Habitat No. 3: Prioritizing Personality with Becky Simpson
Well, friends, hello from quite the (accidental) long break! Our third Habitat home tour + conversation is here and it’s one I’ve had on my mind from the beginning.
Welcome to Becky’s house!
Being that Becky is a creative director and artist, you can imagine she’s got a knack for style. Her talent will definitely catch your eye, but it’s also her mindset and approach to creativity that has cemented her as a leader and expert in her field. I’m sure there are a lot of thoughts on design she could share, but when I read through our conversation, it’s like all her answers had been distilled down to the gold. Simple, refreshing, approachable – and makes you feel braver. That’s this conversation and that’s her voice.
I hope, as you read this story, you can feel the pressure lift in designing your own home. It’s all too easy to assume we need a grand vision for every room in our house, it needs to look like something we’ve seen before, oh and we need it all done now. But perhaps we can just start today with paying attention to how we actually live, trying something new, and taking the mistakes and the wins in stride. Isn’t that like a breath of fresh air?
And with that, I’ll leave you with the full story below. (And yes, I’ll probably see you at the paint store this weekend!)
Please introduce yourself!
Howdy! I’m Becky (Simpson). I’m a creative director and artist in East Nashville. My husband and I have two girls, Etta and Beatrix.
Tell us a little about your home. What initially drew you to it - and have you made any big changes?
It was built in 1950, but more recently renovated. The architect/builder was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house. We changed next to nothing after we moved in - aside from landscaping, interior paint, and wallpaper. If you’re house hunting and need some encouragement, read on.
Greg scours Zillow like it’s Instagram, so when our house was listed he yelled from the other room, “WE HAVETA HAVE IT!” We were the first to view it, but the couple who walked through right after us put in a cash offer. We thought it was too good to be true anyway so we moved on. After a week, Greg called our realtor to confirm that their offer went through. Turns out they ghosted and the seller was about to relist the house. We put in our offer and the rest is history. I say all of this because it’s a good lesson in the power of a follow-up—you never know what can change!
Can you tell us a little about your job and background as an artist?
I’ve been a graphic designer for 14 years. I’m currently the creative director at Tubby Todd. As of late, my art practice consists of drawing in my sketchbook and large-scale paintings.
You’ve accomplished so many large-scale creative projects in the past, from opening your own shop with original art to writing and illustrating books. What’s the first step you take when tackling a new project? And have you found your approach to interiors to be similar?
The first step is becoming so excited about an idea that you become delusional enough to believe you can do it. Once I have a clear end goal, there is no stopping me (though the biggest challenge is deciding what I actually want). As far as interiors go, that has become more of a recent thing. Here are a some revelations of the last year few years:
Personality is a priority (e.g. colorful paint or fun art, like the Alex Crawford corndog piece above our table)
Mixing old and new objects brings warmth and texture to the space
You can spray paint just about anything (in my case: sconces, shelves, bar cart, hairpin legs for tables, etc.)
Design for what the space actually is vs. what it will never be
Err on the side of less (fewer objects look better…hard to implement with kids and because I am me, but I try.)
Practical trumps ideal. Ideal world: Becky puts shoes away nicely in the closet. Real world: Becky does not. Compromise: Toss shoes in a basket by the closet. I could go on.
How do you incorporate art and color in your home? What would you say to someone wanting more color in their home but unsure of where to start?
In the last year I’ve gone on a wall painting tirade. Paint has been my friend. It’s the easiest and cheapest way to add personality. I’m looking at the same places for inspiration that everyone else is. I just happen to be drawn to homes with bold color/pattern choices (though I’m not a maximalist). Things I’ve learned:
Paint color: Always go a shade warmer than you think you’ll need (thank you, Ngaio!)
Don’t overlook the trim: Painting trim the same color as the wall elevates the space. Or consider just painting the trim a pop of color and leaving the walls white. My studio has green trim and Etta’s room has coral - both with white walls.
I buy a lot of paint from Backdrop because the colors are so well curated. Plus, they spoon-feed me with interesting interior inspo on their site and Instagram.
Expect to make some mistakes. You only get better by learning. It’s just paint! I’ve repainted after seeing the finished product. I would do lots of things differently but I don’t regret my attempts.
Gab about interiors with like-minded friends. Ask for advice from folks who have it figured out. I’ve learned a lot from my friend Anna, who is ten steps ahead of me on designing spaces. Sometimes I feel guilty for freeloading knowledge but she reminds me this is just as fun for her to talk about as it is for me. People like to dish when it comes to great resources and creative projects.
What is a favorite room or detail of yours in your home?
Easily the front room with the floor-to-ceiling windows. Can’t beat a view of the great outdoors.
You have a husband, toddler and new baby! As your family grows, has your approach to home changed?
It has become more experimental and DIY because A) Childcare costs about as much as a major piece of furniture every month, so it’s not in the cards to replace just for fun and B) It’s easier to experiment when the stakes are low.
8. Are there any ways you’ve intentionally tried to foster creativity or play for your toddler, Etta?
The front room (with the big windows) has become the toy room. Like me, she makes way more art when it’s accessible: Having a blank sheet of paper on her easel incentivizes her to draw more. We don’t force her to make art but we do make it easy to create so she does. This is a lesson I need to be reminded of myself.
Where can we find you and your work?
You can check out my newsletter, Etsy and Instagram!
