For this interview, we talked to interior designer and architect, Kimberly Holdaway, about her best entertaining tips, common mistakes people make when decorating, and more. Kimberly owns Lemon Leaf Home Interiors, an interior design company that she runs in the Chicago area. She works on a wide range of projects, from personal design recommendations to curated DIY creations. Hire Lemon Leaf Home Interiors to add some sparkle to your home life.
If you’re looking for your own apartment to try these tips and tricks in, reach out to AptAmigo. We’ll help you find your dream apartment so that you can focus on making the space feel like home. Once you find the perfect place for you, check out our tips for unpacking your essentials in one day.
Interview with Kimberly Holdaway of Lemon Leaf Interiors
If you could only buy one item to spruce up a room, what would it be?
“I would Invest in a rug. I change out my rugs all the time, and it makes the space feel fresh and brand new. It doesn’t have to be an expensive rug, but you can totally change how a space looks based on what rug you use. A vintage rug, a patterned rug, a geometric rug, a modern rug, each can change the whole look of your space.”
What’s one item you love talking about or that other people always talk about in your house?
“I would have to say the artwork and pictures I have on the walls. I like to choose a variety of artwork that has meaning to me. It either reminds me of a place we’ve traveled, a place we’ve lived, or came with a great memory, even if it’s an abstract landscape or something less obvious than a photo. On my gallery walls, I always choose places that we’ve traveled to because they’re always a great conversation starter when we entertain, and that’s what we get asked about the most.”
What’s one item you will always (or did) splurge on?
“I always tell my clients this as well: if you’re going to start on a budget, invest most of the money on a couch. So, if I’m doing a family room or a living room, that’s where I usually recommend to them to spend the most money. You’re going to be on that furniture all the time, you want it to hold up its comfort level and have high quality, durable fabric.”
What is your worst apartment or home story?
“We’ve lived in several homes and apartments, and my worst stories all relate to bugs and bug infestation. When we lived in Brazil, there was a termite season, and that was horrible. When we lived in Michigan, there was a box elder season, and it was horrible; they just infested our home. We lived in a different house in Michigan, and we had those giant carpenter ants infest our home right before we sold it. They all have to do with bugs, so take care of those bug issues.”
What is your favorite place to get apartment inspiration or window shop?
“My favorite place to get inspiration for home decor is Instagram. I follow designers I love; Amber Interiors, Studio Mcgee, places that, even though they’re not exactly my style, I love to look at. I pay attention to their furniture placement and the things they include in a room because their aesthetic is similar to what I like and how I design.”
What is your favorite place to find a bargain?
“For the bigger pieces of furniture, I would always source from a good and reputable furniture dealer. For decor items that you’re going to swap out frequently, the best place is HomeGoods. I can always find items to style a shelf, to style a console table, to style a coffee table; there’s always something. Then, I would also say Hobby Lobby has great decor pieces that you can mix-and-match, and they’re always on sale. And, if it’s not on sale that week, it’ll be on sale the next week.”
What is a must-have or must-do for hosting?
“We entertain a lot, but I do two things that have to do with when they enter my home and when they leave. When they enter my home, people need a place to put their coat and their shoes. So, I have a designated chair for them to lay their items or bags on. They know they can just take their shoes off right on my rug, and it’s cozy. They just need a place where they can get their stuff when they’re leaving. The second has to do with when they leave. I always like to give them a little something to let them know they’re important to me. So, even if it’s just a small bag of toffee, it’s something to let them know I’m glad they came.”
What is your favorite snack, item, or activity for when you host company?
“If I have guests staying in my home, I always provide a bag of items on their bed. I always include a water bottle and something local, so they can take home a memento from the Chicago area. I like to add Chicago-style popcorn or a bag of Cubs or White Sox peanuts because baseball is so big here. I might also include walking tours of the city or a guide to the neighborhood, just in a little bag that’s sitting on their bed when they arrive. I also like to include a homemade treat once they get here.”
What design or decorating tips would you offer our readers?
“Switch furniture and decor around until you get it to how you like it. I like to show how to videos when I’m styling a space so that people can see I don’t get it right the first time either. I switch things up; I play with the height; I play with the arrangement. Keep doing that until it feels right. Then, you might walk past it and want to change it again — well just do that. Also, an even better design tip: don’t overcrowd a surface. Don’t try to force an entire collection on one shelf, just let the items have their space.”
What is the vibe of your apartment or house?
“My style has changed so much over the past 20 years. I really think it has to do with maturity, taste changing, and also the style of the place that I’m living in at the time. My style now is classic modern, and I don’t think that will change. I really enjoy minimalism – minimal lines, minimal decor that is classic and modern, cozy without being stark, that kind of vibe.”
How have you Konmari’d your house?
“We lived in brazil for 5 years, and before we moved there, we were really forced to look at all of our things and say, ‘why do we have this, and why do we need it?’ When we moved back from Brazil, we did that again and left a lot of things in storage. Living in a country without a lot of our things, we realized we don’t need a lot. We sold a bunch of belongings that felt heavy. We got rid of a lot of furniture and furnishings.”
What was a small transformation that you made to your apartment or house that made a big difference?
“I really love architectural detailing. My background is in architecture, which I have a masters degree in, so architectural detail and architectural character is really important to me. In rooms that have no architectural detail or features in them, I like to add that. For example, I added board and batten to our guest room and transformed it from a boring box of a room into a statement room, a space that everyone loves to be in and stay in. There is architectural detailing everywhere else in the house, and that was the only room that was lacking.”
Searching for a Stylist?
There’s a reason Kimberly Holdaway is so highly regarded in the interior design world and why her clients remain loyal and always recommend her. Her years of experience in the industry and her educational background in architecture make her a go-to resource for anyone looking to confidently and strategically spruce up their living space. Reach out to her on her website, Lemon Leaf Interiors, or on her instagram (@lemonleafhomeinteriors) for your own consultation and to transform your living space.
P.S. – If you’re on a budget, Kimberly is here for you. She is a self-proclaimed “resourceful creator and DIYer!” thanks to her personal experiences in designing the 6 homes she’s lived in — from the U.S. to Brazil.
Looking for Home to Call Your Own?
We hope this interview has given you some great ideas about how to decorate your space. If you’re looking for your dream apartment, AptAmigo can help you find it. Let us know your preferences, and we will curate a list of the best apartments in neighborhoods you’ll love. Then, we’ll schedule a day of tours and go with you to each building. Our goal is to make apartment hunting stress-free, and maybe even a little fun.
* The original version of this article was first published on May 15, 2020.
