DwellStudio's founder and creative director, Christiane Lemieux, has mastered the subtle art of undone glamour, both at work and at home. Her thriving brand (husband, Josh, is her business partner)—best known for whimsical textiles and modern décor—just introduced a much-obsessed over line of furniture and a brand new
book. With its loyal following, DwellStudio has become a one-stop shop for style-minded moms—bedding, clothing, toys, even artwork. In her sprawling SoHo loft, Lemieux takes a laid-back approach to parenting: Dance parties on the antique dining table? Sure. Swinging from the disco-ball-adorned pipe in the middle of the living room? Encouraged. Raising two wildly imaginative (and polite!) kids, while balancing an expanding empire, a happy marriage, and the daily school run is all in a day’s work.
Isabelle, five and half, and William, four, November 2011
1. "Dance night under the disco ball
2. Family dinners full of conversation
3. Beach days in Amagansett
4. Early nights (like going to bed at 8:30p.m. after the kids to recharge)
5. Yoga
6. Red wine
7. A good mani/pedi downstairs when the kids have gone to sleep (luckily there is a nail place in my building!)
8. Sleeping kids—there is nothing better than peeking in on your kiddies and seeing them sprawled out asleep."
"When my children were little, I was given the advice to outsource as much as I can afford so that I can spend as much time as possible with my kids. It helps with the guilt. And e-commerce is my best friend—I order everything online. One day, I know I'll go back to hand-picking my fruit but for now I would rather be at the park with my kids."
"The best thing about these
papier-mâché animal heads is that they’re handmade by artisans in Haiti. William wanted every single one for his room, and Isabelle requested a unicorn, so they’re going to incorporate that into the collection, as well as some smaller things like butterflies and birds."
"I catch myself making mistakes all the time. I'm especially humbled when I assume I can get something by my kids and then they call me on it. I had a very low moment recently when my son was clutching onto my back, crying and would not separate for school. I told him I would wait outside the door so he would go in—I knew I had back-to-back meetings but figured he would forget. He didn't. I still feel terrible and will never do it again. My children teach me something new every day."
Books: "We love those from
Bruno Munari and
Leo Lionni for both the stories and design."
Magnatiles: "I would have to say we reach for these everyday—we build animal hotels and magical lands."
Toys: "Wood objects from Plan Toys. We are into Hexbugs and their habitats, too."
Games: "Operation and Chutes and Ladders are in heavy rotation right now."
"But mostly, we have big dance parties with the kids in neighborhood."
"I am very proud when either of my kids take risks and learn something new—they are so excited and empowered afterwards. I try to expose them to as many challenges as possible."
Foster the People: "Pumped Up Kicks"
Carl Douglas: "Kung Fu Fighting"
Cee Lo Green: "Forget You"
Katy Perry: "Fireworks"
Tao Cruz: "Dynamite"
Lady Gaga: "Edge of Glory"
Lady Gaga: "Bourn This Way"
KC and The Sunshine Band: "Get Down Tonight"
The White Stripes: "My Doorbell"
Lady Gaga: "Telephone"
"I think New York is the most amazing and magical place to grow up. We never get in a car—we walk everywhere. We have a real community where we see the same people all the time. It's amazing to live in one of the most dynamic places on earth and have a totally small town experience."
Isabelle's Brooklyn Bridge clay sculpture
"As a mom, I've learned how important it is to be a logistics pro—it's like FedEx! That said, I wish I was more organized. I'm always the mom running into class at the last minute with whatever is needed that day!"
"I never knew I would want to be in two places so much—the push-pull is crazy. I want to be the best mom possible and the best at my job, too. I am trying to find the balance. If I had more time, I would be the class mom. I would give more to the charitable organizations that I work with. I would get more involved in things I'm passionate about like micro-financing for small businesses. I would love to be a doctor, so maybe medical school…"
1. Favorite food: "Noodles, pizza, lamb and artichokes."
2. Favorite part about growing up in the city: "The buildings, the lights, the museums, and scootering really fast to the park."
3. Favorite thing about being at your house in Amagansett: "Sandy Beach (the ocean beach near their home), riding lessons, being with my family, and bonfires on the beach with marshmallows."
4. Favorite thing to do with your mom/dad: "Go on trips!"
"My amazing sister-in-law, Karen, raised two excellent kids, and when I asked her how they turned out so well she said it’s because they ate dinner together every night. We are really trying to make that work in our family now—it seems so simple but it’s not! It requires work and organization, but I can already see the benefits."
DwellStudio Skyline bedding
1. Favorite food: "Pizza!!!!" (Christiane: "This is the ONLY food he eats – arggg")
2. Favorite part about growing up in the city: "Montessori and the zoo. And the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History."
3. Favorite thing about being at your house in Amagansett: "Sandy beach, canookie (the family canoe), and my tennis lessons. Oh, and being with my family."
4. Favorite thing to do with your mom/dad: "Going on JetBlue."
"My advice for balancing motherhood and marriage: leave room for both. I think if you and your partner are in it together, you realize that some stages are easier than others and you can work on the marriage at some points and the kids/family at others. With a tiny baby, the marriage part is very hard. If you are truly understanding partners, you figure it out."
"Our house is always in transition—I’m constantly moving things around."
Isabelle's pink bedroom
DwellStudio Baby Gio Lemon window treatments and bedding (click here for a similar duvet set)
"Isabelle loves owls. I found these at Brimfield. She constantly 'merchandises' her room."
"We love having 'cooking class' at home. Isabelle helped me stuff a turkey last weekend and she was so proud of herself."
"I fit exercise in when I can, which equals about once a month. I chase after my kids a lot. I do really miss going to yoga classes, though. I know I'll get back to it when my kids are a little older, but if I have to make the choice between the gym and the kids, I choose the kids. It’s not sexy, but I did Weight Watchers points online to lose the weight after both kids—it’s the only thing that works for me. When it’s on your phone, it’s easy to track your intake."
"I keep my hair long so I can wear it up in a ponytail and avoid the necessity to style it. Also, once I find an outfit I love, I buy variations of it so I can get dressed quickly and feel good."
Isabelle and William warming up for one of their famous concerts on the dining room table.
"I hate this saying, but 'don’t sweat the small stuff' is true. I now try to let the small stuff slide—there will be lots of small stuff so I make it a point to focus my energy on the big issues."
"In the moment your child is born, your whole world changes and it’s really all about your baby. It’s amazing to have a paradigm shift like that in an instant."
"A bunch of my favorite recipes are one dish, two ways. Like this pasta with peas recipe—after I I make the basic version, I throw in lemon zest, chopped arugula, and fried prosciutto to make it adult. It's especially important in our house because my husband and I are big foodies and my kids are picky."
