We gush about readers on a regular basis throughout our Cup of Jo staff conferences, and Lauren O. is a reputation that always comes up. A reader from the start, she has left many hilarious and heartwarming feedback (suppose: “Hold unfastened my goose“, a birthday realization, and what occurred when she deleted Pokémon GO from her telephone). Different readers have requested to study extra about her, so at present we’re thrilled to characteristic her one-bedroom Manhattan residence, 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 transferring to New York: Joe and I got here from San Francisco to Manhattan in 2003 in order that I might intern at {a magazine} writer. We initially thought we’d simply keep for the summer time, so the transfer felt low stress. 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, once I was supplied a full-time job, my reply was ‘In fact.’
Crimson lamp on document shelf: Nicholas Furrow. Document cabinets: “Joe and our good friend George made them.” Media heart: Design Inside Attain thrifted through Craigslist, comparable. Crimson lamp on espresso desk: Mantar.
On private type: Our design vibe is much 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 numerous data, books, orbs, minerals and rocks.
Artwork mural: thrifted from Housing Works. Document shelf: CB2, comparable. Pink lamp: classic, through Furlong. Plant shelf: Ethnicraft. Espresso desk: Jordan Crowell. Crimson lamp: Mantar. Sectional: Saba Italia. Moth throw pillow: Timorous Beasties. Rug: Saint-Ouen flea market in Paris.
On bursts of shade: Earlier than the pandemic, there was undoubtedly much less shade within the residence. However as soon as we have been caught right here on a regular basis, we wished to brighten issues up. Joe was really 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 one of the best concept. The guide was revealed in a zillion languages, and it has been launched in new editions. If you happen to 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 am 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 residence. A number 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 kids: We adopted our cat Matty in Anaheim, California, whereas I used to be down there visiting household. He had been a stray operating round in some car parking zone, and we discovered him on Petfinder. Then we adopted Maya a yr in the past. She was initially dwelling along with her 5 kittens in a kill shelter in Tennessee, after which in some way all of them ended up on Staten Island? The truth that she ended up there along with her infants at all times makes me snicker 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 received 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 learning overseas on the College of Oxford in England. For one in every of our first dinners, he made me this implausible, difficult, vegetarian Thai soup — despite the fact that he lived in scholar housing with a crappy kitchen shared with a dozen individuals, and he had to buy groceries in a small city in 1999 the place good substances have been exhausting 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 problem to work round. However Joe has at all times taken my wants critically and my eccentricities in stride — like once I wake him up in the course of the night time as a result of I’m unhappy about the best way persons 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 House.
On favourite books: I’m ceaselessly recommending Kelly Hyperlink’s Magic for Inexperienced persons, a collection of quick fantasy tales. You possibly can really feel your mind rising new wrinkles and buying new neural pathways as you learn. She’s simply so artistic 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 pageant in Montreal. I noticed them everywhere in the subway and ended up writing to the pageant’s staff asking if I might purchase one. They then despatched me a pair at no cost.” Mattress: CB2. Velvet blue throw pillows: West Elm and Timorous Beasties. Brass bookcase: One Kings Lane, comparable.
On mushroom decor: It began once I submitted a pitch to Mushroom Individuals Journal about an artist who made shrouds inoculated with mushroom spores that you possibly can be buried in. In idea, the mushroom would eat you. Placing that piece collectively ended up spurring a lifelong mushroom enthusiasm. I’m now a part of the New York Mycological Society, a gaggle 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 knowledgeable members like a retriever with a Frisbee.
Brass bookcase: One Kings Lane, comparable.
On touring with dad and mom: The image of the little woman is my mother. A pair years in the past, Joe and I began a practice of happening trip along with her and my stepdad Doug. Mother and I like strolling round all day, so we’ll placed on our cozy footwear 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.Ok., and I discovered a pond in the course of the Hampstead Heath that solely ladies can swim in. And despite the fact that 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 all over the place we traveled. In Iceland, we went to the lagoons, and after we go to my sisters, we at all times choose a lodge or trip rental with a pool.
ENTRYWAY
Credenza: classic. White lamp: Verner Panton. Rhino: gifted from her mom.
On particular items: My mom shocked 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.
KITCHEN
On working round previous design decisions: Our kitchen could be very a lot not our type. But it surely 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 separately, 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 job, but it surely has become this area of giving myself permission to do no matter I would like. And that’s been very liberating.
Thanks a lot, Lauren. We like you! By no means cease commenting!
P.S. Extra residence excursions, together with a a reader’s ‘introvert nook’ and a yoga trainer whose Manhattan studio residence is a love letter to ladies.
(Pictures by Christine Han for Cup of Jo.)
