Learn How to Create a More Layered, Soulful Home By Following This Account
Feeling isolated as a stay-at-home mom and seeking a creative outlet, Erin Conway turned to social media as a way to connect with other like-minded design lovers. She began documenting the renovation of her family's home, lovingly dubbed Kismet House because of the serendipitous way it came to be theirs. Her Instagram account garnered a loyal audience. With the 1970s fixer under their belt, the family of four is embarking on a new chapter: restoring a 100-year-old home in Northern California, with a dramatic kitchen renovation in the works for this summer.
Trusted for her relatable posts, inspiring ideas, and candid snapshots of her family's journey, Erin inspires her online audience to create spaces that feel true to them. “Homes are so much more soulful when you take time to curate them, collect them, save for them,” says Conway. She has a penchant for following bold, trend-subverting creators unafraid to follow their own design intuition. “Don’t shrink yourself to be palatable to everyone,” she advises. “It is a defeating feeling to wake up and realize you do not like the vanilla version of you.”
Q&A
House Beautiful: What three words best encapsulate your design style?
Erin Conway: Collected, warm, and classic.
HB: If you could transport yourself to any design era, which would it be?
EC: This is so hard because I love so many eras for different reasons. But I think I would feel very at home (assuming I can take my basic human rights with me!) in a late 1800s, early 1900s brownstone, or Tudor revival. The details, stone, moldings, drama, interesting ceilings, and quirky architecture. So much personality.
HB: What accounts are most inspiring you right now?
EC: Elyse Myers: Her content and commentary is so uplifting and makes me feel very seen. The Conscious Lee: He is an amazing resource for unlearning behaviors and understanding the nuances and impact of racism. John & Hank Green: They are a wealth of information and a hoot. Danihsa Carter: She is fierce and no nonsense; I love her hot takes on pop culture, politics, sexism etc. Design-wise: Heidi Callier, The Fox Group, Carmeon Hamilton, Jean Stoffer, Brady Tolbert. I feel like they all have a very clear voice and when you see their work you know it is their work and I love that.
HB: What’s been the highlight and lowlight of your kitchen renovation so far?
EC: Highlight was finding out we would be able to open up the dining and kitchen spaces to create one large cohesive space from two disjointed spaces without having an exposed support beam. The lowlight is finding an original cabinet hidden in the wall that was too far gone and in too great a state of disrepair to salvage.
HB: Where do you love to shop for home decor online?
EC: Charish, 1st Dibs, Craigslist, Lulu & Georgia, Eclectic Goods, H&M Home, World Market, Anthropologie, Ballard Designs...the list goes on!
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