Designer Series: Bringing the Desert Indoors with @stellhous
Estela "Stella" Leyva is the dynamic owner of Stellhous, known for her exceptional ability to help clients discover their inner selves through their tastes and transform their homes into stunning works of art. Stella’s journey into interior design began with a profound passion for creating beautiful and emotionally resonant spaces. While her formal background might not include extensive design education, her dedication and natural talent for the craft are undeniable. Stella’s approach involves working closely with clients, both in-person and remotely, to devise captivating color palettes and design sensational rooms that reflect their unique personalities. Her bilingual proficiency in Spanish further enriches her service, allowing her to connect with a broader clientele.
When preparing for her partnership with Mor Furniture, Stella had a clear mission: to design spaces that are not only stylish and modern but also attainable for everyday homeowners. She focused on using transitional furniture as the foundation and then layered in accent pieces to create diverse styles and moods. Stella’s expertise lies in her ability to blend textures and colors seamlessly, bringing a chic and homey feel to her designs. Her approach ensures that every room she works on is not only beautiful but also comfortable and inviting.
The Plan & Prep
To style two products and bring both designs to life, a combination of in-store furniture accents, studio props, and select accent décor pieces were carefully curated by Stella.
Room #1: Cowgirl Chic
The Result:
Blending Wester Charm with Modern Design
Stella was particularly drawn to the Stone dining table for its Spanish, almost mission-inspired look. She believes that, after years of lighter-colored furniture dominating the market, people are craving richness and depth in their interiors. The Stone Dining Table, Chair, and Bench embodies these qualities, offering a grand and substantial presence. Stella mentions that if she had this set in her home, she would style it exactly as she has for Mor Furniture—emphasizing its elegant and timeless appeal.
She drew inspiration from Southwest style, accenting the walls with cowboy hats and adding touches of gold and textured fabrics. Stella completed the ranch-like look with plants and cacti. To finish, she included the Wynlett Table Lamp on the Dreley Accent Console for size and storage, and the designer-favorite Sonoma Rug for balance.
When asked about her design approach, she says it begins with a deep dive understanding of how a family lives in their space. She focuses on how the room is used and what the family likes. Recognizing that many clients struggle to articulate their preferences, Stella asks targeted questions to narrow down their tastes. She explores what inspires them—be it nature, clean white lines, animals, or rainy weather. This detailed exploration helps her create a dining room that is not only functional but also deeply personal and reflective of the family’s unique style.
Room #2: Southwest Living
Embracing Rustic Elegance
When it came to deciding on a living room piece, Stella was quick to choose the Claire Sleeper Sofa Chaise Sectional for its versatility and practicality, qualities that she deeply appreciates. With the increasing complexity of family dynamics and more people living together, this sectional adapts beautifully to various needs. It serves as a traditional sofa, converts into a sleeper, and provides ample seating for large families during movie nights, all while maintaining its shape. Additionally, the Claire Sectional offers hidden extra storage, adding to its functionality and making it a perfect choice for modern living spaces.
Drawing from Southwest-Ranch design inspiration, Stella incorporated the Harvey Accent Ottoman and Henfield Accent Table to introduce shape and warm brown tones. She enhanced comfort with the brown Emmy Accent Pillows and added a pop of green with the Evarado Aloe Planter.
Stella approaches living room design with a focus on functionality and warmth. Recognizing that living rooms are where families gather and relax after a long day, she emphasizes the need for comfort and practicality. Stella ensures that the space accommodates the family's needs while being inviting, as it is often the first room guests see upon entering. She achieves this by incorporating soft goods such as throw pillows, artwork, blankets, and plants, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Personal Taste & Style Tips
Stella’s design style has evolved over the years, but certain elements remain constant. She loves creating spaces that are well-traveled, well-read, collected yet organized, featuring handcrafted art and honest materials. Stella stays aware of trends but doesn’t follow them strictly; everything in her home is something she genuinely loves. This personal approach influences her work, ensuring that every project feels unique and deeply personal.
She sees the current design trends as more of an awakening. She’s excited to see a growing preference for real, durable furniture over fast furniture. There’s a heightened environmental consciousness, with more people wanting to know how and by whom their furniture is made, and what manufacturers are doing to be eco-friendly. This curiosity and shift towards selective buying or choosing antiques is a trend Stella finds particularly influential.
A home design tip Stella consistently finds effective and easy to do is updating your own headboard. Often, the bed frame is appealing, but the headboard doesn’t quite match the taste. Making one is relatively simple and offers endless possibilities. You can upholster it with fabric of your choice, use materials like dried grass or an interesting rug, or opt for a live edge design. A stunning headboard can transform the entire room.
For those planning home redesigns, Stella advises the following steps: understand your budget, set realistic timeframes, have patience, and ideally, collaborate with a professional designer to refine your vision. She cautions against the misleading portrayal of instant transformations in social media and TV shows, emphasizing that real-life redesign is a process that requires time and expertise.
Check out Stella’s style inspirations for these two sets and more behind-the-scenes fun on her blog: https://www.stellhous.com/post/transform-your-everyday-living-spaces-with-mor-furniture-a-design-journey
For inquiries, check out Stellhous Interiors for interior styling needs, and give her a follow on Instagram at @stellhous for even more design inspiration.