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Home décor is as personal a stylistic expression as choosing a signature lipstick or getting a bold haircut and as such, certain terms can be extraordinarily polarizing. Just as “fire engine red” can inspire fear in one woman and excitement in the next, so can the term “minimalist.” Chicago based Danielle Moss, who is the co-founder and editor of The Everygirl (along with many other impressive credits), has done for minimalism what Taylor Swift did for red-lips.
Her Lakeview, Chicago apartment serves as a master class at how to get a great and vibrant style while still sticking to as subdued color palate. For Danielle that color palate is black, grey, white, and the occasional taupe. There are a few things that become instantly apparent when you move through Danielle’s apartment. The first is how the color palate highlights the stunning architecture of the place. The brick wall in the den acts a statement wall without the worry that it will no longer be in style 2 years from now. The wood stairs as well as the enviable exposed beams are details that could easily get eclipsed by a bold carpet or bright wall. When framed by clean white walls they are really allowed to shine.
Of course every girl wants to make sure that the natural beauty of her home is featured, but that’s not where the real fun is. The real fun is in the details, the throw pillows, the vases, the cute statues. Won’t a minimalist color palate make for mundane shopping or decorating? Not in the least. The reigned in color scheme allows you to really focus on each item only purchasing that which will have maximum impact. The black or gold or brass hardware on a white dresser against a white wall creates quite the statement. A black tub with feet is an unexpected gem to find in a bathroom.
Another advantage to limiting the colors you bring into the space is that it really allows you to play with texture and pattern. Danielle’s bed is covered in pillows that fit together to create an effortlessly luxurious bed. If you look closely, there is no way all those patterns could exist on one bed, at the same time, if it wasn’t for how all the colors compliment each other. The painted white floorboards and the white brick walls combine to create a really lux environment. Where normally painting a room the same color from floor to ceiling would be sterile and a little unnerving, the different textures make the room warm and inviting.
The best thing about Danielle’s approach to minimalism is how it is used to highlight the organic inspiration of the plants. The greenery really soars through each space creating an almost spa-like level of calm, without the sterility of most spas. She doesn’t have an abundance of plants in her home but each one is perfectly placed to add just the right amount of vibrancy to every room. In fact, if we were going to sum up what makes Danielle’s interior decorating so impeccable it would have to be “perfectly placed.” Everything from the furniture, to the paintings, to the books on the desk are placed exactly where they need to be to create a home that feels chic and, well, like a home.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING BY Danielle Moss
