Style has always come naturally to Jhonny Curran, but it wasn’t until recently that she turned her passion into a full-time career.
Curran has been redecorating since she was a kid, when she’d go shopping with her mom and grandmother, and enjoyed finding just the right piece for here or there. “Growing up, every weekend I remember rearranging a room,” she says. The design bug never left her, so when she and her husband, Kyle, moved into this cozy 1,344 sq ft Westchester split-level house in July 2018, she was excited to have a new space to make her own. “I personally would never buy a move-in ready home,” says Curran. “I thoroughly enjoy the process of renovations and watching the home transform.” They first made a few smart structural changes, including creating a new laundry area and bathroom on the lower level, and removing some walls on the main floor to make an open-concept layout. Then, Curran layered on tons of her organic modern style.
As the house was changing, Curran’s career was shifting too. When her daughter, Olive, was born in 2019, she left her full-time marketing job, but knew she needed a creative outlet. People had always admired her style, so she decided to start an Instagram page where she could share fashion and home ideas. The page took off, and by the time her son, Rhodes, was born in 2020, Curran had a loyal following and so many requests that she decided to open Curran Interiors. She now works with clients virtually and in-person across the country, creating cozy timeless spaces on any budget. Brands want the Curran treatment too: This year, she’ll be launching her own collection of drapery and Roman shades with Blinds To Go.
Living Room
Using the same neutral palette throughout the house creates a sense of connection and flow between the rooms, and makes the living room feel like an extension of the dining area. The existing fireplace brick was extended up to the ceiling and painted white to add more texture to the space. “There’s just something so cozy about the crackling sound of a real wood fireplace,” says Curran; the home’s open layout allows the family to enjoy it from many different spaces. The wooden mantle is new, but Curran had her contractor rough it up a bit before installing it to give it a more rustic, weathered look. A curvy white club chair is mixed with HomeGoods side tables and a coffee table, a Facebook Marketplace find.
Dining Area
The dining space is a great example of Curran’s organic modern style — and how she mixes pieces from many provenances. A wood table from Pier 1 is surrounded by upholstered linen chairs from Castlery. The Restoration Hardware cabinet was a Facebook Marketplace find — a score big enough that she rented a U-Haul and drove to New Jersey to pick it up. She styled up the inside with pieces from HomeGoods. “My biggest tip when designing a home is adding drapery,” says Curran, who used selections from her new line here and throughout the house to instantly elevate the spaces. Adding greenery, even a faux tree, can help add to the welcoming, homey vibe, too.
Kitchen
In the renovated kitchen, the Currans opted for a mix of closed cabinets and custom open shelving, and a Bertazonni stove. The barstools are an Amazon find with a sturdy, comfortable design that Curran gave a DIY makeover by adding some antique wax. Rattan pendants from Rowabi echo the woven texture of the McGee & Co light over the dining table, and a door out to the deck makes summer entertaining a literal breeze.
Kids Bedroom
Although Olive and Rhodes share this room, Curran cleverly used wall decals from Project Nursery — geese for Olive and cars for Rhodes — to give each their own space. Rhodes inherited his canopy-style bed from Olive when she graduated to her boucle upholstered one, which sits under a canopy from Smallable. The room is painted in Curran’s “favorite color ever,” Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore, which is used in many spaces throughout the house.
Playroom
This former lounge area is now a fantastic play space for the kids, where Curran used basic pieces and a little DIY design magic to create lots of different activity areas. An old chest became a café counter with a coat of paint and letters from Etsy, plus a wall decal from Project Nursery. The kitchen is an IKEA piece that Curran gave a major glow-up with a few changes like replacing handles and adding rattan webbing behind windows. Curran filled an awkward space below the window with a vertical train track — now one of Rhodes’ favorite spots. A low row of IKEA storage drawers gives Olive and Rhodes access to favorite toys.
Designing on a Budget
“My number one tip is: Take your time,” says Curran. Finding the right pieces for the right price can take a lot of trial and error, but with some time and patience, you’ll hone your eye, flex your creative muscles, and put together a home that feels cohesive and personal. Use high-end brands for inspiration, and then check out sites like Wayfair and Amazon, which often carry similar styles for a lower price. “I’m a huge Facebook Marketplace gal,” says Curran, who often finds great pieces for a steal through regular online perusing and trips to stores like HomeGoods. And don’t be afraid of a little DIY (which you’ll also get better at with time). Sometimes a small tweak can take a mediocre piece to perfection.
Related: A Country Retreat in Katonah Gets an Entertaining Upgrade
