We gush about readers on a regular basis throughout our Cup of Jo group 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: “Grasp free my goose“, a birthday realization, and what occurred when she deleted Pokémon GO from her telephone). Different readers have requested to be taught extra about her, so at the moment we’re thrilled to characteristic her one-bedroom Manhattan residence, which she shares together 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 may intern at {a magazine} writer. 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 ‘After all.’
Pink lamp on report shelf: Nicholas Furrow. Report cabinets: “Joe and our buddy George made them.” Media middle: Design Inside Attain thrifted by way of Craigslist, related. Pink lamp on espresso desk: Mantar.
On private fashion: Our design vibe is just like the Bergdorf Goodman vacation home windows, in the event that they had been made by and for raccoons, since we love shiny issues. I’d additionally describe it as a metropolitan goblin really feel — there’s plenty of data, books, orbs, minerals and rocks.
Artwork mural: thrifted from Housing Works. Report shelf: CB2, related. Pink lamp: classic, by way of Furlong. Plant shelf: Ethnicraft. Espresso desk: Jordan Crowell. Pink lamp: Mantar. Sectional: Saba Italia. Moth throw pillow: Timorous Beasties. Rug: Saint-Ouen flea market in Paris.
On bursts of colour: Earlier than the pandemic, there was undoubtedly much less colour within the residence. However as soon as we had been caught right here on a regular basis, we wished to brighten issues up. Joe was truly the one who stated, ‘We’ve got to get a pink sectional.’ So, we went for it.
On a journey custom: I used to volunteer on the Housing Works bookstore, and sooner or later 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 all the time goes to native bookstores and asks for an version of 1984 from their nation. I believed that was one of the best concept. The e-book was revealed in a zillion languages, and it has been launched in new editions. If you happen to learn the varied introductions, folks love to border it when it comes to 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 house. 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 youngsters: 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 parking zone, and we discovered him on Petfinder. Then we adopted Maya a 12 months in the past. She was initially dwelling together with her 5 kittens in a kill shelter in Tennessee, after which by some means all of them ended up on Staten Island? The truth that she ended up there together with her infants all the time makes me chortle as a result of it jogs my memory of Madonna’s music video Papa Don’t Preach.
BEDROOM
Basket: Swahili African Trendy. 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 incredible, difficult, vegetarian Thai soup — although he lived in scholar housing with a crappy kitchen shared with a dozen folks, and he had to buy groceries in a small city in 1999 the place good components had been arduous 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 all the time taken my wants critically and my eccentricities in stride — like after I wake him up in the course of the evening as a result of I’m unhappy about the best way persons are imply to pigeons — and he all the time actually hears me and makes me really feel taken care of.
Gold dachshunds: classic by way of Atlantis Dwelling.
On favourite books: I’m perpetually recommending Kelly Hyperlink’s Magic for Inexperienced persons, a collection of quick 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 e-book 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 all around the subway and ended up writing to the pageant’s group asking if I may purchase one. They then despatched me a pair without cost.” Mattress: CB2. Velvet blue throw pillows: West Elm and Timorous Beasties. Brass bookcase: One Kings Lane, related.
On mushroom decor: It began after 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 concept, 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 gaggle of citizen scientists and foragers who’re actually into mushrooms and tremendous beneficiant with their data. Now throughout walks, I fetch sticks with thrilling issues rising on them and current them to the extra skilled members like a retriever with a Frisbee.
Brass bookcase: One Kings Lane, related.
On touring with mother and father: The image of the little woman is my mother. A pair years in the past, Joe and I began a convention of happening trip together with her and my stepdad Doug. Mother and I like strolling round all day, so we’ll placed on our cozy 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 pond in the course of the Hampstead Heath that solely ladies can swim in. And although it was November and freezing, my mother and I jumped in. After that, we determined we had 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 all the time choose a resort 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 courses, like furniture- and rug-making programs.
KITCHEN
On working round outdated design selections: Our kitchen could be very a lot not our fashion. 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 changed into this house of giving myself permission to do no matter I need. And that’s been very liberating.
Thanks a lot, Lauren. We love you! By no means cease commenting!
P.S. Extra house excursions, together with a a reader’s ‘introvert nook’ and a yoga trainer whose Manhattan studio residence is a love letter to ladies.
(Photographs by Christine Han for Cup of Jo.)
