Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Creativity Captivates in a New Jersey Family Haven
Handmade treasures arranged artfully and with love fill a DIY-savvy blogger's bright and cheery home
Melissa de la Fuente might as well be crowned the Queen of Etsy. Her talent for zeroing in on the best, most wondrously creative handmade finds is apparent on her popular blog, Melissa Loves, and in every inch of the home she shares with husband Joel and their two girls. A peek into any corner of their house is sure to reward you with the discovery of a new favorite artist or maker, or spark an idea for a DIY project to try at home. But beyond being packed to the gills with handmade treasures, the de la Fuente abode exudes warmth, love and genuine happiness.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Melissa and Joel de la Fuente plus their 2 daughters, 2 dogs and 1 turtle
Location: New Jersey, about 20 minutes from New York City
Size: 2,395 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths
That's interesting: When Melissa's oldest daughter was a baby, they starred in a sweet commercial together. Also, Joel recently starred in an independent thriller, Brief Reunion.
Photography by Marichelle Hills
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Melissa and Joel de la Fuente plus their 2 daughters, 2 dogs and 1 turtle
Location: New Jersey, about 20 minutes from New York City
Size: 2,395 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths
That's interesting: When Melissa's oldest daughter was a baby, they starred in a sweet commercial together. Also, Joel recently starred in an independent thriller, Brief Reunion.
Photography by Marichelle Hills
A pair of small benches in the entry provides a spot for bags and shoes. A sunny yellow sign and vintage antler set the tone.
Sign: Perch; antler: Etsy; bag: Valhalla Brooklyn, Etsy
Sign: Perch; antler: Etsy; bag: Valhalla Brooklyn, Etsy
Melissa's combination study and guest room acts as inspiration central. A birdcage is suspended over her desk, soft sculpture adorns the walls, and a bulletin board keeps treasured photos close. On a whim Melissa decided that some gift wrap from Rifle Paper was much too pretty to use on presents, so she repurposed it as wallpaper instead.
"Be Brave" print: Kelli Murray; neon raindrops: Marichelle Hills
"Be Brave" print: Kelli Murray; neon raindrops: Marichelle Hills
Her desk is stocked with favorite design books and small treasures that inspire and spark the imagination.
The kitchen is warm and homey, with lots of personal touches. DIY projects by Melissa (shown here) include the painted heart, chalkboard cloud and sunny yellow painted floors.
This corner of the kitchen is set up as a coffee and tea bar. Melissa used burlap to create a DIY table skirt and adorned the walls with more artwork.
We asked Melissa about how she decorates, her proudest DIY moment, how she knew this house was "the one" and more.
Laura Gaskill: You are so passionate about handmade, independent art and craft — tell us how you first discovered the world of Etsy.
Melissa de la Fuente: I am always so happy to talk about Etsy and all of the wonderful talented creatives I have met because of it. I was looking for Etsy my whole life and didn't realize it. I think I first discovered it through my blogging friends, Ez Pudewa of Creature Comforts and Holly Becker of Decor8 — it was back before we were friends, but I read their blogs religiously.
Polar bear bust: Tamar Mogendorff; pillow: Leah Duncan
Laura Gaskill: You are so passionate about handmade, independent art and craft — tell us how you first discovered the world of Etsy.
Melissa de la Fuente: I am always so happy to talk about Etsy and all of the wonderful talented creatives I have met because of it. I was looking for Etsy my whole life and didn't realize it. I think I first discovered it through my blogging friends, Ez Pudewa of Creature Comforts and Holly Becker of Decor8 — it was back before we were friends, but I read their blogs religiously.
Polar bear bust: Tamar Mogendorff; pillow: Leah Duncan
Melissa: I have accumulated so many favorites on Etsy (and now many from other sources as well). I always tell people to find one shop or artist on Etsy that you love and then "favorite hop" around to other artists and shops. Weeding out all of the less-than-spectacular stuff on there is hard on your own, if you are just checking it out for the first time.
But others, like myself, have done a lot of the work for you, accumulating favorites for years! So, why not explore their Favorites page, and through them you will find other people to follow or other shops to explore. Here is my Favorites page on Etsy, just in case, and I also pin quite a few to my boards on Pinterest.
Clouds: Marichelle Hills; banner: Ez Pudewa; blue bird: Astulabee; pinecone: Margie Oomen; gold and blue vase: Up in the Air Somewhere; display crates: Jersey Ice Cream
But others, like myself, have done a lot of the work for you, accumulating favorites for years! So, why not explore their Favorites page, and through them you will find other people to follow or other shops to explore. Here is my Favorites page on Etsy, just in case, and I also pin quite a few to my boards on Pinterest.
Clouds: Marichelle Hills; banner: Ez Pudewa; blue bird: Astulabee; pinecone: Margie Oomen; gold and blue vase: Up in the Air Somewhere; display crates: Jersey Ice Cream
Melissa: Marichelle made this wonderful little hot air balloon, for our pop-up shop we did in my home last fall. I was lucky enough to get to keep this one.
Laura: What do you love most about your home?
Melissa: I love that it is old and has so much history and charm. I love that it is tall and when you are on the upper floors, you feel like you are in a tree house a little bit. I love that it is warm and comfortable, and that my family is happy here. That pouf [shown here in the dining room] is one of my favorite things we own, handed down to us by Joel's mom and dad.
Laura: If your house could describe itself in three words, would do you think it would say?
Melissa: "Old, happy and loved."
Melissa: I love that it is old and has so much history and charm. I love that it is tall and when you are on the upper floors, you feel like you are in a tree house a little bit. I love that it is warm and comfortable, and that my family is happy here. That pouf [shown here in the dining room] is one of my favorite things we own, handed down to us by Joel's mom and dad.
Laura: If your house could describe itself in three words, would do you think it would say?
Melissa: "Old, happy and loved."
Melissa: I love our front door and the stained glass in the house. You can see where the stained glass was damaged long ago by one of the previous owners.The patch job is kind of hilarious, but we would like to have it fixed properly someday. We've met some of the now-grown kids from the previous family to own our house. They explained that it was a Superman game gone wrong that broke the window.
Laura: You've said you think of this as your "forever house." How or when did you know it was "the one"?
Melissa: I think the moment we first stepped onto the front porch. I adore front porches and had always wanted one. Images of sipping coffee there or laughing with friends ... my girls relaxing out there, reading a book. These images made me so happy. Then when we walked inside and saw the beautiful light and details, we were sold.
Bird mirror: Flux glas, Etsy
Melissa: I think the moment we first stepped onto the front porch. I adore front porches and had always wanted one. Images of sipping coffee there or laughing with friends ... my girls relaxing out there, reading a book. These images made me so happy. Then when we walked inside and saw the beautiful light and details, we were sold.
Bird mirror: Flux glas, Etsy
Laura: Proudest DIY project?
Melissa: Hmm ... probably my dining room table. I had been looking for a large, round table, and my friend Marichelle saw one at a yard sale and called me, knowing I was looking. It turned out to be the childhood table of a friend of ours. They kindly gave it to me for $50! I painted it carefully, according to an amazing tutorial on my friend Barb's blog, Knack Studios. That lady has quite a way with paint, and thanks to her, it turned out just the way I wanted.
Melissa: Hmm ... probably my dining room table. I had been looking for a large, round table, and my friend Marichelle saw one at a yard sale and called me, knowing I was looking. It turned out to be the childhood table of a friend of ours. They kindly gave it to me for $50! I painted it carefully, according to an amazing tutorial on my friend Barb's blog, Knack Studios. That lady has quite a way with paint, and thanks to her, it turned out just the way I wanted.
Laura: What's next on your list?
Melissa: I am not sure! I feel like I am always moving things about, painting things, rearranging. But if we had the money, I would love to redo our basement. Make it a hangout for the kids, a workshop for me and just generally awesome.
Giraffe: Wren Handmade; print: Janet Hill; mirror frame: Working Class Studios
Melissa: I am not sure! I feel like I am always moving things about, painting things, rearranging. But if we had the money, I would love to redo our basement. Make it a hangout for the kids, a workshop for me and just generally awesome.
Giraffe: Wren Handmade; print: Janet Hill; mirror frame: Working Class Studios
Melissa: I just recently repainted my kitchen floor, my temporary fixes until the day we can replace it. Luna likes to keep guard right by that particular flower.
Laura: What is your weakness? What can't you pass up?
Melissa: Oh ... so many weaknesses. Shiny things, art, soft sculpture, bright pink, gold, dogs ... oops! How did that get in there?
Melissa: Oh ... so many weaknesses. Shiny things, art, soft sculpture, bright pink, gold, dogs ... oops! How did that get in there?
Laura: Where is your favorite spot in the house?
Melissa: I guess our living room. It is the heart of the house, I think. We gravitate there, and it gets pretty light in the morning. This couch sees a lot of movies, snuggles, reading and quite a few meals too. I truly love all of the rooms in our house; they all have such character.
Pink flower: The House that Lars Built
Melissa: I guess our living room. It is the heart of the house, I think. We gravitate there, and it gets pretty light in the morning. This couch sees a lot of movies, snuggles, reading and quite a few meals too. I truly love all of the rooms in our house; they all have such character.
Pink flower: The House that Lars Built
Melissa: I love fireplaces, and we use ours a lot. We even make s'mores in there sometimes!
Mobile: Specks & Keeping; gold cloud and "Love" art: Stepanka; mirror decal: Shanna Murray; print: Laura George
Mobile: Specks & Keeping; gold cloud and "Love" art: Stepanka; mirror decal: Shanna Murray; print: Laura George
Laura: What do you think makes a house a home?
Melissa: Well, I think it is how much love you put into it. I know that isn't everyone's priority or forte, but for me, it is a necessity. I always want the rooms to tell a story, the places where your eyes rest to make you feel safe, happy, inspired or cozy.
Print: Yard Sale Press
Melissa: Well, I think it is how much love you put into it. I know that isn't everyone's priority or forte, but for me, it is a necessity. I always want the rooms to tell a story, the places where your eyes rest to make you feel safe, happy, inspired or cozy.
Print: Yard Sale Press
Melissa: I love the quote "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." I would say, "My style isn't for everyone, but it is passionately rendered." Smells mean a lot to me, textures, brightness. I have pretty strong associations with things, so if something doesn't make me happy or seem to fit my personality, I can't let it in.
Melissa: My littlest one's room, with my favorite garland from Weekday Carnival, lots of pictures and a rabbit decal from Love Mae.
Laura: Who or what are you always inspired by?
Melissa: I am inspired by Deborah Needleman's book The Perfectly Imperfect Home and Mary Randolph Carter's A Perfectly Kept House Is the Sign of a Misspent Life — for the beautiful interiors and creative approach to decorating, but also because it gives us all permission to be less than perfect in our homes. Which I am good at!
Laura: Who or what are you always inspired by?
Melissa: I am inspired by Deborah Needleman's book The Perfectly Imperfect Home and Mary Randolph Carter's A Perfectly Kept House Is the Sign of a Misspent Life — for the beautiful interiors and creative approach to decorating, but also because it gives us all permission to be less than perfect in our homes. Which I am good at!
Melissa: Most of all, I am inspired by my children and trying to create a home that makes them feel appreciated, loved, safe and inspired.
Laura: If I gave you a can of chalkboard paint, what would you do with it?
Melissa: I would paint one whole wall with it, in our fantasy basement redo. Then everyone could add their two cents' worth or draw a picture, leave a quote or reminder. Be heard.
Laura: If I gave you a can of chalkboard paint, what would you do with it?
Melissa: I would paint one whole wall with it, in our fantasy basement redo. Then everyone could add their two cents' worth or draw a picture, leave a quote or reminder. Be heard.
Melissa: This is a little landing between the second floor and third. I thought it would be a nice little reading nook.
Potted flower: Tamar Mogendorff; framed print: Coral & Tusk
Potted flower: Tamar Mogendorff; framed print: Coral & Tusk
Melissa: At the top of the stairs to the third floor, where our bedroom, office and bathroom are. Some of my favorite things: "Life Is Beauty-full" from Sugarboo Designs, two mushrooms by Tamar Mogendorff and a framed cartoon my hubby drew for me for my last birthday. His drawings make me so happy.
Melissa: Our bedroom, with more lovely things made by Etsy artists and friends. The tiny little dream catcher was a gift from Marichelle, and the linen shams were from Cottage and Cabin Interiors.
Laura: What has been your biggest splurge?
Melissa: You know, the truth is I don't splurge a lot on things for our house. I wish I did a little bit more. But I would say that it would be my pieces by Tamar Mogendorff. She is one of my absolute favorites, and I have quite a few of her pieces.
Birdcages: Tamar Mogendorff
Melissa: You know, the truth is I don't splurge a lot on things for our house. I wish I did a little bit more. But I would say that it would be my pieces by Tamar Mogendorff. She is one of my absolute favorites, and I have quite a few of her pieces.
Birdcages: Tamar Mogendorff
Melissa: Our bathroom makes me happy. It's a great place to relax, take a bath and read a good book.
Melissa: The sink and faucet is one of my favorite things. I wonder if it is original to the house? And our little pup, Luna, another of my favorite things, definitely not original to the house. Don't look at the gnome under the table. I am not a big fan of gnomes, but there is one under that little table anyway. It is kind of a joke with my hubby and me. Occasionally he moves about the house, and we try to surprise one another.
Melissa: Though our back door could use a new paint job, the decal from lovely Shanna Murray is one of my faves. I hope it makes my husband and daughters happy to come home.
Laura: What do you want your girls to remember about this house?
Melissa: Oh, that is so dear to my heart. I want them to remember that they were loved more than anything in this house. That they were allowed to be who they are and celebrated for that. I want them to remember having fun and being safe. I hope that they always want to come home. Then I would be the luckiest gal in the world.
Laura: What do you want your girls to remember about this house?
Melissa: Oh, that is so dear to my heart. I want them to remember that they were loved more than anything in this house. That they were allowed to be who they are and celebrated for that. I want them to remember having fun and being safe. I hope that they always want to come home. Then I would be the luckiest gal in the world.
A fabric-covered lantern floats over the secretary desk, which has been customized with burlap lining and filled with handmade treasures. A vintage chair keeps the desk company, spruced up with white paint and a cheery yellow cushion.