My friend, Darla, (on the right - they look like sisters, don't they?) and her daughter, Lizzie.
Darla and I have known each other since the third grade. I don't even want to tell you how many years that is. We have been through wonderful and wild times together, as well as through all of life's trials and tribulations.
We have shared grief and we have shared joy on many occasions over the years.
Ours is an old and dear friendship that endures the test of time and it means the world to me.
Why it has taken me so long to feature her very talented daughter, Lizzie, at Hill Country House, I do not know!!
She has talent and style galore, and is a creative and innovative young woman who has developed a niche for herself in the world of affordable home design.
I am so happy to introduce you to interior designer and blogger, Lizzie Lander, of
Homegrown Interiors!
Lizzie is based in Santa Monica, California, but is willing and able to help
anyone anywhere with their home design.
Tell me about your education and how you became interested in interior design?
I have always loved interior design, but for some reason, it took me a long time to realize it could be my career. It wasn’t until 2005 that I realized I really wanted to be working with interiors and I decided to go back to school. I received a professional degree in Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles in 2006, and I have been working in interior design in one way or another ever since. While a degree is good to have, my real education has come from my work experience. Working within the industry from the retail side gave me valuable insight from a product stand point, and working underneath designers provided me with hands-on client experience that you really need.
What brought you to Santa Monica?
I lived in Los Angeles for 3 years before moving to Santa Monica. I moved in with some friends that had a place near the beach, and once I got here, I realized there is no other place in LA I would rather live. The views are like a good therapist, the pace is a little slower, and you can almost feel a little bit of southern hospitality here. It makes me feel a little closer to home.
What or who inspires you?
Some of my favorite designers of today are Kelly Wearstler, Phillipe Starck, Thom Filicia, Steven Volpe, and Kelly LaPlante (for her approach to eco-friendly interior design). I love that all of their designs are clean and contemporary but still have fun elements of surprise (some more than others).
Your style is a very current and fresh look. Are you ever hired to do something that is just not you, and how do you handle that?
I do tend to lean towards the contemporary side of styles. No matter what style I am working with, I still like to incorporate clean lines and little clutter. There are times that parts of the room aren’t exactly how I first envisioned, but at the end of the day, if the client is happy, I am happy. A professor once told me, “Make your choices based off what is right for the space, not what you like.” I always keep that in the back of my mind.
I love what you say on your website about being concerned with people who want good design but can't afford the high end designer prices. What brought you to this realization?
The little things that people were asking me to help them with made me realize you don’t need a custom sofa or designer dining table to feel better in your own space. Some friends of mine needed better space plans and creative ways to incorporate their revolving door of roommates’ furniture. They needed to pull everything together, and they just didn’t know where to begin. It’s expensive to tear down walls, but pretty cheap to paint them!
I love the concept of e-decorating. You have a specific section on your website for this service. Tell me about it.
E-decorating is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to spruce up their home with the help of a designer. All the client has to do is send us pictures and measurements of their space and fill out our questionnaire. After that, they get an entire room (or rooms) designed by us with floor plans, paint swatches, and a complete online shopping list of where to buy everything. The client has a lot of control in this process by letting us know what their budget is, what pieces they want to keep and what can go, and since they are the ones buying all of the products, nothing will go in that they don’t love. Each design is tailored to the specific client, and it will reflect their taste and style. By the end of the process, clients finally have a home they can enjoy.
Do you do more local work or more e-decorating?
At this point, I am doing more local work, but e-decorating is growing quickly. I think the hardest part is getting people to learn that e-decorating is an option. It’s such a new concept that I feel like I am educating as much as I am marketing.
Do you have a typical client, meaning people of a certain age or lifestyle?
My typical e-decorating clients are professionals in their late 20’s to early 40’s. Many of them have tried to do it on their own and then have reached out for help. Most of my e-decorating clients are not interested in hiring a full-time interior designer so this is their alternative.
What is your favorite part of your work?
My favorite part of designing is when the client gets excited about a space (or even just a piece of furniture). It feels good to know I was able to take their thoughts and ideas and make them tangible.
What do you hope for your future?
I am really excited to see where the concept of e-decorating goes as more people learn about it. Who knows what the future holds for Homegrown Interiors, but I am very excited to find out!
It will be fun to see what your future holds, Lizzie. You belong on one of these "one to watch" lists in the design magazines.
Thank you for your time and your insight into the current world of interior design. I wish you all the best!
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