Desk: Holly Mathis

This week, we are featuring the office and desk of Holly Mathis, a stay-at-home mother of two as well as the designer/blogger behind Holly Mathis Interiors. While educated and trained in Museum Studies and History, Holly began pursuing design and homemaking as a career in 2005, when she had her first child and when her home was featured in the June issue of Better Homes & Gardens. In addition to providing a more flexible and family-friendly schedule for the new-to-motherhood Holly, running her own decorating business allows Holly to pursue her true loves and follow family tradition (her mother is a real estate broker, her grandmother was a decorator, and her great grandfather was a carpenter and builder). Here’s what Holly has to say about her work:

I love the process of seeing a house become a home. Whether new construction, remodeling, or somewhere in between, all homes have hidden potential. Holly Mathis interiors specializes in helping clients define their style and achieve their decorating goals within a reasonable budget and timeline. From choosing new cabinets or paint colors, placing accessories, rearranging your current furniture for better flow in a room, or working with your current items or maybe shopping for new ones, I do it all. I love to be involved in helping make a house feel more like home.

Although based out of the Houston area, Holly helps customers across the country make their house a home. With her own house, Holly has done a wonderful job of homemaking. Pictures of projects, progress and ideas adorn her blog. Holly took a moment from her busy schedule (she just had her second little boy) to share with us about her desk, office, preferences and inspiration.

The Desk: An old bank “bench” from my hometown bank… you know, the type of place you would stand and fill out a deposit slip before going up to the teller. It has a marble top, and I have used it for a kitchen island, potting bench on my back porch, and now as a work desk!
Chair: Always standing!
Clock: cell phone
Charging: ipod, cell phone, portable dvd for 4 year old!
Paper: I love scrap paper for personal projects and inspiration boards. I love Jenni Bowlin Designs, she has great stuff!
Color: I am loving orange lately, but don’t have any in my house. I hate to say brown, but it is true… it’s great for little boys!
‘Thank You’: It is not said enough these days; being gracious and truly thankful is so important.
Flat Note Stationery or Folded Note Cards: I love flat notes!
Handwritten or Emailed: BOTH, my strategy is say it quickly by email and then officially by note. Really nice, thoughtful things are so rare these days, they should be savored and really appreciated.
Favorite Current Trend: Using typography in decorating; I even put “letters” on my Christmas tree!
Favorite Stationery: So many… I love heavy, engraved stuff, beautiful monograms, but also fun note cards from Target. I love Sharp & Sally, Boatman Geller, Sarah & Abraham, Laura Goessling Design, lots of neat things on etsy right now, of course Whitney English, and Kris-10 Creations!
Last Party Invitation Sent and Occasion: Christmas 2007 girl party?? Too long!!
Book (current, recent or favorite): Blue Like Jazz
Magazine: I miss Cottage Living so much!
Organization: I love the Vera Bradley organizer and tons of baskets, especially wire! This blue organizer on my desk is now by my back door; it’s my kitchen office.
Calendar: Kris-10 Creations–she has a great birthday calendar too!
Day-at-a-glance: I just had a baby in July… I have no idea what average is going to be, but so far it is pretty sweet.
Current Projects: Nursing, getting big brother into PreK, learning to juggle TWO boys and SOME work, oh and losing baby weight; professionally, working on lots of baby rooms for expectant moms… so fun!!
Planning: on doing more online consultations, so many women love working this way and it is great for me as a mom with a new baby!
Business: Keeping my business small, enjoying every little project but not letting it overtake my first priority: home.

Whether it’s her house or yours, Holly puts all her effort into making it a home… because, really, home and the family in it are what matter most to her. What a lovely way to live!