Calexico is a a portmanteau – a word that is a result of a linguistic blend – of California + Mexico.
Photo c/o Pinterest
Hey loves!
I’m back! I’ve been absent from the blog for quite awhile (even on social media I’ve been less than my usual consistent self) because I needed to prepare for a couple of big changes in my personal life.
Over the last three months, I earned my Master’s of Education, completed seven years of teaching, and applied for and (accepted!) a new position at my school. Currently, I am enjoying a break from my full-time work for the first time in two years.
In addition to closing work and school chapters, I’m officially leaving my beloved 1.5 bedroom apartment of eight years. Although bittersweet – I’ll share more on the bitter part later – the chance to re-imagine my space is pretty freaking sweet!
I’ve been on Pinterest non-stop, and honestly forgot how much I loved this platform. For those who don’t know, Pinterest is a visual search engine. Never used Pinterest? Think Google Images – but with the ability to save and organize your favorite results to folders called “boards”. (See below.) I can spend (and have spent) hours culling the best resources – retailers, blog posts, articles, design elements – on home decor.
Why Calexico?
Calexico is a a portmanteau (a word that is a result of a linguistic blend) of California + Mexico. I’ve always had an affinity – a nostalgia – for creamy whites, deep greens, dark blues, and mustard yellow; all of which are richly abundant in the landscape and architecture of the southwest. Notably, less than 120 miles from the actual town of Calexico is San Diego, city of my adolescence, replete with its own canyons and beaches which I visited frequently.
Despite this, I’ve now lived in Massachusetts for twelve years! Though I don’t mind the cold, limited access to sun takes its toll on my mental health. Growing up in Florida + California, I’ve grown accustomed to sizable doses of Vitamin D. Unfortunately, residing in a basement classroom from 8 to 5 (which is especially rough after Daylight Savings ends, only to encounter an endless string of snowy winter or dreary spring weekends, means that I can feel oddly unlike myself for months at a time. (Josie + I were just talking about this downside of East Coast living not long ago. She actually wrote about her own experience living in DC in a recent blog post.)
It’s with all this in mind, especially as I enter my 30’s, that I’m approaching this design process. I see it as not just an opportunity to play interior designer, but create a space that supports healthy habits for mind, body, + soul.
Inspiration
The apartment feature I’m probably most excited about is a small sun room with four or five windows! While researching how to turn that space into my long-coveted bright, airy oasis away from the weather and work, I feel into my usual rabbit hole of home decor inspo. Eventually, I settled on three themes.
Bedroom – Venice: A Beach Bungalow
If you didn’t know, cane furniture is having a moment, as well as similar light-weight woods, like bamboo, wicker, & rattan. These are summer style staples, and in homes, these materials create an environment as equally relaxed as vacation’s favorite season. I want my bedroom to be a place I can wind down, and I can’t think of a better way to achieve that goal than getaway-themed decor.
Living + Dining – Pheonix: Vintage Vibes
My living room and dining room will coexist in an open space, and where guests + I will spend most of our time. I want the space to feel intimate and cozy, and warm neutrals are a great way to create that. They’re also perfect palette staples for every season. I love the touch of green via lots of flora. I’m scarily adept a killing plants, however, which means lots of cacti, succulents, and fiddle figs for me.
Kitchen – Margot: A French Farmhouse
I can’t lie. I love a farmhouse styled kitchen. The rustic wood, distressed brick, bright cabinets, and open shelving are so darn charming!
Soon, I’ll share a post about all the items I’ve saved to cart, ordering swatches, renter’s hacks, and anything else y’all are curious about!
I’m sure as this process continues, I’ll change my mind A LOT. For right now, though, I’m loving the challenge of making these boards come to life and fit together cohesively. What do y’all think? Do you love it or totally hate it?
