Etsy Designers at Home: Lockette
Priscilla Locke must have one of the brightest, most organized, beautiful work studios I've ever seen in my life. The amazing thing is she just moved in not long ago. I actually found her Vancouver studio online before I ever saw her finished products on Etsy (her seller name is Lockette). With such an inspiring studio, her work is as beautiful as I'd imagined. She creates original stationary that mixes fabric and paper. You can see and shop her designs in her Etsy Store. Let's take a look at how her talents with print, color, and texture translate in home decor!
Please tell us about your “first meeting” with your home.
My husband and I had been looking for a house for months. When we finally found our house, it was obvious that we could make it a home. It was built in 1912 in one of the oldest neighborhoods of Vancouver, Canada. We wanted an old house with loads of character and we got that with the high coffered ceilings, crown molding and hardwood floors but also didn’t have to sacrifice on updated electrical and plumbing. The bathrooms and kitchen were just as we wanted them - livable but outdated. We were looking forward to renovating a house and making it our own. It had everything we wanted and the potential was there.
What's your neighborhood like?
Our neighborhood is a mix of heritage homes and multi-family dwellings and our house is nestled between streets lined with nut trees. We are a few blocks away from the beach, and minutes away from the local university and the Downtown core.
What was the first step of your remodeling/decorating process?
We ripped out the old carpet and had the wooden floors underneath refinished and stained darker. They were a nice honey color but I always wanted darker floors. I know everyone says do floors LAST but our renovations on the main floor were minor and purely cosmetic. We also had moved from a small condo so we didn’t have a lot of furniture to move out of the way. We decided to get them done so we could start adding furniture right away.
What was the biggest renovation/design challenge you faced?
My biggest design challenge is my double-sided corner fireplace. I’m not a big fan of things on an angle and would have preferred to have the fireplace centered in the middle of a wall. However, I now feel like it adds character and makes the home unique.
What is your favorite style? Favorite color combos at the moment?
I don’t know if I’ve narrowed down my style yet but I always love to make sure a little vintage makes its way into my décor. I’m usually afraid to commit to colors but I’m venturing out of my safe creams and beiges for soft blues, greens and grays.
What is the spot in your house that makes you very happy and proud?
I’m most proud of the office. I really wanted the back wall to be a focal point so I spent a few hours taping and painting the stripes. The two colors looked almost identical from the paint chips but I knew the stripes would be subtle yet effective. This room was also completed on a budget with the entire room being furnished from Ikea.
What do you consider your most precious piece of furniture/accessory/art?
My most prized pieces of art are photos from my travels. I’ve enlarged and printed photos of my family and favorite places around the world. They are a constant reminder of the great memories I have.
What's your next house project?
Next on the renovation list is the basement ~ it’s affectionately call the “Man Cave” by my husband but and there are plans to put in a wine cellar, which I’m excited about. Also on the go are plans to tackle the living room, dining room and front hall. They are empty and need some furniture!
What are five things we should know about your Etsy store?
It’s a stationery store with a twist ~ everything is made by fusing fabric to paper.
The name Lockette comes from a variation of my last name.
Everything is made with love by my (or my mom’s) very own hands!
I hand write thank you notes to all my customers.
I came up with the idea on the back of my airline ticket on a flight after visiting with a friend.
What's your best tip for the remodeling/decorating beginner?
A lot can be achieved with paint. The stripes in the office took a little extra time to paint but in the end the effect was simple and dramatic. I’m not a fan of bright, bold colors but it’s an easy (and reversible) way to transform a room.
What is your biggest design pet peeve - a trend that bugs you or perhaps some over-used cliche or design television phrase?
Biggest pet peeve? It’s definitely chandeliers in lampshades! Please, no more.
Thank you so much for sharing your home with us Priscilla. Please keep us up to date on your renovations as they progress, we can't wait to see what you do!
Please tell us about your “first meeting” with your home.
My husband and I had been looking for a house for months. When we finally found our house, it was obvious that we could make it a home. It was built in 1912 in one of the oldest neighborhoods of Vancouver, Canada. We wanted an old house with loads of character and we got that with the high coffered ceilings, crown molding and hardwood floors but also didn’t have to sacrifice on updated electrical and plumbing. The bathrooms and kitchen were just as we wanted them - livable but outdated. We were looking forward to renovating a house and making it our own. It had everything we wanted and the potential was there.
What's your neighborhood like?
Our neighborhood is a mix of heritage homes and multi-family dwellings and our house is nestled between streets lined with nut trees. We are a few blocks away from the beach, and minutes away from the local university and the Downtown core.
What was the first step of your remodeling/decorating process?
We ripped out the old carpet and had the wooden floors underneath refinished and stained darker. They were a nice honey color but I always wanted darker floors. I know everyone says do floors LAST but our renovations on the main floor were minor and purely cosmetic. We also had moved from a small condo so we didn’t have a lot of furniture to move out of the way. We decided to get them done so we could start adding furniture right away.
What was the biggest renovation/design challenge you faced?
My biggest design challenge is my double-sided corner fireplace. I’m not a big fan of things on an angle and would have preferred to have the fireplace centered in the middle of a wall. However, I now feel like it adds character and makes the home unique.
What is your favorite style? Favorite color combos at the moment?
I don’t know if I’ve narrowed down my style yet but I always love to make sure a little vintage makes its way into my décor. I’m usually afraid to commit to colors but I’m venturing out of my safe creams and beiges for soft blues, greens and grays.
What is the spot in your house that makes you very happy and proud?
I’m most proud of the office. I really wanted the back wall to be a focal point so I spent a few hours taping and painting the stripes. The two colors looked almost identical from the paint chips but I knew the stripes would be subtle yet effective. This room was also completed on a budget with the entire room being furnished from Ikea.
What do you consider your most precious piece of furniture/accessory/art?
My most prized pieces of art are photos from my travels. I’ve enlarged and printed photos of my family and favorite places around the world. They are a constant reminder of the great memories I have.
What's your next house project?
Next on the renovation list is the basement ~ it’s affectionately call the “Man Cave” by my husband but and there are plans to put in a wine cellar, which I’m excited about. Also on the go are plans to tackle the living room, dining room and front hall. They are empty and need some furniture!
What are five things we should know about your Etsy store?
It’s a stationery store with a twist ~ everything is made by fusing fabric to paper.
The name Lockette comes from a variation of my last name.
Everything is made with love by my (or my mom’s) very own hands!
I hand write thank you notes to all my customers.
I came up with the idea on the back of my airline ticket on a flight after visiting with a friend.
What's your best tip for the remodeling/decorating beginner?
A lot can be achieved with paint. The stripes in the office took a little extra time to paint but in the end the effect was simple and dramatic. I’m not a fan of bright, bold colors but it’s an easy (and reversible) way to transform a room.
What is your biggest design pet peeve - a trend that bugs you or perhaps some over-used cliche or design television phrase?
Biggest pet peeve? It’s definitely chandeliers in lampshades! Please, no more.
Thank you so much for sharing your home with us Priscilla. Please keep us up to date on your renovations as they progress, we can't wait to see what you do!
So here is the beautiful room where the magic happens!
Q