Meet Juliette Grantham, Mitzi x Eny Lee Parker Design Challenge Winner

Our latest design challenge with Mitzi to celebrate their new collection with designer Eny Lee Parker was the perfect late-summer creative pick-me-up. The prompt was to design a contemporary and organic space with at least two pieces from the collection, and we couldn't love the submissions more. Winning Spoak member Juliette Grantham created a space that feels equal parts serene and playful, and we were lucky to catch up with her and learn more about her design process, what she loves right now, and how she finds inspiration.

Describe yourself in 3 emojis.

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Briefly tell us about your design journey.

Fashion has been one of my main creative outlets since I was a teenager. For me, it always comes back to this innate, unshakable desire to discover my “true” style/self, which I now accept as the pipe dream of an ever-changing human, but nevertheless, I find it enjoyable to transform myself and my environment into something that, somehow, feels a little closer to my essence. For example, growing up, I remember always being so dissatisfied with my bedroom because it felt nothing like me; it was traditional, with ornately carved dark cherry wood furniture, pastel florals, a huge portrait of a ballerina (To my mother’s dismay, I insisted on quitting ballet at age 7.), dressed in pink and floating over a piano that I never learned to play. Decorating my first apartment out of college was a long-awaited reprisal; it was bohemian-chic to the max with a curved velvet sofa, Moroccan poufs, a faux cowhide rug, tassels, fringe, agate, marble, candles, and sequins galore. It felt wild, and my inner child was so happy and so at home. I've begun to dip into that excitement again as I design my first home, which has only affirmed my conviction that I need more of this soul-fulfilling magic in my life, and fortunately, I was recently able to transition my day job as a software engineer into a part-time role in order to devote more time to cultivating my creativity and to start shifting into a more design-centric career.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Anywhere! Usually I come across some piece of decor or art or pattern or color combination or material that hits a chord in me or surprises me or is just flat-out dripping with vibes, and I pursue it and try to tap into all of the feelings and narratives that it evokes, letting the story play out fully, with any number of twists and turns, until I’m totally lost and in love.

Tell us about a designer or artist you love. What about them and their work are you drawn to?

My biggest interior design inspiration right now is Lauren Piscione of The LP Creative. I love how she embraces the weird and unexpected in a way that feels so organic and rooted in the natural world. I’ve also been really inspired lately by Frances Merrill of Reath Design. Her ingenious, bold mixes of patterns and palettes inspire me to push myself past conventional pairings and reimagine what is possible. Both designers also have a laid-back style that I am very drawn to.

What do you do on your time off to recharge creatively?

Simply being outdoors in a natural setting helps me to regain perspective and inspiration. Yoga is also a huge part of my life, and I always turn to it when I feel drained. It unfailingly brings me back to myself and allows me to let go of the old and open up to the new.

What's the best thing you've consumed recently?

Design: the home section on ssense, Book: Devotions by Mary Oliver, Tea: Earl Grey’s Lady Violet by TeaGschwendner, Coffee: The Bourbon Street Blend from Mr. Bill’s Beans