FRIENDS OF THE KUOTES
Hi cuties! I am so excited to share this gorgeous reveal of our latest collaboration with blogger Olivia Rink. You may remember that we worked with the adorable Olivia back in 2019 on putting the finishing touches on her modern classic-meets-glam NYC bedroom. At the time, she was settling into the city after moving from Chicago. Flash forward to COVID-19 pandemic and Olivia and her fiancé Conner made the decision to move back to her hometown of Granger, Indiana–which meant she was back in her childhood bedroom and in need of a refresh.
“Moving from New York City to Indiana has been quite the change of pace for me, but to be honest, it’s been so refreshing,” Olivia explains. “Although most of my and my fiancé’s lives have been packed away in storage for almost a year now, finally having a space that felt like our own has been a game changer.”
From new homes to empty nests, our interior design team is here to help you love where you live.
From new homes to empty nests, our interior design team is here to help you love where you live.
When we started work on this design project with Olivia, her childhood bedroom was, as she described it, a “hodgepodge” in terms of decor and colors. The walls were a very bright teal with lime green wall shelves and a mix of decor styles from Olivia’s teenage and young adult selves. Our goal was to transform the bedroom into an oasis for her to be able to feel instantly calm and comfortable, but that also featured a chic and functional work space. She also knew she wanted decor elements that felt upscale and Parisian.
The result? Read on to see the epic transformation–complete with mind-blowing before and after photos–and learn more about Olivia Rink’s serene French-inspired decor vision.
This room has seen all the phases–from hot pink walls and inflatable furniture to lime green paint and an N*SYNC shrine on the wall. Then, when my fiancé and I moved home from NYC during COVID, it became a hodgepodge of both childhood and adult-life belongings.
This is a room I’ve spent a lot of time in, and will be a room that my fiancé Conner and I stay in every time we visit my parents. I wanted it to feel comfortable, serene, and like a home away from home for us. The overall direction I wanted to go in was clean and sophisticated with a Parisian-chic flair. Since my parents have this modern, Greek-aesthetic going on throughout the house, I thought adding a little touch of France would mix well with the European vibe.
I love every piece we picked out, but one of my favorites is the white slipcovered swivel glider. I also love the figure drawing art pieces–Figure Drawing No. 16 and Figure Drawing No. 17–framed in gold that came from Minted. The swivel is the most comfortable rocker chair you’ll ever sit in and the fabric is beautiful! The set of art framed in gold hanging above the desk is my favorite art I’ve ever owned. It would truly look amazing in any room.
My parents live in a small town in northern Indiana called Granger, and they have lived in this house since I was 3 years old. Getting to spend all of this extra time with my family has been such an unexpected blessing and I love how close my parents have been able to get with my fiancé, Conner.
I’ve been spending so much time in this room because it’s also where I work from home during the day. I can’t tell you how much I love this desk and coordinating desk chair with gold hardware. The space feels peaceful, organized, and inspiring–all important aspects of an effective home office! Just add a relaxing WFH playlist on Spotify and I’m in my element.
Waking up early and sticking to a routine has made all the difference this year. I start with a morning workout and healthy breakfast before getting the work day started. Also, putting my phone away while working on emails or other projects that don’t require my phone has really helped with my productivity during the day.
It was so fun getting to brainstorm and collaborate on ideas about my vision for the room with the KKH team. One of my favorite aspects of the entire process was when my KKH designer Raleene revealed the two mock-up designs for me to choose from. She pulled my ideas together so perfectly and brought my vision to life better than I could have imagined. One of the most creative aspects for me was finishing up the room with personal design touches to complete the room. That’s always my favorite part of decorating.
One of the most challenging aspects was being patient when it came to shipping delays due to the interruption of the supply chain! I’m sure anyone re-doing a room or home right now can relate. When you start from scratch and slowly get the pieces in one by one, sometimes it’s hard to fully visualize how it will turn out.
I left little pieces in the room that have special significance in my life for nostalgic purposes. My wooden “Olivia” stool, a glass heart from my grandma, favorite photos with my family, special books, and things like that.
My advice is, regardless of where you’re currently living, put some effort into making that space (or at least a little part of it) feel like your own. There’s just something about an organized, peaceful environment that helps you feel more relaxed, comfortable, and like yourself. It can be as simple as adding plants, changing the paint color, or decluttering. Or if you’re looking for a bigger project to help spark some creativity, KKH’s design services are the perfect way to get started!
Need design help? In addition to being a source for beautiful high quality furnishings and decor, Kathy Kuo Home has a team of professional interior designers that are ready to assist with all of your interior design needs. Our services provide multiple layout and design options that fit your style and budget for any room. You will work with a team of designers and project managers to help you truly love where you live.
Call (888) 908-3486 or email designs@kathykuohome.com today to get started!
Need design help? In addition to being a source for beautiful high quality furnishings and decor, Kathy Kuo Home has a team of professional interior designers that are ready to assist with all of your interior design needs. Our services provide multiple layout and design options that fit your style and budget for any room. You will work with a team of designers and project managers to help you truly love where you live.
Call (888) 908-3486 or email designs@kathykuohome.com today to get started!
