When it comes to having a love of design, some say it just runs in the blood. And that’s certainly the case when it comes to Elizabeth Novoa and Alexa Mason, the mother and daughter behind the popular and majorly inspiring Instagram account and blog, Alexa Elizabeth Style. Together, they’ve styled their spaces to absolute perfection and offer up tons of styling tips, DIY ideas, and so much more.
We’re so excited to sit down with the two and chat all things design, why they love working together, take a peek inside their respective houses, and see all the gorgeous ways they’ve styled our rugs. Keep reading!
Tell us about your business and what you do!
Alexa: We are interior stylists/photographers, digital content creators, and influencers! We love inspiring our followers to make their homes their own by sharing our best design tips, DIYs, how-tos, and resources for affordable and beautiful home decor. A big part of this is getting to partner with brands we love and creating inspiring content for them and our followers.
What made you want to work together as mother and daughter?
Elizabeth: We’ve both always had a passion for beautiful interiors and love getting creative with how we style our own homes. We are super close and have a very similar style, but our strengths and weaknesses are totally different! We compliment each other well and we knew we would make a good team because of that.
What do you love about working together?
Elizabeth: Working together is so much fun! I love that we approach things so differently, but always have the same vision. Those differences challenge both of us to be better. We have such a similar style and taste in design and even clothing. That similarity makes working together so much easier since we can make design decisions without needing to discuss them most of the time. For example, while sorting through 300 nearly identical photos to select the best one for a company, we both chose the same photo. I couldn’t ask for a better business partner than my daughter!
How would you describe your combined aesthetic? And how do each of your styles differ?
Elizabeth: We’d describe our combined aesthetic as modern-transitional. We love neutrals and natural elements! Our styles do differ a tiny bit—Alexa tends to add a little more color to her home while I like to keep my color palette very neutral.
How did you both come to love design and interiors?
Elizabeth: Growing up, I lived in an affluent area and I saw a lot of beautiful places. When I bought my first home, I didn’t have the means to buy nice things or even new things, so I took what I had or what I could afford and found creative ways to elevate it. This really fueled creativity and a love for decorating my home!
Alexa: I always saw my mom put so much thought and care into our home and how she styled it. Whenever my friends would come over, they would call it the “Pinterest house” and comment on how welcoming it felt. I always felt so inspired by her and quickly came to appreciate beautiful design and how it could make a space feel early in life.
What are your favorite rooms in your homes?
Elizabeth: My favorite room in my home is my living room. I love the big windows and the lighting is beautiful all day. It feels so tranquil and the large overstuffed sofas make it such a comfortable place to relax.
Alexa: My favorite room is my bedroom. It has taken me a few years to really get the design in that space right, but now it feels like the most tranquil space to relax in after a long day. And the fact that I worked so hard on it makes it even more satisfying to enjoy!
What are your favorite rugs from Rugs USA?
Alexa: My favorite is the Shaggy Crosshatch rug in my living room! I love it because the shaggy texture gives such a cozy vibe to the room, the soft beige tones are perfect for my color palette, and the crosshatch pattern is subtle while still adding interest to the space.
Elizabeth: My favorite is the Fading Floral Fringe rug in ivory. I love that the colors are so neutral and muted. The soft pattern and neutral base would blend with any color palette!
What tips do you have for picking out the perfect rug? Any clever tricks?
Elizabeth: When buying rugs online, look at close-up photos for color. These are usually super true to life and are so helpful when you’re trying to decide whether or not a rug is right for your space. I also love looking at the Rugs USA Instagram to see how the rugs look in different homes!
Alexa: Make sure that you buy the right size rug for your space! A rug that’s too small can make the room appear smaller than it really is. For living rooms, make sure that at least the front legs of any sofas or chairs are on the rug. In dining rooms, you’ll want to make sure that all your chairs remain on the rug when they’re pulled out. And in a bedroom, an 8’ x 10’ is ideal under a queen bed and a 9’ x 12’ is ideal under a king (if your space can accommodate it).
And what’s your go-to non-rug decorating tip?
Elizabeth: One of my decorating tips is that choosing a few large decor pieces makes more of a statement than a collection of smaller items. Smaller items can appear messy and without purpose. One great larger piece can convey style well!
Alexa: One of our go-to design moves is adding greenery and organic elements to every room. It’s amazing how the addition of a plant or something with natural texture can bring life and warmth to a space.
Where do you find inspiration?
Alexa: We find inspiration everywhere. We love reading Architectural Digest, browsing Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel, and CB2, checking out old architecture, and exploring nature. We’re also constantly inspired by other creators on Instagram!
