Living With Kids: Christine Visneau

Christine Visneau is cool. She’s the proprietress of an indie kids’ shop in Dallas called Little Bean, the designer of an adorable clothing line, one of the creatives behind Small Magazine, and she plays the drums. You just smiled about her being a drummer, didn’t you? I told you she’s cool.

The home she shares with her husband, Steve, and their two daughters, Miette and Amelie, is also effortlessly cool; a space where bursts of creativity can grow wild, and bright ideas even brighter. It’s a space where professional art hangs side-by-side with Miette’s and Amelie’s, which sends an incredible message about value and worth, don’t you think? Enjoy the tour!

Describe your decorating philosophy. Has your aesthetic changed since your girls came along?

My style is simple and modern with indie art, tons of books, and stuff I collect from estate sales all thrown together. My style has gotten a little more relaxed since the girls and my husband came along. They all have a very strong and creative opinion on how things should look, so it’s always a compromise.

How much influence do your girls have on the decor in their spaces?

A lot! The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree coming from artist/designer parents. They both have a strong opinion on everything from their clothing to how our home is decorated.

I love seeing a peek of your drum set in the playroom! Do your girls play?

My husband and I are both drummers, so our kids are learning to play, too.

You’re a textile queen; I really enjoyed this video of you at work on your collection. Did you make some of the pillows in your living area? It’s an eclectic collection that really makes an impact.

No…the pillows are Liberty for Target, and the George Washington pillow is from my shop and by a local artist called A.Wahl. The New Jersey — where I’m from — and Texas pillows are from another local artist, Local Honey.

Your walls all seem to be white. Do you tend to gravitate toward a clean backdrop?

I love white walls. I would get tired of a colored wall or wallpaper really fast, so we use art to keep the walls interesting.

All the color seems to come from artwork; who are your favorites hanging on your walls?

In the living room, there’s work from Ryan Berkley, Ashley G, Apak, Dear Dodo, and Catherine Campbell, all mixed with art found at estate sales and painting by my girls. The print above our bed is by Debbie Carlos, and the large painting in our dining room is by a local artist named Richard Smith.

You’ve collected a lot of stand-alone significant pieces, from the dining room table and chairs to the turquoise Eames rocker; where are your favorite sources for furniture and decor treasures?

Craigslist and local shop Lula B’s Antiques for vintage modern furniture, Ikea and West Elm for basics, and estate sales/garage sales for everything else.

Tell us the best design advice you’ve either given or received.

It’s not advice as much as it is inspiration from friends’ homes and the many blogs I read. I gravitate towards more casual, lived-in homes rather than perfect ones in magazines.

What is your family’s — and guests’ — favorite area to hang out together?

The dining table. Homework, dinner, crafts…it all happens there.

When does your home work best?

It works all the time. We live in a small house, so every corner of our home is used and has a function.

Thank you so much, Christine! This was a treat. See you at Alt Summit!

All images by Steven Visneau. Except: the first photo from Christine’s shop was taken by Sara Kerens for the Dallas Observer in an excellent article about Little Bean. You should read it for another dose of cool. And if you’d like to share your own space in my Living With Kids series, I’d love to hear from you!