“My model is grandpa stylish,” says author and photographer Erin Austen Abbott. She lives in Water Valley, Mississippi, along with her husband, their son, two canines, and a cat. Right here, Erin shares their art-filled house, household journey ideas, and concepts for film nights…
LIVING ROOM
Paint: Sherwin Williams Pure White. Couch: West Elm, related. Espresso desk: “a child’s desk from Anthropologie a few years in the past.” Curtains: Pottery Barn,related. Cat pillow: Areaware, related. All the pieces else: classic.
On the journey bug: I used to be raised by a single mother, and he or she typically took me on her work journeys. I grew up in Mississippi after which Florida, and he or she’d take me to California and New York. I cherished it and, in a while, I began touring with bands, dealing with their merch. I received hooked.
Paint: Sherwin Williams Pure White. Gallery wall, high to backside, left to proper: Hollie Chastain, Kate Donovan, Laura Roebuck, Michael Doyle, Yellow Owl Workshop, Frances Berry, Lamar Sorrento, Joel Meyerowitz, Kate Roebuck, Heather Sunquist Corridor, Ashleigh Coleman. The rabbits within the center had been performed by Daniel Lengthy, birds by Kate Roebuck, portrait by Stephen Borasch. To the precise of the rabbits: Ashleigh Coleman, Hollie Chastain, Adrienne Brown-David, Kate Roebuck. Yellow Owl Workshop, Ashleigh Coleman, Kate Donovan, Adrienne Brown-David, Ashleigh Coleman, Heather Sunquist Corridor.
On a beloved piece: I see artwork as this magical factor we’re so fortunate to have a look at on daily basis in our home! One favourite is a portrait [the woman looking into the distance] by my pal Stephen Borasch in Los Angeles. It pulls me in like an amazing track.
Artwork on the bookcase, left to proper: Julianna Swaney, Kate Roebuck, Reid Mitchell, Tom (Erin’s son), Julianna Swaney, and Kathryn Hunter. Artwork on ledges above the sofa: Frances Berry, on high, and Ashleigh Coleman, beneath.
On making connections: Social media generally is a lot, however one stunning factor is how that it connects you to individuals you may by no means have met. I observe artists and galleries on-line, and I’ve purchased items straight from artists all around the world. There’s one thing magical about coming throughout a bit that stops you in your tracks.
Coatrack: Eames Dangle-It-All, “two collectively to make one lengthy one.” Rooftop beekeeper {photograph}: Erin Austen Abbott. Dresser: classic, related. Bike: Linus. Artwork on higher mantel: “Picture of Evan Dando by Chrissy Piper, two items by Britt Bass, Shepard Fairey, then one other Britt Bass.” Artwork on the decrease stage of the mantel: Erin Austen Abbott print, “outdated household photographs, and a tintype of my son by Michael Foster.”
On rising into a spot: I used to be single once I purchased this 1,700-square-foot home, and I felt like I’d purchased a mansion. As of late, with two extra individuals and three pets, the home feels smaller. We’ve no drawers within the kitchen, there are solely 2.5 closets in the entire place, and we’ve got just one rest room. Nevertheless it works!
DEN
Paint: Martha Stewart “Silhouette,” discontinued. Artwork from high to backside: “lo-fi, Butch Anthony, Heather Sunquist Corridor, Lamar Sorrento.”
On dwelling in Mississippi: Folks have so many concepts of what they assume Mississippi is, so I really like how shocked persons are once they go to. We love how inexperienced it’s — we’re surrounded by bushes and rivers and lakes all over the place we go. I additionally love the affordability of life right here; artistic persons are drawn right here, since we will afford to take dangers inside our work. We additionally love our neighborhood. Mississippi is a state that encourages you to remain socially and politically engaged to attempt to make adjustments for a greater future.
Chair: Eames.
On household motion pictures: We’ve a robust custom of film nights. I’ve saved a operating tally of each film we’ve watched collectively since our son Tom was 5. He’s now 11. One film I cherished as a baby that also holds up is By no means Cry Wolf. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is nice, and Rabbit-Proof Fence is a rare true story that my son cherished. Selma is difficult to look at however important for youths to see. We use historic motion pictures to spark dialogue. And don’t skip documentaries! For instance, The Summer time of Soul is great.
KITCHEN
Paint: Sherwin Williams Mint Situation. Colourful pots on shelf above range: Dansk through Schoolhouse Electrical. Espresso mugs: Paper & Clay.
On bringing cultures house: The app Radiooooo helps you to hearken to music from totally different nations and time durations. For instance, you possibly can hear what they had been listening to in Cuba within the ’40s. And if we’re cooking meals from Thailand, we’ll play Thai radio.
OFFICE
Paint: Martha Stewart’s “Artesian Effectively.” Desk: Anthropologie, related. Lamp: Anthropologie, related. Chair: Anthropologie. Artwork, left to proper, high to backside: Coulter Fussel, lo-fi, Jonathan Kent Adams, Heather Sunquist Corridor, Frances Berry, Erin Austen Abbott, lo-fi (all three from high to backside), Kate Roebuck, Noah Saterstrom, Erin Austen Abbott, Megan Patton.
On arranging artwork: Hanging artwork is an artwork in itself! I attempt to make groupings — like works with dots or shades of pink. Within the workplace, I like how the reds above my desk pop in opposition to the blue wall.
On staging an artwork present in a motel: Again in 2006, I used to be simply driving round and taking footage, once I pulled right into a roadside motel. It had blue doorways with pink hearts for numbers. An concept popped into my thoughts: this may be an amazing place to bounce from room to room for a one-night-only artwork present, utilizing the rooms as mini-galleries. Over the following few months, I gathered buddies who needed to indicate their work — and I’ve been doing it ever since! Greater than 150 artists have proven at One Night time Stand on the Ole Miss Motel over time, and greater than 2,000 individuals have attended.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Paint: Benjamin Moore Grey Timber Wolf. Curtains: Pottery Barn, related. Mattress Body: Overstock, related. Bedside lamp: Schoolhouse. Bedding: Schoolhouse. Artwork above bedside desk: Karina Bania. Bench at foot of mattress: classic German beer corridor model bench.
On journey itineraries: Once we journey as a household, we attempt to discover an amazing hike, then eat native meals that we will’t simply get at house. My son loves oysters, so we all the time search for new-to-us oysters. We additionally cease int each bookstore and file retailer.
Paint: Benjamin Moore “Grey Timber Wolf.” Curtains: Pottery Barn, related. Mattress Body: Overstock, related. Bedside lamp: Schoolhouse. Bedding: Schoolhouse. Quilt at foot of mattress: “present in India.” Artwork above bedside desk: Karina Bania. Bench at foot of mattress: classic German beer corridor model bench. Dresser and globes: classic. Desk chair: Overstock, related. Desk: classic, related. Overhead mild: Sazerac Stitches.
On collections: I accumulate globes and journey mementos, like a menu from a restaurant we cherished or a pressed penny from a nationwide park. I’ve a bit in my e book, Household Subject Journey that encourages mother and father to arrange a journey heart at house, like how you’ll for an artwork space. I hold our journey books collectively, plus maps and souvenirs. My son will sit down and examine locations he hopes to go.
SON’S BEDROOM
Paint: Benjamin Moore Sweatshirt Gray. Desk: Ikea. Chair: classic, related. Mattress: Article. Curtains: classic. Aspect desk: Kartell. Curtains: classic, related.
On dwelling in a small city: Our city has solely round 3,400 individuals. We simply give our son a walkie talkie when he goes out to play together with his buddies. He loves dwelling that unbiased life.
Furnishings: classic, together with classic German beer corridor model desk. Metallic bins: Anthropolgoie, related. Artwork: classic map surrounded by “Tom’s child bathe invite by Kate Roebuck, and different works by Sally King Benedict and Kate Roebuck.” Quilted Pillow: Katherine Montague. Child’s guitar and stand: Loog.
On having one baby: Tom was solely two weeks outdated when individuals began asking, ‘When is he going to get a sibling?’ However I’d had a tough time getting pregnant, and I used to be 37 once I had Tom. I knew he wasn’t going to get a sibling. Folks nonetheless ask on a regular basis, though it’s inappropriate to ask a stranger on the grocery retailer such an invasive query. I began being very blunt. I’d reply by going into element about how exhausting it was to get pregnant with my son. They’d be like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ It’s like, Yeah, let that be a lesson.
BATHROOM
Paint: Sherwin Williams Pure White and Benjamin Moore Hale Navy. Furnishings and rug: classic. Artwork: Kate Roebuck and Tom (Erin’s son). Overhead mild: West Elm.
On staying put: We’ve spent a lot time on this house as a household. I’m going into my son’s room or our rest room and am immediately flooded with recollections of when he was a child.
BACKYARD
On chicken calls: We’ve a fairly wild yard! I sit on our deck early within the morning and hearken to the chicken calls. My neighbor can be a birder, so we textual content one another about totally different ones we hear or see. The Merlin Chicken ID app helps me acknowledge these in my yard. We additionally be part of within the yearly eagle rely with the native state park. When our son was born, we planted blueberry bushes — we get so many berries each summer time!
Thanks a lot, Erin!
P.S. Extra home excursions, together with a colourful Connecticut house and a household’s dream house in Sacramento.
(Photographs by Erin Austen Abbott.)