INTERIORS
Hello there.
I’m Kaitlyn and a lot of the design photographs you’ll see on here are taken in my cozy, one bedroom apartment. Growing up some of my favorite homes my family and I lived in were the ones with character - creaky floorboards, doorway knicks, and glass atriums that welcomed the perfect amount of sunlight. If it felt too new or too modern, it wasn't my cup of tea.
This all seems rather fitting considering I live on the East side of Milwaukee in a 1920’s building with a café where the charm and character never sleep. The faint aroma of coffee dances around the lobby each morning and chatter of light conversation floods the walls. It embodies that feeling of being home.
In the summer you’ll hear our courtyard play Sinatra’s greatest hits as string lights claim their role as a spotlight. Talk about charm… I wasn’t kidding.
My apartment tells a story - one where you know it’s been lived in long before you. The windows get stuck, the bathroom cabinet refuses to close all the way, and the exposed heaters speak their own secret language just as you’re trying to fall asleep. But every apartment tells a story, and I look forward to sharing snippets of how I decorate mine along the way : )
I have an obsession with coffee table books. I admit it. Especially when they are filled with pages about art, photography, design, fashion, and iconic people. Did I mention that obsession is accompanied by candles? You will learn this about me, I promise. I wanted to dress this side table up by marrying colors and textures that achieved a warm feeling. The wood from the table has a natural warmth, so I kept it very timeless with the black book, but tied in those warmer tones with the lighter pink plant. For me, interiors should elicit a familiarity - of your camping trip out West, of your childhood bedroom, of your favorite scent. The soft green candle paired with the glow of the flame immediately transports me to a camp fire type vibe, and that is exactly what I want to feel as I cozy up on my couch in the evenings. Fun fact: dessert stands can be used as décor and trust me, they can be useful outside of the kitchen. Again with the height concept, I wanted to take up more space against the wall and take away any clutter that could have appeared. So, I used a small wooden cake stand to lift that vase up and make more of a statement. I would say the more neutral tones from the couch and throw blanket lend a hand to keep that classic feel in place. I find it helps the naked eye appreciate those pops of color even more.
If there is one thing I have learned from my personal experience with interior design, it would be the importance of harmony within a space. When I visualize how I want a room to look, I more so think of it in terms of how I want the room to flow. Having this kind of mindset allows for you to create something that feels whole rather than chunked out into separate pieces. With that said, I wanted this table stand in my bedroom space to harmonize with the setup I showed in the living room and on the window sill. Dimmer lights paired with greenery and a richer wood scream coziness to me - that is what I really played with here. I will always bring some form of layering into the picture with my design so I pulled another wooden stand and a book to give the lighting a pedestal. Everything in this scene does a nice job complimenting one another. I had one of those "this just makes sense" moments setting this space up.
There is an essence of comfort that comes from window sills dressed with a few of my favorite things. A space should be a reflection of you - hobbies, photographs alongside the camera that snapped them, books with the type of wear and tear that shows they've been loved. Oh and plants, lots of plants. I like to give certain objects height to break up the spaces in between and elevate the window sill even more. Whether it's stacking books with a camera on top or placing a candle on an empty jewelry box, you can get the objects to compliment one another.
Living in the city comes with a great deal of perks - close proximity to coffee shops being one of them. Fairgrounds quickly became one of my favorite places to enjoy a tall glass of caffeine and it has more to do with the aesthetic than it does with the actual menu. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the food and drinks, but there is something special about the atmosphere. I took this photo with my film camera early one morning, and it captured the tones of this shop in such a beautifully, unscripted way. The hues of warm tones mixed with the pops of green and blue - I had to share some of the scenery that inspire me around the neighborhood.
Shadow play on a Friday morning.
During a stay at the Gabriel Hotel in Miami, this was the view during breakfast one morning and I loved the eclectic design. I thought this was a perfect depiction of textures, colors, and style coming together to form an elegant, yet unique visual.
I have always been drawn to spaces that emulate warmth; where golden tones intertwine with hues of green, shades of beige, and pops of orange & blue.
I recently moved into a new apartment and got the opportunity to work with a blank canvas. Above you will find some snapshots of cozy corners throughout my apartment - - - snippets of how I bring my living space to life.
You will also find some photos of inspiration.
The purpose of this page is to share my own design projects around the house and to share the spaces that feel warm or inspire a new wave of interior creativity.
~ KW ~