The Secret to a Home That Feels Lived In

Welcome to Creative Digest, a weekly peek inside the world of Estro Studio—an interior design and creative agency founded by two women with incredible taste and a love for all things design. Each week, they’re sharing what’s inspiring them right now—from color palettes to flea market finds.

Hi friends,

Today we’re getting personal, letting you in on our “dirty design secrets”—a peek into our world, and the inside of our brains.

At Estro Studio, we believe good design can’t be copy-and-pasted. We create spaces that feel like you—layered, personal, and full of stories. No two rooms we design are ever the same, because, well, one: that would be crazy, and two: nobody is exactly the same, and your home should reflect that. Personality-driven design is what makes a home truly timeless. It evolves as the years go on, growing and shifting with you.

No home becomes collected and layered overnight, but these are some of the ways we help make a space feel curated and lived-in, rather than like a showroom catalog.

Our color palette is typically earth-driven and sultry, rich with depth and able to patina beautifully over time. We love a pop of unexpected color, something a little rough around the edges to create contrast and visual intrigue.

Combining elements and mixing styles is at the heart of what we do—your style doesn’t need to fit neatly into a box. We always say our aesthetic is a mix of everything we love. From English Charm and Rustic Folk to Wabi-Sabi and Mid-Century Modern, these influences guide our process. The real magic happens at the intersection of all four—that’s where our vision comes to life.

Buy the weird things. Collect the unusual. Oil paintings from flea markets, vintage candelabras, coffee table books—yes, you can never have enough. Let your home be a little eccentric; that’s where its soul lives.

Pottery and tactile objects add depth and warmth, giving your room character and a sense of history. Don’t stick to one medium—mix your art. Combine lithographs, oil paintings, abstracts, and hand-painted pieces. Variation is what takes a space to the next level.

Layer everything. Rugs, throws, art, and objects in different textures and scales make a room feel lived-in. Stack, overlap, mismatch—imperfection is your friend.

Chairs are more than just functional; they can be sculptural statements. Place them boldly, pair them with unexpected pieces, or let them stand alone as visual anchors in a vignette.

Mood lighting is a must. Lamps, sconces, candles—and here’s our tip: use warm bulbs (around 2700K) and set everything on dimmers, because it’s all about the vibe. The right light brings warmth, depth, and intimacy to a room. It transforms a space, softens edges, and gives life to the objects you’ve carefully collected.

Tell stories through the objects you surround yourself with. Hand-painted motifs, quirky thrifted finds, or treasured heirlooms—these are the elements that give a space its soul.

Also, on that note, vintage pieces are essential—not just for their stories, but for the way they feel in a room. Plus, they’re often way cooler than new items. 

At the end of the day, a collected home is about personality, curiosity, and storytelling. It’s a home that feels lived in, loved, and unmistakably yours.

Until next time on Creative Digest

Xoxo,

Estro Studio