10 Snazzy Home Spruce-Ups from Estee Stanley
The star-connected stylist reveals her favorite accent pieces, the secret to fab flowers and which fabric always looks great
For celebrity stylist and interior designer Estee Stanley, fashion and home decor go hand in hand. Known for her effortlessly chic brushstroke when dressing Hollywood starlets and their casually cool homes, Stanley has now teamed up with her celebrity client and friend Justin Timberlake in a venture called HomeMint.
Bring nature in with colorful blooms. Although displaying flowers seems like the most intuitive way of bringing the outdoors in, Stanley is amazed at how people still don't maximize the punch of color that flowers can bring into the home. Her favorite flowers are peonies, roses and hydrangeas; the latter because they last for weeks, are easy to tend to and grow their best in the shade. "Don’t buy flowers open. Allow them to come into full bloom in your home — you’ll love watching them change and blossom in your own space," she says.
Have at least one tall vase. In addition to always having greenery around the house, Stanley highly recommends that apartment dwellers and homeowners with low ceilings invest in tall vases for added height in a tight space with low ceilings.
Invest in art that's right for you. She's known for being an advocate of homegrown, American talent, so Stanley and Timberlake's HomeMint art collection includes the work of Kelsey Brookes and Sage Vaughn. When it comes to art, she suggests finding pieces that fit both your budget and your lifestyle. "Ask yourself if the art piece fits your overall aesthetic and if it is something that you'd want to have with you as you move in the future," says Stanley.
Have at least one tall vase. In addition to always having greenery around the house, Stanley highly recommends that apartment dwellers and homeowners with low ceilings invest in tall vases for added height in a tight space with low ceilings.
Invest in art that's right for you. She's known for being an advocate of homegrown, American talent, so Stanley and Timberlake's HomeMint art collection includes the work of Kelsey Brookes and Sage Vaughn. When it comes to art, she suggests finding pieces that fit both your budget and your lifestyle. "Ask yourself if the art piece fits your overall aesthetic and if it is something that you'd want to have with you as you move in the future," says Stanley.
Stone Montecito Washed Linen Duvet
Prioritize comfort over aesthetics. "It’s very important to always feel comfortable in any room of your home. Whether it’s the bathroom, the kitchen or your bedroom, I believe all these rooms deserve equal attention and thought when decorating. I really believe your home is a representation of who you are," says Stanley.
Introduce a new scent into the mix. Reflect the current season or the transition from one season into the next with candles. Stanley suggests having a select lineup of candles that can bring a "very specific feeling" that's particular to a time of year: Smell can reflect the changing of the seasons or the delight of a memorable summer with a whiff.
Introduce a new scent into the mix. Reflect the current season or the transition from one season into the next with candles. Stanley suggests having a select lineup of candles that can bring a "very specific feeling" that's particular to a time of year: Smell can reflect the changing of the seasons or the delight of a memorable summer with a whiff.
Arcadia Melon Blanket
Live and love with linen. "Linen makes spaces feel lighter and more breathable. The beauty of linen is that it looks just as good unmade for a more casual look and if you don’t have time to tidy up," says Stanley. Her favorite linen pieces are textiles from the weavers at Brahms Mount in Maine; she's included their day blankets, throws and towels in her HomeMint collection because her clients haven't stopped asking about them since she peppered their homes with Brahms Mount pieces.
Expect to entertain. The summer months and the holiday season always bring more guests into the home. Have plenty of folding tables and flexible seating options and arrangements based on who's coming over for dinner.
Change out blah towels to luxurious prints. Stanley loves plush, sumptuous towels — especially for the backyard deck or the pool area. "There are great options for towel fabrics, including bohemian styles, patriotic stars and stripes, and Union Jacks, all in theme for the upcoming Olympics," says Stanley.
Go for pattern and color when it comes to your towels; they act as small, plush tapestries when thrown over a deck chair or left on the ground while you're taking a dip in the pool.
Expect to entertain. The summer months and the holiday season always bring more guests into the home. Have plenty of folding tables and flexible seating options and arrangements based on who's coming over for dinner.
Change out blah towels to luxurious prints. Stanley loves plush, sumptuous towels — especially for the backyard deck or the pool area. "There are great options for towel fabrics, including bohemian styles, patriotic stars and stripes, and Union Jacks, all in theme for the upcoming Olympics," says Stanley.
Go for pattern and color when it comes to your towels; they act as small, plush tapestries when thrown over a deck chair or left on the ground while you're taking a dip in the pool.
Update your lifestyle accessories. Journals on your bedside table, a pair of shades on the entryway console and the iPad case on the kitchen countertop — all of these pieces add visual interest to your interiors, even if they're small enough to fit into your purse.
"Mixing up your accessories is actually a discreet and subtle way of updating your decor; these are pieces that tend to sit around your home anyway. Show your fashion-forward style with accessories and do a little color blocking by mixing up a pink journal cover with sorbet-hued luggage tags and passport cases," says Stanley.
Embrace the power of the pillow. Stanley is a self-confessed throw pillow addict. She "loves, loves" pillows and believes that just the smallest addition can truly shift the look and energy of a room. "Maximize a throw pillow by getting one that really pops with a geometric pattern or one that's two-tone and can be a bit more versatile," says Stanley.