Welcome to the next installment of our Floor Tours series, where we step inside the spaces of some of our favorite design-world friends to chat all things rugs and decor and learn how they’ve turned their house into a home.
This week, we’re so excited to bring you into the Vancouver home of Joel McCooey from @designbecomeshim. We simply love following Joel, whose style is a little bit boho, a little bit traditional, and a little bit modern—all while managing to be both elevated and approachable at the same time! Joel and his husband recently welcomed a new baby girl into their family, making home an even more special place to be right now. So without further ado, we’ll let Joel give you the full tour and take you inside his stunning, special space!
Tell us about your style! How would you describe the look of your home?
My style is very classic, timeless, and transitional. I like to have a mix of contemporary and traditional pieces. I don’t like clutter in the home, so I like to only keep pieces that have meaning and hold value to me.
What made you choose to move into this home? What were you looking for?
When we were looking for our home, we needed something that we could grow into. The layout had to be functional with as much light as possible. We also HAD to have a powder room on the main floor.
What has the process been like designing your space, and making your house feel like a home?
It’s actually been quite a fun process. When we first moved in, our style was very boho/modern. As time went on, we started to move away from that into this more traditional look. I’m so happy where we are at now with our design choices. It truly feels like a home.
What is your most treasured item in your home?
Am I allowed to say my daughter? Haha. The things I treasure the most are pieces that have been handed down from older generations. I got this beautiful teapot from my grandmother that I will cherish forever.
What are your favorite things to do at home? Is there a particular space you like to gather and spend time in with your family?
Some of my favorite things to do at home would be baking, or just spending time with family. When covid happened, I really got into baking and it has become such a passion of mine. There’s something so soothing and relaxing about it.
Congratulations on adopting your baby! How has having a little one in the house impacted how you’re thinking about design?
Thank you so much! We are truly blessed to have her in our family. At the moment, it hasn’t impacted us too much as she can’t crawl or walk yet. We have, however, installed baby gates which aren’t always the most beautiful thing to look at. We have also replaced a shelf and secured it to the wall for when she gets to be the crawling/walking age.
We have to ask about your rugs! What rugs do you have from Rugs USA, and what made them the perfect fit for your space?
Yes! At the moment these are my most favorite/current rugs in our home: the Veronica Wool Braided rug in off white, Rosette Medallion Fringed rug in beige, Garnished Medallion rug in beige, Moroccan Diamond Wool rug, and the Jute Braided rug in off white.
What made them the perfect fit for each space was definitely the quality and design style. For our nursery for example, we wanted something cozy and warm, and the Veronica Wool Braided rug was so perfect for that.
Let’s talk projects! What DIYs or renovations have you done in your home? What’s next on your to-do list?
Oh yes, we have a lot of these. We’ve done a couple Roman clay DIYs in our guest and primary bedrooms. Those turned out SO well, and I couldn’t be happier with them. We completely redid our entryway by ripping off wallpaper and putting up shiplap. We recently purchased a shelf from Ikea for $50 and completely transformed it. That will be revealed soon!
Next on our to-do list is to take a break! Haha. We do have plans to create a desk area in our living room, but that is still a work in progress!
Do you have any design tips you’ve discovered while decorating that you’re willing to spill?
One of the biggest tips I have to give is to create mood boards. It gives you a way better idea of what the room is going to look like, instead of going out and buying random pieces here and there. When I decorate a room, I usually like to start with the rug first as it will be what grounds the space. One other piece of advice is to take your time. Home wasn’t built in a day! Invest in pieces that will last a long time!
Where do you love looking for inspiration?
I love looking to other interior designers and decorators on Instagram for inspiration. There are some insanely talented people out there. If I ever see anything that I love, I’m always saving it into categories for future use. Of course I’m always finding inspiration in magazines as well. We also watch a lot of HGTV around here too!
What do you love most about your home?
I think what I love most about our home is that it’s ours. We spent a lot of time creating each space, and it has felt so good watching it all come together. It has become a cozy and comforting haven for our family.
