Pillow Talk

Author:

Founder of pillow and decor brand Elsie Home, takes us inside her Manhattan Beach home

Elsie Home founder Lauren Meichtry placing her own pillows atop sofas from McGee & Co.
Photos by Public 311 Design.

“I am a mother of two, a wife, dog mom and lover of chocolate, tacos and coffee.  I’ve gone from a job in finance, to legal marketing, then a fun few years with Lululemon Athletica, and most recently, a stay at home mom for five years,” says Lauren Meichtry—founder of the pillow and decor brand Elsie Home—on her diverse background that led her to find her passion in design. Inspired by her grandmother’s love of sewing, Meichtry launched Elsie Home to create beautiful, high quality pillows that are easy to purchase and packed with style. “I have always had a creative side and design has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember,” she notes. “I see design as a way to bring a space to its fullest potential, while considering greatly the people living in it.”

Pendants from Old Brick Lighting and sconces from Rejuvenation shed light on the bright kitchen that is grounded by a dark island. Photos by Public 311 Design.

When it came to designing her own home for her husband, two kids and two dogs, she wanted to create a light-filled space that set the perfect stage for her cozy creations.

A large pendant from Rejuvenation hangs in the breakfast nook.
Photos by Public 311 Design.

“Our home was originally designed with Mediterranean influence, a style which was a real departure for me,” she says. “The plan was to remove a lot of weight and darkness in the home and modernize the finishes throughout while also being cognizant not to strip away its character.”

Each space in the home holds a collection of Elsie Home pillows.
Photos by Much 311 Design.

With a focus on refining the original home rather than completely overhauling, they maintained the 3,000 square foot floor plan and existing structures. “The layout of the kitchen was one challenge we wanted to tackle,” says Meichtry. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t within our budget to remove and reconfigure the island so I chose to paint it a dark charcoal to contrast the white cabinets and take some of the focus away from the strange layout.”

Photos by 311 Design
Photos by Gray Malin hang over a bed by Kate Lester Home.
Photos by Public 311 Design.

“I prefer functional aesthetics, choosing timeless over trendy,” she says on her design approach that guided her to curate a beautiful, bright home that serves as a showroom for her pillows as well as a durable space for her young, active family.