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Houzz Tour: Lauren Liess's Pure Style
Tour a Designer's Beautiful, Livable Family Home
Stepping inside the home of interior designer Lauren Liess — even virtually — feels like taking a refreshing sip of water. It's comfortingly classic, cool, and simple. Yet (and this is where the water analogy ends) for all the calm, natural elements, unexpected details abound. A dramatic chandelier, a postcard-turned large-scale print, a nursery in deeply saturated glossy blue — the details are original and eye-catching.
And did I mention practical? For all the beautiful touches, this Virginia home in the suburbs of D.C. is designed for the whole family: Lauren, her husband David and their two boys, Christian, 3, and Justin, 1. Designing a home for her family that encompassed her "pure style" aesthetic (that which is beautiful, natural, and easy, outlined in her eponymously named blog) didn't deter Liess. "Your home should be the backdrop for your life, not its focus, so relax and have fun with it," she says.
And did I mention practical? For all the beautiful touches, this Virginia home in the suburbs of D.C. is designed for the whole family: Lauren, her husband David and their two boys, Christian, 3, and Justin, 1. Designing a home for her family that encompassed her "pure style" aesthetic (that which is beautiful, natural, and easy, outlined in her eponymously named blog) didn't deter Liess. "Your home should be the backdrop for your life, not its focus, so relax and have fun with it," she says.
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Lauren likes to blend old and new pieces together with a hint of nature. "I love homes that feel highly personal, effortless and 'real' versus decorated or staged," she states. "A house has to look like someone really lives there for me to love it."
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The entryway is hung with Leonard da Vinci sketches taken from a book. The gold frames help unify the arrangement.
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Lauren had a 5"x7" Albrecht Durer print blown up and hung in the dining area of the living room.
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Machine washable slipcovers keep the chairs in the dining area clean and fresh. A cocoa bead chandelier hangs overhead.
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| An unfinished mantle takes center stage in the living room. |
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| "When designing a room, I start with the mood or atmosphere I want the space to have," says Lauren. "That desired feeling is the end goal and everything that goes into the room should help get it there." |
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While open shelving has as many detractors as admirers, Lauren couldn't be happier with her decision to tear out the kitchen's upper cabinets.
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"It really works for our lifestyle, and I doubt I’ll ever go back to having cabinet doors," she says. "Emptying the dishwasher got so much easier, I love seeing my collection of dishware all the time, and guests are free to just grab what they need."
Christian draws on the family's chalkboard-painted fridge.
Christian draws on the family's chalkboard-painted fridge.
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The family eats most of their meals in the breakfast nook of the kitchen.
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A Federal-style antique convex mirror is juxtaposed above an IKEA nightstand in the bedroom.
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Wall-to-wall seagrass carpet has garnered many admirers in the home. Not only is it durable, it resists stains too.
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Christian's closet doors are decorated with a chalkboard paint hill and a lion made out of vintage wallpaper.
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For families with young kids, decorating a home can be daunting. Lauren relies on kid-friendly fabrics, slipcovers and plenty of attractive storage. "Don’t give up just because you have kids," she says. "It’s not an excuse, just a challenge to rise above."
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"Make your decorating embrace your lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be formal or fragile to be beautiful."
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The dark navy walls in Justin's room are a dramatic touch.
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Lauren made the canopy out of a stenciled drop cloth.
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The chaise lounge provides the perfect spot to feed the baby. Artwork collected over the years adorns the walls.
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Fabric samples line the hallway to the home office/den.
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| A layered rug provides a soft area for the kids to play in the den. The cabinet was a gift from Lauren's dad. The ample storage space is great for stowing toys. |
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Lauren can spread her projects out on this large work table downstairs — another IKEA find.
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Lauren's collection of sea-themed flea market paintings finds a home above the sofa in the den.
Thanks Lauren, David, Christian and Justin for sharing your house with us!
Learn more about Lauren's work on her blog, Pure Style, or contact her for interior design services here.
More Houzz Tours:
It's a Bloomsbury Life
Three Men and a Lady's DIY Paradise
A Modern Renovation in Seattle
Thanks Lauren, David, Christian and Justin for sharing your house with us!
Learn more about Lauren's work on her blog, Pure Style, or contact her for interior design services here.
More Houzz Tours:
It's a Bloomsbury Life
Three Men and a Lady's DIY Paradise
A Modern Renovation in Seattle
Ideabook updated on Feb. 8, 2011.
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People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
They really pop in the decor and are healthy additions as well... not sure why people are afraid of plants....
THANK YOU!!
xoxo,
lauren
*Sigh*
Check this out: http://www.shopcandelabra.com/lazy-susan-wind-pendant.html