Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » sneak peek: charise harper

our final sneak peek of the day comes from children’s book author and illustrator charise harper can’t help but make you smile. it’s a fantastic example of mixing style and fun (check out the ruler stair rail and chalk board art!). she, her husband and their three children moved into their mamaroneck, ny home three years ago and have been working on it ever since. be sure to check out the entire set (with additional images) here, and all of our sneak peeks right here. [thanks, charise!] -anne

[note: charise's sneak peek continues after the jump so click here for the full post and pictures, or just click "read more" below the last picture. there were so many great shots i had a hard time editing them down!]

The ruler stair rail. Fun right?

I like the two blackboards under the self portrait on the stairs. We change the drawings whenever we want, because they are just chalk. Of course her face always stays the same. The artist is from Chicago but I have forgotten her name. The green box on wheels secretly holds some kid toys. We bought it at Pier One and then put the casters on it.

Click here for more photos of Charise’s home…

My husband made the radiator boxes and I hammered the tin tops.

What wonderful signage and inspirational messages around the house (Giggle is a great one!). My two favorite features are the magazine rack (a must have for our home) and the triptych on the landing on the stairs. …Once again, the sneak peaks rock my world.

It looks comfortable, like someone actually lives there! I get tired of looking at the minimalist spaces where not one piece of personal stuff is out where you can see it. Charise’s home is fun to look at, and has a nice design element to it.

Krista,

The lightbulb fixture in the hallway was something we saw in a restaurant, and then tried to replicate at home. My husband is fairly handy so he was able to do the electrical wiring. The one in the restaurant was more finished and perfect, but I’m pretty happy with our little homemade version.

I love this house–especially that lumpy little pillow on the couch…or is that a lumpy little boy?? Nothing cookie-cutter about this place, and there’s so much warmth and happiness in every detail.

The portrait painting with the blackboard frames under it is a great way to interact with your art. Think I’ll leave a blackboard arrangement by my front door where guests can leave parting comments or rate their evening.
Sounds dangerous and exciting!
Bee.

The portrait painting with the blackboard frames under it is a great way to interact with your art. I believe in inter-active art. Think I’ll leave a blackboard arrangement by my front door where guests can leave parting comments or rate their evening.
Sounds dangerous and exciting!
Bee.

I absolutely love the way they hide the games and papers and all that other annoying endless childhood ephemera in that metal cabinet thing. so cool.

the rest of the house is so wonderfully unique as well.

How fun! I have had you on my google reader for a while and had to stop by today to say I just don’t know how you do what you do but your inspirations and discoveries are so wonderful! Thank you for all the beauty!

I AM IN LOVE….love it all. This one tops the charts. I adore everything in this post and agree…the award goes to…..CHARISE. I love design with a sense of humor, a soul, a conscience, and she nailed it. There’s such a feeling of LOVE & family when you look at these photos. COuldn’t be any cuter.

love these photos…I love the idea of the portrait and the body under it. I have a chalkboard painted on the wall in my kid’s playroom – I think I’ll blow up pics of them and post above so they can add their own bodies every day!

This is one of my favorite sneak peaks, too! Everything is whimsical, joyous yet efficient. I’m a mom, and I’m inspired by the possibility of having a beautiful yet kid-friendly house.

By the way, where did you get the leather couch?

Thanks!

Hi,
I love the multi-colored metal storage bins in the photo under “NOT SO” sign. So much better than generic plastic bin storage. I wonder what they’re called or where you might recommend finding ones similar? Thanks so much for the idea!

I love it!!!! I am a firm believer in recycling, my home is full of things that had a precious life.
We all should make an efford to reuse staff, not only looks amazing but help the environment!!!
Marga

Lisette: the living room blue is Benjamin Moore Blue Porcelain

Amanda & Marie: both the ottoman and the sofa are from Anthropologie. Ordinarily that sofa would have been way out of our price range but we got lucky and bought it clearance off the sales floor.

Kim: the aquamarine bins are just from Pottery Barn; the multi-colored ones came from flea markets.

angie: the stairwell lights are assembled from stuff out of the Home Depot electrical aisle. We saw something like this in a NYC restaurant and did our own version of it.

Thanks for all the questions!

Charise! It is your old friends from The Red Balloon Co. in Chicago! We miss you! Still LOVE your books. And now LOVE your home. What an eye (though we already knew that). Such a warm, inviting, playful space. Will you decorate our house? Come visit!

Where did the ruler for the stair rail come from? Is it one ruler that spans the whole staircase??

I’m extremely envious of the light bulbs pendant – it would be awesome to see a how-to, say on instructables.

I love all of the quirky details in your home.

Your style says “HOME”! Love the sense of humor decorating style. Anyone with kids needs that!! So very creative and very comfortable. Absolutely loved your quirky edge. Who wouldn’t love being there?

I look at this sneak peek every day! Love the whole thing!! Charise, where are the lights above the DR table from? I looked at rejuvenation and some other places but can’t find the clear shade. Many thanks!!

Hi holly from livingston and porter,
I went to school with Lake Strongheart at The Art Institute of Chicago but didn’t know her personally. She was a pretty prolific painter of self-portraits – each unique in style and all very compelling. I loved them then and it was a happy surprise to see one of her paintings here. I see that she is on Facebook, maybe you could contact her that way.

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