Turning House Into Home with Alivia Fields

Happy Valley, in Oregon. Yes, it is a real city name! It’s a very simple, and family-friendly little town. I like that things stay pretty quiet around here, and that there are lots of kids in our neighborhood -- we don’t have children of our own just yet, but it’s great being in such a safe and simple community for when that time comes.

Light, calm and natural. I strive to bring the outdoors in. 

It’s similar to what the industry calls a “builder grade home”. Our build was somewhat custom, but we moved in with a very bland state -- think white walls everywhere, no special design touches. So we’ve really had to go room by room and bring life to each space.

I can completely influence my own environment -- it’s a visual reflection of myself.

It’s been so fun breathing life into each space in our home. We’ve done things like plaster-esq paint for texture, wood paneling painted white for a cottage or farmhouse sort of design, and added built in shelving to all the nooks. With all the character we’ve added, you’d do a double take knowing how bland it was to start with.

It can be tricky to define something that seems to be ever-evolving, but at the moment, I would describe my design style as a fresh and minimalistic approach to a classic all-American style. Think classic white paneled walls mixed with modern day architecture, and a touch of old with rustic, antique decor. I am keen to keep old century American design alive, yet reworked for the modern age.

I am heavily influenced by the colors of the Earth, slow living, and old textures.

Being able to incorporate pieces that are made with natural materials that also look good to the eye and are appealing to touch are so important to me, and I love that Parachute provides all that and more.

I recently picked up some of Parachute’s Linen Loungewear, and I’m really excited to see how I might be able to incorporate that into my life outside of the home as well.

Pay attention to your color palette. Whether designing a full room or just a shelf, being consistent with your color palette helps tie spaces together more than you’d think. It can also help flow from room to room if you keep if you have at least one consistent color throughout. It’s easy on the eyes too.