In honor of it being Monday aka the start of another workweek, I am sharing some major office inspiration vibes with the latest from Julia of Lemon Stripes. I say - latest - because Julia has popped up as early as 2015on the GM blog. An early supporter of my work, I really love to keep up with Julia, especially when it comes to her decorating projects.
Based in Connecticut with her husband, daughter and adorable pup, Julia has slowly but surely been decorating their new home; new being relative, of course, as it was almost two years ago that they moved in. As we all know, though decorating takes time, so I am always happy to hear from Julia when she's tackling a new room.Needless to say, Julia did not disappoint when it came to her selection and I'm thrilled to share her newly completed office featuring a variety of GM pieces.
In addition to the specifics of this room, Julia and I ended up talking quite extensively about her growing collection of my work. In fact, it's completely fair to say that she is a bonafide collector! It is the biggest compliment to have a repeat client and better yet...get a chance to talk about, see beautiful interior photos of annnnd best of all, share it with YOU!
Hi Everyone, it's always such a pleasure chatting art and decor with Gray, so I'm very happy to be here with you all today! It was such a surreal moment when Gray and I were talking, and we had this moment of realization that I am nowthe (very proud) owner of SIX of his pieces. Time flies when you're having fun and decorating with wanderlust inspired artwork!
Gray asked me quite a few questions that I thoroughly enjoyed answering, as it was like a trip down memory lane. In no particular order let's begin...
You have quite a GM collection, which was your first and what is your most recent?
I do! The first was this Aqua Glam print of synchronized swimmers that I bought on sale probably five years ago. She (yes she) lives in our kitchen now and people always comment on how unique it is. The most recent is the Bondi Wave from these photos and I’m madly in love with it.
How do you select your artwork? First, then design room around it OR, the other way around?
I’ve done it both ways, but for this room I designed it around the art which was really fun. It’s definitely my new favorite way to decorate. Art and color are hugely important to me and can change my mood instantly, so designing around a piece of art that makes me jubilant or calm or rested or whatever makes a big difference. I don’t know why I never did it sooner!
For my office, I had this Bondi Wave print picked out and then worked with The Studio at One Kings Lane to design the space around it. It was the most fun I’ve ever had designing a room.
How did you select the GM piece for your office?
Being by the sea calms and grounds me in a way that nothing else can. I wanted to bring a bit of that calmness to the room where I spend most of my workdays and need my creative juices to flow. I knew that I wanted cool colors in a light tone so this photo fit the bill perfectly. Not to mention, it went effortlessly with what I already had, too.
Do you have a favorite? If so, what & why?
That would be like picking a favorite child, I can’t do it! I truly adore Gray’s work as you can probably tell by my ever-growing collection. If I had it my way, every wall in my house would have one of his prints covering it. I love the new print in my office because of the colors and the striking size but I have a thing for The Blonde right now too. It used to hang above my desk but I’m thinking of moving it to our living room because I want everyone who comes over to see it!
Speaking of children, how has becoming a Mother changed your approach to work, if at all?
How hasn’t it changed my approach to work? Because my daughter takes up so much of my time, I’m forced to get a lot done in a little time. My work hours are now precious and procrastinating isn’t really an option unless I want to burn the midnight oil… Not an ideal situation when you’re up with a baby early in the morning.
How has becoming a mother changed your approach to decorating, if at all?
A mom friend of mine recently said that, to her, true elegance exudes a certain ease and doesn’t include fussiness. That really resonated with me. I’m too busy as a working mom to be worrying about things in my home getting ruined from our day to day lives.
Everything in my home is comfortable, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a strong element of design. I think it’s possible to marry the two. For example we turned our dining room into the chicest playroom that I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t look like a baby’s space (although it’s usually covered in her toys). I’m hoping to one day cover the walls with Gray’s animal series from The Parker. How fun would that be?
It'dbe incredibly fun! Naturally, she'll also need a copy of my upcoming children's book, Be Our Guest! It was inspired by that very series! Taking it back to work, what's a normal work day for you...assuming there is one? Guessing, probably not..
If only! I used to live and die by my schedule but having a baby has forced me to give up control in a lot of ways, including my work days. Amalia is in daycare from 8:30-2:30 so I pack in as much as I can in those hours, although everyday looks completely different. The one constant is that I schedule at least three hours every day where I’m at my computer answering emails, writing blog posts, and scheduling social media.
Beyond that I go to meetings, take phone calls, and help my husband run his business whenever I can squeeze it in.
The other big change is that I’ve had to ask for more help. I hired an amazing assistant who helps me with my weekly newsletter and other tasks that I just don’t have time to get to every week. I work with a manager who negotiates all of my blog projects, and I have an accountant who handles the finances. It takes a village!
I can certainly appreciate that! So, we've heard your favorite, but what about your husband? Does he have one?
My husband’s favorite is the giant Positano Beach Coast print in our entryway because it reminds him (and both of us) of our honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast. It’s a daily reminder of the best trip of our lives and gives us motivation to work hard so that we can go back one day soon. Plus it makes an incredible statement when you first walk into our home. It was the first big piece of art that we got together and it will be special to us for the rest of our lives.
PSA - Julia is one of the lucky owners of Positano Beach Coast, as it has long been sold out. For anyone who's curious about the best alternatives to their favorite Sold Out prints, be sure to read this.
What's the next decorating project to tackle?
Our basement! It’s a finished basement, and basically an entire floor that we rarely use. I have decorated the guest room and adjoining bathroom as well as the laundry room (one of my favorite rooms in the house) but we have a big open space that’s basically just being used for storage right now.
I’m not 100% sure what we’ll do with the space, but my husband and I are throwing around the idea of a home gym. After that we’re hoping to have another baby in the next two or three years so nursery number two will be next on the list!
Well, on that note, I'll leave you to it! For all of you following along, be sure to keep up with Julia @lemonstripesand be sure to check out [her post](https://lemonstripes.com/decor/my-office-reveal/ ) on the office, too! You'll find out all the details of every item you're coveting from these pictures.
Julia, thank you so much for welcoming us into your new office, and congrats on such a lovely job! And, as always, thank you all for following along..Cheers to a happy Monday to all!
xx
GM
Photos byJulia D'Agostino.