Art Collector Spotlight | Kristin Sorensen’s Nature-Inspired Bedroom
When I send off a painting I imagine it’s similar to being a mom and sending her child off to college for the first time. Overwhelmed with thoughts about how they’ll adapt, will their new home be a good fit, and will they be appreciated? Except, unlike a parent who often receives a report back from their newly flown offspring, I don’t often get to see where my work ends up. So, you can imagine my excitement when one of my collectors posted this photo of her incredible nature-inspired bedroom where she decorated with not one, but two, of my art prints! The elegantly eclectic decor left me wanting to know more about what’s influenced her design tastes.
Below Kristin Sorensen talks about serendipitous art buying, “slow” decorating, how her career as a bespoke jewelry maker informs her interior design process, and her essential luxuries.
What do you do?
I design handmade limited edition and one-of-a-kind jewelry. Prior to that, I spent 15+ years in corporate branding and in financial services marketing.
Where do you call home?
I was born and raised in Minneapolis but have lived in various parts of California (San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, and now Lafayette) for 20+ years so I guess I'd say the Bay Area is "home." That being said, I have also lived on Oahu, Hawaii twice, as well as in Taipei, Taiwan, and Phoenix, Arizona. Of all of the places I have lived, though, San Diego felt the most "natural" to me. I don't know that it would still be the case since that was 20 years ago, but it was the one place I remember distinctly feeling truly at home.
What do you love most about this room?
I love that it makes me feel like I'm outside and that it's both cheerful and calming. I live in a neighborhood called "Lafayette Woodlands," which is full of beautiful oak and redwood trees. All of the decorating considerations for this room were based on the fact that we have floor to ceiling windows (which you can't see in the pictures) that showcase many moss-covered oak trees so I feel like I really do live in a treehouse in the woods.
Since I wanted the room to feel casually sophisticated, I chose to use a variety of shades of green in beautiful fabrics like silk and velvet - plus gold and brass and dark pink accents for contrast. And now, your two paintings have been added to the mix! I wasn't necessarily looking to add anything else to the nightstands but when I saw your paintings, there was such a natural synchronicity between their focus on forests/wooded areas (and the tone embedded in your style) with the room overall, that I knew they belonged there.
What would you say your decorating style is?
While my furniture typically falls in the "transitional" arena, all of the rooms are all punctuated with a mash-up of modern, antique and boho influences.
Where or who do you get your decorating inspiration from?
My father was an architect, watercolorist, and admirer of Japanese art among many, many other things, so his influence on my design aesthetic was very strong. I also take heavy inspiration from nature in terms of colors and textures, and swap out seasonal colors as the year progresses. I like changing the vibe of a room to match the mood of the season - plus it gives me the chance to rotate my favorite art objects.
I also have multiple subscriptions to a variety of home / interior design magazines.
What is most important to you in a space?
Above all else, I think public rooms (in a home) should make anyone who enters feel welcome and comfortable. they should also reflect the lives of the owners, and communicate who they are. This tends to happen when pieces are added one at a time or incrementally, and when they are different from one another but play well with the other pieces in the room. You can tell when a room has been put together with careful thought rather than in a hurry. It's time-consuming and often frustrating to operate this way, but every room in my house is like this and so when I look at them/interact with them, they really do feel like "home".
The two art prints decorating Kristin’s bedside tables.
How do you choose artwork for your home?
I'm a fan of buying art when traveling, whenever possible. Some of my favorite pieces were acquired while in Italy, China, Mexico, Napa, Park City, to name a few. They not only provide an interesting mix of art styles to my house, but also generate wonderful memories of the time spent traveling.
Also, in general, I've found that my favorite pieces have typically been found when I wasn't specifically looking for them. That's what happened with the two pieces I purchased from you: I inadvertently found myself on your website from a completely unrelated website, and was excited to see how much I identified with your artistic expression both in theme and form.
What are your favorite places to hunt for home decor?
These days it's pretty much online. Although I'd prefer to shop in person to support local businesses, there are just so many great (smaller/boutique) companies out there with beautiful pieces that I'd never have access to if I hadn't found them online.
How do you think designing and creating jewelry influences your decorating?
I wouldn't say creating jewelry influences my decorating style, but they definitely move along the same path in terms of the design process. It's all about deciding on a color palette and then building and layering in the details, followed by multiple rounds of editing to make sure that all of the components complement each other.
Where do you get your inspiration for your jewelry?
It comes from the beads themselves, from whatever types of beads and findings I happen to have on hand. Like artwork for my house, I buy beads that I think are beautiful, at gem shows and on my travels, knowing that at some point I'll find a final form for them as a piece of jewelry.
A garnet necklace and bracelet made by Kristen are almost an exact match for the red mushrooms dotting the statue in this print.
What are your essential luxuries?
I love beautiful scents, so high-quality hand and body lotions plus perfume are essential luxuries for me. On my last trip to Paris, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the amazing French brand, Buly 1803, at their Saint-Germain-des-Pres location. I was able to choose my own scent (Gardenia) which they then mixed in with the lotion base of my choice. So it's probably my favorite. But I also love Le Labo, Elizabeth W, Thymes, and Rituals, among others.
As for perfume, the seasons again play a part in what I choose. For summer, my go-to is Acqua di Parma's "Arancia di Capri" because its citrus base immediately evokes visions of a Southern Italian vacation! For colder months (although I wear it year-round) is Xinu's "Copala" which again, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to while on a trip to Mexico City. I visited their incredible showroom and fell in love with everything about the brand and the way they make their amazing scents. I honestly didn't want to leave their showroom.
What’s your go-to drink? In the warmer months, I'm partial to a great margarita on the rocks or cold sauvignon blanc. When it gets cooler, though, it's all about Malbec. The only caveat to what I just said is that champagne works any time, anywhere!
What can’t you live without? "Hope" is something that's critical to my well-being. That, and of course my family and my pets, and having fun events to look forward to.