We Love Your Style: Jordan Podlaski

FEATURE | We Love Your Style We Love Your Style

JORDAN PODLASKI

Lately, I’ve been getting a bit out of my comfort zone and adding more color and eclectic touches that reflect our family’s personalities and make our home more fun.

By Amber Bouthot

Each month, we highlight someone whose style we admire. If you know someone we should consider featuring, email ambouthot@the-papers.com.

This month, it’s Jordan Podlaski. She and her husband, Nick, have been married for 5 years and have two boys: Maxwell (5) and Jude (1), and her best girl, Luna (their dog). Right now, her life is pretty simple, and she enjoys spending her days with her kids playing Legos, doing crafts, making pizza and having movie nights. What started out as some necessary home upgrades have parlayed into more of a hobby for her. And she enjoys looking at the “before” photos to see how far her home has come.

Tell us a little about each of the areas you chose to highlight. Why did you choose them? What makes them your faves?

Kitchen: The stove is a big reason why I fell in love with this house in the first place. It’s from the early 50’s and still works like a charm. It was the main source of inspiration when we renovated the rest of our kitchen, and I feel like it’s the heart of our home. We added the kitchen breakfast nook built-ins and I love not only how it turned out, but how it also functions for our family.

Hallway: This is my take on the “Live, Laugh, Love” or the “Play like a Champion Today” signs. Intentionally placed where we see it multiple times a day, the art serves as a nice reminder of good words to live by.

Dining Room: A lot of good food and better conversations happen around the dining table and that makes it a vital piece of our home. The original 1920s milk glass light fixture has inspired many other light fixtures throughout our home. The artwork is by our favorite photographer, Ruth Yaro, and is such a statement piece. I love how the vintage table paired with modern dining chairs reflects the balance of mixed styles throughout our home. We host Sunday dinners every week, and I love that this room can accommodate everyone to sit down together.

Bookcase: The den is such a great bonus room, as it is so versatile. While our kids are still young, it serves as the playroom, and it is the most fun (and loudest) room in the house. Pictured is the bookshelf full of tchotchkes - old, new, and even

How would you describe your style?

My style has changed so much over the years, but I feel like I am finally coming into my own. I like mixing modern and traditional pieces and not getting too set on one particular trend or style. I am also heavily influenced by my house itself. It was built in 1920, so I try to keep things true to its bones with some influences of today. A few years ago, I came across the phrase “modern heirlooms” and it has really resonated with me when decorating our home. living (looking at you, fish tank).

The metal horses were my grandpa’s when he was a kid. The Harry Potter book collection is necessary to any Millennial household. And a well-earned, but admittedly selfbought trophy, from The Hedge - one of my favorite local shops and artists!

Living Room: We spend so much time in our living room, as it is in the center of our home. This room wears many hats. By day it’s the music/ reading/game room and by night it’s home to the best family movie nights and night caps. I intentionally didn’t center the room around a TV - and I love that it created the tone and purpose for the room. Though we do have a TV, disguised as art most of the time. The green sofa was my great-great grandmother’s. My mom and grandma reupholstered it and gifted it to me when we bought this house. I am honored to have it and love that it has such a special place in our home.

When you think of your home, what’s the feeling you hope your family and visitors have?

Nick and I genuinely enjoy hosting and do so often. My hope is that people feel welcome and right at home. I want people to stay later than they were planning on, leave their plates on the table and just enjoy each other’s company. Especially after these past few years, we enjoy the quality time more than ever. I never want my home to become so stuffy that we can’t enjoy living in it. a