When Kayla Gunn was designing her family's newest home in Mississippi, she followed the interior motto “less is more.” The result is a thoroughly minimalist cottage space that combines Scandinavian and bohemian elements in a cozy living area, chic kitchen, relaxing master bedroom and tranquil nursery for our little son Beck. . Keep scrolling to see Kayla's home decor, how her design style has changed since becoming a mom, tips for styling her kitchen items with open shelving, and a farmhouse vibe to her new Southern home. Learn how Joanna guided her Gaines to Add.
Name: Kayla Gunn
Location: Mississippi
Square meter feet: 1,475
Years of residence: 1 and a half years
Rent or Own: Own
Child: Beck, 9 months
Kayla Gunn's Minimalist Cottage Home Tour
You bought a house that was under construction when your husband got a new job in a new city. What was it like designing a home from 3 hours away?
I spent a lot of time on Pinterest drawing inspiration and creating mood boards of how I wanted my home to look. It was tough! I was only able to see the house in person a few times before moving. I chose almost every aspect of the house myself except for the floor plan, and it showed me how much work goes into designing a space. Not everything went well from the beginning, so we made a lot of effort on our own. I was pregnant when I moved, which made me want to get it over with quickly.
How would you describe your design style?
“Less is more.” I always prefer the simplest design possible so that the room doesn't look too modern or too cold. I try to add the bare minimum of “stuff” to make a room feel cozy and lived-in, but without it looking cluttered or difficult to clean.
Now that you've lived in your home for over a year, is there anything you wish you had done differently when you were first designing it?
Most of the things I was dissatisfied with have already been changed. My home environment is very important to me, so I get restless when I feel like something is left undone. We repainted the kitchen cabinets, added porch railings, landscaped the front yard, and redecorated most of the rooms several times. I'm very happy with everything now!
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What is your favorite room in the house and why?
Probably our living room! This is where we spend most of our time as a family, and where we sometimes relax by watching a show or drinking coffee while Beck naps. I love that the living space has large windows so there is natural light all day long. This room was definitely the one that took me the longest to find, but I'm very happy with it now.
I love the family photos on the shelf above the couch. Where do you get your design inspiration from?
That's another way my style has changed since becoming a mother. Add a little sentimental touch, like a family photo.
I appreciate so many different designs. I love the simplicity of Scandinavian design and the white and wood tones. I also love the pops of color and pattern in bohemian designs. It never hurts to add a little Joanna Gaines-style modern farmhouse vibe. Most of my inspiration comes from the images I scroll through on Instagram and Pinterest. I feel like all of that blends into my style.
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Where would you recommend buying minimalistic cottage interiors?
I love Target. I think they do a great job of providing decor that fits so many different styles at an affordable price. H&M, Urban He also loves Outfitters and Home Goods.
Leaving white walls throughout the house gives it a bright and open feel. How do you bring warmth and coziness into this minimalist cottage space?
It took me a while to figure that out, especially since my style is very minimal. I think adding a lot of texture to a space can bring warmth to the space. I love experimenting with different textures in my rooms: velvet, leather, faux fur, linen.
How about living with an open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room? Do you have any advice on styling and working with this floor plan?
Absolutely love it! I think the most important thing is to maintain some consistency throughout the design. I've found that the best way to do this is to keep all the large pieces neutral and add hints of color and texture with smaller pieces that are easily interchangeable.
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Do you have any tips for styling open shelves in your kitchen?
I'm all about functionality, so 90% of what's on my shelves is something I use every day. You can't go wrong with a nice set of tableware that you love. I also like to display my favorite mugs and wine glasses. Add some plants and you're done. I like to keep open shelves fairly simple so they don't feel cluttered.
Every home has its own quirks and challenges. What happened in your case?
Honestly, the open floor plan started out as one of my favorite things about this home. Open floor plans are liberating, but if you have a small space, they can also feel very restrictive in terms of furniture layout. We downsized a bit when we moved, so functionality and storage space are very important in this house.
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Wayfair | Kelly Clarkson Home
Has your design style changed a bit since your son Beck was born?
absolutely. The biggest change is adding more color to the house. While still not “colorful” by most people's standards, it was a big step for this neutral design lover. I definitely had to loosen up a little and find creative ways to store all my baby items. I keep baskets of toys in most rooms so they're easy to access when I need them and easy to clean up when I'm done with them.
Beck's nursery looks very peaceful. How do you want him to feel when he's in it?
It really has the most peaceful atmosphere. I always want him to feel relaxed, safe, and at ease in any room of the house. With that in mind, I kept his nursery quiet and simple.
How do you expect Beck's room to change as he grows? Are there transitional items that he can continue to use as he gets older?
I expect that to change as he gets older and develops his own tastes and preferences. Hopefully, we can create a space for him to love and speak out while still maintaining good taste. His crib can be converted into a toddler bed and I love his changing table. This is actually an IKEA dresser that I painted and added leather handles to. I plan on using it for as long as possible!
What do you like most about being a stay-at-home mom? What is the most difficult part? How do you overcome it?
There are so many things I love! Being able to spend my days with my son and watch him grow and change is obviously the best thing. Another big benefit is that I can run errands and get most of the housework done during the day, so when my husband is home in the evenings and weekends, we can focus on each other and Beck. Or if you just need a day to rest and focus on yourself, you can do that too.
The hardest part in the beginning was the lack of social skills. Before I started working from home, I was a high school science teacher, so I was used to interacting with a lot of people during the day. I'm an introvert, so I didn't think having more alone time would be a problem for me at all. But it turns out that even introverts need social time. It changed me in a good way and inspired me to be more social and intentionally spend time with people. Luckily, I have a wonderful friend who is also a stay-at-home mom. She lives around the corner so we spend a lot of time with her sons. We have a great community here.
Source: @laurenwoodphoto
Source: @laurenwoodphoto
Source: @laurenwoodphoto
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What is your favorite activity to do as a family?
We take walks around the neighborhood every night and it's a great way for Beck to relax with us before bed. We also love sitting on the porch swing and are currently working on building a fire pit area in our backyard. We really love being outside together!
What are you most confident about being a mother? What are you still nervous about?
I feel like becoming a mother has made me more confident in many ways! I love Beck beyond measure, so knowing that every decision about his care is made out of love gives me confidence. When so many people are so quick to share what they think is the best way to parent, it can be hard to avoid anxiety creeping in. But I know that every child is different, every family is different, and there are many ways to parent that lead to happy, healthy children. Just loving your child is the most important thing you can do for them.
What has been your favorite moment as a mother so far?
Just knowing that I am his place of comfort and security feels great. One of my favorite things about him is going to his room in the morning or when he wakes up from a nap. Seeing his face light up when he sees me makes me go crazy!
Kayla Gunn is an Everymom…
Do you have a favorite self-care activity?
Good face mask and bubble bath.
Order coffee?
Iced latte with almond milk.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in your city?
Kermit Outlaw Kitchen – The best burgers!
What's your ideal way to spend your Saturday?
Slow mornings, spending time outside, and cooking meals with my husband.
What Instagram do you want to follow?
@pinchofyum
What beauty items do you recommend to everyone?
Drunk Elephant skin care.
I wish I knew how…
knit!
This article was originally published earlier and has been updated for timeliness.
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