Most people know actress Blake Lively for starring in some of the most beloved films and TV shows, such as Gossip Girl and The Age of Adaline. But what most don’t know is that she is an interior design genius and lover. In 2014, the actress launched her own website, Preserve, as a space intended to connect users with artisans, having her first experience with decor. The following year she decided to shut down the website, but her design side hustle stayed with her.  

She enjoys the job so much that she offers to design her friend’s homes at no cost, and this is not just for fun. Lively puts real work and effort into these designs, using fabric swatches, pattern work, and mood boards. 

In an Instagram post, she explained where she gets her inspiration from. She mentioned in the caption that it comes from simple everyday items and encounters, such as her own bathroom loose tile, her daughter’s clothes, and she even thanked her mom “for the sleeping disorder” that results in many productive all-nighters. 

Blake Lively also revealed in an interview that decorating weddings is another dream of hers and that a wedding planner is on the top of her list of ideal jobs, coming right after acting and interior designing. 

Even though she does all this designing for free, it has always been a passion of hers, and she even dreams of starting her own interior decorating firm. 

The post Blake Lively’s Side Hustle As An Interior Designer appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

For many stars, acquiring pieces by famous designers is desirable, but they also want furniture that is comfortable and functional–just like everyone else!

Celebrity Favorite Furniture: The Couch

Celebrities are in love with this Jean Royére Polar Bear sofa. Jennifer Anniston has one in her Bel Air home. Kanye West has called it his "favorite piece of furniture."

The television star and home renovation wizard, Ellen DeGeneres, has also expressed her favoritism for the curved couch by Jean Royére.

The French designer Jean Royère, who started designing furniture for his mother in Paris at age 29, has had a hit with this rotund velvet sofa from the time he displayed it in Art et Industrie’s exhibition “La Résidence Française.” Everyone from French politicians to the Shah of Iran ordered one in the 50's and 60's.

Now, it appears to be enjoying a resurgence in popularity with American celebrities. It appears that great design never goes out of style.

Celebrity Favorite Furniture: The Chair

Celebrities with homes in upstate New York often find time to pop into FINCH, a vintage furniture store in Hudson.

Liv Tyler appreciates the curated collection of mid-century modern furniture available at this charming shop.

Swivel chairs have been a popular choice in celebrity homes ever since legendary interior designer William Haines filled Hollywood homes with them for three decades.

This 1970's bent plywood "Mr. Chair" by George Mulhauser was manufactured in Massachusetts by Plycraft. The molded shell makes it extremely comfortable while being freshly upholstered in forest green.

Celebrity Favorite Furniture: The Console

Celebrities in New York rave about Dmitriy & Co, a working design studio and appointment-only showroom in Chelsea. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds own several of their pieces, including tables and a sofa.

This anamorphic console by Asher Israelow is a true stunner in their showroom. The designer got the idea for this piece from 15th Century anamorphic projection-a way artists used to pass secret messages within their paintings. In much the same way this handcrafted solid walnut console with brass inlay hides geometries.

Celebrity Favorite Furniture: The Coffee Table

This Milo Teak Coffee Table is owned by Marc Anthony and sits on a terrace in his Dominican compound.

The table is made from a harvested teak root in Indonesia, then handcrafted by Javanese artisans who fit it together like an intricate puzzle.

Owners like how it can be displayed on any side for different looks and to perfectly fit a variety of interior or exterior spaces.

Celebrity Favorite Furniture: The Dining Table

Jessica Chastain is among the celebrity owners of this Heiress Dining Table $15,285 by Ralph Lauren Home. The Georgian Revival round top adds a royal air to any formal dining room.

An observant eye will notice the detail of the lion's paw feet. Crafted from select hardwoods with a rich Mahogany finish.

Celebrities Who Design Their Own Furniture

For some stars, hiring a designer or even hunting for furniture pieces themselves is still too hands off.

Brad Pitt worked for four years with Designer Frank Pollaro to craft the Pitt-Pollaro collection.

Displayed in a Chelsea gallery in 2012, the collection consists of limited-edition, signed and numbered beds, chairs, tables, and even a tub.

According to the collection's description, the pieces were all designed by Pitt, built by Pollaro, and made in the USA.

One of their first collaborations was a bed. Made of unique wood, nickel, and farm-raised stingray skins, the bed incorporates convenient moveable bedside tables.

Photo: Peggy Sirota/Elle Decor

Justin Timberlake teamed up with interior designer Estee Stanley in 2012 to produce a line of home goods that includes bar stools, tabletops, and rugs.

Timberlake described the process as staring at hardware for hours and used a simple reference point to focus his designs, “If we wouldn’t put it in our homes, we’re not going to ask people to put it in theirs,” he says.

The post Take A Seat! Here Are Some Furniture Pieces Celebrities Love appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Blake Lively

Blake Lively has compiled inspiration books full of pictures, color swatches and fabric memos since she was a teenager. Just like a pro, she uses her mood boards as a starting point for her own designs.

I design my friends homes. For free. Of all the bad decisions I’ve made, this may be the most fun... Thank you to my daughters for unknowingly loaning me your clothes for “fabric” inspo, thank you @dmitriyco for the stencils that are way too fun it’s not normal, thank you bathroom for having a lose tile that I could steal for more “fabric” inspo, and thank you mom for the sleeping disorder that keeps me up all night. ?? ??‍???

A post shared by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on Apr 13, 2018 at 10:26pm PDT

After designing her own homes for years, Blake is now getting interior design requests from friends. She loves home decor so much that she doesn't even charge for her services–yet.

Blake used to publish a blog called Preserve that focused on helping people discover the work of local artisans. The blog is no more, but Blake is still spreading the word about the makers she admires, like Dimitriy & Co furniture.

Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad left life as an American television personality to become a purveyor of all things lovely and chic.

Her blog and VIP newsletter offers everything from hairstyle trends to drink recipes, but she has also launched a successful home decor line for Kohl's and performed room makeovers on behalf of Pottery Barn.

Lauren has been called "the Martha Stewart for millennials" and it all starts with her own personally-styled home in Pacific Palisades, California.

Cindy Crawford

After retiring as one of the world's most recognizable supermodels, Cindy Crawford got into furniture design in 2005. She has evolved that interest over the years into a philosophy on how to design a home the right way. "I don’t like it when people buy a midcentury house and then try to change it, or buy a Tudor and try to make it modern,” she said in an interview with Elle Decor last year.

Twitter @Silestone

In addition to making things look chic, Cindy offers tips on decorating for all the senses by imagining how someone might experience a home's smells or the feel of certain fabrics.

A mother herself, she learned to use outdoor fabrics whenever possible to ward off messes left by little ones or pets.

Proving that good design is also practical, Cindy suggests designing kitchens that not only look amazing but are also easy to clean.

She tries not to get so caught up in aesthetics that lifestyle doesn't get considered. Having a comfortable place to read or watch a favorite program is an important part of designing a home that's comfortable to live in.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton used to own a Frank Lloyd Wright home in L.A. In 2011, she launched a table-top line for Bed Bath and Beyond. Her love of design has culminated in the publishing of three home design coffee table books.

Her latest, The House That Pinterest Built, is described as "a style guide, an inspirational tome, and a how-to volume on creating one’s home."

Diane started publishing design books because she wanted to celebrate the inspiration people get from seeing the design eye of others, "billions of people discover, seize and enlarge their reference pool with the variety of beauty allocated from others," she says in the book's introduction.

The post Home Design Tips From Blake Lively, Cindy Crawford, Diane Keaton, And Lauren Conrad appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Blake continues to act in films while being a health and style icon for legions of fans. The mother of two consistently looks fabulous whether in $2 million worth of jewels at the Met Gala or strolling home in her sneakers from a Westchester gym.

When they do manage to escape the seemingly endless press junkets and paparazzi shutterfests, Ryan and Blake recoup and re-center their family on 1.8 acres of a bucolic garden estate in Pound Ridge, NY.

When Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively enjoy the country life, they're not cleaning chicken coops and milking dairy cows. Picture Martha Stewart cottage living. Seriously, Martha is actually the couple's neighbor and a homemaker mentor to Blake.

The glamorous couple purchased the 4,753-square-foot home that sits an hour's drive from Midtown Manhattan in 2012 for $2.35 million. Maybe it had something to do with the two pink dogwoods perfectly framing the home's sunny yellow sloping peak that sealed the deal.

There's plenty of luxury details built into this country house. Two private dressing rooms off the master, french doors leading out to a covered porch, a custom stone terrace overlooking the water, and a two-bedroom guest suite, are just some of the unique features that give this place its character.

The lush grounds provide amazing views of the Cross River Reservoir during the day, while Ryan and Blake can cozy up to one of the three fireplaces spread out over gleaming hardwoods on those chilly upstate nights.

Blake Lively is unashamedly domestic–her Instagram will attest to the fact that she uses every inch of her country kitchen to whip up tasty home-style family feasts.

Ryan is much more toned-down in real life than the Deadpool character he plays. After months of acting the part of a sarcastic superhero, he probably welcomes the breathing space his spacious house and sprawling yard provide. That is until neighbor Ralph Lauren pops by to borrow some curry-ketchup.

Locals describe Ryan and Blake as being "really nice" as they shop together in town for homemade goods or appear at chef Jean‑Georges' The Inn at Pound Ridge for some farm-to-table cuisine.

Three years ago, when Blake still maintained a website called Preserve, dedicated to all things handmade and local in Bedford, she explained to Vogue her reason for wanting to move to a more rural area. "People want things with meaning. I know that because I want that."

Meaningful is a great word to describe the stylish yet substantial life that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have curated for themselves.

Photos from realtor.com

The post Ryan Reynolds And Blake Lively’s Pastoral New York Paradise appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.