With the dog days of winter hopefully behind us, it's time to think spring thoughts and liven up our residences via warmth, color, texture and that homeyness feeling we crave when settling into the cozy space we get to call home.
We sat down with interior designer Jessica Brugger of Dwell Well Design Co. to give us the tea on stylish spots in Columbus to scour when renewing our homes. Feel free to steal the following recommendations.
The first order of business? Color is back. As you consider freshening up your space, think luscious reds, greens, and blues to punch up the former beiges and whites that have dominated our homes and social media feeds for the last several years.
"You have to get some color in your house," Jessica recommends. "If you aren’t ready to paint walls, that’s fine. [But] bring in textures via throw pillows and vintage rugs, home accessories and items that speak to you personally, that make your home yours."
Here are her local picks.
Lefthandwood Co. (Gahanna): This custom woodworking business is a best kept secret. The owner, Jeff Girard, has a "very distinct" signature style of tables, ottomans and benches that he creates for clients looking for beautiful, built-to-last furniture. "His work is simple, but so perfectly done that it tells a story," Jessica says, stating that his work is "amazingly priced" considering the precision and design that Jeff creates.
Finn & Roe (Powell): A lovely treasure, located in downtown Powell, is home decor and clothing boutique Finn & Roe. "They are spot-on with a particular point of view," Jessica says. From pink, modern coupe glasses that bring a nod of vintage to your home to quaint shelving accessories, this is an excellent go-to for unique housewares, gifts and clothing.
Elm & Iron (Easton): The place to go for home accessories, recommends Jessica."Their stores are merchandised beautifully, showing you how to make your space authentic to you and your home," she comments. "They integrate vintage in a really seamless, modern way, and value wise, they are inexpensive and full of things that are different from the mainstream stuff."
Fine Artist Anna Sokol (Bexley): A mainstay in the Columbus art scene, fine artist Anna Sokol creates art reminiscent of "vibrancy for your life." Jessica favors Sokol's take on "bold, fun, joyful and approachable art" that can be a great focal piece for your home. "It isn't taking itself so seriously, but it's still fine art," Jessica says. Sokol's art is featured in a variety of places around town, including restaurants and galleries.
Worthington Candle Works (Worthington): "Smell is part of how you want your home to feel. Scents tell a story, or remind us of events and timeframes," says Jessica. Locally owned by Mikie McGill and Tina Stiver, you can experience the joy of pouring your own candles, body scrubs, room spray and more while supporting this women-owned business with community-based values.
Bareclay Studio (Beechwold): This working pottery/art studio offers classes for people looking to come in and experience the joy of creating something. "[At Bareclay], you're making simple things that you can take home and actually use," Jessica states. "The owner's passion for pottery makes it really approachable for people to give pottery a try."
Readings by Willow: Jessica claims that inviting a tarot reader and intuitive like Willow Niemela into your home is the ultimate Galentine's get-together.
"It is a great way to introduce people to your home," Jessica says of hosting your own tarot reading. "Do drinks and apps or a brunch, have Prosecco and good food, and cackle with your friends. It's such a fun and lighthearted event to do during wintertime."
As for the readings themselves, you can tell Willow what area of life you want to focus on—be it business, family or something else—she will show you her cards and you and your pals can compare notes.
Easy Home Makeover Tips:
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Bring in items that you love, that are memories, that are quirky, and work that into a grouping of decor.
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Don’t be afraid of color. Work in colors or patterns and textures using accessories like pillows or artwork.
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Try a colorful, printed area rug and use those colors as your color pallet for additional accessories to center around.
"It’s people that make the businesses. The people at the end of the product matter."