About Jo Gartin
When the world shut down, Jo Gartin, who ran a very successful wedding and party planning business, Love, Luck and Angels, decided to pivot and style houses. With her eye for design and impeccable taste, she works with her clients’ existing furniture by re-arranging them, adding accessories, painting, etc. In a world where many people have great mortgage rates from the last few years, many homeowners are deciding to stay put and focus on upgrading their homes rather than sell and trade up a higher mortgage rate.
Q&A
Q.) What things can you do to a house to make it look well styled?
A.) When styling a home I focus on my client’s favorite things, remove as much clutter as I can, and make sure there are live elements, such as plants, greens or florals. I also think art and books bring a sense of home in a wonderfully personalized way.
Q.) What mistakes do people make when they decorate their homes?
A.) I try to make sure clients choose pieces for their home that work with their lifestyle. A family with two dogs for example, may be better suited to a rustic dining table that is more forgiving of scratches and the remnants of impromptu art projects – also couch that has slip covers! I also try to make sure each that room is designed for use and not just for pretty pictures…. a lived-in house is a loved one.
Q.) What are the must haves for a bedroom, a kitchen, a living room?
A.) Comfy and styled bedding is a must for me – most people probably splurge on designer clothes. I prefer linens. Matteo is my favorite right now.
I love a kitchen with a big fruit bowl to fill with your market haul or even just lots of citrus. I try to keep the countertops as clear as possible too.
Our living room always has a candle in it. I am obsessed with HOMECOURT (the cece scent) right now. Throw pillows add a cozy element and allow you to add some color/design/decor without committing to big purchase items. I have two sets of pillow covers for my sofa ( so it’s almost like a new living room when I swap them out) One set is Indian block print in blues and greys that I had made using vintage quilts from etsy and the second set is more vintage floral in green hues from a flea market vendor. Again I love live touches, so flowers or greens from our garden on the coffee table are a staple.
Q.) What pieces are you currently lusting after?
A.) I can’t seem to pass by pottery. I love entertaining and have a healthy serveware addiction. A perfect Scandinavian vintage chair is also hard for me to pass up. Oh and Turkish rugs.
Q.) What tips would you give for someone who wants to rearrange and style their own house?
A.) Lots of clients invite me to come in and restyle their already lovely homes – just to get a fresh take on things…. My first step is to understand the pieces they love and take away everything they don’t. Then it’s a matter of mixing it up a little, trying pieces in new places, and filling in the blanks. So purge first. Get rid of things that you don’t need and that don’t make you smile. Then treat yourself to something new that you love.
Q.) Any great resources for accessories and furnishings in L.A? What are your go-to places?
A.) Offer up is a great app for searching local finds. Charish.com has amazing online vendors. Big Daddy’s Antiques in Culver City is wonderfully curated. Orange is great for inspiration and flea markets are great for unique additions: Pasadena City College, Long Beach, Topanga and Santa Monica are my local go-to’s.