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Stacey Blake is the long-time home blogger behind Design Addict Mom. She lives in North Carolina with her three children and husband, who serves in the army. Their home is a bright, welcoming space full of changing colors. “Repainting is a form of self-expression for me,” says Stacey. “Sometimes I think my friends come over just to see what has changed!” Take a peek inside…
LIVING ROOM
Bookcase: Tomasella, similar. Paint on walls: Benjamin Moore. Paint on bookcase: Benjamin Moore. Sofa: Tomasella, similar. Throw pillows: Society6. Coffee table: Calligaris, similar. Rug: vintage, similar. Blanket: Kate Spade, similar.
On going bright: My husband and I are both Jamaican; I was born and bred there. Color is everywhere in Jamaica — Jamaicans live colorfully, we eat and dress colorfully, the facades of houses are colorful. So, it’s second nature to me. I think about the flow from room to room, but really, I just go with the colors I love. The orange cabinet behind the sofa is where we hide the TV.
Mug: similar.
On getting comfy with color: If someone wants to add color to their home but feels tentative, I always suggest starting with accessories. Pillows, rugs, even books — just bring in splashes and see how you like them. Another way is an accent wall, which adds a jolt of color. Finally, if you have a space in your home that doesn’t get a lot of traffic — like, say, a powder room — go to town with color! If you’re afraid of putting it all over the house, just start small.
On an ever-changing palette: I repaint a lot, and I do all the painting myself! I’ve gotten pretty good — I don’t even put down tape before I paint. It’s great because I can change things up on a whim and don’t have to hire someone, which would get really expensive.
Paint: Benjamin Moore. Wallpaper: Justina Blakeney. Dining table: Pier 1, similar. Chairs: West Elm. High chair: Stokke.
KITCHEN
On hanging in the kitchen: Our kitchen is tiny, especially compared to the rest of the house. Still, everyone congregates here, no matter what. All the other rooms are so inviting, so welcoming, just waiting to be used! But, nope, everyone is IN the kitchen. I guess it really is the heart of the home.
PLAYROOM
On a not-so-formal dining room: This was originally the formal dining room, but since we have three kids, we turned it into a playroom. We’re pretty informal when it comes to meals (we mostly eat on our barstools), so it made more sense. My husband does the chalkboard murals. He’s in the army and doesn’t have time to do much artwork, but he’s very good!
SUNROOM
Coffee table and sofa: vintage.
On everyone’s favorite hangout: The sun room gets the most beautiful light. The boys are always reading in here. They’re big fans of the series Diary of a Wimpy Kid. And the baby likes to watch the birds outside. There are a lot, especially early in the morning. It’s just lovely to be in here — you feel like you’re in the trees.
Rug: vintage, similar. Chair: Thrifted, reupholstered in Robert Allen Ikat fabric.
On the star of the show: This is Glory, my fiddle-leaf fig tree. Glory is a real diva. Your eye goes straight to her. People often ask how I get her to grow so big, and I think it’s because she gets steady light throughout the day. I’m also mindful to not overwater. Stick your finger in the soil two to three inches deep, and if it’s dry, your plant needs water. If the soil clings to your fingers and feels moist, don’t water.
MASTER BEDROOM
Paint: Benjamin Moore. Bed: Charles P. Rogers. Duvet cover: Stein Mart, similar. Blanket: Stein Mart, similar. Sheets: Peacock Alley. Painting: Justina Blakeney. Rug: Nourison.
On creating space for yourself: In the beginning of the year, I embarked on a self-care mission. Redoing our master bedroom was part of that. I wanted a zen-like space — and a place where I could hide from my kids! But, of course, they’ve also taken a liking to this space. The color is so inviting. It’s hard to get them out of the room!
Bench: Design Within Reach.
On a soothing shade: This coral color is so welcoming, and it changes all day. When the sun is rising in the early morning, it hits the walls and makes the room so bright. By late evening, it feels cocoon-like.
Pennant: Rayo & Honey. Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Door paint: Benjamin Moore.
GUEST ROOM
Mural: Minted. Quilt: Justina Blakeney. Sheets: Stein Mart. Sheepskin rug: Rugs USA.
On a moody vibe: With this room, I decided to go darker. I initially painted the whole wall black, which you can still sort of see behind the mural. Then I added this mural, which matches the bedding perfectly. It’s from Minted!
Lamp: Thrifted. Table: Thrifted.
BOYS’ ROOM
Beds: Ikea. Sheets: Stein Mart, similar. Pillow cases: Stein Mart. Rug: Marshalls, similar. Map mural: York Wallcoverings.
On a staying close while far apart: I put up this map mural to try to help the boys feel closer to their dad while he’s deployed overseas. We’ve encountered a number of deployments, and I never want him to be an abstract figure in their minds. Over the years, we’ve looked at the map and seen where Dada is in the world. We incorporate him into the bedtime routine; we point to the map and say, ‘Good night, Dada.’ It’s a way to cope. It helps.
Sofa: The Nugget.
On the best kid furniture: This couch-like thing is called The Nugget. You can rearrange into different shapes, you can lie on it, you can turn it into a fort — the kids LOVE playing with it. And so do the grown-ups, actually! I’ve definitely taken naps on it before.
Light blue paint: Benjamin Moore. Dark blue paint: similar. Credenza: Thrifted. Chair: Panton (spray painted by Stacey).
On kid art: My husband and I are both big art lovers. Since he’s very artistic, our kids have gotten inspired to paint and draw, especially our seven-year-old. This wall is a mixture of professional work and their own pieces. I change things up every so often, and they love seeing their work on the wall.
BABY’S ROOM
Crib: Babyletto. Curtains: Custom. Wallpaper: Pierre Frey. Cow hide rug: vintage, similar. Sheepskin rug: Rugs USA.
On a room full of life: For Cheyenne’s room, we wanted something vibrant and fun. I had lost a baby a year before she was born, so we call Cheyenne our rainbow baby. I craved a space for her that was brimming with life and happiness.
On big brothers: The boys absolutely love being Cheyenne’s big brothers. Two years before she was born, my oldest, Zion, kept asking me for a sister. He must have thought I could just get her at the store or something, because every time I picked him up from school he would be like, ‘Where is my sister??’ It was almost like he was speaking her into existence! You know when you put something out into the universe and it comes to fruition? They’re so happy to have her, and she just adores them. It’s a beautiful thing.
Thank you so much, Stacey! You are a light.
P.S. More home tours, including a book-filled house in Copenhagen and a Hudson Valley cottage.
(Photos by Lea Hartman.)
