My Houzz: Family Home Stays True to Style

When stylist Janette Crawford became a new mother, she wanted to be sure that the arrival of her daughter didn’t mean the departure of good design in her home. To stay true to her design sensibilities, she took care with every purchase and style decision.

Two years later she and daughter, Vivian Sunshine, are enjoying a warm and welcoming home with a strong, unified sense of design. And Crawford’s passion for good kid-friendly design that stays true to parents’ personal aesthetics has led her to start Lovemade with fellow Houzzer Jeanne Chan and has kick-started her new career at interior design company Homepolish.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Janette Crawford and her daughter, Vivian Sunshine (age 2)
Location: Alamo Square neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 1,600 square feet (149 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

Step one in approaching your home’s design, Crawford says, is to start with an aesthetic filter for your overall style.

“Identify a key inspiration, whether it be a color story, vintage or modern, to create a theme,” Crawford says. “Then make it a filter for everything you buy.”

Chair: thrifted; toys: Areaware, Bannor Toys and Janod; rug: eBay


As a second step when buying new things for the home, Crawford asks herself, “Would I put this in my living room?” By making sure to purchase choices that fit her style, they end up being colorful and fun but not overly saccharine and cutesy.

Sofa: Craigslist; African mud cloth: eBay; sectional: Ikea; coffee table: custom made by a friend; shelving: Restoration Hardware; art near window: Alyson Fox


Crawford likes to stick with neutral colors for toys and baby gear with a few accent colors thrown in. Though some toys are more expensive, they are also chic and act as decor, not just toys.

Hidden storage is key. She advocates putting lots of baskets throughout a room to avoid clutter.

Antlers: Alameda Point Antiques Faire; bench: Thrift Town


What’s made a difference in her approach to styling has been what she chooses for practicality. She doesn’t “undecorate” as much as substitute unbreakable things so the home remains comfortable for both adults and children.

Pillows: Craigslist and eBay


When Crawford found this apartment after a move from the Midwest, she had to furnish it from scratch. She got a head start on the process when her landlord lent her this dining room table. Crawford gravitates toward thrift and vintage stores for furniture because she considers it more environmentally responsible and affordable and unique.

Chairs: Overstock; rug: West Elm


“To buy used, it may take more time, but it’s worth it because each piece has so much more character and texture that’s special,” Crawford says. “There’s also great freedom in the idea of being able to sell everything, go somewhere else and buy everything on Craigslist and not be too tied down by material things.”

Pillows: eBay; bowl: Lydali; terra-cotta pot: Community Thrift; basket: Thrift Town; arrow art: Vogtsmith; bench: Another Time


Crawford keeps her bedroom streamlined with minimalist art and neutral bed furnishings.

Bed frame and sheets: West Elm; art: prints from a photographer’s portfolio and White Elephant Sale


Sometimes the little things make the biggest difference. Crawford purchased the geometric mobile, then built the nursery around it.

Crib: Ikea; dresser: Craigslist; Themis Mobile: Artecnica


Crawford loves mixing textiles with global influences, which is evident in her daughter’s room. The pillow on the rocking chair is a traditional batik, which has color and personality that Crawford and her daughter love.

Rocking chair: Stuff; side table: West Elm


A tepee, custom built by Crawford’s parents, is one of her daughter’s favorite bedroom features. A colorful assortment of prints and art adorns the walls.

Love seat: vintage; art: Alyson Fox, Lisa Congdon, Society6, vintage


Crawford loves keeping fresh plants and greenery scattered throughout her home. With a master gardener for a grandpa and a gardening enthusiast for a mother, she came by her love for plants naturally. The plants are a homage to her family that also add life and texture to the space.


“I love textiles and combining cultural influences. Visual texture is fascinating, and layering them adds depth and richness to any room,” says Crawford, shown here with her daughter.

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