Before & After: Jessica & Christian’s California Bohemian Family Space

updated May 4, 2019

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Playroom with orange rocking chair, colorful foam blocks, toy kitchen, and framed art on walls. — (Image credit: Paige French)

Name: Jessica & Christian, and their two children
Location: Atlanta, GA
Room: Living Room
Size: about 220 square feet
Own or Rent: Rent

We went on a road trip across the United States to tell people about Complete + Happy Home, and while we’re at it, we’re saving the country, one room at a time! Our third makeover stop is Atlanta, Georgia—where we met Jessica & Christian, who just moved from New York and needed help balancing their minimalist tendencies with the desire to create a warm, cozy, and multifunctional space for their growing family.

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(Image credit: Paige French)

“We’re recent New York City transplants to Atlanta. Our home is a bright corner condo off the Beltline in Atlanta’s most walkable neighborhood,” says Jessica, a writer. “Mostly, our new home is looking sparse. We are minimalists and appreciate a modern aesthetic blended with a California bohemian style.”

The living room was proving to be especially challenging, since it needed to also function as a play area for the couple’s two year old, as well as a workspace. “I’d love your expert eye in making this large room a clean, bright, whimsical place for our family!”

(Image credit: Paige French)

With the help of Maxwell, the original Apartment Therapist and Christiane Lemieux, founder of DwellStudio and creative director for Wayfair, this family now has a functional space that they can enjoy, together.

Jessica started a Pinterest board of things she liked from Wayfair.com, and from there, we helped narrow down what to bring in. The main objectives were to give her the functionality that she needed, and to add in some layers and texture (but not too many!) so that the space was more inviting, but not cluttered.

(Image credit: Paige French)

To find what felt right for the space, Maxwell & Christiane tried a few different layouts, with Jessica and Christian choosing the bottom right version for its openness and flexibility. In the top right, you can see the desk peeking out from the corner; that’s where it stayed, slightly separate from the living and play space, but easily accessible.