FAMILY BY DESIGN

Fashion and interior designer ERIN FETHERSTON has an unmatched skill for curating beauty wherever she goes, in whatever she does. Now the LAbased mom of two gives Mini the inside scoop on putting together practical family spaces that satisfy the needs for comfort, organization, and style.

BY DESIGN

9M I N I 4 s u m m e r ‘21

photography by

IVY REYNOLDS

MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home! How would you describe the feel, the design?

ERIN FETHERSTON | Our home is a 1920’s tudor that was originally designed by the architect Paul Williams. We love the historic charm of the home and updated it to be a bright and airy space for our family.

MINI | Where do you spend the most time in your home?

ERIN FETHERSTON | We spend a lot of time in the kitchen where our children have an integrated play space. This flows to the outdoors, so when the weather is nice, there is a good indoor-outdoor experience.

MINI | Now let’s talk kids rooms! What was your inspiration when creating spaces for your Minis?

ERIN FETHERSTON | My older son thrives in open space and craves movement, so we recently got him a bunk bed which he loves to jump off of and the rest of his room has a minimalist Scandi vibe with a lot of open space so he can engage in active play. My two-year-old has a room that reflects his sunshine-y personality with pops of bright colors against a neutral palette and well-defined spaces for play. He loves imaginative play with his stuffed animals, toy cars, and really enjoys snuggling for storytime.

MINI | You have a beautiful design aesthetic! How would you describe your interior design style?

ERIN FETHERSTON | My style is earthy-modern. I strive to create warm, inviting spaces that feel light and airy with an open flow. I lean towards a minimalist, uncluttered aesthetic, but also try to integrate charm and whim into a space.

MINI | Since we’re all spending more time at home now, can you tell us

what you think are some must-have elements of making a house a cozy home?

ERIN FETHERSTON | Strategic organization is key! Since so many more of life’s functions are being carried out in the home (work, school) having defined spaces for key activities is very helpful. This year, I discovered some amazing furniture designs with integrated storage that really made our home more flexible.

MINI | What is your approach to designing spaces for families?

ERIN FETHERSTON | When children are in the picture, I take a multi-plane view of a space to consider the needs of each child. For example, I have a two-year-old and a five-year-old. Sometimes they play together, and sometimes they need their personal space. My five-yearold loves to do art, so I created an art station for him with a counter height table and stool so his work will be out of the reach of his little brother. The two-year-old likes to play on the floor so I have a lightweight coffee table in our play area that he can push aside himself when his LEGO train needs to be 10’ long. Children experience a room at their eye level, so be strategic about what you want in and out of their reach.

MINI | Is there a common misconception you notice when it comes to family-friendly design?

ERIN FETHERSTON | I wish people would take a

more integrative view of creating a family space. Often I see kids spaces allocated to a corner and adult spaces are staged like a showroom, creating a situation where the whole family cannot be comfortable being together at the same time. It’s important to make kids spaces inviting and comfortable for adults, and adult spaces should offer something to children and not be too precious.

MINI | What are your favorite ways to keep spaces beautiful yet practical for families?

ERIN FETHERSTON | Storage is key! Keep kids toys in easy-to-access beautiful baskets or bins, and you can control the visual clutter that is often presented by a play space. And performance fabrics! I love using durable fabrics and materials so everyone can feel relaxed at home.

MINI | Let’s talk motherhood! What has surprised you most about motherhood?

ERIN FETHERSTON | It’s truly a 24/7 job and you are really never off-duty.

MINI | Would you say your transition was easier or harder going from zero to one kids or one to two?

ERIN FETHERSTON | Going from zero to one was a pretty major shock to the system. I had to make some radical changes to accommodate my new life as a mom. By the time I had my second, I was already living a child-centric life, so I found it much easier.

MINI | We all experience mom guilt from time to time. When do you find you experience this and how do you get past it?

ERIN FETHERSTON | I have guilt around not being a good arts and crafts mom. I think because I’m a designer, I have a hard time distilling art projects down to their age level, so I feel like I am failing them in a category where you would think I would excel. I just enrolled them in some art classes so I don’t feel so bad.

MINI | We love to ask— What do you think about the concept of ‘having it all?’

ERIN FETHERSTON | I think having it all at the exact same time is pretty tough! I think it’s more important to be present in whatever moment you are living in and enjoy it. As they say with children, “the days are long but the years are short”, so appreciate the experience you are having right now.

MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry or fear?

ERIN FETHERSTON | The world seems so unstable at the moment. Sometimes I feel unsure of how to prepare my children for a world I may not recognize by the time they are adults.

MINI | Let’s end on a fun note! If you could give your kids one piece of advice, what would it be?

ERIN FETHERSTON | Think for yourself!

ON MY NIGHTSTAND “Himalayan Salt Lamp.” MOM MUST HAVES

FAVE KIDS BOOK “The Gruffalo.”

KIDS MOVIE “Mary Poppins.”

NOW WATCHING “Initiation.”

COFFEE ORDER “Sencha green tea.”

ALWAYS IN MY FRIDGE “Green Juice from the Beverly Hills Juice Club.”

IDEAL DATE NIGHT “Lunch at the Bel Air Hotel (I’m too tired at night).”