Emily Henderson, Amber Lewis, and More on the One Item in Their Homes That Sparks Joy
Designers make their living by crafting beautiful spaces for others to inhabitwhich is why we love peeking into professionals homes to see how theyve parlayed their day job into their personal space.
And when you take a glance inside, one thing is instantly clear: Any preconceived notions that pristine spaces are devoid of individuality should be swiftly tossed out the window. The contents of our favorite designers houses are deeply personal, chock-full of cool touches and unique ideas that, to paraphrase our favorite philosopher, Marie Kondo, spark serious joy. Heres the highlight reel.
The Auction Score
I love the thrill of bidding on old items, and one of my favorites is a Josef Frank wool rug I won at auction. The colors were instrumental in driving the palette of subsequent pieces in our homeand I love its playful Matisse-inspired geometric illustrations. Keren Richter
The Wedding Memento
Theres a collection of vintage blue and white chinoiserie vases that I display in our bar area. They were on cocktail tables at our wedding, and I spent the months leading up to the party collecting them and collaborating with our amazing florist! They make me smile every time I see them. Ariel Okin
The French Souvenir
The Item That Would Be Saved in a Fire
When I was living in New York City, I bought my first piece of real art. Its a huge vintage drawing of a cartoon blimp, and I love it as much today as when I bought it 10 years ago. Although it was not much in price, it felt like a big and important purchase for me at the time. It not only still sparks joy, but if my house were on fire, you bet I would be ripping it off the wall as my arm hairs were about to burn off. Emily Henderson
The Upcycled Steal
You know that feeling when you make a big decision to invest money in a piece of furniture that you very quickly end up getting bored with? This is the opposite situationI had no money left in the design budget, a 33-inch wide space to fill, and a hankering for a good multifunctional case. I am a huge thrifter and essentially cannot walk by a secondhand store without going in. I found this perfect little brass-foot cabinet for $15, threw my body on it as fast I could (I have severe anxiety about people swooping in on my thrift furnishings), called a car, and got that sucker out of there as fast I could. I did make one adjustment by replacing the top with a marble slab for a little more texture and variation. It was the opposite of a drawn-out, thoughtful decision, but its one that has gotten better with time and most certainly brings me joy. Megan Hopp
Tour Hopps NYC apartment here.
The Kids Room DIY
Id say my most recent favorite project is a china cabinet that I found on the street and refurbished to use in my kids room as a dresser. Since there were lots of signs of lead paint and it was going in a room with two little kids, I had it professionally stripped, and then I replaced the broken glass doors and hardware, removed some ornamental woodwork, and gave it a fresh coat of paint. Its made such a difference in their room, and I love that it went from literal trash to treasure. Erin Boyle
The Sentimental Surprise
When we first moved to Los Angeles, I wanted these bust vases so bad. They are fun and quirky and the epitome of joy. I was just getting my business reestablished, and my husband was starting a new job, so it really wasnt an item that made sense to purchase. But after my husband got his first paycheck, he surprised me with a set of two busts. They are still my favorite pieces, and they sit in our living room front and center. Joy Cho
The Multipurpose Treasure
Im such a lover of fun finds and treasure hunting. Normally my go-to spot is a garage sale or thrift store, but I found my favorite decor item at Homegoods. It was $4.99 (which makes it even better) and its a small wood stool that I move all over the house. It has been used as a candleholder, spice display, paper towel holder, plant stand, and the list goes on. Its a sweet treasure that sparks joy every time I see it, and it reminds me why I love my buy now, return later motto. Ive never seen it at the store again. Ashley Petrone
Tour Petrones Northern California home here.
The Ottoman That Used to Be a Rug
One item that makes me happy beyond belief is my Chautauqua ottoman. Its one of the prettiest pieces of furniture in my home; its versatile, its one of a kindneed I say more? Its made with a vintage rug I found, and while its beautiful, I dont need to be too careful with it. Its sturdy AF and truly made for living. I kick my feet up on it every night when I hit the couch, and its easily my favorite piece. Amber Lewis
The Pseudo Pet
I have a 1970s ceramic leopard statue in front of my mantel that is hands down one of my favorite things ever. I first saw a leopard statue at a vintage shop in Vancouver when I was there for work and became obsessed with finding my own. I ended up locating one at a local consignment shop. At the time, we werent allowed to have any pets in our apartment, so the leopard was our first pet. We named him Jackson after the guitar, because my partner is a musician. We have very different decor styles, and Jackson is a great mix of both: a little bit badass and a little bit rock and roll. Jackson was also in the first profile photo I posted to my vintage shop, Make Moves Vintage, thereby becoming a bit of a mascot for the brand. He was later included in my logosIm even planning to get a tattoo of him. Autumn Hachey
The Mural With a Message
This mural, commissioned by surf artist Matt Allen, reminds me every day to slow the heck down and count my blessings. Raili Clasen
Tour Clasens Newport Beach, California, home here.
The Conversation Starter
Im a big fan of anything in the home that not only sparks joy but also initiates discourse.For me, this usually means adding something funky or fun by way of art or a unique vintage piecewe dont want our house to look like everyone elses, right? This chair is weird in the best way possible. Plus, it previously belonged to Kelly Wearstler, which is a great conversation starter. Dee Murphy
The Personal Paintings
I painted portraits of my dogs last year and am constantly smiling when I see them. Theyre quirky and fun from a design point of view, but also sentimental because our giant schnauzer has since passed away. Ill definitely paint portraits of all of our dogs from here on outtheyre so special to us. Sarah Gibson
The Flea Market Find
There are so many things in my home that spark joy, but Id have to say that at the top of the list are my vintage, hand-carved three wise monkeys. I love them so, so much. They are so special to me because I happened upon them at an antiques flea market, and Ive never seen them anywhere else since. They bring such good vibes to our home and are such a conversation starter. Ill probably request to be buried with them. Shavonda Gardner
The Wish-List Furniture Piece
I spent months looking for a vintage sideboard that fit my budget and aesthetic. I finally found my dream piece. This 1963 Broyhill Braslia brings wonderful vibes to my house. Im a firm believer that we need to be acutely aware of what we surround ourselves with, especially in our home. Intentionally styling your space with wellness in mind is key to every happy home. Anita Yokota
The Painting That Influenced an Entire Room
Although I love every detail of this entryway, the Zo Pawlak painting steals the show. For me, it represents feminism, confidence, and originality, which sparks joy. Pawlak is a talented painter based in Montreal, and when I saw this piece, I immediately fell in love. The purchase was the first building block when designing Hotelette Austin, and I based the entire living room around the colors and vibe of the painting. Allison Crawford
See more ways to have your decor spark joy:
I Put a Disco Ball in My Window, and It Has Brought Me Great Joy
Its Time to Reconsider Decorating With Glitter
This Latest Decor Trend Is All About Body Positivity