Design:

Jenna Lyons on Her Biggest Design Faux Pas

Jenna Lyons on Her Biggest Design Faux Pas

One peek inside the home of enigmatic style icon, Jenna Lyons and it’s immediately clear: she doesn’t play by the rules. In the same way her wardrobe choices often break with convention, Lyons’ unexpected fusion of pattern, scale, color, and texture in design shouldn’t work, but it does and in the most triumphant way. Visually, your eye doesn’t know where to land—every piece competes for your attention—and that, Lyons tells Athena in her book, Live Beautiful, was intentional. “I love a sense of history in something. I love a patina, I love seeing someone else’s touch, or seeing a stain, or seeing a nick or a chip. Materials get soft and they get round and they change color,” she explains.

There is so much to swoon over in the SoHo floor-through loft from the French architecture, to the oversized crown moldings and the unfinished herringbone floors, but its the recurring green and pink palette that makes this home read fresh and cool. Only Lyons could pair a pale malachite cube with a pink velvet sofa. It’s modern Bohemia at its finest.

This week, we continue the celebration of Live Beautiful’s one year anniversary with exclusive, unpublished pages. Read on for a special rapid fire interview and curated collage designed by Lyons for the book and indulge in her revelatory and eccentric style.

Jenna Lyons on Her Biggest Design Faux Pas
Jenna Lyons on Her Biggest Design Faux Pas
WHAT DOES HOME MEAN TO YOU?
My home is my safe place—the place I can disappear and cuddle with my son, read, binge watch tv, gorge on ice cream, sleep in, entertain friends, or be happily quiet.
DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC / DESIGN PHILOSOPHY IN THREE WORDS.
Only pretty things.
UNEXPECTED DESIGN SOLUTION IN YOUR HOME YOU ARE PROUD OF?
The deep storage drawer with canisters that contain and organize all my utensils vertically.
I HATE TO ADMIT IT BUT MY BIGGEST DESIGN FAUX-PAS WAS _____.
The fake fireplace—couldn’t help it.
BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN DESIGNING THIS HOME?
Love thy contractor like you love thyself.
FAVORITE ROOM AND WHY?
The great room—it’s where I spend the most time.
YOU SAW ____ AND IT INSPIRED ____.
Donald Judd exhibition 4; The side tables.
WHAT SHOULD BE ON EVERYONE’S COFFEE TABLE?
Something to ogle at—preferably books.
I HAVE FAR TOO MANY ____ IN OUR HOME. BUT I CONTINUE TO COLLECT THEM!
Crystals and sparkly things.
WHAT ARE YOU ENDLESSLY CURIOUS ABOUT?
People making beautiful things especially things I could never do myself—which is almost everything!

Necessary Objects

These items may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using this link.
Share this Swoon –