good neighbor
Julie and Malcolm

What is your main source of inspiration?
(J) I have always been drawn to beautiful objects, images, art, and interiors. I can spend hours admiring these things, learning from them, and drawing my own style from them. We’re lucky to live in Baltimore, which has such a strong creative community full of creators who make objects, images, and interiors that I admire and am inspired by everyday.

(M) Baltimore is full of talented creatives, well curated shops, and thoughtfully designed spaces. I personally enjoy curation and I pull a lot of inspiration from visiting new places in the city, and the many Baltimore-based creators we follow on social media. We are also always on the lookout for locally available furniture and other goods that can compliment our minimal design style.

Do you have a favorite place to spend your time?
(M&J) It has to be on the screened-in porch. When we take time to sit and read or reconnect with one another, we are enveloped by the tree canopy, and it feels like we’re floating above the forest floor. It really emphasizes how the house is just borrowing space from the surrounding forest.

How did you approach designing your space?
(J) We were so lucky that the house had great bones when we bought it. We wanted it to be a celebration of its postmodern, contemporary architecture. Beyond updating our bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, and living areas with simple changes that made big impacts, we brightened it up with a warm white, as a canvas for locally curated objects, and minimal furniture. We painted the exterior a warm black, which instantly updated the house and highlighted the forested lot—it's stunning in all four seasons.

(M) The design focused around the postmodern era as we really wanted the space to be interesting, approachable, and casual. We chose furniture that we loved, was consistent with our style, and best complemented the space. Given our shared passion for art, we carefully curated pieces that we found interesting and featured them throughout the house. 

Do you have design tips to share?

(J) I like to mix new and old pieces, whether that’s furniture, art, or objects. I think it grounds your space, and gives it a soul. You appreciate old things and new things best in the presence of each other.

(M) Don’t overthink it. Focus on being intentional and adding things that you truly love. It’s likely going to take time for the space to come together and that's OK. 

What's it mean to you to be a good neighbor?

(M&J) A good neighbor is someone who supports others, invests in their community, and practices kindness. We have lived together in Baltimore for ten years, and really feel integrated into our community. In our time here, we have met a lot of good neighbors, who remind us of those tenets, and inspire us to be better

You can see more of Julie and Malcolm's home on Instagram.