Meet Ayrn! She's the owner and lead designer behind the Houston-based design firm Oyster Creek Studios. Ayrn and her team recently styled a pillow bundle in their office using a mix of patterns and solids from our latest Well + Wonder collection. Follow along to learn a little more Ayrn and see how she created a vibrant office setting!
First off, tell us a little bit about yourself!
I was born & raised in Houston, mom of two sweet boys & married to the love of my life, Jacob. I am owner and lead designer of Oyster Creek Studios, alongside a bespoke custom furniture line called Oyster Creek Collection. I began OCS out of my guest bedroom in 2017, and in 2022, my team and I moved into a beautiful 1000 s.f. studio space in the heart of West University, walking distance from my favorite ice cream and cookie shop!
How would you describe your style? Where do you find inspiration?
I would describe my style as liveable luxury, clean and classic, whimsical and colorful. I find inspiration from traveling, fashion trends, and good ‘ole Pinterest.
What does your home say about you?
When people come into my home, I want them to feel HAPPY and refreshed! It’s a place of refuge for me! I grew up in a home that was always comfortable and homey, and recreating this in my own home was super important to me. My pantry and fridge are always full - my doors are always open!
Walk us through how you styled the pillows! How did you choose which patterns and piping to use?
Styling the Pepper Home pillows in our Oyster Creek Studios space made for the perfect backdrop - our studio is light, bright & airy. The textiles are a great match for our aesthetic and we love layering different patterns. We obviously love lavendar so the lilac velvet was a must! I picked “Serena Pink”, as I’ve been a big fan of Susie Bettenhausen for years! I just love mixing colors and prints.
How do you approach styling with different sizes? What's your rule of thumb for how many pillows go on a sofa?
I love pillows on a sofa! Typically, I prefer 4 pillows - two coordinating 24x24 and two coordinating 22x22. Smaller pillow in the front, and I love a good pillow “chop”!
Do you stick to any design rules when mixing and matching patterns and colors?
I love to mix a large scale print with a small scale print when mixing patterns. I prefer a pattern over a solid, and I’m rarely afraid to mix colors. I’m typically drawn to lavender, blue, green and orange, but brown is creeping up as a new favorite color to work with. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns and colors - just keep in mind scale of print, background pattern colors, and get creative with contrast piping that coordinates back to one of your patterns.
One of our mottos is "a little goes a long way". What are a few ways to elevate your living room that don't require a full renovation or splurging on new furniture?
New pillows and new styling objects! Pillows can be an instant room refresh! Swap out your coffee table decor regularly to continuously update your space. I am constantly changing items in my living room using new accessories to keep it fresh. Accessories can pack a punch without being a large investment.
Favorite design book?
Island Hopping by Amanda Lindroth
Color crush of the moment?
I've been loving brown these days!
Wallpaper or paint?
Wallpaper
Favorite project you've worked on?
The most memorable project is Building Belt, but our recent new build project in Memorial is a personal fave. I love the fun colors we were able to incorporate and vibe of the home!