Farmhouse style is an interior design style that prioritizes practicality, simplicity, and rustic charm. Much of the same can be said of the couple, Brad and Holly Lauritzen, behind Our Faux Farmhouse. With a cult-like following of over 1.2 million, people have discovered that these two (as well as their projects) are practical and charming all rolled into one couple.
It started in 2016 as a place on Instagram where Holly shared Brad's DIY projects. But she was sharing the photos after the projects were completed. Their Instagram exploded once Holly started sharing their projects in real time instead of looking back. Holly, a former elementary school teacher says, “We weren’t professionals. People were able to do it along with us. We are normal homeowners just wanting to make our house look better. One room, one wall at a time." Brad adds, "I think it was super relatable because every home we got into was a builder spec home. And we were trying to show ways to improve and add character.”
The couple has made the journey from Provo, UT to Austin, TX and have now settled in the Franklin area, also bringing their Urban Sips concept with them. "We started Urban Sips and Our Faux Farmhouse within months of each other. Once we decided to move here - we fell in love on a whirlwind weekend trip - and in three days, we bought a house and leased a spot for Urban Sips. Once we decided, it all fell in to place seamlessly," says Holly.
Brad adds, "For us, family is first. If it's not a good fit for our family and it isn't going to make us thrive, we aren't going to do it." That family first attitude has definitely contributed to how their Instagram has evolved into more lifestyle content. People want to know about their family, and things like healthy products for the family and certainly, how they manage five kids (ages 15, 13, 11, 8 and 6). Holly says,“We’ve shared our struggles and realistic things about our marriage.”
The entrepreneurial couple has recently bought into Flutterhabit, an eyelash company. "We always promote doing things ourselves. We’re big on self-reliance and learning to do things for yourself. I love the product so much so I felt comfortable putting our name on it," says Holly.
But don't fret. Holly and Brad are moving into a new home in our area that they say will need lots of character.
What's next for the Lauritzens? "We would love to expand Urban Sips. Soda is something we are passionate about. We have no idea where Our Faux Farmhouse will take us," says Holly. "We never really had a plan for it," added Brad. Holly continues, "The whole goal of this is teaching people and empowering them to know they can do the same things that Brad is doing. He's not trained - he's just taught himself. And the difference between him doing it and them doing it? He's just trying. He's picking up the tool and trying. That's it. We want to give people the confidence to get started on making their own home exactly how they want it."
