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Photos»March 2019 Issue

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  • "With work and kids, I don't get much time to unwind during the week, so I try to make the most of my moments that I do." Ryan MacFarland Artwork | Magnus Home Products Bathtub | Kalon Side Table | Amazon Bathmat | Maaari Ceramics.
  • The view from Lunya founder Ashley Merrill's beach house master bedroom.
  • The designer keeps her aesthetic minimal and refined, accenting communal spaces with unique artworks, like the blue nude — entitled The Bathers 14, by New York-based artist, Piero Passacantando — sourced via Uprise Art — situated in the dining area.
  • A styled bookshelf in Lunya founder Ashley Merrill's home.
  • Soak up the rays, and create a modern, seaside aesthetic, with practical houseplants that love the sunshine. Merrill houses her Bird of Paradise in a matte black planter, by Asian Ceramics.
  • This master bedroom keeps the furniture neutral but brings in pops of color through the artwork.
  • "I love to lay in bed and open the doors on the balcony and let the beach air wash over us," says the Lunya founder, of her gorgeously light master bedroom. Custom Bed; Custom Shelving; Taschen Book; Garmentory Assorted Accent Pieces; Maaari Ceramics; Vintage Armchairs; Karina Bania Artwork via Uprise Art; Restoration Hardware Bedding; Living Fivani Ottomans.
  • "The reality is, it's a beach house, so you have to accept that you are going to have a little sand under your feet... even when you are inside," says Merrill, of the home's relaxed, casual vibe. Throughout the kids' rooms, the designer opts for neutral, playful furnishings, and statement-making artwork, ensuring nothing is "too precious."
  • "I wanted function, but it had to be beautiful. Having young kids and hosting family at the beach typically means a lot of mess," adds Merrill. "I ended up using outdoor furniture and slipcovers everywhere. Red wine, blueberries, popsicles? No problem."
  • Lighten up and ditch the clutter in your kitchen, ensuring fewer, more meaningful pieces reign supreme throughout. Not only will a clear countertop make your space look bigger, it'll do wonders for your state of mind, too. We think Marie Kondo would approve.
  • Clean, airy open shelving sets the tone throughout the Merrill beach house. Accent pieces sourced via Amazon and Garmentory are kept to a minimum, ensuring the living spaces are ultimately clutter-free.
  • There are few beach houses (or houses in general) that compare to the streamlined, waterfront home owned by Lunya founder Ashley Merrill, her husband Marc, and their young family. With three beautifully minimalist bedrooms and adhering to a refreshingly pared-down style code, it's little wonder why this sweet SoCal home sparks a whole lot of joy for the luxury sleepwear entrepreneur. "Home time is my favorite time of day," says Merril. "My brand, Lunya, and my love of decor are testament to this. My minimal approach to design runs throughout my home and sleepwear line, because I want the environment to support a clear mind and organized thoughts. When I have fewer things, it allows me to focus on what's important."
  • The Lunya founder admits her favorite furniture piece of furniture is this vintage wicker Tito Agnoli chaise in the family room, styled with a relaxed, cream throw. Living Fivani Sofa; Etsy Bust; Garmentory Accent Pieces; Maaari Planter.
  • Clean, airy open shelving sets the tone throughout the Merrill beach house. Accent pieces sourced via Amazon and Garmentory are kept to a minimum, ensuring the living spaces are ultimately clutter-free.
  • Few things in life are more inviting that a bateau bathtub. This polished cast iron version, from Magnus Home Products, strikes the perfect balance between modern, minimal, and a little bit glam.
  • Built in cabinets make for crisp, tidy storage space in a bedroom.
  • Consider stone-washed blues and bohemian cane baskets the new nautical. Ditch the conventional sailing motifs for a fresh take on a modern seaside bedroom.
  • "I'm very happy with how the house turned out," says Lunya founder Ashley Merrill. "That said I don't feel like it's 'done' as generally homes evolve along with me." Triptych Coffee Table; Hans Wegner Vintage Chairs.
  • "We bought the house because we loved how it brought the outside in, with the big glass sliding doors, and how it lent itself to communal entertainment with its joint spaces," says the designer.
  • A serene outdoor space with a white lounge bed.
  • "The oversized table was a must," says Lunya founder Ashley Merrill, of her custom, mid-century style dining table.
  • A serene outdoor patio space.
  • Opt for a geometric wallpaper feature in your nursery or kids room, to add youthful personality to stark spaces.
  • A seating area in the kitchen that features a lofted bed overhead.
  • Consider the placement and palette of your accent pieces, to avoid over complicating small spaces. Stier keeps her bedroom space neutral and styling ultimately minimal.
  • Stier brings nature's raw energy indoors, decorating her tiny bathroom space with assorted crystals and restorative candles. Go full zen and burn a scent designed specifically for even the smallest bathroom space.
  • The front door of Mae Stier's snowy Michigan home.
  • Designate spaces to work, read, relax, or restore, throughout your home, to minimize unnecessary clutter. Consider your space, from the ground up, and ensure everything has a function.
  • Inside the cottage, Stier's mezzanine level allows her to host friends and family, who come to visit. The otherwise stark, snowy space, provides a pop of color overhead, thanks to a bold '70s throw. "I love the tall ceiling in the living room and the loft, it gives the space such a unique feel and makes my home feel larger than it is," she says.
  • An all-white bedroom palette makes for a serene resting place.
  • The photographer admits few structural changes have been made to the interior of her cottage home. "I added IKEA shelves — and plenty of plants," she says. Drawing the eye up, with floating shelves like the Lack Series by IKEA, not only provides the illusion of height, but offers ample storage.
  • Inside the cottage, Stier dresses the walls with unique works of art, vintage furniture and plenty of green life. A snug and versatile West Elm sofa, anchors the humble living space, while a shaggy area rug — also by West Elm — keeps it cozy underfoot.
  • Dotted on the stark and snowy landscape of Empire, Northern Michigan, is where you'll find 30-year-old photographer and creative freelancer, Mae Stier. A little over two years ago, on the tail-end of a break-up, Stier abandoned the city smells of Brooklyn, New York, for a tiny little cottage, situated within walking distance from the glassy lakefront. Come spring, she plays host to her friends and family, gathering around the farm table her father built, holding pride of place in her boundless backyard. Inside, Stier's 500-square-foot cottage boasts everything you need, and nothing you don't.
  • Quirky accent pieces, many of which sourced from Stier's favorite local vintage store — Wilson Antiques — give the cottage character, while works of art by friends and local artists, lean on otherwise stark, white walls.
  • Stier makes full use of every crevice and corner within her home, creating little reading nooks and sacred spaces to work and relax, throughout her cottage. Spencer Arthur McQueen Artwork; Vintage Credenza; West Elm Desk; Apple Mac Computer; IKEA Lamp.
  • "Well, I love West Elm, but I also love wandering antique stores — and there are so many good ones in Northern Michigan. Sometimes, I like to go new, just so that I can get exactly what I'm envisioning. Although, my favorite piece of furniture is the vintage gold lamp, next to my sofa. It was my grandmother's, she passed away last summer. I have memories of this particular lamp, standing by her and my grandpa's bed, when I was a little kid. I turn it on every morning when I sit down to write, it's a reminder of her presence," says homeowner Mae Stier.
  • "I love wandering antique stores — there are so many good ones in Northern Michigan," admits photographer Mae Stier, who fills her home with an eclectic range of sentimental, vintage finds, and mainstream must-haves.
  • "My space is small, less than 500 square feet. The layout for it is open, maximizing its small footprint in a very smart way," says Stier.
  • Original wood panelling and a clean, white palette in Stier's cozy bedroom, gives the cottage a unique and natural vibe. A decorative wall hanging, by Knot Creative, completes the organic look and feel.
  • A painting of a cactus on a white wall.
  • A contemporary kitchen with white cabinets.
  • A bedroom with wooden paneled walls.
  • A set of bookshelves in a living space with a gray couch.
  • A contemporary kitchen with white cabinets.
  • A workspace with a gray chair.
  • A potted plant on a table.
  • A neutral living space with a gray couch and white walls.
  • A white house.
  • A neutral living space with a gray couch and white walls.
  • A woven chair in front of a white door.
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