
Growing up, I was a well-coordinated girl. My mother dressed me well, always pairing a stripe with a solid, never mixing patterns, often a bow in my hair, shoes shined, etc. And then Sienna Miller came along with her Bohemian chic and made it okay to look messy, to mix florals with stripes, to clash colors.

I've told you before that I'm not a fan of
matchy matchy. But sometimes, repeating the same simple pieces in a room creates a luxurious effect that's muted, not headache-inducing. In this bedroom, the furniture and accessories sit in perfect symmetry, while the split headboard and sunny yellow pendant lights add a playful element that lightens the mirror-image mood.

Growing up, I would always sit on our high stools at the kitchen island and watch my mother cook dinner as I did my homework. It was basically the only way for me to spend time with her alone at night, and it was also how I learned to cook. Sometimes, my sister would practice piano in the room, or spread her books out on the dining table to study.

One of my favorite shelter mags, LivingEtc, recently shot UK retail queen Mary Portas's London home. Her bright, enthusiastic take on color and her eclectic mixing of styles is refreshing. When LivingEtc asked her about her use of bright shades, she responded, "Neutrals just don't make my heart leap."