“Gray Walls” and “Minimalist Decor” Are Nowhere to Be Found in This Colorful Rental Apartment
When Lauren Crawford, a multi-disciplinary muralist, painter, and designer weaving visual narratives into digital and physical spaces, and her partner, Donovan Petteway, a creative who ranges in music, art, and creative strategy for Culture Equity, were looking for a rental apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina, they considered their younger selves.
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“We absolutely needed our space to feel like a place where we could wooh-saww, be intensely inspired while working in our businesses, and make our inner children so happy,” Lauren explains.
The couple, who founded the brand Some Flowers together, toured several rental properties but couldn’t find one that felt “energetically right,” as Lauren puts it. That is, until they stumbled upon a light-filled, two-bedroom rental apartment with views of trees and tall ceilings (all features on their wish list). Their manifestations became a reality, and the pair filled out an application immediately after touring the space.
Once they had their apartment, it was time to design it — even though it was the one for them, Lauren had firm non-negotiables about what it would look like. “Gray walls? Minimal decor? Not here,” she explains. “We wanted our home to feel like a daily dose of joy and inspiration, with funky decor, art, and color splashed everywhere to keep our spirits up.”
Fast-forward one year, and the apartment has become a colorful, creative oasis with several murals and DIY projects. (Lauren admits they’ve broken the rental rule about not changing too much.) While decorating the home, Lauren and Donovan once again looked to their inner children for inspiration.
“For the design, we asked ourselves, ‘How would 13-year-old Lauren and Donovan want to feel when stepping into this space?’” Lauren says. “The result is a space that reflects that playful spirit while giving us room to dream, create, and be our most authentic selves!”
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LIVING ROOM
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Thanks, Lauren!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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