When it comes to home decorating, many of us take a while to learn what we like, how we want our surroundings to represent us and what pieces to invest in. I am always impressed by people that are not constantly suffering from an identity crisis and really have a true sense of style especially at a young age! Meet Olivia Shumlin, a 22 year old senior at Brown University, who shares her 600 square ft apartment with her boyfriend in Providence, RI. Lucky for her she was able to find an apartment that boasts high ceilings, bright light and lots of crown molding (my fave). Despite the classic New England vibe of the apartment, Olivia's style overrides the backdrop and her decor is fashion-forward, contemporary and seems more like a New York City loft than a college student's apartment. We wont even talk about what my living space looked like when I was a senior at Boston College, but let's just say that the dining room doubled as a beirut table and nothing had more than a $20 value unless it was hanging in my closet.
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In Olivia's Words:
I really enjoy making my space personal, with my favorite books, artwork, taxidermy pieces and photographs. I love bringing a feeling of home (Vermont) into my school apartment. Most of the objects on my wall are from Vermont (found at antique stores, walking on the farm, pictures of my family and childhood friends etc). I love the layered gallery wall look as a way of representing these objects. In designing my apartment I wanted my living space to have a balance between hauntingly chic and colorfully feminine statements.
My philosophy is to try a little bit of everything and if it doesn’t work try something else. After enough tries it will feel right. My style, like my apartment, is constantly evolving and changing. In my mind it will never truly be “done”
What I love about Olivia's style is the mix of feminine flowers, candlesticks, mirrored frames and wardrobe display mixed with eclectic vintage finds, antiques and rustic elements. It looks lived in, cared for and like a home.
To recreate Olivia's style try displaying both fresh and dried flowers in vases: these can be placed on windowsills, tables, and if the vase is tall enough even in a corner on the floor! Also start collecting unexpected pieces during your travels and outdoor excursions like pretty stones, branches or animal bones. You will notice horn accents, skulls, and antlers on gallery walls, table tops, and window sills in Olivia's apartment. When I asked Olivia where she bought them I was surprised to learn that many of the antlers and skulls were found on the side of the road from a man selling antlers and skulls near Bar Harbor Maine. Some antlers were found on her parent's farm in VT, and others purchased from Evolution in Soho, NYC. As you can see from the photo above, They make fantastic necklace and ring holders.
Shop Olivia's Look:
For a complete source list for Olivia's apartment, continue reading below:
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