We’re back with a new guest tastemaker for some quick-fire questions and a mini-curation of some fab Chairish finds!
After a long week, we are happy to pour ourselves A Glass of Bovino. Joining us is Alisa Bovino, founder of the aforementioned lifestyle blog. Alisa discovered her love for interior design after she and her husband moved into their first home. She now shares all of her design discoveries and tips on her blog from “How to Get What You Want on Facebook Marketplace” to “The Best Green Paint Colors.”
Fittingly, her favorite Chairish finds encapsulate her ethos for bringing together vintage and contemporary pieces. Read on to find out how Alisa discovered her love for the Grandmillennial style, and her advice on how to avoid a design identity crisis.
You’ve mentioned that you experienced a “Farmhouse identity crisis” in 2017. Can you expand on what elements you were adding to your home that you later realized weren’t your style?
The first large purchase for our home was a huge reclaimed wood farmhouse table. At the time, I was looking for design inspiration on Pinterest, where Farmhouse was the dominant style, and I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I tried really hard to make the table work, but as I started discovering my true personal style (what I refer to as a “New-Traditionalist”), I decided to sell it because it just didn’t feel like me. I’m very grateful that we didn’t spend a lot of money on any other farmhouse-related trends, and that this phase only lasted a few months.
Being that you’ve now established your unique aesthetic, do you have any advice for readers on how they can avoid an interior design identity crisis and develop their own persnonal style?
I recommend staying off Pinterest, and to instead be on the lookout for design aesthetics you’re drawn to on Instagram and in magazines. But also pay attention to specific details you like: Do you prefer brass or silver? Blue or green? Florals or geometrics? It’s important to look closely at things that inspire you and dive deeper into the details you like (and even details you don’t like).
Also, pay attention to what you like outside of interiors. What colors are predominantly in your wardrobe? What patterns, colors and textures do you like to wear? Finding your personal style is more than just finding inspiration in other rooms!
What kind of design additions or changes have you recently made to your home?
One of the biggest challenges I faced when we moved into our home was the 24-foot long wall that ran from our dining room to our living room. There was nothing to separate the spaces, so I always struggled with how to approach the design of both rooms. Earlier this year, my husband and I created a cased opening to separate the living and dining room, and it made such a big difference! Both rooms feel more intimate, and I can design each room as I please, without one space relying on the other.
What is the coolest vintage piece in your house? What makes it the coolest?
I’ve collected so many fabulous vintages finds over the years, but I’d have to say the coolest pieces would be the vintage flame mahogany nightstands in our bedroom. I’ve never seen anything like them since I found them a few years ago. They’re so unique and they happen to be the perfect size for our small bedroom.
Do you collect anything? What sparked your interest in collecting that item?
I enjoy collecting Rose Medallion and Wedgwood. The gorgeous detail of Rose Medallion and simplicity of Wedgwood always catch my eye over any other type of china or porcelain.
