A story of 18 homes
Growing up in Norway, my mom and step-dad “flipped” houses. They would buy a property that needed a lot of love, fix it up while living there, then sell it and move on to the next. When I talk to friends or strangers about growing up this way, I am sometimes met with pity. “That must have been so hard,” or “Gosh, so you don’t have a childhood home? How sad!”
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, it was sometimes a bit of an inconvenience to live in a construction zone or move on as soon as I felt settled, but in the end, the excitement of a blank slate and untapped potential outweighed any negatives.
My mom involved me in the process of selecting finishes at a young age, letting me choose the perfect shade of pastel pink for my bedroom walls, seafoam green throw pillows and iridescent tile for the shower floor. Over the years, I became her partner and confidant, going to specialty shops for the perfect hardware, picking up construction materials at Maxbo (Norwegian Home Depot) and listening in as she directed contractors, carpenters and plumbers. Eventually my mom began asking my opinion on more substantial projects, like kitchen backsplashes, light fixtures, countertops and flooring. I was hooked.
Moving often meant I had the freedom to experiment, take creative risks and try new things. Yes, we are still talking about childhood bedrooms here, but I approached each one with dedication. My style evolved over the years, changing from pastel pink, ruffles and distressed white furniture; to dark wood, moody colors and heavy velvet fabrics; a phase of retro and mid-century modern; and whitewashed minimalism with sleek lines.
I went off to college in Southern California and moved every year, as one does. But every dorm and every rented bedroom became a project, just like in all my childhood homes.
After college, I moved in with my now-husband, Ben. We lived in four different rentals over about six years, ranging from a tiny bungalow in the city to a surfer’s paradise two blocks from the beach. Although we were renting, I saw untapped potential in each of the properties. And despite being on a shoestring budget, I couldn’t keep myself from making these homes our own, swapping out hardware in the kitchen and painting walls, learning how to install light fixtures, building custom shelving and even installing artificial turf.
In July 2020, we finally became homeowners and we have tackled numerous projects in our home. I began to document the process of renovating and decorating our home on Instagram, and ultimately started to work with design clients. In 2021, Strand Interiors was born.
Just as when I was growing up, I continue to embrace the opportunity to express myself creatively with every move. As I reflect on all the homes I’ve lived in, I see clearly how my style has evolved to where it is today — at the intersection of California coastal and Scandinavian sophistication.
I’d love to help you design your dream home!
Contact me to get the process started.
