Vibrant Victorian

Stepping into the Papier Family’s vibrant Victorian home is akin to stepping into the quirky set of a Wes Anderson film. See how artist and interior designer, Natalie Papier, brings color to her ever-changing home with a historic past.

Natalie knows a thing or two about combining well-loved, vintage decor with new, modern touches. In fact, it’s her specialty. As a self-taught interior designer, with a flair for flea market finds, Natalie believes that, when it comes to home decor, you should complement new items with pieces you already own and love. This allows for a look that is 100% original and uniquely personal. This design philosophy comes shining through in every room of her family’s house in the Victorian Pleasant Historic neighborhood of Oak Park, Illinois.

Upon moving into the house, Natalie knew she wanted to keep the charm of the Victorian style, but mix it up with color, artwork and quirky touches to reflect the entire family’s interests. The result is eclectic-style at its best – a perfect balance of bright colors, neutrals, textures, wallpapers, and accents that all tie back to the Papier’s love of music and the arts. By keeping an open mind, Natalie was free to say “why not,” with her own space. There may be no better example of this than the living room’s trapeze. The ceiling hooks were there from the previous owner, so why not add a trapeze?

“Every week I change something in my home. I absolutely love the process of the hunt, the discovery, the styling…it’s just fun!” – Natalie

Likewise, Natalie was able to see the home’s attic as something not many people would picture – an open-space family room, complete with games, movies, and a kitchenette stocked with snacks. As open floor plans are something lacking in traditional Victorian architecture, the attic provided the perfect space for this close-knit crew’s at-home getaway.

“Our home is a place where we can be exactly who we are. And it reflects us. It has so much history and I love that we are adding our own story to it.” – Natalie

“I always had an art background; I loved to paint, draw and create,” Natalie explains, “but when we bought this house it became my new art project. I had so many friends complimenting my style, I decided to finally put myself out there and do it as a job, not just a hobby.” Thanks to her work on her new home “canvas,” Home Ec was born – Natalie’s own interior design firm with business partner Kim Daunis.