Welcome to this newsletter written by me, Olivia. Or Liv, depending on where you know me. Either is fine. Thank you for subscribing!
For the past fifteen months, I, like many people, have been stuck inside. Like others, I’ve mostly spent that time living with my mom. (Three cheers to graduating with my MFA in Playwriting two months into lockdown!) As grateful as I am to have had somewhere to lay my head every night, I am also grateful that I can now say I’m in a position to move out on my own and integrate myself into a routine out of the house.
But despite my eagerness to be “Outside(TM)”, during my time of near solitude, I started to daydream about what my next place would look like and the friends and family I would love to entertain in it once it became safe to do so. This daydreaming turned to casually tweeting about interior design concepts to (prematurely) thrifting vintage house- and kitchenware to ultimately sitting down and starting my first newsletter.
While I am a newsletter newbie, this isn’t my first foray into documenting my domesticity. If you’ve known me for a while, you know that I had a foodie (do we still use this word?) Instagram where I would often post pictures of meals I made at home or enjoyed while out and about in Atlanta or Orlando. That space is technically still in existence, however, I’ve archived all of the old posts and I’ve changed my username to @OliviaIsAtHome. I will be using that account to post announcements, inspiration, my space and its decor, and yes, food. And if you want to watch short videos of my projects and adventures, you can find me on TikTok also at @OliviaIsAtHome. I’d love for you to give both a follow.
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BY DESIGN
As far as decor goes, my plan, at least at the time you’re reading this, is to have a vintage-inspired space that’s not too kitschy. Not that there’s anything wrong with kitsch or even camp, but I want my apartment to be well-curated yet livable (ahem)— nothing too cartoonish or like a museum, untouchable. I’ve already started planning some of this and even shopped for it, mostly finding things not only authentic but affordable at local thrift and consignment shops. That said, surprise! I’m not rich. Sure, my new job allows for a steady form of income, but I’m not getting featured in A.D. (or Black Enterprise) any time soon. Also, even if I had t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶i̶s̶f̶o̶r̶t̶u̶n̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ unlimited funds, I would like to think I would still gravitate to pieces that excite me as inexpensive as they may be. And, what can I say, I like a deal.
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As a disclaimer, I should mention this is mostly for my own amusement. Like playwriting, this is more of a place for me to express myself, to organize my thoughts and what speaks to me, and, hopefully, it speaks to you as well. Maybe you’ll find it entertaining or even educational. I am by no means a studied interior designer or a trained chef. Other than being a writer, my only qualifications are being a young woman with a Pinterest account who likes to cook and eat good food, collect vintage barware, and invite friends over from time to time. I also enjoy learning. My choices will be my own, but I’ll be sure to highlight and credit the designers, crafters, and cooks I am pulling from.
And I’ll mention what inspires me conceptually. For instance, for future posts, keep in mind that I am a Floridian who loves Mad Men and disco, and those three things will inform many of my decor decisions. I may even make separate posts exploring why they inspire me. I also want to buy as considerate and consciously as capitalism will allow. And beyond buying things secondhand, I want to have room in my new apartment for original artwork from local and up-and-coming artists.
MADE POSSIBLE BY READERS LIKE YOU
While this is an admittedly self-indulgent endeavor, I’d love to hear from you! In addition to having sections on what I’m cooking, houseware finds, and DIY projects, I want to start a section in my newsletter where I can answer any of your questions a la Emily Post on anything from interior design choices to what kind of food you want at your next get-together. I’ve even made an email address for it: OliviaIsAtHome@gmail.com
As of right now, I do not have a paid subscriber level, mostly because I don’t know how consistent these posts will be. I’m considering filming long-form videos of DIY projects and/or myself cooking and making that paid content but that’s still up in the air. However, if at any time you learn something or enjoy yourself, you can always show your support by contributing to my caffeine purchases. Also, you can share my posts on any platform at any time.
IN CONCLUSION…
If you’ve gotten this far, thank you!! I’ll end by saying this is an ongoing project mostly because actualizing my Pinterest dreams won’t happen overnight. And tastes change. I might be into Mid-Century Modern today but maybe I’ll catch a rerun of Saved by the Bell and be more inspired by the Memphis Group. Who knows, but hopefully we’ll find out together.
Anyway, thank you for joining me (and on time, look at you!)
Make yourself comfortable.
UP NEXT
While I don’t have a schedule for each post, my first DIY breakdown will be next week. Subscribe now to see how I makeover this $15 thrifted bar cart for under 30 bucks!