A Photographer Couple’s Beachy “Treehouse” in Melbourne, Florida By: Lauren Chorpening

I love when work means travel. I value getting to take in new places and experiences whenever possible, but I need a home base. There’s nothing like coming home to my peaceful house after being gone. This photographer duo has created a bright, beachy space that allows them to find rest and calmness in between trips and projects.

Beulah Anne Ekkelenkamp is a fine art photographer, fashion photographer and online shop owner and her husband, Alex, is a fine art wedding photographer. They contract separate clients and also own a destination wedding photography business together that takes them all over the world. Their home is an important touchpoint for them when their weeks are full of projects, people and new places. “The size is perfect for the two of us; it’s spacious but not too large to feel empty. It’s low maintenance, so it’s perfect for two people who are constantly traveling and on the go. As self-employed newlyweds, renting this apartment has truly been a pleasure,” says Beulah. The home’s white backdrop, natural textures and minimal amounts of furniture keep the space low-maintenance, yet inspiring. “My husband and I chose our home because it was a more private town-home style apartment surrounded by a lot of lush greenery. I am most thankful for the natural light, high ceilings, and the trees right outside our windows. We’ve nicknamed our home The Treehouse because it feels as if we’re up in the trees.”

They’re currently based out of Melbourne, FL but Beulah is originally from Brooklyn, NY and Alex recently moved from Alberta, Canada. Their beachy home reflects both where they are and where they’re from. “My decorating goals were to create a type of coastal living atmosphere that was clean, open, and minimal, but still cozy and welcoming, and not sterile. We live 10 minutes from the beach, so I wanted [to] incorporate that feel, but I’m a native New Yorker, and didn’t quite want to live in a typical beach house,” says Beulah. “I rented the apartment before my husband (then fiancé) moved here from Canada. He thought he was arriving to stacks of boxes and beige walls. I surprised him by having the apartment painted and decorated before he arrived! With immigration, visas, and packing and moving everything he owned, he was so relieved to move into a finished space.” Their simplistic, sweet space allows Alex and Beulah to retreat whenever they are home without having to worry about clutter or upkeep. –Lauren

Photography by Beulah Anne Ekkelenkamp

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Renovated 1890s Terrace House in The Netherlands By: Lauren Chorpening

I watch my fair share of home-improvement shows. I’m excited to own a home some day – hopefully a 1930s craftsman bungalow – but watching these shows has opened me up to the realities and stresses of renovations. Some issues you can expect and some seem to come out of nowhere. Tip and Michael looked at over 150 places (while living in Australia) before they found their terraced house in Utrecht, The Netherlands. They knew it would need some work and creativity to make it their own, but didn’t know all that would be involved.

Tip Atkins Moore, a teacher, blogger and creative adviser, and Michael, a sustainable IT professional and lecturer, found this 1896 home almost seven years ago after a long search. “It was a lot cheaper as nothing had been done to it for 20 years and I was up for something I could put my stamp on (silly, in hindsight, with a child under 2 and another on the way!). There was a lot to fix but [it] had good bones and some lovely, old features,” Tip says. “The largest challenge with a lot of these older homes, even though the character is fantastic, is that they were built without a kitchen or a bathroom, so finding the space for these things while still having enough room for a modern family is hard.” Unexpected challenges — like woodworm, cracked sewage pipes and having their three-week kitchen remodel turn into three months — came up within the first year of living there, but the family has seen their home through those issues and are settled in to their beautiful space.

Looking at Tip and Michael’s bright, gorgeous home, you’d never know it was in such bad shape before they got their hands on it. “I wanted to create a home that served the needs of a family with kids and could grow with us and our needs. It had to be cozy, fun and inviting because we also love to entertain guests,” Tip says. “There is still a lot left to work on to get the house up to par in terms of modern standards, so we are doing it bit by bit, as we manage to save enough money. We love our home, though, and while there are nice-to-haves on the wishlist, we live here happily and comfortably.” This Dutch home has been a labor of love and can finally provide Tip and her family with everything they need to live. —Lauren

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A Handmade Home in the Bay Area By: Lauren Chorpening

The night before Becca Piastrelli and her husband Tim were going to sign a lease for a rental in another town, a poorly written and poorly photographed ad for a house in Mill Valley, CA popped up. It was where they wanted to be. Becca trusted her intuition and went to the open house and they both found what they were looking for. Timing is everything sometimes, and even the most thorough searches can be set off by one last look.

Becca is a full-time blogger, maker and doer. “I am passionate about dabbling and making — working with my hands is what makes me happiest. I used to work in the corporate tech industry in San Francisco, but found I was much happier making lip balm and kombucha than presenting power points to executive boards,” Becca says. “So I made the leap into blogging full-time several years ago and haven’t looked back.” Tim is a computer engineer who loves all things practical and efficient.

The bohemian-meets-semi-traditional vibe in this space is a fair representation of the couple. “The decorating process has been an organic one. I’ve learned, over the years, to patiently wait for the right pieces to come across your path,” Becca says. “We wanted it to feel cozy, magical, and like a blend of our two styles. My style is natural with a bit of worldly woo woo (my own term) and my husband’s is modern with a hint of Star Wars. We make quite the pair and a lot of that is reflected in our home together.” The mix of cool green walls and architectural quirks in the home supports both styles, allowing the couple to feel creative and inspiring them to continue to make their home a collaborative and loved space. —Lauren

Photography by Rosa Delgado

SOURCE LIST

LIVING ROOM
Couch – IKEA
Turkish Kilim Pillows – Etsy
Bar Hutch – Alameda Flea Market
Ottoman Bench – Alameda Flea Market
Diffuser – Saje Natural Wellness
Standing Lamp – Amazon

KITCHEN
Wood Clock – Viva Terra

ENTRYWAY
Rug – Gift from Morrocco
Wood Cabinet – Viva Terra
Key Holder – handmade

BEDROOM
Bed – Living Spaces
Duvet – IKEA
Throw Pillows – West Elm
Side Lamps – World Market

DINING ROOM
Table – World Market
Sari Rug – World Market
Fruit Bowl – Heath Ceramics
Candleholders – Viva Terra

WORKSPACE
Standing Desk – IKEA
Calendar – Rifle Paper Co.

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14 Beautiful Rugs that Make a Room By: Lauren Chorpening

One month last summer, I bought three rugs from three separate places with no real place for them to end up in my home. I had been looking for rugs for over a year and really couldn’t commit to any, and then all of a sudden, there were so many that I had to have. Rugs are tricky that way – being the right pattern but the wrong color or the right weave but the wrong size – but some are perfect. Design*Sponge has featured so many gorgeous rugs that remarkably complete the rooms they adorn. These are some of the best rugs that have shown up on our site over the last few years. —Lauren

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D*S Team Tours: Lauren’s Prewar Apartment in Des Moines, IA By: Lauren Chorpening

A little while ago, Grace asked the whole Design*Sponge team if we’d be up for doing home tours of our own places. I was so excited and then immediately was overwhelmed with a list of things I needed to do to get ready. Some of the things on the list were essentials – clean, finish started projects, and figure out what angles to shoot. Some were not essentials, like buying and rewiring a new dining room light fixture and hopefully finding the perfect coffee table that I’ve been in search of for years now. I didn’t finish everything on my list before shooting, but I did get a better understanding of the process that I’m asking of our featured homeowners and why they respond, “I’m so nervous and excited,” right before their home tour goes live. I feel you. Getting to show my home here on D*S is an honor. Even though it’s not ready and I could list a dozen new things I still want to do to it. That’s the great thing about Design*Sponge – we showcase real homes.

I moved into my 1915 brick apartment building two years ago. It’s located in a historic neighborhood in Downtown Des Moines called Sherman Hill and it is a beautiful area. I am so thankful for the thick wood trim and amazing natural light in my home. I’m a furniture and paint junkie, so I got to work right away, trying to make my home feel simple and beautiful while being on a very real budget. I rearrange and restyle more than I really want to say, but it is one of the most calming, endorphin-inducing things to me. I love seeing spaces change and improve and I love that I can make that a reality with my home whenever I need to feel inspired.

My home is filled with Craigslist redesigns, hand-built pieces and a few items I saved up for. I like styled objects but I don’t like clutter and I love an empty wall as much as I love a gallery. It’s not done, but I like that I get to continue to reimagine what my home could be some day. And I’m thankful for the home it is right now. —Lauren

Photography by Austin Day

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A Lovely, Eclectic Home in Bristol By: Lauren Chorpening

Sometimes I see these rules floating around the internet about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to decorating. There are rules on everything from frame size, to how may objects should be grouped together, to buying the correct-sized rug. Generally, they are helpful guidelines, but sometimes I feel stuck or even wrong if the rules don’t seem to work for my spaces. Creating a space that is unique, beautiful and personal takes some rule breaking. Lou and Dan have made their home whimsical, cheery and lovely – and without sticking to a formula.

Lou Archell, lifestyle writer and blogger, and Dan Taylor, painter, decorator and craftsman, moved into their 1890s Victorian home 10 years ago. Since then, they’ve had two children, Charlie (9) and Rufus (7), and have renovated every room in the house. Finding the home was simplified by knowing what area in which they wanted to live. “Our neighborhood, to me, is one [of] the best places to live in Bristol. It is full of independent shops and cafes and has a great community buzz to it. After renting in this area for many years prior to buying this house, we knew this neighborhood was for us,” Lou says. “We chose this house as it lives on a small, quiet street. It was in a poor condition and needed modernization to make it a liveable family home. The price, of course, reflected this and we bought a bargain.” Lou and Dan didn’t just restore this house – in the end, the transformation reflects their family and their creative vision in every room.

The bright accents, vintage pieces and playful arrangement of artwork and decor makes every corner, shelf and wall come alive. “Ten years on, we have completely gutted and renovated every room in the house. I wouldn’t say our home is finished, as there are always projects on the go,” Lou says. “I love decorating, changing rooms around and rethinking spaces. Decorating our home had to reflect our personalities. Dan and I love handcrafted items, furniture, ceramics and also natural elements. Our space has evolved over time.” This eclectic, welcoming home isn’t by-the-book and it is a lovely example of the power of intuition. —Lauren

Photography by Laura Pashby-James

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