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: “Cling free my goose“, a birthday realization, and what occurred when she deleted Pokémon GO from her cellphone). Different readers have requested to study extra about her, so right now we’re thrilled to characteristic her one-bedroom Manhattan condo, 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 PR journal. 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, after I was provided a full-time job, my reply was ‘After all.’
Purple lamp on file shelf: Nicholas Furrow. Report cabinets: “Joe and our good friend George made them.” Media middle: Design Inside Attain thrifted through Craigslist, comparable. Purple 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 number of data, books, orbs, minerals and rocks.
Artwork mural: thrifted from Housing Works. Report shelf: CB2, comparable. Pink lamp: classic, through Furlong. Plant shelf: Ethnicraft. Espresso desk: Jordan Crowell. Purple 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 positively much less colour within the condo. However as soon as we have been caught right here on a regular basis, we needed to brighten issues up. Joe was really the one who stated, ‘We now 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 someday 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 the very best thought. The e-book was printed in a zillion languages, and it has been launched in new editions. In the event you learn the varied introductions, folks love to border it by way of their nation’s present political second; it’s an attention-grabbing lens by which to see different locations. I’ve now taken his custom on as my very own.
On fibre artwork: I’m going by 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 successful!
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 yr in the past. She was initially residing together with her 5 kittens in a kill shelter in Tennessee, after which one way or the other all of them ended up on Staten Island? The truth that she ended up there together with her infants all the time makes me giggle 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 obtained 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 considered one of our first dinners, he made me this improbable, difficult, vegetarian Thai soup — despite the fact that he lived in pupil 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 have been onerous to return by. That gesture meant a lot to me as a result of previously, 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 through Atlantis Residence.
On favourite books: I’m ceaselessly recommending Kelly Hyperlink’s Magic for Freshmen, 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 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 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 staff 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, comparable.
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 possibly can be buried in. In idea, 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 data. 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, comparable.
On touring with dad and mom: The image of the little lady is my mother. A pair years in the past, Joe and I began a practice of happening trip together with her and my stepdad Doug. Mother and I really 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 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 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 presents: My mom stunned 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. When she and my dad obtained married, they have been as poor as church mice, so they mainly made every thing of their condo. Her factor was that in case you ponder one thing lengthy sufficient, you’ll be able to work out a cool technique to make it. She is an enormous affect on my sisters and me. We’re all the time questioning, ‘What can I make to go in our house?’ and ‘What can I make for different folks to point out them how a lot I really 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, but it surely has became 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 dwelling excursions, together with a a reader’s ‘introvert nook’ and a yoga instructor whose Manhattan studio condo is a love letter to ladies.
(Images by Christine Han for Cup of Jo.)
