Global Eclectic Home Tour: Insieme House

Hola!  I took a break from the Get The Global Look series to finish the dining room makeover.  I’m excited to get back into the series and today is a special look at Insieme House, the incredibly beautiful global, eclectic home of Astrid Insieme.  Astrid is a superstar at creating chic global, eclectic spaces.  I was stunned by her incorporation of worldly home accents and perfectly paired textiles shared in her instagram account.  I just knew that we all needed a closer look at her fabulous home and I am honored to kick off Get The Global Look: Home Tours with Insieme House.

What is the inspiration behind your global home styling? (Do you draw upon your own background, travels, or simply a fondness of worldly cultures?)

I would say that all of these factors have definitively contributed to my penchant for global styling! I was born on the Portuguese island of Madeira, and despite growing up on the East Coast of the US, our family would vacation as often as we could back home. After college, I returned to Europe on a bit of a lark, and ended up living/working between Madeira Island and Lisbon, on the Portuguese mainland, for just over a decade. Travel has always been absolutely essential to my well-being and such an integral aspect of my lifestyle, because I truly believe there is nothing more enriching than experiencing different cultures.

My wanderlust has always defined my personality and driven both my philosophy and perspective in life, and so naturally, I think it inevitably manifested in my creative direction when designing our family’s home. It is so important for me to feel connected to the vast world out there (especially now that we live in the woods of New Hampshire…haha!), and that global connection needs to be palpable and reflected in my surroundings. I feel most alive in spaces when they feel exotic, interesting, and surprising…not unlike a vacation to an unfamiliar locale!

What is your favorite globally influenced room and what was your thinking behind the styling?

I truly enjoy all the rooms in our home, and didn’t really follow any prescribed decorating formula for any of them, to be honest! I’m a believer that you should decorate only with pieces that you absolutely love and that are meaningful to you, and in doing so, you will have (hopefully) created a home that resonates with your true essence.

In our cottage, we have incorporated elements from our travels, things that have been sourced that speak to us aesthetically and personally, pieces that have been thrifted and upcycled, and most importantly, we always approach “decorating” with an attitude of flexibility and fun. It’s a home, after all, and just as its inhabitants are in flux, we are always adapting and switching things around to keep the vibe feeling dynamic and fresh!

What key pieces in your home define your global style?

Hhmmm…I’d have to say the collection of North African pendant lights that we have hanging in our bedroom and in our foyer. I have an inexplicable obsession with them that borders on the clinically unhealthy…haha! Those things have travelled quite a bit in their lifetime – from Morocco, to Egypt, to Lisbon, to Madeira Island, and now New Hampshire in the US. They were old stock from a home furnishings boutique that I owned in Lisbon some years ago, and have accompanied me ever since. I transported them in my suitcases, heavily wrapped and stuffed to prevent them from getting damaged, when I relocated back to the US in 2011.

I still laugh when I remember how a customs official who was randomly searching my luggage was quite confused by them and repeatedly questioned me as to what these concealed objects were, because he was convinced they were gourds. Yes, GOURDS. Because clearly, I was intent on smuggling a crop of illicit vegetables over the border. So, in addition to being some of my more cherished possessions, they make me absolutely laugh every time I see them now…haha!

Not only is Astrid’s home is full of global treasures, but they have wonderful stories and memories.  Her love and appreciation of global accents is definitely noticed.  Feeling inspired and want to see more of Astrid’s style?  I know I am!   Check out her website www.InsiemeHouse.com and follow her Instagram account @Insieme_House.  A special thank you to Astrid for welcoming us into her home.  Be sure to pin this tour to your Home Decor pinterest board for your own inspiration and share with friends using the share buttons below.

Interested in sharing your globally inspired home?  Send your inquiry to info@casawatkinsliving.com.