (which was so black I didn’t even know it was copper until I cleaned it), painted the dresser white, and slapped some cool cow skull decals on. I needed it to double as a changing table because space in the nursery is limited, so I ordered a topper from Land of Nod, which ended up costing me, literally, six times more than the dresser. But, all in, I made out fairly well.

Biggest Indulgence: My couch from Lulu & Georgia. Most of the furniture in my home is vintage, but not this piece. If I pick up vintage pieces for my own home that are upholstered, I almost always have them reupholstered, both to modernize them and because I get a little skeeved from upholstery that I don’t know where it’s been or what’s been done to it, or on it (you get the idea). But sometimes with larger pieces like this big sectional, it’s just downright cheaper to buy them new. That’s how I sold my husband on this couch, anyway!

Best Advice: The best homes can’t be designed in a day, or bought from big box stores. Take the time to buy pieces that you truly love and it will eventually all come together. Our home is constantly changing and evolving, and that’s the part of design that is the most fun and interesting. Never stay static!

PAINT & COLORS
White throughout home – Benjamin Moore, Decorator’s White
Black in Nursery – Behr, Black Panther
Wallpaper in Dining – Anthropologie
Wallpaper in Eva’s Room – Coloray Décor
Sunroom Floor – Benjamin Moore, Witching Hour
Star Decals and Changing Table Decals in Nursery – KennaSato Design

ENTRY
Slay Light – Amped & Co.
Console – Target
2,3 – Tauba Auerbach, Printed Matter
Glass Dome – SimplyChiVintage (Etsy)
Pink Horse Print – “Double Fucked up Horse” by Ryan Foerster (Printed Matter)
Large Print – “Untitled (Fold)” by Tauba Auerbach (Printed Matter)
Macrame — CandeleriaConfesses (Etsy)
Light Fixture – Illuminate Vintage (Etsy)
Runner on Stairs – Dash & Albert
All Else – Estate Sales finds by Kate Pearce Vintage

LIVING ROOM
Gray Rug – Restoration Hardware
Bouchourette Rug – @theimanproject (Instagram)
Green Sectional – Lulu & Georgia
Frida Kahlo Print – Modern Multiples
Dog Prints – William Wegman (by 20×200)
Kid Table – Pottery Barn Kids
Kid Chairs – Restoration Hardware Baby & Child
Gold Cactus Planter – West Elm
White Console (under TV) – IKEA
Bins in Console – Land of Nod
Yellow Vase – West Elm
Cactus Trio Planter on Coffee Table – West Elm
Large Black Swivel Chair – Restoration Hardware
Sheepskin Pouf Ottoman – Natural Sheepskin (Etsy)
Graphic Blanket on Couch / Large Pillows on Couch – Target
Lamp above child’s table – Restoration Hardware
Lamp in Corner – Anthropologie
Art Deco Pillows on Couch – Kate Pearce Vintage
Busts on Coffee Table – Kate Pearce Vintage
Blue Swivel Chair – Found Kate Pearce Vintage Reupholstered by Robert Boccard
(really, all else, Kate Pearce Vintage)

DINING ROOM
Cabinet – Vintage from Secondhand Stories (Etsy)
Table/Chairs – Kate Pearce Vintage
Rug – HomeGoods
Ladder + Blanket – Kate Pearce Vintage
Wallpaper – Anthropologie
Letterboard – Target
Art by ladder – Jerelyn Hanharan
Lion Photo – Kate Pearce Vintage
Surrealist Work on Whiskey Table – Antonio Guanse
Whiskey Decanters; Contents of China Cabinet; Whiskey Table; Books; Middle Finger; Bust; Fiddle Fig Planter – Kate Pearce Vintage
Hardware on whiskey table – Anthropologie
Light Fixture – West Elm
Dog Prints – William Wegman (20×200)
Bamboo Frond Planter – Anthropologie
Sheepskin on piano bench – Natural Sheepskin (Etsy)

NURSERY
Crib – Restoration Hardware Baby + Child
Star Decals – Kenna Sato Designs
Light up Letters – Target
J Succulent Planter – SucculentWonderland (Etsy)
Decals on Dresser – Kenna Sato Designs (Etsy)
Overdyed Rug – One Kings Lane
Letterboard – Etsy
Wire Shelves – thisatticvintage (etsy)
Black and White Dog Print – Upside Down World (20×200)
Rattan Rocker – KPV
Pillow on Rattan Ottoman – Justina Blakeney (for Target)
Blocks – Handmade by Me
Shades – RH Baby + Child
Pillows on Rocker – Target
Wicker Bookshelf; Unicorn Bookends; Brass Unicorn; Bottom Shelf; Wooden Animals on White Shelves; Basket Wall; Planters on Changing Table; – Kate Pearce Vintage
Llama – Land of Nod
Faux Firepit – Land of Nod
Elephant nightlight – Anthropologie
Unicorn Light – Target
Light Fixture – VintageGlassLights (Etsy)
Mobile – TheFeltingDorcas (Etsy)

EVA’S BEDROOM
Wallpaper – coloray décor
House bed – RH Baby + Child
Bedding – RH Baby + Child
White Rug – Serena + Lily
Rug – moroccanwool (Etsy)
Child’s Couch – RH Baby + Child
Elephant Pillow – Target
Dollhouse; Mini Peacock Chairs; Miniature Dog Collection; Black Dresser; Needlepoint Redhead Girl; Barbie Car; Accordion Peg Rack; Wood Chair – Kate Pearce Vintage
Curtains on Closet Doors – Pottery Barn Kids
Round Gold Shelving – Target
Elephant Salt Lamp – Amazon
Acrylic Bookshelf – Land of Nod
Light Fixture – West Elm
Hooks (ALL in room) – Anthropologie
Hanging Planter – Target
Fairy on Hanging Planter – Land of Nod
E pillow on Bed – Serena and Lily
Shades – RH Baby + Child

SUNROOM
Rug – Bloomingdales
Eames Chair – CoMod (Etsy)
Green Leather Ottomon – Kate Pearce Vintage
Vintage Desk/chairs – Kate Pearce Vintage
Play Kitchen Set – Pottery Barn Kids

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