Brandi Katherine Herrera is a color consultant, interior decorator, and multidisciplinary artist whose work in text, image, and sound explores the poetics of color and space. We sat down with her to discuss her work, process, inspirations, and a stunning remodel she undertook by way of her studio, A Lively Manner, of an early 20th century cottage owned by her and her husband.

Brandi in her A Lively Manner studio space. Photos by Tim Saputo.

What led you to become a color consultant and interior decorator? 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love of color, and how that manifests in a physical space. I was born in the late 70s, in a household with one Mexican parent and one Swiss-German parent, and those two cultures (plus the dominant color palettes of the era) really did inform not only my willingness to embrace color in general, but also how I would go on to perceive and interpret the colors that had been meaningful to my childhood.

I went on to study fine art as an undergraduate in college, but ended up veering away from the visual arts as a profession, and worked as a writer for over 24 years instead. But I continued to explore color during graduate school, and throughout my personal art practice over the years.

Fast forward to just a couple of years ago, when I decided it was finally time to switch gears. I became certified as a Color Consultant, and also entered the Interior Design certification program at Parsons The New School, which I’ll complete next summer.

We are loving all of the use of color and pattern in this project. Can you share a little bit about your process as a color consultant?

Thank you! It was such a fun project to get to work on, because I could take a lot of liberties with the color palette. When you’re your own client, which I rarely get to be, it’s so satisfying, because the sky’s the limit (when it comes to colors, patterns, and forms). Anything I could dream up, was something that was possible within this little cottage. And, I definitely wanted it to be filled with color.

For clients, my process begins with extensive research and discovery. Before any of the creative work happens, I first take in a ton of information regarding the physical spaces we’re working on together, my client’s unique color preferences, and the people, places, and things that inspire them—from interior decor, to architecture, art, fashion, music, travel, and more.

Then, I begin to synthesize all of this information and connect all the threads in order to create a color palette that works not only for the specific parameters of the space, but also their personal aesthetic. One of the most satisfying aspects of the process is when you get to show a client the palette for the first time. The goal is always for it to feel completely familiar to them, while also feeling like something they couldn’t have achieved on their own.

Do you have a piece of advice for someone who might be curious about adding color to their home, but doesn’t know where to begin?

Go with your gut! Always.

People are often intimidated by color, which usually leads to overthinking it. But, there really is no such thing as a “bad” or “wrong” color—they’re all beautiful, and each one can work in different ways to evoke certain emotions, and moods.

For those who might feel nervous they’ll overdo it when it comes to color, I would remind them that no one knows better than they do how certain colors will make them feel. A color expert is a close second. But only you know what moves you, what comforts you, and what makes your heart sing. Follow that internal guidance. And above all, be true to yourself and the history and style of your home—not passing trends.

The Gere Easy Chair in Kiwi.

Can you tell us about the history of the cottage and what drew you to it?

It was built in 1918 by a working-class family that lived in Omaha throughout the first half of the 20th century. My husband and I loved how tiny it was (it’s not even 800 sq ft), and the fact that it was in such good condition for its age. Most of all, though, we loved that it would afford us the opportunity to spend more time near my husband’s family, who live close by.

What was the gut renovation process like? And how long did it take?

There was very little we had to fix or repair—almost all of our changes were cosmetic. That said, the former owners had stripped away a lot of the cottage’s original charm and had ‘updated’ it with builder-grade finishes and fixtures. Everything was gray and white and more gray, and it lacked the sort of liveliness we envisioned might be possible.

Even so, the process took a full year from start to finish. There wasn’t a single surface in the cottage that went untouched: floors, plaster and lath, lighting, cabinetry, countertops, plumbing, and windows/doors were refinished, repaired, repainted, wallpapered, rewired, replaced, rerouted, updated, and widened.

Once all of the renovations were finally complete, the fun really began. We got to finally pull together all of the special pieces (new + vintage + handmade) we had sourced over the course of the year, and decorate both the interior + exterior living spaces to bring the full vision to life.

Did you find any surprises (good or bad) when you were gutting the home?

We had so hoped our contractor might find a priceless treasure from the past hidden behind the plaster and lath in one of the rooms! Alas, nothing special was found, aside from some interesting old layers of linoleum (I think there were 4-5 in all) that had been installed over the years on top of the home’s 100+ year-old hardwoods in the kitchen. We ended up removing all of that, and refinishing + restoring the floors to their original glory. But it was fun to get to see the history of the home’s inhabitants by way of their flooring choices across the decades.

Were there any parts of the transformation that turned out better than you envisioned?

We were working with an extremely modest budget, so we really had to get creative when it came to the design. Sourcing vintage and secondhand items, rather than new ones, was one way we saved a lot of money (I spent a lot of time on eBay, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace!) But, the benefit was two-fold: it also added the all-important elements of patina, history, and charm to the home that wouldn’t have been possible with newer pieces alone. Not to mention, it’s so much better for the environment.

I’m also so happy with how the various wallpaper patterns in the bedroom, dining room, and kitchen came together in the end. My mother in law, who’s truly a wallpaper whiz, installed it for us and we couldn’t be happier (and more thankful) about it.

I think my favorite space of all is the bathroom. It’s so tiny (just 6 ft x 6 ft) and was a real challenge in terms of space planning. When we bought the cottage, the toilet was set at an angle in one of the corners! Hilarious. So obviously, we had to fix that. And it definitely took some trial and error, but I think the encaustic tile also turned out really well. All in all, that little space is so bright and cheerful, and every time I walk in there, I can’t help but smile.

The decor and artwork are so playful. What were some of your favorite items to source? 

My husband says I have a “chair problem,” and I’m not denying that haha. There were two pieces I sourced for the cottage before any others, and they were both chairs: the Gere Kavanaugh-designed swivel chair in an incredible kiwi green, and the Michael Thonet-designed bentwood dining chairs in a gorgeous persimmon red.

Those two colors—as well as the chairs’ curvy forms and heritage designs—really set the stage for everything: from the double-complementary color palette, to the dominant shapes, patterns, and themes. Classic, yet contemporary. Playful, but not overpowering. In other words: absolutely perfect.

Do you have any advice for someone who’s about to tackle
a renovation? 

Patience, patience, patience. What you think might take five months, will likely take twice as long (if not longer). Try to use that to your advantage, and take the time necessary while the renovation is underway to select the most special pieces you can find that thrill and delight you every time you step foot into your home.

Most importantly, don’t settle for something bland or basic just because you think it’s the most practical thing to do, or because you aren’t sure you’ll still love it in five years. Renovate for your life in the present—not for a future version of yourself, or a home buyer ten years down the road. Decorate for the way you live, and the things you’ve always loved—not someone you’ve never met. If you choose well-made, timeless pieces your home will transcend trends. And part of the fun is allowing a design to evolve over time, anyway. What you plan for today, will almost certainly shift and change in subtle ways over time. And that’s the beauty of it.

See Brandi's work at A Lively Manner and on Instagram @alivelymanner.

Featured Product(s): The Gere Easy Chair