A Home That Feels Like You

In this episode, Lyssia sits down with Emily Campbell, founder and principal designer of Emily Jane Interior Design, to explore why the most meaningful homes are not just designed to look beautiful, but to feel deeply personal and restorative. Drawing inspiration from nature, memory, and emotional connection, Emily shares how her background in fashion, entrepreneurship, and design led her to create spaces that help people feel more grounded, calm, and connected to themselves. 

The conversation breaks down the difference between designing for aesthetics versus designing for feeling, and why so many people unknowingly create homes based on trends instead of the way they actually want to live. They explore how meaningful places from our past shape the environments we crave, why natural materials like wood, stone, wool, and linen affect us differently than synthetic ones, and how craftsmanship and handmade objects bring a sense of warmth and authenticity into a home. Emily also shares practical insights on creating calmer spaces, from reducing clutter and choosing tactile materials to designing around lifestyle, emotional needs, and the realities of everyday life. By the end of this episode, you may start to think differently about your home, not just as a collection of furniture and finishes, but as a space that quietly shapes how you feel, function, and show up in the world.

More Room to Think:

Emily Campbell
Emily Jean Interior Design: https://www.emilyjeaninteriordesign.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyjeaninteriordesign

LiLi Tile
https://lilitile.com

Room to Think
https://roomtothinkpodcast.com/

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Transcript

Why Spaces Shape Us

Emily Campbell 0:00

That is what becoming part of this industry has done for me, is that it has opened my eyes to the possibility for creating spaces that are inspiring. Even if it's your everyday home. You can still have a beautiful, interesting home.

Lyssia Katan 0:16

You say that you start with a feeling. What does that look like?

Emily Campbell 0:19

I think when we live in spaces that are restorative to us, we just become more engaged and active participants in our community when we feel good.

Lyssia Katan 0:30

If someone listening was working on renovating their home right now, where would you tell them to start?

Emily Campbell 0:34

There's so much content out there in the world, online, in our faces, all the time. And a lot of this content is portraying really beautiful spaces. But what is really truly beautiful is a space that.

Lyssia Katan 0:51

What if the key to designing a home isn't starting with a style, but rather starting with a feeling?

Meet Designer Emily Campbell

Lyssia Katan 0:58

Welcome to Rune to Think. In this episode, I sit down with Emily Campbell. She's the principal designer of Emily Jane Interior Design, which is a Pacific Northwest-based studio that focuses on creating homes that feel grounded, personal, and deeply connected to nature. In this episode, we talk about why Emily starts every single project by asking clients how they want to feel in their home. We also get into how memories and meaningful places shape the environments we create, as well as why natural materials, craftsmanship, and even clearing clutter can completely change the way a space affects your nervous system. By the end of this episode, you'll understand the difference between designing a home that looks good and one that actually helps you feel calm, grounded, and like yourself. Let's get into it. Hello, Emily. I'm so excited to have you on the show. Emily Campbell is the principal designer behind Emily Jean Interior Design, a Pacific Northwest-based studio focused on creating homes that feel grounded, personal, and deeply connected to nature. Her work blends thoughtful materials, natural textiles, and a strong understanding of how people actually want to live in their spaces. Emily, welcome to Room to Think.

Emily Campbell 2:17

Thank you so much for having me, Lisa. It's an honor to be here.

Lyssia Katan 2:20

I found you probably a way a lot of people do on social media. But for people who really maybe haven't or are meeting you for the first time, what do you do and what drew you to interior

From Fashion To Interior Design

Lyssia Katan 2:32

design?

Emily Campbell 2:32

Well, that's a great place to start. I am the principal designer at Emily Jean Interior Design, which is a design firm that I started about a year ago. So it I'm relatively new to owning and operating my own design firm. However, I have past careers that have set me up for success in this industry. So I uh originally went to college for fashion design and product development at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. And I spent almost 10 years in Los Angeles living and working. Towards the tail end of my time there, I started doing social media management for fashion brands. And by the time I decided I wanted to leave LA and move to Portland, I was able to do that type of work, that social media and digital media marketing for brands as an owner-operator of my own marketing business. And so that kind of was not my first business. I I've I'm an entrepreneur at heart, so I've done all sorts of things, but that was the one that really kind of sustained my lifestyle and allowed me to move up the West Coast and to Portland and land there. And it really wasn't until I started a family that I rediscovered my passion for design and the impact that not only it can have on me personally by doing this type of creative work, but also the importance of spaces for family and for a physical state of wellness that is really important for all of us to be able to have access to. And through design, I feel like you can really kind of heal people in a lot of ways. So that is how I got to where I am today.

Lyssia Katan 4:25

So was there a space that changed you and kind of made you realize, whoa, there's something here?

Emily Campbell 4:31

You know, there's really not necessarily one particular space that changed my perspective and made me realize that this is the career that I want to pursue. However, it's a collection of many moments in different spaces throughout time. I, when people ask about my hobbies and my interests and my passions and things, I have plenty that I dabble in, but there's honestly like nothing that is more fulfilling to me than exploring someplace. Whether that is a hiking trail or a city block, um, I feel most alive, most energized, and most inspired when I'm experiencing spaces. And it wasn't really until probably like the last 10 years of my life that I really started noticing that and that that was a source of joy for me. That and sunshine, those are the two experiential medicines that seem to feed my soul.

Lyssia Katan 5:46

We're very much on the same page. I think we we're very aligned on that. Before we even get into that, I very much agree with you because I find a lot of inspiration in travel and being able to see different places and different spaces and how they've been created and how they house the people in them. Whether it's uh, you know, this grand big palace in the Middle East or it's a tiny little home in Vietnam, like you really get to see how humans live and how, like, at the end of the day, we're all humans, but the spaces we occupy are so vastly different. Uh, but when you really boil it down, there are some really key elements that are repeated in every space.

Starting With A Feeling

Lyssia Katan 6:26

But I wanted to go into the feeling, because you say, and especially on your website, you say that you start with a feeling. What does that look like?

Emily Campbell 6:34

Gosh, well, the feeling starts with my my client, really, and it's an aspirational thing. It's how do you want to feel in your home and in your space? Because oftentimes the clients that I work with, when we first start talking, they share with me that their home is actually a source of stress, that there's disarray and disorganization and a piece that they inherited from a grandparent and they love it, but it doesn't work with their personal style or the other pieces that they've put and chosen to put into their home. And so it's my job not to say, oh, well, that piece has got to go. It's my job to figure out how do we make this a cohesive space for you to live within and really truly enjoy, and that it holds the story of your life and of past generations that have allowed you to become who you are today while also honoring and nurturing the person that you've become through your own journey and your own life and your own style and your own aesthetic. And so I like to ask clients all sorts of questions about like what is their favorite place on earth? Like, where do they, if they could just, you know, teleport to wherever they want to go, what would that place be? And I know the answer for me is the cabin that I grew up going to as a young child in northern Michigan. And it is not fancy, but it is in a small little town with one flashing yellow light. And it's been in my family for generations. And all of the cousins and all of the family would go there on summer trips and we'd swim in the lake and we'd catch fish and cook the fish for dinner over the fire. And it's just like, you know, that's the feeling. And that's part of where my inspiration comes from. And designing spaces that are inspired by Earth's palette and pace is like my my go-to place, if I could go anywhere, is on a lake in Michigan. I'll tell you right now, I don't want to live there because I don't like humidity and I don't like bugs and I don't like snakes. But nonetheless, it's the memories and the feeling of connection and um and just joy and ease and relaxation that that space created for me that I try to replicate for, you know, in my own life, in my own home. And so finding what that is for my clients is where I begin.

Memories That Guide Design Choices

Lyssia Katan 9:14

So, how much of that do you think comes from the environment or the space versus how much of that comes from the people in it, right? So if you're having family members and cousins and grandparents and you're together, how how what's the balance there?

Emily Campbell 9:28

Well, I think it's really important to honor the environment that the home is in. So if I'm working on a condo that's in the middle of a metropolitan city, it's going to have a different vibe than a cabin on a lake. However, I do feel that there is opportunity to bring elements of either into either space. And it's really kind of about that that balance and that dance of how much, how much city, how much urban are we bringing in versus how much earth and nature and forestry and and inspiration in that realm are we bringing in? Yeah. So I think that there's opportunity for both in all spaces. And it really, you know, it really does depend on the client and the questions that we ask and the stories that they share. And um, you know, there are some clients that know that they want a modern contemporary space, and that is great. And and when I have clients that hire me, I think I've I may I try to make it pretty clear that I am inspired by Earth's palette and pace. So even if I am designing for you on a city in a cityscape, like you're probably gonna hear me talk about how this pattern replicates the bark on a tree or you know, the colors of the foliage outside of your window. Like you're probably gonna hear me talk about things like that, even if we are uh doing some sort of modern industrial

West Coast Versus East Coast Vibes

Emily Campbell 11:15

space.

Lyssia Katan 11:15

That's very cool. How do you decide? Like, does it shift according to where you are? So if you're designing a home in the Pacific Northwest versus East Coast?

Emily Campbell 11:24

It does. It definitely does. I so I do both local full service interior design in the Pacific Northwest, and I do virtual design as well and virtual furnishing throughout the country. And yes, West Coast and East Coast does vary. There are certain silhouettes that are popular on the West Coast that the East Coasters are like, what are you thinking? No, that's like too relaxed, you know, too, too, too loungy, and vice versa, you know. But then, but I also find that a lot of times even the clients that I have that are in the Midwest or on the East Coast, they come to me because they're like, well, I'm not really like a typical East Coast style person. Like I kind of I'm attracted to what you do and the way that you design and style. And so while I live here, and it's important to a certain extent to honor the architecture, especially of historic historical homes, I want it to feel a little bit more this or that, right? So it all happens during discovery and exploration, and it honestly doesn't stop until the orders are in. Really, we we're constantly continuing to like explore and refine and uh make selections that are interesting uh and and not so predictable. I like to be a little bit not so predictable.

Lyssia Katan 12:47

Can we talk about those silhouettes? Like you said, so certain things are very popular on the West Coast, certain things are very common to the East Coast. And what are some of those silhouettes? I would love to know. And I'm sure our listeners, some who are not even in the US, might be curious.

Emily Campbell 13:01

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Well, I think on the East Coast, we tend to see a little bit more tailored elements to furniture pieces and silhouettes. So slipper chairs, for example, that's something that I feel like a slipper chair where it's kind of low to the ground and it's it's a little bit, it's like clean and has a little bit of history to the silhouette. Whereas over on the West Coast, I think that you're gonna find a deeper seat and more modern, kind of chunkier, potentially mid-century modern silhouettes are very popular on the West Coast. And so uh it's I think you know, anything can fit anywhere, in my opinion. Like if you have a piece that you love, like we're gonna figure out how to make it work. But I do find that over on the West Coast, it's a little bit more casual, and on the East Coast, it's it's typically a little bit more dressed up, right?

Lyssia Katan 13:55

It's like LA versus New York City. You kind of feel that vibe in people. Totally. Like people in LA are just like rolling into work at 10 a.m. And people in New York have been up and at it since 5 a.m. So it changes in your in your furniture too. So, how do you incorporate, like when a client comes to you and says, I want my home to feel calm, what's the first place you

What Calm Really Feels Like

Lyssia Katan 14:18

start?

Emily Campbell 14:18

When a client comes to me and says that they want their home to feel calm, I like to ask them in return, what does calm feel like to you? Where are you when you feel calm? Sometimes my clients will say they haven't felt calm in a long time. And that's that's the reality of the world that we live in. And so sometimes we have to go back kind of far to figure out what that real sense of calm is because you can get a massage and you can feel calm, but the minute that you're out of that massage, you're like back, you know, at a hundred miles an hour. So, like the question is when did you really feel your nervous system slow down? Right? Like, what was that environment like for you? And where were you? And what did, you know, what was around you? Who were you with? I think we all have that. We all have those moments somewhere. And sometimes it just takes a moment to stop and reflect on our past experiences to really recognize what are those magical moments that I hope to recreate within my own space.

Lyssia Katan 15:33

And so when you do create this space for a homeowner, at what point, like when do you know that you've you've done it, you've succeeded? Like, do they tell you or like like how I'm trying, I'm asking this because how would a homeowner or listener feel that in their space when they're not working with someone?

Emily Campbell 15:51

Okay, this is a really great question. And I think that the way that you know that you have accomplished what you set out to do with design and you've created a space that relaxes that nervous system and helps you escape the flight or flight mode, is you're able to the client, the person is able to show up in the world in their best self. So I think when we live in spaces that are restorative to us, then when we walk out our door, we smile at our neighbors, we engage with the clerk, we high-five the kiddo that's waiting for mom or dad to fill the prescription at the grocery, whatever. Like we just become more engaged and active participants in our community when we feel good. And home is the safest place to do that work of becoming restored and to rest and and to prepare for going out into the world. And so I do think that the way that you know that it worked is you feel happier, you feel more content with yourself, with the world and and and your life. And that shows up in the way you participate.

Lyssia Katan 17:20

I think that's such a good point because so often we think about the way that we show up in the world is often caused by our relationships or how we feel about work, you know, our career. Do we feel satisfied? But we don't really think about is my environment allowing me to show up in the best possible way that I can? Like that is a relationship. You have a relationship with your house too.

Emily Campbell 17:45

Absolutely. When my house is a mess or

A Restorative Home Changes Community

Emily Campbell 17:50

not complete, a room is not completed, it takes up so much headspace, so much headspace that could be reallocated for way better things. And so there's so much truth to that, that your home plays a huge part in your mental health and the way that you show up in the world.

Lyssia Katan 18:08

And often we don't even like, we don't give it the attention that it deserves. We're like, oh yeah, just a place, you know, a place you sleep. No, like you spend so much of your time in this house. What do you think it's doing to you? So, what do you find, what are some feelings that homeowners are really craving right now in today's day and age?

Emily Campbell 18:28

Well, I find that a lot of homeowners are want are actually reaching towards this uh groundedness and this connection to nature and to earth because it's consistent, it's constant. And you, you know, you kind of you know you know what to expect when you go on a hike, right? And right now in the world, there's so much happening that people feel out of control of. And so to create a space that can ground you is becoming a higher priority every single day for for clients. Um and yeah, so I think I think that's really what people are looking for, is just a space that's going, you know, we don't want we don't want a red sofa today. Like, you know, we don't want the energy of a red sofa, like we want the groundedness of a green sofa, you know.

Lyssia Katan 19:28

Yeah, that's that's a really good point because, and I and I want to ask you, like, in terms of grounding, I know grounding is like growing up, I would be able to go out to the backyard at my parents' house and just put my feet in the grass, walk around, be close to nature. And that like that really grounded me. But how can we do that in our homes where sometimes we don't have access to grass or nature in the way that luckily you do in the Pacific Northwest?

Emily Campbell 19:56

You know, it's funny that you brought that up with your toes in the grass because I am actively rug shopping for a client right now. And so I've ordered all of these rug samples and

Grounding Through Nature At Home

Emily Campbell 20:08

I am putting them on my floor uh throughout the day and in the night when I wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I'm walking across these rugs and I'm noticing how they feel under my foot, right? And so once I deter, I know what my client's priorities are. And so once I determine which top three are most aligned with my clients' priorities from an aesthetic and a comfort and a material and fiber perspective, then I can present those. But I think that's exactly how we do it is we we you you gotta take a moment. And that's why online shopping can be really hard too. Um because with upholstery and with rugs and with pillows and all of that, like you can't really feel what it's going to be until it arrives at your house. And so, you know, through the process of hiring a designer and having that person help you figure out how your space is gonna come together, you know, we're we're ordering samples for ourselves. So I can test out the 20 before I send my client the three, but then I send my client the three and they get to walk on those and put their their toes in them too. And um yeah, so I think I think that's the way you do it. You have to experience those fabrics and and you gotta kind of be okay with like kind of getting a little weird about it. Like you, you know, you wanna like you wanna hold that fabric. You maybe want to close your eyes, you know. You wanna you wanna hold it like a blanket and be like, okay, like do I like this? Like, you know, I I have clients that are like, you know, they're they wanna make sure that it's

Why Samples Beat Online Shopping

Emily Campbell 21:56

stainproof, right? We've got kids, we've got dogs, we've got animals. All the things. And so I will send them swatches and I will say, like, test it out. Pour your tomato soup on it. Like, you know, spill your coffee. Like, do all the things. And and they will do that. And they will, you know, they'll figure that out and make sure that it works with their lifestyle in that way.

Lyssia Katan 22:17

So well, first of all, that's the hallmark of a great designer. When you're working with a designer, you know, if they're like you, Emily, they're walking around, they're waking up in the middle of the night with their toes on the rug samples. That's dedication. But it also shows you like that so many people are like, oh, I can do this myself. But working with a designer is so critical because many times you've seen how that product ages or how that fabric holds up to wear and tear.

Emily Campbell 22:42

Yeah, it's true. And you know, sometimes I feel like I'm the best test subject for these things. You know, like I, as a designer, like I will see a new product or a new vendor that maybe I want to explore. And I will order from that vendor for my own home so that I can wear test it and determine whether that's something that I want to make a recommendation on or not. There have been plenty of times where I've decided not, you know?

Lyssia Katan 23:12

Yeah, and I'm glad you mentioned the samples because well, we're not in upholstery, we're in tile, but very often we we're in handmade tile, which is kind of even more uh it's I don't want to say shot in the dark, but handmade tile is handmade tile, right? No two pieces are the same, and very often with very specific tiles like ziliege or or cement tiles, we say order a sample, get your hands on it, not only to see how it feels, but see the finish on it. Like zilie is imperfect and you should be ready for that. And cement tiles can be cold, so maybe that's something for you to incorporate if you're gonna put them on your floor. Maybe you want radiant heating underneath. So also like I love when people say order a sample because we've been trying to preach that for so long.

Emily Campbell 24:02

Yes, I'm a big advocate. Even with my virtual design clients, I will go through a first round of design, make sure we're all aligned. But then I put together a sample box of everything that I have here in my studio and I ship it to them. And so that when we are going through that design presentation together, we're looking at the actual samples together. We're feeling those. And and then they can do all those, those fun little stain tests and durability tests, scratch tests, like, you know, take your keys to the leather, like see, you know, that kind of thing.

Lyssia Katan 24:34

So you work with a lot of natural materials like linens and leathers.

Natural Materials And Off-Gassing

Lyssia Katan 24:39

What's what's the difference? Like, we know that one comes from nature and one does not is man-made, but like psychologically, physiologically, like what is the difference when we're touching real leather versus PU leather, right? It's like it's like uh correct, PU is hand man-made?

Emily Campbell 24:56

Yeah, PU leather. Yeah.

Lyssia Katan 24:58

So what's the difference or linen versus polyester?

Emily Campbell 25:01

Sure, yeah. Well, there's all kinds of differences, and honestly, there's a reason and an application for all of the things. For example, like if we're doing outdoor upholstery, or we really want a stain-resistant upholstery fabric for your bar stools at your counter or whatever, you're probably gonna have some man-made fibers in there because that's what's really gonna repel the stains. Now, more popular today than I think five, 10 years ago is this conversation around VOCs, which is off gassing. And I have worked with clients in the past who have been very sensitive to chemical off-gassing. And so, in scenarios like that, it's very important that we're looking at materials that are natural because they're typically not treated, and you've got to kind of look into it, but they're typically not treated heavily with chemicals. So wool carpet or an oil finish on your hardwood floor instead of a urethane, things like that. So I think off-gassing is a really big part of the conversation, just knowing like some of these materials, I mean, if you're putting new floor in your house, that's your whole house, right? Versus if you're getting a a decor piece and it's made of plastic, right? Or something like that, it's a it's a small piece versus like your whole floor. And so I do think there's a conversation to be had with the client around how important is that element uh of the material to them. But I also think from I also think from a psychological standpoint and a physiological standpoint, as you were suggesting, there's a little bit of magic in a natural fiber or material. This is something that has been likely harvested in some sort of way, and it's grown in time from the land and been harvested by hand, and then made oftentimes by hand, sometimes. And there's just there's an element to that that is almost indescribable when you know that something has been crafted in that way and has required that much time and energy in order to become its final state or it's you know, this the state in which it comes into your home.

Lyssia Katan 27:43

I can personally vouch for that because I was looking for a desk and through our my conversations on this podcast and all the various guests that we've had, um they said that wood grain is incredibly calming for us. It's very warm, it's very important that like humans looking

The Pull Of Real Wood And Stone

Lyssia Katan 28:00

at wood grain very calming. But as we know, a lot of tables today are fake wood grain, or it's just a little film on top that's kind of plastic but looks like wood grain. So when I was shopping for a desk, I insisted and made a whole big deal about I need real solid wood. And I kind of like, however, it came together, you know, it required a lot of like um like kind of putting things together that like it wasn't market ready in what I wanted, like a standing desk with a wood top. And when I finally did get it, and all everything that it took to get there, it is so worth it. There's nothing like real wood. You're like, this was a a living thing, and and and and I'm a living thing, and there's some kind of connection. I don't know, but it just it it just you can't explain it. You really can, but it's it does something to you.

Emily Campbell 28:54

Yeah, it does. And that kind of brings me back to my comment earlier. Like sometimes you just gotta get weird about it. Like, you know, you just gotta really feel it. And um, you know, when I before I I stepped into this profession and I was redesigning my own home, I was working with a friend who is a designer, and she went to the stone yard with me. And we're walking around and we're looking for countertops for the kitchen, and I'm like, Yeah, that's pretty, that's pretty. You know, I like that, it's pretty. Uh, and she said to me, and this I have repeated this so many times to my clients, she said, When you find your stone, you will want to lay on it. And I was like, Okay. So I kept walking around, kept walking around. I found this Vermont black honed granite. I would have never thought that I was a granite girl, but here I am. I got granite in my kitchen. And I saw this stone and I was like, that's it. And I put my hand on it and I like put my cheek on it, and I was like, this is it. This is the one I want. And sure enough, that's what's in my kitchen now. So yeah, there is definitely something to that poll.

Lyssia Katan 30:08

When you know, you know, and you can't even explain it. But there's just like, I love this and I just find myself connected to it.

Emily Campbell 30:15

Right.

Lyssia Katan 30:16

And you're probably happy every time you see it. You're like, yep, I knew I picked you right. Oh, I knew I made a right decision.

Emily Campbell 30:22

Oh, for sure. And I have had so many people ask me, do you regret putting black countertops in your kitchen? And I'm like, not even for a minute. I love them.

Lyssia Katan 30:32

So when you uh and this is interesting because you have black countertops, right? Like when you're walking into a client's home for the first time, what does that tell you about them? Like when someone sees your black

Personality Pieces And Telling Your Story

Lyssia Katan 30:44

countertop, what does that tell about you? You know, like do you do you do like a mental like, like, do you check marks of like, okay, this is that kind of person or this kind of person?

Emily Campbell 30:53

I would love to know what people think when they walk in and see a black countertop. I think if I walked in and I saw a black countertop, well, first of all, it depends on if I'm like walking in because the space like seriously needs an update and it's a black countertop and it's just like not working, or if it's like a beautifully designed space with a black countertop and I'm just in awe, right? But I think I think that like a black granite countertop in my case is like it says that person is not afraid to do something a little different, right? And so it's the same thing. If I walk into a potential client's house and I see a really unique furniture piece or upholstery that is bright and colorful or of kind of fun, almost like loud pattern. It's like, okay, I see you. I see you. You know, so there are there are certain moments like that where you can pick up on these things. And and oftentimes it's it's their favorite thing, you know? It's like, okay, well, show tell walk me around and tell me what you love about the space. Like, tell me what you love in the space. And oftentimes it is those random things, and then all of a sudden you have you kind of have a place to start, you know.

Lyssia Katan 32:11

And often it's things that like you can't really find in stores very commonly. It's something like they picked up on their travels or something they found at a thrift store, and it's just it makes them so happy. I have a coffee table like that. I literally found it at a thrift store, it's like books piled up, and everyone that walks into my house is like, Whoa, what a cool coffee table. Yeah, I like to read, so that tells you a lot about me, but also it's cool. It's not something you could just go to Creighton Barrel and find, which is which is kind of like the quirky element of it.

Emily Campbell 32:43

Yeah. And you know, I think that is what that is what becoming part of this industry has done for me, is that it has opened my eyes to the possibility for creating spaces that are inspiring. Even if it's your everyday home, even if you've got three toddling around, you can still have a beautiful, interesting home that invites conversation and tells a story. And I feel like even when I was in the fashion industry, before I got into the home industry, before I got into interior design, I was shopping at retail stores. And I had a lot of furniture that looked like everyone else's furniture. How has that changed? Yeah. So so my house, I feel like uh for the longest time I was buying furniture from the big box retailers and it looked like everyone else's house. And I I thought it looked nice. Like I thought it looked nice, but it never, honestly, never really felt personal. I kind of felt like I was trying to model or chase what I saw on Pinterest or what I saw at my neighbor's house or whatever. And I feel like now that I'm in this industry and I'm getting to know all of the potential vendors and the possibilities and the options to customize and all of

Custom Craftsmanship And Future Heirlooms

Emily Campbell 34:11

these things. I mean, I just this morning I took a field trip to a furniture maker that's an hour north of where I live here. And it's a small little shop, and it's a family-owned business, and they can make anything like anything. Not so I mean, it it you can think it in your head and draw it on a paper, and they will make it for you. And that is the kind of design work that you hire a designer for. It's like, I don't want my house to look like the magazine. I want my house to be mine, and I want it to be uniquely mine. You know, there's definitely, I mean, trust me, I get inspiration for magazines all the time. I've got plenty of them, I flip through them all the time, but it's that and another layer of ingenuity.

Lyssia Katan 35:03

Yeah, and I think that in the US, very often, we're we have so many options and it's very like store-bought, right? Like it goes down to everything, but it's very much like you want a piece of furniture, you're gonna find every possible shape and color and style, and you can buy it in in in the store. But I we have a really good family friend, one of my mom's best friends, she works in interior design in Mexico City, and she creates the most beautiful custom pieces. She works with a carpenter and they're doing the upholstery, and I've never seen any pieces like it. Like they are truly like exceptional. She shows me pictures and my jaw is on the floor. And that's just not something that's very common in the US because we're very like, all right, pluck it out of a catalog and throw it in my living room. And I think we kind of lost that craft.

Emily Campbell 35:51

I think so too. And I'm hopeful that it's coming back around. And I think having the conversations around what is possible, that's how we make people aware. Because to my point earlier, before I started doing this work, I had no idea, right? So part of the reason that I feel that it's important for me as a designer to show up and talk about the work that I do online and in person and at events and all of this is because I want people to know. I want you to know that like there are craftsmen and women that are beyond capable and that these are these are the hands that we want to hire and we want to, we want to feed that creativity. There's nothing that like energizes me more about running my own business than being able to provide those connections that make the most sense between my my clients and the makers. Like sometimes I just I feel like such a conductor of this energy that passes through because I'm not making the furniture, right? I'm finding it, but I'm like finding these gems, but then I'm I'm creating this path and this opportunity for this creative artist to get their work into the home of an individual who will love and enjoy it, not just for oftentimes, like not just for like themselves, but for future generations. That's the coolest part is like when you can really focus on the craft, then all of a sudden this becomes an heirloom piece. And that's not for everything, that's not every piece in a house by any means, but when those moments happen, that's that's really cool.

Lyssia Katan 37:38

Sure. And it's not unlike clothing, right? You were in the you know, in fashion. When it's not every piece in your closet, right? But when you have a piece that's like tailored for you and it fits you like a glove, and you know when you wear it, it just like looks amazing. That is, you can't compare that to anything you can find in the store. And and that's when you know you're like, that's a good piece. That's a piece you're gonna be wearing for a long time. And furniture is not very different.

Emily Campbell 38:03

Yeah. Yeah. That's a piece that you're gonna be wearing for a very long time. And then the other really neat thing about that whole experience of finding those gems is when the time comes that that piece is no longer serving you, identifying who the next owner of it is, right? Like it's not, it's not gonna be just anyone. That piece has become so special to you that to pass it on to the next, it's like it's gotta be the right person. And eventually you have you find that person and and it and it carries on. And the life of the garment or the furniture, whatever it is, continues on, and it's really kind of cool.

Lyssia Katan 38:46

Yeah, it is. We do that in in jewelry all the time, right? Like when you pass it down, when grandmothers pass down necklaces to their granddaughters or daughters, it's it's just we don't always think about it in our in our homes, right? Because we all have such different styles, but but jewelry is so commonly passed down and commonly custom made. Do you feel like people are nervous to like go get a little weird or like really

Risk, Resale Value, And Being Bold

Lyssia Katan 39:12

showcase their personalities and their homes?

Emily Campbell 39:15

I think so, because it costs money. And to do anything that is different is a little bit risky inherently, right? And so I do think that most people uh will hesitate to step outside of the box and try something that's a little bit different. Some people won't. Some people are like, yeah, give me all the different things, give me all the everything that's unique. I don't want anything that anybody else has.

Lyssia Katan 39:42

I'm one of those people for sure.

Emily Campbell 39:43

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I do think that commonly uh people will have some some reservations, and I really do feel like that. I think that stems from the investment side of it, most commonly, right? You know, if you buy something that you know other people have also bought and it's the most popular dresser at the retail store or whatever, you know, you're like, well, I trust it because other people have purchased this. And so, you know, it it works and it's nice and it'll do, right? But yeah, I think I think when you kind of start imagining and you know, it's it's it's a little bit more risky.

Lyssia Katan 40:26

We see this in tile all the time. We have a tons of super bright and colorful and eclectic patterns, but and people love them, sure. But there are some customers that say, Nope, I'm thinking of resale value and resale value only. Give me the most very simple, clean, like I don't want to insult anyone, any potential purchaser or buyer with my choice of tile. So they go really vanilla and it's kind of sad. You don't really get to see their personality.

Emily Campbell 40:54

Right. I think one of the ways that I've been able to help clients get over that hump, and I think most designers do this to help their clients get over that hump, is to create 3D renderings, some realistic renderings and drawings of those faces with those tiles. And you can kind of see the difference. And then ultimately it's the client's house. So they get to decide, right? And you know, I I've worked with clients who have told me, this is our forever home. We're gonna do what we want. And sometimes they're more willing to kind of step into that a little bit different, a little bit exciting and interesting. And then I have other clients who are very they're like, this is not our forever home, this is our starter home, but we can't live with it how it is right now. So we do want to make sure that it's a crowd pleaser, right? And um, and so it is a little bit, you know, more standard, like it might be. But I I always like to, I like to add in a little something that's different. Um, I do a lot of like touring of just houses that are on the market and stuff, whether it's online virtually in touring of houses or it's like actually in person and walking houses. And so, you know, I'm picking up on what the

Subtle Surprises That Connect Rooms

Emily Campbell 42:10

what the builders are are gravitating toward and noticing how that can be a little bit different, even if we are trying to make sure that the resale value is there.

Lyssia Katan 42:19

You said you like to have an unexpected element in the homes you design. Can you give me some examples of like unexpected elements that you put in that nobody was like, nobody foresaw?

Emily Campbell 42:30

Well, I guess more than like a strange surprise, I would say, like an unexpected element. I really like uh I really like to do things that are intentional, but almost like quietly intentional. So um, as an example, I'm working on a home right now, and the foyer opens right up into this great room. And on the original plan, the thought was okay, there's uh a chandelier fixture in the foyer, typical. There's a chandelier fixture in the great room, typical. Right. And so I said, okay, let's take away that chandelier in the foyer, let's make the great room chandelier great, really great. But I don't want that foyer to feel flat or boring or just like it's a pass-through. So what do we do? And so we decided to do a decorative inset panel on the floor. So so it's it's an interesting pattern. It's in the same tone and grain as the rest of the floor throughout the house. And my intention with that is I want you to walk in the front door and I want you to see the grand chandelier. But before you pass through the foyer, I want you to notice oh. Did look at this. This is so cool. Like this is so pretty. So it's kind of like that subtle surprise element. And I did it in my own house too. With um we have the we have this like A-frame in our living room area with some windows that have some sharp angles. And so I knew that I wanted to recreate that angle subtly throughout the home. So the kitchen island, instead of being a rectangle, like a classic typical rectangular shape, it has an angle. Our backsplash, the tile on the backsplash is triangular instead of rectangular subway tiles. So like I I very specifically chose these things. And you don't really notice them. Some people might not ever notice them, but I like to talk about those things because it does make a difference as you flow through a space. And there is that unsaid connectivity between rooms and between spaces.

Lyssia Katan 44:54

And the unexpected element in them. Like we had artist Adam Trust on the podcast, and he said one of his favorite time periods was the arts and crafts period. Because things like door hinges were made to be so beautiful, and you may not see it and you may not ever notice it. But when you do, you put it together, you're like, wow, that is so intentional. That decision was made on purpose. It wasn't a coincidence. And doing that in your home, even if you're the only one who notices it, it's cool. It's totally cool. If someone listening

Where To Start A Renovation

Lyssia Katan 45:26

was working on renovating their home right now, where would you tell them to start?

Emily Campbell 45:31

I would tell you to start by hiring a designer. All right. Yes. Agreed. I second that. And then what? Okay. Um They've given you a call, they've reached out. Now I would say that collecting inspiration is a really great place to start. And by inspiration, it could be anything. You can start your Pinterest board. That's probably the most common. But you can go around, like walk, walk around town, walk around your yard, like see what speaks to you and that kind of thing. Go to an art gallery. You know, just see what inspires you. Just say kind of get out and about and open your eyes a little bit wider and start documenting and capturing those things and those moments and those spaces and those pictures and you know, all of that. So that you have a really good place to start. Because that's, I mean, that's where I start. I start with the inspiration. So that would be my recommendation is to start there. But I would say definitely call a designer first, unless you really are like DIYing it. And then um, and then yeah, I I think if you're DIYing it, just getting an idea of what is available, going to a showroom maybe that carries multiple lines, and getting a feel for the type of product that you're pulled to and what the price point on that is, right? Because as you know, handmade tile is more costly than a standard factory-made porcelain tile.

Lyssia Katan 47:07

True, but the price, the higher the price, the higher the payoff, I think sometimes. Like it's handmade, so you're really getting to enjoy it more than like a basic porcelain you would find a florin decor.

Emily Campbell 47:18

Yeah. Yeah. I you don't have to sell me. I'm a big fan of handmade tile. I've got uh these ones right behind me, actually, Lisa, these are from um Rookwood pottery in out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Yeah.

Lyssia Katan 47:32

Very cool. Yeah. Handmade things are just so they have this different energy about them. They really do. And you remember that like a human made then. And it wasn't like pressed on a production line where, you know, every piece looks the same.

Emily Campbell 47:47

Yeah, and I find that like with those handmade pieces, you know, when you move into a new house and you've got everything is new and you're just like, oh, I love it all. Like I love, I love the countertop, I love the cabinetry, I love the hardware, I love all of the things, right? But the things that you continue to love are those things. They're the things that were handcrafted. The ones that were uh a bit more of an investment, but for a good reason.

Lyssia Katan 48:10

You gave listeners a really good suggestion of finding inspiration in photos and in on Pinterest.

When A Room Looks Good But Fails

Lyssia Katan 48:16

What's the difference between a room that looks good and one that actually feels good?

Emily Campbell 48:21

Well, I think the difference between a room that looks good and one that actually feels good has a lot to do with the materials. So understanding what is going on to the sofa, what is the rug made of, how durable is it? And how does it how does it relate to your lifestyle and the functionality, the level of functionality that you need for this chapter of your life? You might be a single guy who only eats breakfast at the counter and you never have food in the living room, and you always take your shoes off at the door, and you can get a rug that is a wool silk blend or something like that, right? Whereas if you have a family of five and you've got little tikes clonking through in their soccer cleats or whatever, like then all of a sudden you've got to start thinking about what, you know, what kind of performance material you're gonna put on the what on the sofa and on the chair and on the rug and all, you know, all the things. So I think the difference between a room that looks really good and and one that actually functions is really paying close attention to the materials that you're putting in there.

Lyssia Katan 49:36

And it is, it's not to say that you can't have that very delicate rug, but maybe not when your kids are very young. Maybe you can do it a little when when they're a little older. But that's the beauty of being able to adapt and change your space and allow it to support you.

Emily Campbell 49:50

Yeah. Yeah. Do it later or do it in a room where they're not often at. Put it in the office, put it in the primary bedroom or whatever, right?

Lyssia Katan 49:59

Yeah, yeah, I agree. In a place that you will actually be able to enjoy it instead of being mad every time your kids, like you said, clunk through it in their soccer.

Emily Campbell 50:08

And then you're down on your hands and your knees and you're scrubbing, and then you're like, oh, now I have water stains. And it's just like a whole, yeah, it can be a whole thing.

Lyssia Katan 50:17

You're like mad at yourself for picking it, but you're mad at the kids for like ruining it. It's just not a good place to be.

Emily Campbell 50:22

But it's not the calm that we're looking for.

Lyssia Katan 50:25

It's it's actually very high stress. And so when you are helping clients choose these kinds of materials, besides for who's using it, what are things that you're aware of that often the homeowners don't even realize?

Health-Aware Choices For Finishes

Emily Campbell 50:40

Well, uh, I mean, the example that I shared earlier about the engineered hard wood is a perfect example. You know, my client was really concerned. She knew she wanted new floors in this house, but she was really concerned about what that would mean for her senses and for her health because she is so sensitive to chemicals and off-gassing. And she was thinking, oh my gosh, I'm gonna have, I'm gonna have to leave town for like six months. Like I'm gonna have to get this installed, and I'm not gonna be able to come back until, you know, my husband has let all the windows open and let it air out and all of this. And I was able to share with her that there, there's an alternative. You know, we can we can get an engineered hardwood that has an oil finish, and you won't have that same level of off-gassing. And that's exactly what happened. You know, she called me ecstatic within a couple of weeks, like two weeks after install, and she was like, Emily, we did the whole house and I was able to be here the whole time. And you know, so she said, for like one day I smelled a little bit of this and it kind of bothered me, but it was fun, you know. So, so those are I mean, those are the things that you learn as you talk with vendors. That's how you really get this knowledge. And who's talking with vendors unless you're doing this for work, right?

Lyssia Katan 52:01

That is true. You're you're talking to vendors, and sometimes there's the vendors that you go to repeatedly because you know that their stuff holds up and you know their stuff is is, you know, has works with your clients. So when you do it for work, it's very different than when you just do it as a DIY.

Emily Campbell 52:17

It really is. There's so much to know. So, and I mean, and there's innovations happening all of the time. So maintaining those relationships with vendors and getting that education and signing up for the webinars. I mean, this is all part of my job, right? My job is to be informed so that I can help you make the best decision for your home and for your lifestyle.

Lyssia Katan 52:37

Right. And often for people listening who don't know, like interior designers and architects are required to stay educated on different topics. You have to go to certain courses and you have to I used to give the presentation, so I know that architects like need those points to maintain their license, and that keeps them at the forefront of education.

Emily Campbell 52:56

Exactly.

Lyssia Katan 52:57

Yep. So if someone listening was very inspired by what you do and the way that you connect nature into homes, and they wanted to feel more connected in their home, regardless of where you live.

Declutter First Then Add Nature

Lyssia Katan 53:11

What's the easiest place to start?

Emily Campbell 53:13

Well, you know, I think the easiest place to start is probably clearing out some clutter. Truly, but everyone says that. It's the really great theme in this podcast. Everybody has said that. That is hilarious. But I do, I think that uh clearing out the clutter and specifically the clutter that is plastic. And um, you know, I think bringing in, so clearing out some clutter, bringing in wood. I just I and to your point about the desk, it's like there's something it's almost like wood has a heartbeat in a certain way, right? It's like there's something so alive about that and so quietly connected to the land in which we live on. And so I think I think getting rid of the getting rid of the clutter and the the crap, and then bringing in the natural element of wood through finish like furniture pieces, finishes, accessories, you know, I I'm a big advocate for that.

Lyssia Katan 54:35

And just um if they wanted the natural materials beyond wood, what would you recommend? What are those, like linen, wool? What what are some of those materials?

Emily Campbell 54:44

I do love linen. I do find, however, that you know it's prone to wrinkling. And if you put it on your window coverings, it it can be prone to shrinking and or stretching. Shrinking or stretching. It's just it's a little bit volatile. It's alive. Yeah, it's alive. So I love the look of linen, but it it requires some upkeep. I do think that um wool is a great place to go, uh, specifically for rugs, just because it is that natural fiber and the durability on wool products is high durability and high performance. So I think that that is also a great option. Um, I also think that stone, you know, like it when you can incorporate natural stone, whether you're doing a countertop or you're buying a furniture piece, um, and there's a stone inset in the furniture piece that kind of brings that element of earth in, like, that's a really kind of magical way to bring some earth, earthiness into the space as well.

Lyssia Katan 55:43

There's something about natural stone. We used to be in the natural stone industry, so um gravertied and marble and limestone with like the little fossils inside, that is so cool. You could have that in your home, like real fossils. People don't know that.

Emily Campbell 55:58

Yeah, pretty cool.

Lyssia Katan 55:59

So if someone listening was to take one thing from this podcast episode, what would you want it to be?

Slow Down And Choose What Matters

Emily Campbell 56:06

I would say that if I wanted to encourage people to take one thing away from this conversation, it's a reminder to slow down and like get really in touch which with what is meaningful to you, and then lean into that. And I think there's so much content out there in the world online in our faces all the time, and a lot of this content is portraying really beautiful spaces, but what is really truly beautiful is a space that not only like meets the satisfaction level for form and function, but like emotionally can satisfy you and your life story and the things that matter the most to you. And those are represented within the space. So, you know, I would say just you know, really lean into like the authentic desires of self rather than relying on what you're consuming online.

Lyssia Katan 57:16

That is so good, Emily. Thank you so much for your time and for your expertise. I know our listeners will get so much out of this podcast, and I really, really appreciate you having this conversation with me.

Emily Campbell 57:28

Thank you so much for having me. It's been a joy.

Lyssia Katan 57:31

Thank you so much for spending this time with me on Room2think. If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to follow the show, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who you think would really appreciate a more thoughtful approach to their space. You can find more Design Meets Psychology insights on social, in our community, and definitely in upcoming episodes so you can build a better life by design. Thanks again for listening. I'll see you next time.