Ep. 226: designer Lauren Liess

Our guest today, designer Lauren Liess, has quite an impressive rap sheet. She began writing her blog, Pure Style Home, in 2008 and has since written the two best-selling design books Habitat and Down to Earth. Her new book, Feels Like Home, is hitting shelves this Fall. Her HGTV show, Best House on the Block, follows her and her husband as they design and renovate homes throughout the DC metro area. Her work has been featured in House Beautiful, Country Living, Traditional Home, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living, and many more. We talk about how she manages her incredibly busy life, embracing the imperfect, her new book, lighting toys on fire, and much, much, more!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

How Lauren’s design journey began.

More about Lauren’s new book Feels Like Home.

How does Lauren manage her very busy life and balance her work and family?

What does Lauren do to bring out her calming aesthetic in her projects?

Some tips & tricks for finding the “diamond in the rough” of houses.

How does Lauren recommend embracing imperfection?

What is Lauren’s approach to managing all the “stuff” with kids?

Lauren’s gardening tips and favorites.

What are some of Lauren’s go-to white paint colors?

Some staples in Lauren’s new book.

Decorating Dilemma 

Hi Hillary,

I can identify with this right now! My advice is to arrange things as best as you can and hang up some artwork even though they aren’t quite right; just enough to make it feel like home. My house is a mess right now, so I’m trying to live each day one at a time. I’m bringing in simple things like branches, flowers, candles, and good music and meals. Focus on experiences and bringing the outside! It’s so hard and we get it! It’s definitely a mental exercise in patience when you can’t quite make the space the way you want it, but find the joy where you can.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Lauren Liess on Instagram

Pure Style Home

Lauren Liess & Co

Best House on the Block

Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating

Down to Earth: Laid-back Interiors for Modern Living

Feels Like Home