I come from a long line of makers and purveyors of beauty. And stubbornness. My ancestors believed that, despite seeming impossible, things could be achieved. My great, great grandfather, orphaned at age eleven, left England in his teens with just the shirt on his back. But he was driven and artistic, and I like to imagine that he had a passion for architecture. His drive and creativity would ultimately take him to establishing Walker Stone Co.  which was not only used to build the infamous Elephant House but was also used to build Washington’s state capitol. Then there was my maternal great-grandmother - no tie to architecture, in fact her home was muted in mid-century greys save for the glimmer of amethyst and rose within the geodes that she would keep on her side table. But she was glamorous, a lover of color, the perfect hostess. Her tablescapes would pop with shades of blues and greens. Her nails were always meticulously painted a red or pink, kept pristine by the yellow rubber gloves she would wear while preparing meals or washing up in her soft baby blue house coat. This Swedish woman was a petite, blue-eyed, indomitable force that would keep the wheels of our family turning. As I reflect on those that come before me, it is if I can see a yarn entwining our lives. The essence of them is felt in every design decision, every product purchase, every meal I cook for my family: the essence of heritage, of Arven. In a way, the essence of Arven House has been with me since I was a child. It was there as I watched my father inspecting blueprints for new homes, the smell of pine sawdust enveloping his person. It was there when I would pour over wallpaper albums, dreaming out extravagant rooms with my mother. It wrapped its arms around me as I would stand on a kitchen chair watching my grandmother prepare dinner, her silver bracelets clinking as she would mix biscuit dough with her bare hands. The heritage of my family was my friend; inspiring me, evoking ancestral memories, biding its time until I could share Arven with the world. 

In my twenties, I felt compelled to establish Arven House, but it took over a decade to find the right conditions. This year I founded Arven House Design, an interior design studio and retailer focusing on vintage pieces and curated furniture. Arven House aims to help people connect with their own heritage and create personal legacies within their homes. Every room has the potential to be a piece of art, but it must also serve a purpose. Rooms should breathe and grow with your family, should tell a story of the ones who lived before and the ones who live now, should be space to laugh, grieve, grow, inspire. My goal is that every client gets to experience this within their home, regardless of size or budget. Thank you for choosing us to be part of your design journey.