Andrea Roydhouse
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Instagram: @zenbuddhamumma
What Made Me Begin
When I spontaneously dismantled our old kitchen with my husband’s drill while he was at work, it triggered a cataclysmic chain of events. This lead to me creating an Instagram account to essentially document the transformation of our little ’70s brick home. I wanted to show people how to style their home on a budget with thrifted items. I wanted to encourage others to think about reusing, recycling and repurposing things where they can and using thrifted items in their home.
The 3 R's: Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse
I’m a firm believer in recycling, repurposing and reusing. I find most of my pieces by thrifting or sourcing them on secondhand trading sites. I’ve been known to pick up discarded pieces of furniture off the side of the road. If it looks interesting, I’ll find a way to use it. I also support local businesses, and if I buy new items, I try to buy from ethical brands.
Instrumental Piece of Advice
My parents always said to me, “Do you need it, or do you want it?” I often think about this when I have the urge to buy something. We live in a world of excess, and I see this firsthand when I thrift. The mountains of stuff that people throw away never cease to amaze me. Buying consciously and thinking about what you really need as opposed to what you want can make all the difference between living from paycheck to paycheck or having financial security.
Tips for Styling a Kitchen
My kitchen is one of my favorite rooms in our house. It’s the heart of the home, and when the heart of the home beats efficiently, well, everything just works better. Kitchens need to be highly functional spaces. When styling a kitchen, declutter. Only display the things you really love. Display objects you love in uneven numbers. Visually, this looks better. Lastly, fill your kitchen with plants. They purify the air and they look beautiful. You can never have too many plants in your kitchen or your diet.
5 Party Essentials
1. A solid playlist. A party isn’t a party without good music. Being married to a musician, I learned this rule pretty quickly
2. An epic platter. Everyone loves a mouthwatering platter.
3. Intimate lighting. Nobody wants to party under fluorescent lights. String up lanterns or party lights, burn candles, light a fire, but whatever you do, turn your fluorescent lights off.
4. Invite people who like to party. That’s always a good idea, right? Nobody likes a killjoy at your soiree.
5. Good bubbly. Everyone loves a delicious glass of good bubbly.
Hashtags I Love
#mybohotribe #modernbohemian #originmagazine (of course)
Creating a Sensory Haven
I create a space that nurtures both myself and my family by creating a sensory haven. This is achieved by using lush indoor plants, burning fragrant candles, cooking exotic foods, layering furnishings with colorful textiles, playing music and displaying visually stimulating objects.
Motto I Live By
Live your life in layers. Layers of color, pattern, flavor and friendships. Layers of life experiences.