Her Home, Her Style: A Growing Family's Farmhouse

Friends! For this third installment of "Bad-Ass Ladies with Great Style and Decorating Bravado," allow me to introduce you to Emily, aka a the creative mind behind MStarr Design in the Boston area. Emily is another one of the lovely ladies who allowed me and Joyelle West to shoot her space for my upcoming book Your Home, Your Style.

As a longtime event stylist who has masterminded some pretty impressive celebrations, Emily is a seasoned pro with invitations, table settings and more than knows her way around a flower market. Over time, though, her curatorial eye led her to experiment more and more with home decor.

One look at Emily's space shows her innate talent, and these days, she's growing a following among other homeowners who connect with her elevated yet approachable take on style at home. She shares her home with her husband and an almost-two year old, plus a dog, so you can be sure her style accommodates a hectic family routine. 

Read on to hear what style at home means to her. And if you haven't pre-ordered your copy of YHYS, do it here! 

A post shared by emily starr alfano (@mstarrevdesign) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:21am PST

Do you have a decorating philosophy? What is it? 
Make your own rules. Yes, I know there are some tried-and-true design tips, but if you like the way seemingly unrelated items look and can find a way to display them together, do it! Do you love that vintage rug that is an odd, small size? Layer it over a simple, larger rug! There are always ways to make the things you love work.

Tell me about your current home. What do you like most about it? 
We've been in our home for almost 4 years, and it's been around for almost 200! It's a farmhouse from the 1830's and full of charm. The house has been well taken care of over the years, but there are still plenty of quirks (think low doorknobs, low ceilings, and nearly vertical, narrow stairs). Even though it was an addition to the home at some point, I love our kitchen. It's bright and airy and its open shelving provides endless styling opportunities.

A post shared by emily starr alfano (@mstarrevdesign) on Jan 30, 2018 at 6:04pm PST

Joyelle and I had so much fun shooting your space for Your Home, Your Style. What surprised you most about having your home photographed?
Joyelle has actually photographed the house four different times for different blogs and publications, so she's well-versed in its quirks! But I'm always impressed with how she's able to capture its best angles despite the low ceilings, odd-shaped rooms, and awkward positions of the doors.

What were the biggest challenges in furnishing and decorating your spaces?
Let's be honest... I'm never done with anything! The stylist in me is constantly making changes, and the mama in me is constantly working on efficiency and practicality. Other than the kitchen, all of the rooms in our home are relatively small. Many are small and an odd shape, so that's been challenging. The bedroom has been the toughest room to furnish and decorate, hence why we've done the least to it! 

Anything you’d do differently if you were to start over today?
I'd redo the floors before we moved in. Much of the hardwood is the original flooring, which I do like, but I'd prefer a lighter, less orange-toned color. And ideally, I'd want a wide-plank, lighter wood! Someday...

When you’re shopping, what colors, materials, and types of items can you never resist?
I'm drawn to basically any shade of blue, and these days, a dusty moss or sage green, too. Black accents are my jam. I also love blankets and pillows with various textures, and any type of functional or decorative vase/vessel/pitcher. 

A post shared by emily starr alfano (@mstarrevdesign) on Jan 16, 2018 at 9:53am PST

What’s one purchase you’ve never regretted? 
An actual kitchen island.  

What was your most recent home-decor project or purchase?
I'm just about done converting my home office/studio, which had really turned into a glorified storage closet, into a combo playroom/office! Between clearing out the old stuff, reorganizing, deciding what to keep/donate/sell/throw out, and then finding new pieces that fit the space both physically and aesthetically, it's been the biggest and longest project we've tackled to date. I've loved the process, though!

Anything you want to add or change next? 
Our bedroom. A new sofa. A new fan or light fixture in the living room. I could go on!

What’s your go-to source for design inspiration? 
It's still probably instagram. The vastness of inspiration and talented folks on Instagram get my brain going. I'm currently into following hashtags as well as people... #MyDomaine and #simplystyleyourspace are good ones to follow!

Her Home, Her Style: Bold Glamour in the ‘Burbs

With less than three weeks to my book release, I’m continuing my Q&A series with some of the awesome homeowners who let me and photographer Joyelle West capture their spaces for the book. Next up: Alisa.

A few years ago, this gal and her family moved from a chic condo in my Boston neighborhood to a suburb just west of the city. A fashion stylist and mom of two, Alisa blogs and ‘grams on the side as @modamamarazzi and @styleproductions, as well as at @msfitforsociety (with Jessica Diaz, the amazing woman who helped me recognize when I was having a stroke). Alisa and I met at a local playground and quickly realized we had many mutual friends, not to mention a shared love of home decor. I knew I'd be shooting her new home outside the city as soon as I saw how she'd hand-painted her hardwood floors:

A post shared by Alisa Kapinos (@styleproductions) on Sep 21, 2015 at 2:44pm PDT

One thing that struck me about Alisa's style is this: While it can lean purposefully over-the-top glamorous, it’s also shockingly family-friendly.

A post shared by Alisa Kapinos (@modamamarazzi) on Nov 12, 2016 at 2:14pm PST

While her picks are often glitzy, they still work with her family's routine. There are baking parties, soccer balls in the hallway, and messy painting projects, just like in any other home with kids. No sacrifices for good looks!

Being a mom doesn't keep this gal from tinkering with her decor in the least. As proof, here’s how she has restyled her formal living room in the months after we shot it for Your Home, Your Style.

A post shared by Alisa Kapinos (@styleproductions) on Dec 26, 2016 at 10:35am PST

I won't give away much more from inside her home, because I want y'all to BUY THE BOOK, but here's a little Q&A with Alisa about her home and style. And, oh yeah: BUY MY BOOK! 

Do you have a decorating philosophy? What is it?
I believe design should not only be beautiful, but functional. Sometimes pieces can fit into my design purely for their beauty, but when they serve a purpose, that makes me feel like I've knocked it out of the park!

Tell me about your current home. What do you like most about it?
We bought our home almost three years ago. It's a circa-1951 center-entrance that hadn't been touched since it was built. What I like most about it is that its original layout was exactly right for creating the flow that I wanted. My dream was to have a vast kitchen island, a separate space for dining, and an open but functional family space, and this floorplan was perfectly suited for it.

Joyelle and I had so much fun shooting your space for Your Home, Your Style. What surprised you most about having your home photographed?
I had a blast watching your team work on this project! Honestly, I worked so hard on designing this home, which I did all by myself, and I never got the chance to step back and admire it. Having the shoot at my house taught me to appreciate all the little details; it taught me to appreciate how much sunlight my house gets at every single angle, all day long. One thing that surprised me was the lengths photographers will go to to get that perfect shot... Even crawl into the smallest corner of the smallest bathroom while holding a giant reflector.

What were the biggest challenges in furnishing and decorating your spaces?
I had two big challenges. One was the budget. After spending so much on the renovation of our home, it was hard to fathom spending even more on furniture that would showcase the home like I wanted. I had to search for months and months for pieces that fit my style at affordable prices. And the second challenge was that I have two little boys constantly running around this home, not to mention two dogs. Almost all the furnishings I chose had to be safe. No sharp corners, no glass, nothing that tips too easily, fabrics that are easily cleaned—all while keeping my design aesthetic intact.

Anything you’d do differently if you were to start over today?
I ask myself that question all the time. And the answer is, for the most part, no. I would have chosen a different hood for the kitchen and maybe thought through the functionality of the light switches in the main rooms a bit more, but aesthetically speaking, if I were to start over today, I'd probably do the exact same thing.

When you’re shopping, what colors, materials, and types of items can you never resist?
I am obsessed with anything marble and light-colored crystal stones, like quartz. I have them strewn all over my home. I love anything black, white and gray. And I'm a huge sucker for vases because I'm obsessed with flowers and gardening.

A post shared by Alisa Kapinos (@styleproductions) on Jun 21, 2017 at 4:59pm PDT

What’s one purchase you’ve never regretted?
My kitchen island. It was one of the most expensive pieces in our home, and I waited 9 weeks for it, but it is the best thing I've ever spent money on!

What was your most recent home-decor project or purchase?
I finally completed my formal living room. For the longest time after we moved in, it was the "yard sale" room: a jumble of all the spare furniture from our last house, with the exception of two pink chairs that I bought the week we moved into this home. It's taken three years, but I've finally finished my pink and green, Palm Beach-inspired room.

Anything you want to add or change next?
As my two boys are growing older, I'm sure I'll be redoing their bedrooms to be more mature and less kid-like. But I'm always changing my rooms' decor, because I like change. Each season, for instance, I'll change what's around my mantel, or I'll put out different vases or jars on my kitchen island and dining room table. I'm always thinking, "What's next? What's fresh?" It's fun to be able to make little changes and use my creative energy. It makes a big difference.

What’s your go-to source for design inspiration?
As cheesy as this sounds, anything at all! It could be a trip to NYC,  going to the beach, or a random image in a magazine.  I always look to design books, Instagram, Pinterest and fashion magazines for inspiration as well.

Her Home, Her Style: Bohemian Ease in New England

With the release of my book Your Home, Your Style fast approaching (March 20! Get your pre-orders in!), I thought it would be fun to share a bit of backstory on a few of the homes featured within. You see, when  selecting rooms to shoot, photographer Joyelle West and I put our heads together and made a list of people we knew with great personal style, and whose homes reflected their confidence and willingness to express themselves through their decor.

One factor that was REALLY important to me was that none of the owners were trained interior designers—the message of the book, after all, is that anyone can create a home that feels like you want it to, if you approach the process with a little self-awareness and savvy.

First up: Lindsey, a colleague of mine whose home oozes happy vibes. Just look at this place.

Source: @NewEnglandLoom

Lindsey works in public relations, but she also harbors a not-so-secret passion for vintage rugs. That interest blossomed a few years ago when planning her wedding; Lindsey’s dream of setting the reception scene with vintage rugs sent her scouring New England’s flea markets and the Internet to find great pieces and deals. Her hunt ultimately led to three amazing things: one, a picture-perfect wedding featured on Style Me Pretty; two, a side business sourcing and selling unique rugs, New England Loom; and three, a house full of gorgeous, hand-knotted patterns and fringe. 

A post shared by New England Loom (@newenglandloom) on Sep 3, 2017 at 9:50am PDT

Here is a behind-the-scenes pic from our shoot. The cute dog didn’t make it into print, sadly. Arf. 

Read on for a little Q&A about this gal’s home and style. And to see Joyelle’s pro pics of this amazing pad, order your copy of Your Home, Your Style ASAP!

Do you have a decorating philosophy? What is it?

Texture and layering is key! I’m all about making rooms feel cozy, and believe you can never have too many rugs, throw pillows, or knit blankets.

Tell me about your current home. What do you like most about it?

I would describe our interior decorating style as “coastal meets boho”. My style is very influenced by the East Coast, where I grew up, but also pulls in a more modern California aesthetic. Our home is a one-story cottage, and it's shaped like a “U” that wraps around a middle outdoor patio. I love the overall flow that the shape creates. The layout means that almost every single room has 3 exterior facing walls that let in amazing natural light, and each room also has French doors leading outside. In the summer months, we almost treat the patio as a second living room, and we can walk straight out our kitchen across the patio to our bedroom without ever going through the rest of the house.

Joyelle and I had so much fun shooting your space for Your Home, Your Style. What surprised you most about having your home photographed?

Well, you and I have worked together on several celebrity design projects in the past, but it was so fun seeing my own home through the lens of a camera! I think what surprised me most was how much plants/greenery can make or break a shot. We already have several plants throughout our home and you brought a few to play with for the shoot. It was interesting to see how just a little fern or succulent could add so much life to the room and photo.

Anything you’d do differently if you were to start over today?

I would have waited on some of the paint colors. I was in such a rush to get things painted before we moved in that I made paint decisions before I knew what the rooms would look like, from a décor standpoint. Now that we’ve fully furnished each room, some of the paint colors just aren’t right and it bugs me every day! Repainting some of the rooms is definitely on the (long) lists of home to-dos.

What were the biggest challenges in furnishing and decorating your spaces?

Again, choosing the paint colors!! I am fairly decisive when it comes to décor and had a very clear vision of how I wanted our home to look and feel, but for whatever reason my mind doesn’t work the same way with paint. There are just so many options and I have a lot of trouble visualizing how a paint colors will look against a larger design scheme.

 When you’re shopping, what colors, materials, and types of items can you never resist?

I’m a big fan of the color blue, which comes from my coastal New England roots, I think, so most rooms in our home incorporate that color somehow. I also find myself always drawn to natural woods—I love how much texture they bring to a space. We’ve incorporated wood elements into almost every room: DIY floating shelves in our kitchen made from old floor boards, shiplap in our bathroom, a live edge wood coffee table in our living room, custom wood herringbone closet doors in our guest bedroom.. The list goes on!

What’s one purchase you’ve never regretted?

Our collection of vintage rugs. They add so much color, history and character to the rooms in our home and really anchor each space. I also incorporated many of them into our wedding before buying our home, which makes them that much more special. They just get better with time, and more beautiful every time I look at them.

What was your most recent home-decor project or purchase?

The most recent project we completed was the little half bath off our kitchen, which literally started as an empty room. We’ve slowly added things like flooring, beadboard, lighting and a vanity over time. The last step was wallpapering the top half of the wall with wallpaper. I fell in love with this bird print from Bob Collins, but couldn’t justify the price tag. When I showed it to my sister she told me she could easily paint it, and while I was skeptical, I let her. I think I love the result even more than the original! This little powder room now makes me so, so happy.

Our most recent purchase was the Article Sven sofa, which was one of the best décor decisions we’ve ever made. The shape and camel color instantly gave our very traditional family room a more modern look, and the leather is so easy keep clean despite our two pups constantly chasing each other all over it. It’s also incredibley comfortable – we’ve already enjoyed many lazy Sundays in front of the fire on this couch!

Anything you want to add or change next?

Our next project will be renovating our guest bathroom. It honestly scares me a bit as it’s the biggest thing my husband and I have ever taken on from a DIY perspective, but I’m so excited for the end result! We will be changing almost everything (tile, vanity, shower, tub lighting etc.) as well as hopefully adding a window to let in some natural light, so I can’t wait to see the transformation.

What’s your go-to source for design inspiration?

I’m an Instagram addict and I definitely get most of my design inspiration through scrolling through my feed each day. I love that you can now save images within Instagram, and my saved folder is admittedly all interiors that I love and reference often.

Obsessed With: Juniper

I’m just back from a trendspotting trip to New York, where I saw all manner of funky home decor. Mudcloth was there in a big way (Did I not call this in 2015?), as was macrame and tons of really Coachella-y bohemian decor.

Well. Maybe I’m getting older, but every time I go to one of these shows it seems to be getting easier for me to say “that’s gorgeous, but it’s not for me.” Which is all to say that as much as I love boho vibes, the trends out there right now are a bit too funky even for my tastes. I just can’t do cacti or succulents or throws that are more fringe than blanket. It just wouldn’t feel at home in my very upright Bostonian home or with the rest of my stuff.

Enter today’s theme: Juniper. I started to notice myself gravitating toward this shade around the holidays, when pulled out some grayish-blue wooden beads for my Christmas tree and realized they picked up on the juniper berries in my mantel greenery from Mahoney’s in Winchester, MA. The ribbons I picked out were also a sort of grayed-out blue. The shade speaks to all of the worn and bohemian looks I’ve been seeing around, but it feels pretty and traditional at the same time. It’s also the perfect transition shade for late winter.

So here you go: My take on what’s trending right now, anchored by a not-quite-bohemian shade of blue.

1. Javier runner, $182, AllModern. 2. Regina Andrew Malibu chandelier in Weathered Blue, $1,623, Perigold. 3. Framed “Emerging Palms” print by Kristin Gaudio Ensley, $97, The Maryn. 4. Pom Pom at Home Baya three-piece cotton basket set in Sky, $155, Perigold. 5. Le Bird large bowl in Bonaparte Blue, $240, Jill Rosenwald. 6. Gray tie-dyed fringe throw, $198, Jayson Home.

Home Office Makeover!

Since I’m on the topic of long-overdue updates, let’s talk about my husband’s office, shall we? The last time I mentioned it, I was on a quest to replace the World’s Ugliest Office Chair, which I did.

But then the room pretty much sat untouched, continuing to accumulate boxes of paperwork, miscellaneous décor pieces from other rooms of the house, and packaging material (he now runs his own wine company, the Upper Glass, from home). I needed an excuse to spruce it up—to get it a little closer to the handsome yet eclectic den that it will someday be.

That excuse came in December, when in the course of my day job as a content creator for Wayfair brands, the team was looking for an office to make over as part of a “small spaces” series. I pounced. You can head over to Wayfair to read about the project in detail, but here’s a sneak peek of what we did.

All images credit Allison Sepanek for Wayfair.com.

My favorite new addition has to be the bamboo-inspired etageres. They’re navy, which is hard to see at a glance, and the high-gloss finish gives them some oomph.

While I won’t call this room finished yet—I really do want to add some handsome wood wall detailing, add some concealed storage, and replace the overhead light fixture—it’s definitely looking more put-together than ever before. Click through to see the other half of the office, and let me know what you think!