Podcast, Ep. 256 Vibrant Interiors with Andrea Monath Schumacher

We are so excited to welcome Andrea Monath Schumacher to the show. Andrea is an interior designer based out of Denver, Colorado. Her experience ranges from commercial and residential spaces, as well as set design for television at Days of Our Lives and Columbia Pictures. Her design style is heavily influenced by travel and emotion which is laced throughout her debut book Vibrant Interiors: Living Large at Home. She was named House Beautiful‘s Next Wave Designer and she’s also been featured in Architectural Digest, Veranda, and more. Today we talk about injecting personality into our interiors and how to tell a story with design. Andrea talks about how she taps into emotions to make a space feel warm, cozy, and inviting so her clients and guests can feel welcome to share their stories.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• Andrea talks about her childhood and travels as the daughter of a virologist.
• What does Andrea mean by “storytelling your interior”?
• Why Andrea loves using conversation starters in her design.
• Layering is a big key to making a space feel cozy.
• The formal dining room is out and the multi-purpose dining room is in.
• Andrea loves making a breakfast nook truly inviting and loungey.
• What are Andrea’s tricks for designing to make people feel their best in their homes?
• The story of how Andrea found her home and the items in it.
• Why Andrea loves grasscloth everywhere; even on the ceilings.
• How Andrea mixes and matches patterns.
• What is in Andrea’s secondary kitchen?
• Andrea’s tip for protecting her wallpaper.
• More about Andrea’s textile and wallpaper collection.
• How does Andrea like to bring art into her clients’ homes?

Decorating Dilemma:

Hello ladies,

I am a relatively new listener out in California. I just love your podcast! It’s been so much fun to binge-listen to while I was at home with a newborn.

I am writing to you with a dining room dilemma. Several years ago, I purchased a salvaged wood, unfinished pine dining table. While I love the wood tone and the clean lines of the table, the raw nature of the wood is just not working for the current phase of life my family is in with three young girls.

• What kind of table should I get that’s durable, unfussy, and kid-friendly?
• What shape table should I get?
• Thoughts on a banquet?

Your advice on the table (and anything else) is much appreciated! I can’t wait to hear what you think. Thank you in advance!

Cheers,

Krista

Hi Krista,

That whole corner where the tree is, I would put an L-shaped banquette. As far as the table, I would probably find a pedestal/center-based table so it’s easier to get in and out. I don’t like to throw anything away so I would find a way to repurpose it; maybe even as a desk? You could even cut the legs down to use as a tea-height table in the living room! I think the glass table in the living room is too small so that would be perfect. The chairs are fine, and if you had a banquette you could use them on the outside of the eating area. If you were to do the banquette, you would have to swag the lighting fixture to put it over the space. With kids, a zinc top table and/or an oval shape is great. I don’t think you need a rug if you use lots of cozy pillows or fabrics at the banquette, but if you want one you could use an indoor/outdoor rug. With kids, you need something easy to clean. I think you can also use drapery to warm up the space since the window coverings are sparse; you can even do a mock valence to make it look wider if those are operable blinds.

Good luck, Krista!

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Andrea Schumacher Interiors
• Andrea Schumacher Interiors on Instagram
• Vibrant Interiors: Living Large at Home
• Liesl Collection

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Happy Decorating!

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