We’re excited to bring back our popular family tour feature At home with. This week we will tour the house of author and bloggers, Medina Grillo. You can read Medina’s previous ABM articles this.
OK, let’s start the tour. Her house is a DIY masterpiece!
Q: I love the way you focus your message on the tenants! What do you say to someone who feels as though they can’t really personalize their home because they rent out?
A: I like to say “please don’t think so” because you absolutely can! If anything, my home is proof that it can be done. My house reflects a lot of my personality and the things I love, and I think that even if I couldn’t paint the walls or make other changes, this would still happen.
I brought character and color into my home through bold accessories and furniture which makes statements. I’ve used removable wallpaper to show my love of pattern and striking walls, and I hung stylish plants and lights with self-adhesive hooks.
Decorating a rental definitely requires some fresh thinking, but I honestly think it’s worth it. Life is too short to spend time living in a lifeless box that doesn’t reflect your great self!
Q: Your home has a very nice color palette that is not too flashy. What’s your tip for honing a palette?
A: Mood boarding is a great way to see the colors, themes, and textures on paper before you start the actual decor. I recommend choosing 3-4 colors and materials and sticking them together when putting a room together.
For example, you don’t necessarily have to have one wood tone in a space — you can have multiple tones as long as it’s within your initial selection.
Try to avoid buying too fancy furniture. Mix and match throughout your home to create more interest and depth in your style.
Q: DIY is an important part of your decor! What’s your favorite DIY that you’ve made in your home?
A: My favorite DIY would have to be mine IKEA hack cabinets in my entrance. It was a simple little hack – I mean, all I did was cut out the door and add cane wire to the IVAR unit, but it made all the difference to the space. I really love and appreciate these simple DIYs.
Q: Your numbered stairs are great. Can you tell us a little bit about how you made them?
A: Yes! I wrote a blog post about stenciling and painting my stairs this. I love their industrial look.
Q: Your kid’s space blends in well with the rest of your home. Do you have any decorating tips for kids?
A: My biggest tip is to buy stylish storage to put their “stuff” in, haha. This is a special case in my living room. The baskets you see on the shelves are actually packed with baby accessories and toys.
Q: Where can we track you?
A: You can find me on Instagram thisand my website is Grillo Designs.
PS Be sure to check out the articles Medina wrote for ABM here!
Xo, Elsie
