We gush about readers on a regular basis throughout our Cup of Jo crew conferences, and Lauren O. is a reputation that usually comes up. A reader from the start, she has left many hilarious and heartwarming feedback (assume: “Hold free my goose“, a birthday realization, and what occurred when she deleted Pokémon GO from her cellphone). Different readers have requested to be taught extra about her, so at this time we’re thrilled to function her one-bedroom Manhattan condominium, which she shares along with her husband, Joe, and two darling cats…
LIVING AREA
Chairs: classic Niels Otto Møller from Housing Works Thrift. Throw pillows: Pendleton. Stereo: “Joe’s audiophile ‘Frankensystem’ — it’s a Linn turntable on a customized plinth with a Leben amp beside it, and DeVore Constancy audio system.”
On shifting to New York: Joe and I come from San Francisco to Manhattan in 2003 in order that I may intern at a PR journal. We initially thought we’d simply keep for the summer time, so the transfer felt low strain. However then we sneaky fell in love with town. Earlier than New York, I’d by no means actually discovered a metropolis that spoke to me. So, on the finish of my internship, after I was supplied a full-time job, my reply was ‘In fact.’
Pink lamp on report shelf: Nicholas Furrow. Report cabinets: “Joe and our buddy George made them.” Media heart: Design Inside Attain thrifted through Craigslist, related. Pink lamp on espresso desk: Mantar.
On private type: Our design vibe is just like the Bergdorf Goodman vacation home windows, in the event that they have been made by and for raccoons, since we love shiny issues. I’d additionally describe it as a metropolitan goblin really feel — there’s a lot of data, books, orbs, minerals and rocks.
Artwork mural: thrifted from Home Works. Report shelf: CB2, related. Pink lamp: classic, through Furlong. Plant shelf: Ethnicraft. Espresso desk: Jordan Crowell. Pink lamp: Mantar. Sectional: Saba Italia, related. Moth throw pillow: Timorous Beasties. Rug: Saint-Ouen flea market in Paris.
On bursts of colour: Earlier than the pandemic, there was positively much less colour within the condominium. However as soon as we have been caught right here on a regular basis, we needed to brighten issues up. Joe was truly the one who stated, ‘Now we have to get a pink sectional.’ So, we went for it.
On a journey custom: I used to volunteer on the Housing Works bookstore, and in the future a mysterious Frenchman got here in asking if we had any copies of George Orwell’s novel 1984. We pulled out all these completely different editions, and he was over the moon, saying that whereas touring, he at all times goes to native bookstores and asks for an version of 1984 from their nation. I assumed that was the perfect thought. The guide was revealed in a zillion languages, and it has been launched in new editions. In the event you learn the assorted introductions, individuals love to border it by way of their nation’s present political second; it’s an attention-grabbing lens by way of which to see different locations. I’ve now taken his custom on as my very own.
On fibre artwork: I’m going by way of random phases the place I get the urge to make fibre artwork. I made a Debbie Harry portrait throughout our first summer time in New York, when Joe was as a paralegal and by no means dwelling. A couple of years later, I embroidered a portrait of David Bowie on a purse for a contest held by the now defunct purse model Rachel Nasvik. I ended up profitable!
Lauren and Maya
On beloved cat youngsters: We adopted our cat Maddie in Anaheim, California, whereas I used to be down there visiting household. He had been a stray working round in some car parking zone, and we discovered him on Petfinder. Then we adopted Maya a 12 months in the past. She was initially dwelling along with her 5 kittens in a kill shelter in Tennessee, after which someway all of them ended up on Staten Island? The truth that she ended up there along with her infants at all times makes me chortle as a result of it jogs my memory of Madonna’s music video Papa Don’t Preach.
BEDROOM
Basket: Swahili African Fashionable. Blue bench: West Elm. Tiger throw pillows: Williams Sonoma. Cover: “A white West Elm comforter I bought on tremendous clearance after which tie-dyed and appliquéd with a bunch of quilting scraps.”
On a long-time love: Joe and I met 26 years in the past, whereas finding out overseas on the College of Oxford in England. For one in every of our first dinners, he made me this incredible, difficult, vegetarian Thai soup — though he lived in scholar housing with a crappy kitchen shared with a dozen individuals, and he had to buy groceries in a small city within the early aughts the place good elements have been onerous to return by. That gesture meant a lot to me as a result of up to now, earlier boyfriends made me really feel like shit for being a vegetarian. Prefer it was a trouble to work round. However Joe has at all times taken my wants severely and my eccentricities in stride — like after I wake him up in the midst of the night time as a result of I’m unhappy about the best way individuals are imply to pigeons — and he at all times actually hears me and makes me really feel taken care of.
Gold dachshunds: classic through Atlantis Dwelling.
On favourite books: I’m endlessly recommending Kelly Hyperlink’s Magic for Newcomers, a collection of brief fantasy tales. You may really feel your mind rising new wrinkles and buying new neural pathways as you learn. She’s simply so inventive and I’ve such a crush on the best way she places her tales collectively. I can’t think about anybody not discovering this guide magical.
Paint: Middleton Pink from Farrow & Ball. Mushroom throw pillow: John Derian for Goal. Mushroom print: David Shrigley. Wolf print: “From a competition in Montreal. I noticed them all around the subway and ended up writing to the competition’s crew asking if I may purchase one. They then despatched me a pair without spending a dime.” Mattress: CB2. Velvet blue throw pillows: West Elm and Timorous Beasties. Brass bookcase: One Kings Lane, related.
On mushroom decor: It began with submitting a pitch to Mushroom Individuals Journal about an artist who made shrouds inoculated with mushroom spores that you may be buried in. In principle, the mushroom would devour you. Placing that piece collectively ended up spurring a lifelong mushroom enthusiasm. I’m now a part of the New York Mycological Society, a bunch of citizen scientists and foragers who’re actually into mushrooms and tremendous beneficiant with their information. Now throughout walks, I fetch sticks with thrilling issues rising on them and current them to the extra professional members like a retriever with a Frisbee.
Brass bookcase: One Kings Lane, related.
On touring with mother and father: The image of the little lady is my mother. A pair years in the past, Joe and I began a practice of occurring trip along with her and my stepdad Doug. Mother and I like strolling round all day, so we’ll placed on our comfortable sneakers and head out. Then Joe and Doug will go to a sports activities bar and chat about baseball factoids. For our first journey, we went to the U.Okay., and I discovered a lake in the midst of the Hampstead Heath that solely ladies can swim in. And though it was November and freezing, my mother and I jumped in. After that, we determined we have been formally pond scum and needed to swim in every single place we traveled. In Iceland, we went to the lagoons, and after we go to my sisters, we at all times choose a resort or trip rental with a pool.
ENTRYWAY
Credenza: classic. White lamp: Verner Panton. Rhino: gifted from her mom.
On particular presents: My mom stunned me with this rhino for Christmas. She was an artwork historical past main who took a bunch of studio artwork lessons, like furniture- and rug-making programs. When she and my dad bought married, they have been as poor as church mice, so they mainly made the whole lot of their condominium. Her factor was that when you ponder one thing lengthy sufficient, you’ll be able to work out a cool approach to make it. She is an enormous affect on my sisters and me. We’re at all times questioning, ‘What can I make to go in our house?’ and ‘What can I make for different individuals to point out them how a lot I like them?’
KITCHEN
On working round previous design decisions: Our kitchen could be very a lot not our type. However it was model new after we moved in and is in actually nice situation, so I can’t think about spending cash on ripping out the counters. As a workaround, I’ve added private touches. I’ve been switching out the cupboard knobs one by one, so none of them match. Some are snails, some mushrooms, one is a resin knob with a bunch of moss inside. I additionally began drawing this mural. Altering the kitchen initially felt like an annoying activity, nevertheless it has was this house of giving myself permission to do no matter I need. And that’s been very liberating.
Thanks a lot, Lauren. We like you! By no means cease commenting!
P.S. Extra dwelling excursions, together with a a reader’s ‘introvert nook’ and a yoga trainer whose Manhattan studio condominium is a love letter to ladies.
(Pictures by Christine Han for Cup of Jo.)
