It’s no surprise that we have a love for interior design. The foundation of audwell comes from our belief in the importance of thoughtful design and how it impacts the space we live in every day. In fact, we love good design so much that we wanted to peek inside the homes of other parents that we admire and ask them a few questions. As parents, we are all trying to balance the vision we have for our home and the reality that children bring (hello, mess). We figured there was no better way to receive design inspiration, DIY advice, and favorite finds than by interviewing other design experts.
We chatted with Amanda Jane Jones (aka @amandajanejones) graphic designer extraordinaire, illustrator and has an eye for interior design like no other. She has three kids, Jane (8), Miles (6) and Wes (2) and in her spare time she sat down with us to answer a few of our favorite questions about her home.
In one word, describe your home’s decor before you had kids: Honestly, it was more colorful and vintage inspired and more thrifty.
Describe your home’s decor AFTER you had kids: Bringing kids into my life, although so wonderful and fulfilling has also introduced extreme chaos. I've seen my style evolve to one with cleaner lines, that's more simple / modern and more organized. It helps me mentally as a parent to have an organized house and calm surroundings. This is probably why I crave simple pieces and why I was so drawn to audwell. It's a beautiful piece that the kids love and I love to look at. [editor's note- we promise we didn't make her say that!] Making the kids' things a cohesive part of our home in a beautiful way has always been a goal. We have toys in every single room so that the kids can feel a part of things, which can turn into a big mess, but every toy has a bin or a box, so it's easy to clean up.
Do you have a dream investment piece that you’re holding off on buying until your kids are older (and let’s be honest, less likely to ruin): A nice couch! Don't look too closely at ours. ;)
Is there one item in your house that you know you’ll replace once your kids are older and less messy? Other than the couch, no actually! We've tried to be really strategic and only buy things we love, that are good quality and hope to have forever. Most of our furnishings are wood and have weathered well with children...minus a few dried boogers and scratches but those are easy fixes.
Best tip for kid proofing your house (while still making it feel like you live there too): Having toys in every room has been my best parenting revelation since Jane was born. They won't get into the [nice] books if there are dinosaurs in a box right next to them. My kids really don't get into stuff because there is always a more fun option right by it. We try to collect beautiful toys that I don't mind having out and seeing every day...and for the action figures, we just put those in a beautiful basket or tin.
Favorite DIY project in your home: Cree made our bookshelves in the front room and I ADORE them. We were at the point in our renovation where I was just ready to be done, but I'm so glad he pushed through and made them. It really transforms the room.
Favorite spot in your home: The front room / kitchen. The floor to ceiling windows make us feel like we are in a tree house. We moved from Chicago and during the winter months everyone congregates there to read, snack, have impromptu dance parties...it's a space where we naturally can all be together.
Favorite sustainable find: Esembly baby diaper covers! I haven't bought a swim diaper in over three years.
Favorite inexpensive item in your home: My steamer - I mean it's not necessarily inexpensive at $40, but not having to iron is such a treat and steaming is kind of fun—a weird therapeutic chore, ha! Favorite really inexpensive item are my Muji pens. I just love them.
Random item in your home that your children are obsessed with: Toilet paper rolls. They use them for crafts, for make believe. We always save them.
