This Colombian-Inspired Abode Embraces Pink Hues and Handmade Decor

The places we grow up rarely leave us. It’s a truth that exists in how we relate to others, live our lives, and even decorate our homes. Point in case? Jessica Melendez’ bright bohemian Texas abode.

The artist, designer, and owner of SITOS grew up in Bucaramanga, Colombia before moving to the United States. Her hometown is just a three-hour drive away from Barichara, one of the primary inspirations for Disney’s "Encanto"—coveted for its lush valleys, colorfully painted window sills, and 100-year-old timelessness.

Much of that same magic inspires Melendez’s home. Nestled among verdant trees, the home—which she shares with her husband and pup—is filled with dazzling treasures. Strawberry-swathed sheets pour over the guest bed, geometric woodwork decorates the doors, and macrame lamps inspired by her Colombian artisans light up the walls.

Ahead, Melendez shares more about her hometown, her favorite DIY pieces, and her creative inspirations.

How did you first discover your space? What about it appealed to you?

We were looking for homes around the area and found this one. The photos weren’t very promising. But, I could see the charm of the house and imagine what it would look like if we worked on it, so we went ahead and toured it.

When we arrived, we noticed the neighborhood was quiet, beautiful, and most importantly, full of mature trees—which is definitely our thing.

Then, we went inside and, looking past the mess and decor choices, the house was pretty spacious. It had a good layout, the number of rooms we were looking for, a big enough garage for my husband to do his woodworking, a cute sunroom, and a plus for both of us: a pool!

Does your home fit in with your neighborhood's vibe or does it stand out?

Most of the homes around the neighborhood were built during the ‘80s by two guys. They are similar in style, yet they are all different in size and shape. One of the things we love the most is the mature trees—you can see the builders worked around them and preserved most of the nature, as it should be.

Our home is the smallest house on the street, which is mind-blowing to us because we think our house is pretty big. For context, I am from Colombia and lived in a small condo with my parents and three siblings my entire life before I moved to the States. And my husband is from Seattle where big homes, especially nowadays, are only for wealthy people.

How would you describe your style and approach to decorating your home?

Both my husband and I are creatives, so we try to make most things ourselves. I love that he can craft things out of wood and create the furniture of my dreams.

The sliding doors in our primary bedroom and our dining table are my top favorites. Our style is a mix of midcentury modern and bohemian-style for our shared spaces, and then some girly, pink-lover, and dopamine decor for my studio—and sometimes the guest room, too.

Who or what are your biggest design inspirations?

I know this is going to sound very millennial, but Pinterest and Apartment Therapy are the two places that first come to mind when looking for home decor inspiration.

And Alexandra Gater’s YouTube videos! I was very flattered when she decorated a dining nook with one of my macrame lamps and I have to keep telling everyone about it.

How does your heritage inform your style?

I think my bohemian-inspired style definitely comes from my Colombian upbringing. I remember traveling to small towns around Bucaramanga and loving all the handcrafts the local artisans were selling.

In fact, one of the places that inspires me the most in terms of style and decor is called Barichara—it's about three hours away from my home in Colombia.

This precious town is cultural patrimony and is considered one of the country’s most beautiful and preserved colonial towns. You need to Google it—it is such a magical place. One of my dreams is to be able to live my retirement years there.

The pendant lamp in my dining room was created from a basket I found at the farmers market in my hometown, Bucaramanga. I loved it so much that I contacted the artisan who made them and purchased some to be offered on my website, as well.

Where in your home do you spend the most time, and what are you usually doing there?

It depends. Sometimes I find myself spending the majority of my time at the dining table, working on my computer. Other times, I spend a lot of time in my studio making macramé lamps and listening to my favorite podcasts.

Can you share the inspiration behind SITOS?

​​I've always had a passion for home decor. In 2018, I was moving out and couldn’t afford anything fancy. I learned some macramé back in high school, and I created my first macramé wall hanging for the living room. Long story short, my girlfriends saw them and wanted me to make some for their homes, too, and that’s how SITOS started.

Nowadays, SITOS is a mix of that—plus, the need for representation that came to me after a few years of living overseas.

I want to create pieces that remind me of my roots and share them with other Latinos living abroad who long to have a piece of our culture with them. That is where my Colombian ornaments or Empanada necklace came to life, and I hope I can continue to design many other pieces like them.

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Read the original article on The Spruce.