Lauren Riddei of LouLou Interiors joins Kimberly Grigg on the podcast to talk about the art of storytelling through design, her love of treasure hunting for vintage and secondhand finds, and Thrill of the Hunt, her collaboration with Susan Seagroves for Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Myrtle Beach, California.

Kimberly dives into Lauren’s background and how she came into design in 2017, after a job loss, when planning her wedding ignited her love of the design process. Lauren leaned into her creative thought and love of people and founded LouLou Interiors - named for her childhood nickname - and describes her aesthetic as “modern, yet soulful - and collected”. She uses bold colored furniture in balance with calmer backgrounds, finding harmony in loud unique pieces and quieter paint tones. Lauren has a love of bringing old pieces into new life, finding vintage or secondhand furniture with good bones that can translate into a modern space.  

Thrill of the Hunt, Lauren Riddei’s monthly digest for Habitat for Humanity in Myrtle Beach with friend Susan Seagrove, dovetails with her newest endeavor, Shop LouLou Interiors, as both explore the vintage, antique, and unique pieces she finds. She and Kimberly discuss the ethos of living beautifully, what a Unicorn List is and how to use it when consignment shopping, and how a consultation with a professional designer can propel your own decor forward.

About Lauren Riddei:

Born and raised on the Virginia coast, calling Myrtle Beach home in 2013 was easy. Lauren later founded LouLou Interiors - specializing in the architectural selections process that comes with custom new builds and historic renovations.

Intuitively, Lauren was attracted to the world of design because of the restorative and positive impact it had on her. She discovered when her personal space was meaningfully crafted with form, beauty, and function, she felt an inner joy. After this realization, she knew others needed the therapeutic and inspiring art form of interior design.

When Lauren isn’t creating, she’s likely pulling friends and strangers together, perusing for antiques, surfing or boating with her husband somewhere off the Atlantic.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• LouLou Interiors
• Lauren Riddei on Instagram
• LouLou Interiors on Instagram
• Shop LouLou Interiors
• Thrill of the Hunt (on Habitat for Humanity)
• Sasee.com article on Lauren Riddei and Susan Seagroves’ Thrill of the Hunt

 

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Contact Me:

Email me at [email protected]

Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

Check out my Youtube channel

You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.

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Transcription

 

Lauren Riddei  00:00

No, let me see your warehouse. Let me see your storage unit because you will be surprised what we pull out and use because it has a story. Because it has meaning.

 

Kimberly Grigg  00:10

Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers, like yourselves, how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, Well, buckle up, honey, because it's time to design.

 

Kimberly Grigg  00:44

So welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss Lauren of LouLou Interiors, and I know you have a last name but I'm scared to say it because I'm afraid I'm gonna pronounce it incorrectly. So share with me how you say your last name. And I think there's a cute story that goes with it.

 

Lauren Riddei  01:03

So it's pronounced Riddei.

 

Kimberly Grigg  01:06

Riddei: that sounds so French.

 

Lauren Riddei  01:09

It's Italian, actually.

 

Kimberly Grigg  01:09

Oh is it?

 

Lauren Riddei  01:10

My husband's family is Italian.

 

Kimberly Grigg  01:14

I'm coming to your house for dinner.

 

Lauren Riddei  01:16

You know, I don't eat much Italian.

 

Kimberly Grigg  01:17

Really? Oh, gosh, I would love to eat more but I don't think my hips would like that too much.

 

Lauren Riddei  01:24

So the story is actually when I married Ryan in 2017, he's a local, he's from Myrtle Beach, he's from the area, and it was pronounced "riddee" when I met him. And I just was like, you know what I get a lot of pushback when I tried to say it. And I come to find out that Ryan's great uncle moved from Italy to California to become a country singer. And thought he would sell more albums if he changed his Italian last name to sound a little bit more country. So he changed it from Riddei to Riddee.

 

Kimberly Grigg  01:58

Oh, wow.

 

Lauren Riddei  01:59

So when I married Ryan, I said I think we got to go back.

 

Kimberly Grigg  02:02

Yes, we're not country singers. Wow. So that... she is a true designer.  She designed her own last name.

 

02:08

Riddee, Riddall, any and all are welcome. It's totally fine, I really don't care.

 

Kimberly Grigg  02:17

But the name of your firm is LouLou Interiors. So that's a whole nother name. So where did the LouLou part come in?

 

Lauren Riddei  02:22

Yeah, so that was my nickname growing up. My middle name was Louise. Yeah. And so when I got married, I changed it to my maiden name Bass. But I was called LouLou.

 

Kimberly Grigg  02:31

Okay. Well, I gotta tell you, you gotta check LouLou Interiors out. This girl - you can't see her because this is a podcast - but she's beautiful. She has this effervescent personality and her design aesthetic is spot on. So I want to talk about that aesthetic a little bit. So what happened, did you come out of the womb designing? Did you train your eye? Like, where'd you get this? And tell me what it's all about? Like, what is your design aesthetic?

 

Lauren Riddei  03:04

I would say my personal aesthetic is modern, yet soulful. And collected.

 

Kimberly Grigg  03:12

Mm hmm. I can see that in your work. Definitely can see that.

 

Lauren Riddei  03:16

Yeah, I mean, I definitely think it's really important in my new build projects to sprinkle in the old with furnishings, old art, vintage furniture. And then with my renovations, it's really important to bring in the modern and the new and the clean and the squeaky.

 

Kimberly Grigg  03:32

Great formula. Great process. You do a lot of architectural work. But you're so young, and I kind of touched on this, you and I had an episode on my live show - which is called It's Time To Design which airs every Thursday at four o'clock on Facebook and Instagram - and we touched on this a little bit. But I want my podcast audience to know a little bit about this soulful, and what I find in you, is your old soul. Because I literally, I wasn't able to take on new build projects until well into my career. I didn't understand the terminology. I didn't understand what it was all about. But you do and you're so young. How did that happen?

 

Lauren Riddei  04:23

Okay, so cool story that maybe your podcast audience doesn't know. But you were one of my professors.

 

Kimberly Grigg  04:31

Yes.

 

Lauren Riddei  04:32

When I took a few design classes. In 2017 I had a pretty devastating job loss, and it just put me in kind of a tailwind of what do I do with my life, right? I was expecting a certain career and then when that didn't happen, I had to start over. And so I had always kind of been into the creative field. I had just planned my wedding. I enjoy that process so much - inviting people into a space that's thoughtful, that's meaningful, that's collaborative. And my sisters were like, 'why don't you go to design school' and I was, like, never even considered that. And so that fall, I saw you, you taught a few classes, which was neat. And I just put myself fully into it. And I just learned as much as I could. I got an internship, I found a mentor of now a really good friend of mine, and I just put my heart and soul into it. And I was, I mean, for the most part, self taught outside of the amazing classes that I received around space planning. That was important. And Revit and AutoCAD but... I have been technically in school, air quote, for many, many years, because I'm just trying to learn this huge thing called design.

 

Kimberly Grigg  05:51

Sure. And as you know, the design industry has so many facets, like I tell people, it's comparable to brain surgery. And in fact, I had a business coach one time say to me, well then do you charge like it's brain surgery, and I'm like, oh, busted. But there are so many moving parts. But I say to my listener often, you can learn this, you have to have a passion. You have to have the get up and go about it. And you have to develop a practice, wouldn't you say?

 

Lauren Riddei  06:25

Yeah, absolutely. I would agree. I bought all the design books.

 

Kimberly Grigg  06:28

I still do. I still do.

 

Lauren Riddei  06:31

I don't think the learning never stops, frankly.

 

Kimberly Grigg  06:32

For me, I think if it stopped, I would stop designing. And I don't, I can't really imagine my life not designing something. I spent a lot of time painting these days, which is also like design in so many ways. But for me, if I lost that passion to know more, because you cannot master this subject.

 

Lauren Riddei  06:54

No way.

 

Kimberly Grigg  06:55

So and I say again to my listener, don't get discouraged. I mean, it happens to all of us. I also say, you know, almost all of my projects go through the ugly duckling phase, and only to come out a beautiful swan. But to me, when it gets to that, that's when the work really starts. And that's when the grit and the, like, I got to get down and figure this out. And then something beautiful happens. And I can't explain it because it is a process, but sometimes people that listen to this podcast and follow our other shows and channels, will say, you know, I got discouraged so I just stopped because it didn't turn out, it didn't look professional, it didn't look polished. Yet, it can. So what are some things that you do? What kind of techniques and tools do you employ to make something look professional? And polished? And, and, and designerish?

 

Lauren Riddei  07:52

That's a good question. Yeah, I mean, I would say this was a big learning curve for me. I was in the non-profit world.

 

Kimberly Grigg  08:03

Oh, wow.

 

Lauren Riddei  08:03

Working directly with people, which has benefited my career a lot as a designer. But I think if there's a side of this industry that you feel weak in, then just go after it with all your heart and for me, it was it was the numbers and the scale and the proportion. I mean, I had the creativity, I had the the love for people. And the intimacy of walking into someone's home is so valuable. And you really can't take that for granted. But I just had to learn as much as I could around space planning and measurements and numbers. I mean, you're so right: like, it's like rocket science sometimes. And then it changes every time the landscape changes, whether it's a new build or a renovation, you're not only learning the proper sconce height for this one home, but it changes with the next phase.

 

Kimberly Grigg  08:56

Absolutely. And people say to me all the time, what are the rules? And, you know, there aren't that many rules in design. There's a couple that I follow. One is I like to walk in to the foot of a bed. That's just kind of, to me, it's not just a rule, it's a good aesthetic. Like the room is more comfortable. Have I ever created a room that you didn't walk in to the foot of the bed? Absolutely. Because I had to. But... and then you have to trick the eye in another way. But that one is one I follow. Do you have design rules that you follow?

 

Lauren Riddei  09:28

I do.

 

Kimberly Grigg  09:29

Oh, good. I want to hear.

 

Lauren Riddei  09:31

I mean, I have a lot that are kind of like my structure. So when I have structure then I can thrive as a creative. So I have all of my rules around proper lighting, heights, islands, tables, pendants, you know, I have all my measurements ready to go. And now it's second nature and I kind of just know, but early on I had to write everything down.

 

Kimberly Grigg  09:55

Wow. And you know what I do when I hang lights? It's all by eyeball.

 

Lauren Riddei  09:59

Yeah.

 

Kimberly Grigg  10:00

But that's just me. And I have people that hang artwork for me that measure everything. I never measure. I'm like, tap, tap, tap, it's in the wall, done.

 

Lauren Riddei  10:12

Personal home or client's home?

 

Kimberly Grigg  10:13

Any. That's why I'm never on the hanging picture team, I'm never on that team. But, you know, I know how to do it? I just, I almost can always get it right, just by the naked eye. But again, it's 29 years of doing it. And I think probably, you know, 22 years ago, I might have maybe looked at my cheat sheets or something, but both ways are good. Both ways work, as long as you're accomplishing the end result. It is what it is. I also can repair a wall really easily.

 

Lauren Riddei  10:47

My husband Ryan said, Lauren, I hope you don't hang art. And I said, 'no, I've got a team for that.' Although I'm so tempted to hang art, I just no. I need a professional.

 

Kimberly Grigg  10:57

I do not enjoy hanging art. I don't. I like to see it in place but I don't like to hang it. But that's, again, that's just some of the things in design that you love, and don't love, or whatever. So tell me, what do you want to be known for? Because you're a young designer. So like, when you look back 29 years from now, what do you want to be known for? What kind of design vibe, design aesthetic, do you want people to say, 'oh, Lauren'?

 

Lauren Riddei  11:29

Yeah, I think it's twofold. I think I always want my clients and my homeowners to feel cared for and to feel loved. I mean, it's such, like I have already said, it's an intimate thing to walk into someone's home. So I want all of my homeowners to know how grateful I am that they have asked me to help them elevate their space. So I definitely want to be known with just a spirit of collaboration in my designs, because I might suggest something and then the client says, 'oh, my gosh, I have that art piece from my great grandmother'. And I personally want to figure out how to make it work in their updated elevated space. So it's a collaboration and the most successful projects are that. So I would say I think it's a little bit about releasing control as the designer.

 

Kimberly Grigg  12:20

We all struggle with that. A little bit.

 

Lauren Riddei  12:24

But I think the world is becoming very collaborative between designer and client. And I think that's really beautiful.

 

Kimberly Grigg  12:31

I agree. And the way that you said that is really beautiful. I think sometimes people even shy away from hiring a designer, because they're afraid. I don't think that people realize how important it is to us to get them and to get them right. And how important it is for every designer I know, every designer that I have interviewed, they all, we all say the same thing. It's so intimate. I mean, I laughingly say to people, I'm going to be in your underwear drawer, like you know? Because I am going to know you inside and out. And that's part of the process. And make sure you like me, I need to make sure I like you. We need to, like bond, we need to have this experience, because it is an experience. It's one of the it's one of the most intimate experiences I think you ever encounter. And if you're going it alone, that's okay too. I tell people when they're going it alone, and maybe you agree with this, that it's never a bad idea to consult with someone whose work you admire, and whose aesthetic that you appreciate. So if you are going it alone, don't hesitate. Most all of us offer consult opportunities, and you don't have to do everything with me, or - I'm sure you feel the same way - but if I consult with you, I can keep you from making a lot of mistakes. And I'm sure you're probably, because your business is based mostly on consultation.... so tell me a little bit about how that works. And how someone could - because I think you do virtual consultations.

 

Lauren Riddei  14:22

I do virtual too.

 

Kimberly Grigg  14:23

Okay.

 

Lauren Riddei  14:23

So I found during the pandemic that a lot of folks were ready to do renovations, but they were all over the country. So I found that I was getting inquiries from people not located here. And so that's when I just started offering virtual appointments. I love nothing more than walking into someone's home and they're about to paint a room and they say, 'Lauren, I don't know what to paint it. I need help.' I want to be able to empower them with the right shade and undertone of paint color so that the money they're about to spend on the painter is worth its weight in gold. And that is true for almost every application in a home. So yes, I do so many consultations where I'm helping people make single decisions, or I'm consulting for multiple year long projects. So, and that's a lot of where my new builds come from. I often will be in a relationship with a client for a year, I just exited a relationship after two years, with a new build because that's just how long, yeah, they take!

 

Kimberly Grigg  15:28

I tell people, it's a year, year and a half to build, and another year to decorate

 

Lauren Riddei  15:32

Exactly.

 

Kimberly Grigg  15:33

In this world. A while back, I could decorate in three months. But with the delays and supply chain, it just doesn't happen that way anymore. You and I talked about that prior to this podcast, about how the supply chain kind of hangs us up. And I'm sure you're finding that you're having to recreate work over and over. So am I.

 

Lauren Riddei  15:57

The bathroom tile's not in anymore. Okay, great, you know what we're gonna do? We're gonna pivot. Because I know three other tiles that I would love to put in the bathroom floor regardless.

 

Kimberly Grigg  16:06

Sure. So let's go back to that walking into an empty room. Like, let's sit there for a second because I know that my listener often walks into an empty room, and they're not sure what to do. Perhaps they bought a new house, perhaps they're downsizing, upsizing, whatever. So how do you approach the empty room? What's the process like? Where do you start? What do you do?

 

Lauren Riddei  16:31

Okay, it's a good question. Because every designer has a different approach. Some people start with a rug, some people start with artwork, I start with usually the overall thematic of the whole home. So I usually don't do a room totally different from the rest of the space, there's a golden thread. So whether it's a pink color that we've chosen as the principal, or whether it's a texture we've chosen, I'm going to incorporate it somewhere in that room. And so I'm going to think, okay, where does that, where does that start with? Is it the bed? Is it the wallpaper on the ceiling? Is it the shiplap that we're gonna paint? Usually, and that's how I, as a creative, thrive with difference. So I think it depends on the client too and where they're comfortable starting. And it depends on where we are in the process. So with a new build, I'm always going to start with usually the walls and the ceiling, because that's going in as we speak. And then we're going to start with the larger real estate purchases. So that would be the bed, that would be the rug. And then we're going to accessorize last.

 

Kimberly Grigg  17:38

Right. So how do you approach color? Like, do you use a lot of color in your work? Are you more neutral? Do you just insert? Tell me about that.

 

Lauren Riddei  17:46

So personally, I'll speak for myself, I have pretty much an art gallery background in my home, but my furniture is is pretty loud. So if I want my furniture to speak, whether it's vintage pieces or cool art, I need it to have a calm background. So usually I use calmer paint colors. And then I am a little bit louder with accessories and furniture.

 

Kimberly Grigg  18:14

Love that. Love that look. And I love seeing some of the things that you've done on your website. And I think that that's a very good description. So you've mentioned the word vintage, and I got to go there. So let's talk about this charity that you're involved in. And this Thrill of the Hunt. We talked a little bit about it on my It's Time To Design live show. But I want to dive pretty deep into this and tell me how it started and what it is and what you do with them.

 

Lauren Riddei  18:48

Okay, so the Thrill of the Hunt came about when Habitat for Humanity in Myrtle Beach, there's a Habitat probably in your county as well. They approached Susan and I to - a good friend, Susan Seagroves - and I to do a whatever we want as creatives and designers to basically bring people into the ReStore. And so we got creative, we came up with a digest that we put out on a monthly basis, highlighting various goods, decor, objects that we think have new life. And so that is put on Habitat's website monthly in a digital format. And then it's also in print with a local magazine in town as well.

 

Kimberly Grigg  19:33

Wow. And so you've kind of spent your whole life dumpster diving.

 

Lauren Riddei  19:39

Yeah, quite literally.

 

Kimberly Grigg  19:41

Tell me about that. And kind of what's the process like when you go on the hunt?

 

Lauren Riddei  19:46

Yeah, I do you ever walk into somewhere, Kimberly, and you start to get this like giddy panic? Oh,

 

Kimberly Grigg  19:51

Oh yes.

 

Lauren Riddei  19:52

Where there's just goods, beautiful things.

 

Kimberly Grigg  19:54

That's market for me.

 

Lauren Riddei  19:55

Good point - market.

 

Kimberly Grigg  19:56

When I'm driving to High Point, like, I start to race. I'm like, and I've been to market, like, twice a year for 29 years, like, really? Giddy? But I am.

 

Lauren Riddei  20:08

That feeling is really what I get every time I walk into a flea market, antique store, consignment store, I just get giddy because I have no idea what's on the other side. And I think that's part of the fun is you're not gonna know if you're gonna find the most amazing rare piece of your life, or if you're gonna walk out empty handed.

 

Kimberly Grigg  20:29

Yes.

 

Lauren Riddei  20:29

But that's the thrill of it, you just don't know.

 

Kimberly Grigg  20:33

Sure. So tell people some things that you've done - you did a great show and tell on my live show, but we can describe some of these things or other things - tell people what things you kind of scout out and what you've done with them. Give people some tips and ideas of what they can do when they wake up Saturday morning and decide to go on a hunt.

 

Lauren Riddei  20:58

So I would say start with what you need. So I did a bathroom renovation not too long ago and I needed a vanity. But I am not going to go buy a bathroom vanity that everyone else has. I just, as a designer, we have to be an oddball, unique. So I was like, I'm gonna find an old furniture piece that I could put a really cool modern vessel sink on. So I looked and looked and looked. And finally I found a turn of the century nightstand.  I said 'oh that's perfect', except it wasn't tall enough. So I had two options. I could either add little legs to it or get a really tall vessel bowl to make the sink and I went with a ladder and it kind of made up the difference between the two or three inches. But you start with what you need. Okay, I need this. And I'm going to add it to my wish list, also known as a Unicorn List.

 

Kimberly Grigg  21:51

I love this Unicorn List thing.

 

Lauren Riddei  21:52

Right? So it's this running list of what I might need in my home or my space. For me, it's my client spaces. Okay, I know, my client, you know, needs a bench for their dining table. So when I go into that store, I'm always on the lookout. And I'm always thinking about 100 things at once. The different projects I have, what I can use there, what I can use here. It's that fun panic.

 

Kimberly Grigg  22:17

Yes, that's a good way to put it: fun panic. Yeah, I get that.

 

Lauren Riddei  22:21

It would derail a lot of people. But it is so fun for me.

 

Kimberly Grigg  22:25

Sure. I totally get that. So tell everybody about this cool light fixture that was probably a planter. I love this. Like this is, like, I need to go find, I need to find three of them, just to like... for an island for a client.

 

Lauren Riddei  22:40

Okay, it's just thinking outside the box. I think the thrill of the hunt is also the unexpected. You wouldn't expect a planter or a wastebasket, I'm not sure which one it was, but it had plastic in it that I cut out, and then drilled a hole in it and had it hardwired to easily be put up as a pendant. But it is this rattan Palm Beach vibe. It's fun, it's quirky, it's weird. No one else will have it.

 

Kimberly Grigg  23:05

Love that, love, everything about that.

 

Lauren Riddei  23:07

It's true to who I am. But I think part of it is just what is the least expected use of this object?

 

Kimberly Grigg  23:16

Yeah and I think if you can go in to some of these places with that as your premise, then it sort of focuses your mind to think like that. And trust me, you can get better and better and better at this. Like, sometimes I get a little rusty because for the longest, you know, it was order, decorate, order, decorate, order, decorate. Well with this supply chain thing, to me, it's been a lot of a silver lining. And as a matter of fact, you mentioned our friend Susan Seagroves, that's actually the foundation of our friendship is that we used to antique together. And then as I got busier and busier, mine became more of an order, decorate, order, decorate. Well, now that we have the supply chain issue, I'm back to antiquing, I'm sourcing on eBay, everywhere, and Etsy, all the spots. So that, and then I do get better and better, now that I'm back into it, about looking at things in a whole different way. And like I found this little mini rug thing the other day, and it's like just a, like a, looks like a little miniature rug. But I'm framing it. Because the power is fabulous. Like it's a beautiful shade of green. And I don't know where it's gonna go but some client will benefit from it. And it's just unusual and it's a different way to do things. So you brought in a bag, and I got to know, I want my listener to know the story of this bag. Because I love this.

 

Lauren Riddei  24:55

I mean the thing about how you're framing that rug, that's it. It has a story now.  Whereas if you had just bought it at a retailer, it had no story, had no history, had no context, but how fun is that, that a client of yours will have a rug that you thought was so amazing? So that's true with this random beach bag, probably from the 80s, who knows where, but it's square in shape. And it looks just like a frame, to me. I literally just saw a picture frame. So I knew on my Unicorn List, I had a few gaps to fill on my gallery wall in one of my bedrooms. And so when I saw this bag, it's pretty flush, it's pretty flat, I knew that it could fill one of the gaps in the gallery wall to add texture, to add dynamic dimension. I mean that way it's not flat.

 

Kimberly Grigg  25:43

So clever. Plus, you can take it down and take it to the beach.

 

Lauren Riddei  25:47

I have already done that.

 

Kimberly Grigg  25:48

I'm thinking of borrowing this idea for a condo that I'm renovating, because, like, that's so clever but it's also useable. And the shape is magnificent. I'm sorry you can't see it. But it's square and it is just, it's the coolest thing. I really really love it. So when should someone say no to something? In a vintage store, antique store, junk store, Etsy, whatever?

 

Lauren Riddei  26:16

Yeah, that's a great question. So I would say my generation is minimalistic. Less is more but also that less has to have some sort of story connected to it. So when you're secondhand hunting, does this piece, is it durable? Does it have a maker's mark? Does it have a stamp? Does it have a signature? Can you refinish it? Can you paint it without it flaking off in a short time from now, right? So, are the bones good? And I think you can't change the bones of a furniture piece. But you can change the look with paint, and sheen of paint, and plaster, and different unique finishes. So if the bones speak to you, and it's real wood, that's a big deal too, that's going to last you a while. Over MDF or some cheaper materials that we are seeing with fast fashion and fast furniture.

 

Kimberly Grigg  27:14

Yes, yes, things, you know, things made long ago, were so well made. And now everything is so production made. And now it's also production made in other countries, when so much of the past was made right here in the United States, which is also very clever. And it makes me feel patriotic in so many ways. Alright, so I kind of want to... this is a big question. But I want to transition to this big question, because I think it's important. Living beautifully is not a necessity. Like it's not like water. It's not like the air that we breathe. Why is it important to live beautifully?

 

Lauren Riddei  28:08

To live beautifully, for me, is... it is an inner expression. It's who I'm created to be. And I think you can live beautifully really simply, it doesn't have to be pompous or expensive. But what is beautiful to you, is it, I mean, you could decorate your car.

 

Kimberly Grigg  28:31

I might. With a straw bag.

 

Lauren Riddei  28:36

That's right. I think to live beautifully is also, it's just how you approach creativity too. So, for me, I want to revive the old stuff. I don't think it's done living its best life.

 

Kimberly Grigg  28:54

That's really nice. It's really well put. Really well put and I agree. Are there things that Lauren does, that you do on lots of projects, it's kind of a signature or a hallmark that help people live more beautifully?

 

Lauren Riddei  29:14

Yeah, so I'm big on function too. So I think if it makes sense for that family then we can make it look beautiful. So I do have some signature modern selections in my builds and my renovations. I think I'm always gonna lean more just on the lighter palette. I love a pastel. I mean I'm just completely inspired by the coast of Florida and because of California, to me, it's this carefree energetic living that I want to help translate for my clients. I mean we are in a coastal town, but I would say I hope to encourage my clients too, towards reusing and revamping what has been in their history. And to not have the first thought of 'oh, it's, I need to throw it out'. No, let me see your warehouse. Let me see your storage unit, because you will be surprised what we pull out and use, because it has a story, because has meaning.

 

Kimberly Grigg  29:21

Absolutely.

 

Lauren Riddei  29:29

And I like a little patina. I like wear and tear. I'm not always super squeaky clean.

 

Kimberly Grigg  30:25

I do as well. And don't you think it it just makes everything more livable and more casual and carefree, and like you could put your feet up and really relax. And I think that's the hallmark of good design. Like you can put all the polish and all the stamps on everything. But if it doesn't live well, is it really that beautiful?

 

Lauren Riddei  30:48

Or if it terrifies your guests?

 

Kimberly Grigg  30:50

 Or your children? Or, you're right. I mean, it just, if you feel like you're walking in a museum, well that is a beautiful look, I suppose, it's just not a very beautiful liveable look. So do you have any pet peeves in design?

 

Lauren Riddei  31:09

Yeah, I'm sure I've got them. Let me think about it, you go first.

 

Kimberly Grigg  31:15

You know, I have thought about pet peeves in design. Almost all of them escape me right now. And it was just an off the wall question. But I do think that sometimes when I am working on something, sometimes people don't allow me to do my job. And that becomes a bit of a pet peeve. And I, because my job, I think, is to do you really, really well. And if I start getting all this pushback, then I get a little nervous that you're not going to be happy. And so I'm not able to, like, give you my best creativity. And I think that's kind of nice. I think if I have a design pet peeve, it's not finishing the project. So you, I see people do this, they polka dot their homes, like they have a finite budget, fine with the finite budget. Let's talk about it. So we got this finite budget. But then they'll buy something for this room, and then they'll go over here and buy something for this room, and then they'll buy something for... and so nothing, you've spent your entire budget, and nothing is complete. And to me it's almost disrespectful to the project. And I'm not saying you can't have the Unicorn List, you can. But if you have that finite budget, I feel like your list should be for that space. What do you need for that space so that something looks complete, so you can actually really enjoy it. Another pet peeve for me would be a room with no attention to the windows. Like that's a biggie for me. And I do a lot of drapery. I believe in drapery. I think it really adds a polish. I like layering drapery, nothing wrong in my book with Plantation Shutters and simple panels. Nothing wrong with a shade and simple panels. Sometimes nothing wrong with a simple shade. But when people get nervous about doing something to their windows, because they think it's going to destroy the view or whatever, you're really actually decorating the wall beside the window and not the window itself. So for me those are just a couple of things that I encounter, that have kind of ended up being like a little pet peeve-ish in the design world. So, anyway. All right. So here's a big question. If you had a hashtag that you want to be known for, I sometimes say it this way, you're too young for me to say a hashtag on your tombstone. So I'm not going to say that. I'm going to say if you have a hashtag that represented you, what would it say?

 

Lauren Riddei  34:03

How long can this hashtag be?

 

Kimberly Grigg  34:04

You know, just like Instagram, you go for it.

 

Lauren Riddei  34:08

The thing that comes to mind is 'no repeats'. The reason why I say no repeats is I think what is really encouraging to me about the design world is that we get to design people's homes for them. And they don't have to copy their neighbor or design their home hoping their best friend loves it. Like they get to design it for themselves and their families.

 

Kimberly Grigg  34:33

Great point. Really great point. I love that. I also love you. You're just precious, you're a breath of fresh air. It was so great to have you in and have you on this podcast. And if you didn't see It's Time To Design, you can go back through Facebook and Instagram. And you can watch the repeats on that. Lauren is a wealth of information. She might be a young designer but I'm telling you she is an old spirit. She really is so soulful. She has all of it going on. So tell everyone where they can find you.

 

Lauren Riddei  35:10

Okay, so just my regular Instagram is my name Lauren Riddei. But you'll find a lot of my design work at LouLou Interiors. And I did recently open up a vintage shop where I'm selling curated and collected conversation pieces.

 

Lauren Riddei  35:29

Yes, so I see stuff all the time. And I'm like, 'oh my gosh, someone needs this. It's interesting. It's odd. It's strange. It's cool. It's funky. It's fine'.

 

Kimberly Grigg  35:29

Wow I didn't know this!

 

Kimberly Grigg  35:38

So this is a physical location.

 

Lauren Riddei  35:39

It's all online, mostly on social media. So you will see it's called Shop LouLou Interiors. And it's eclectic, bespoke, vintage home decor.

 

Kimberly Grigg  35:50

I love it. I love it. Well, it's been wonderful to have you here. Thanks for joining me. And thank you, the listener, for tuning in. I'd love it if you'd rate, review and subscribe to the show. And I'll see you next time. Bye for now.

 

Kimberly Grigg  36:05

Thanks for listening to Decorate Like A Design Boss. If you want more info on how to decorate your space like a pro, visit KimberlyGriggDesigns.com. See you next week.