When color consultant and interior designer Brandi Herrera lives in a space, you know it's going to be colorful. Her Portland home reflects her belief that color isn't something to fear, it's a tool for transformation. But when she and her husband Zachary found a gray, stripped-down 1918 worker's cottage in Omaha, they saw an opportunity to do something even more special: restore it.
The 767-square-foot cottage, built by WPA worker Earnest Howland over a century ago, had lost much of its original charm over the years. But Brandi saw potential. She saw color. She saw a place that could feel joyful and lived-in, even on a tight budget. What emerged is a masterclass in how thoughtful design choices (and a steadfast commitment to personal expression) can transform a space into somewhere that actually feels like home.
We talked to Brandi about how she brought this little cottage back to life, her philosophy on color, and why she believes your home should reflect who you actually are.
Tell us a little about yourself. Who lives in the home and where is it located?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, color consultant, and interior designer who lives in Portland, OR with my husband Zachary and our cat Yves. While we live full time in Oregon, the cottage (our tiny second home) is located in the Aksarben neighborhood of Omaha, NE. My husband grew up in Omaha, and his family still lives there. We purchased the cottage a few years back so we would have a more permanent + personal place to land when we visit each spring/summer. When we aren’t in Omaha, we rent it out. It’s a modest 767 square foot worker’s cottage, built in 1918 by Lucinda and Earnest Howland, a WPA worker and labor-union member. The imprint they left the year they built it (“E. Howland Erected”) is still visible in the cement walkway leading up to the front porch. It’s a pretty special little place.
How would you describe your home in three words?
Colorful, Convivial, Cozy.
What first drew you to this space? Was it the architecture, the light, the neighborhood, or something else?
We had been searching for a small home in Omaha for quite a few years before we found the cottage. What drew us to it at first was its size (it’s tiny, and we love that about it), and its location on a large corner lot in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by lots of mature trees. That said, much of the charm you now see had been almost completely erased by its former owners. The bones of the house were solid for a structure of its age, but a lot of the original detail had been stripped away, in favor of builder-grade “updates” that left the interior gray, and bland. We had to do a lot of work to bring back as much of that charm as possible, and re-infuse the home with the color and character we imagine it might have had when it was first built.
How would you describe your design philosophy?
Color is for everyone, and color changes everything. I approach all of my projects first and foremost through the lens of color. It plays such an important role in how you feel while you’re in a space, and therefore how you behave in it, and as a result, how it does or doesn’t function for you. It has the power to transform perspectives, evoke emotional responses, and express unique points of view. And yet, it is often misunderstood (even feared). If you create a thoughtful color scheme and palette, though, everything else can fall into place. It’s the most valuable tool I keep in my back pocket.
Where do you find home inspiration?
Everywhere! I’m an observer by nature, and my obsessions run deep. But, I think much of my interior design inspiration comes from fine art, graphic design/illustration, cultural traditions, historical records, archetypes, psychology, and place/landscape/the natural world. I research heavily before I even begin to dig into a color scheme, and these are the areas I almost always find myself looking to first, and returning to again and again. Of course, there’s also Instagram and Pinterest. But I try hard not to get too sucked into those voids when conceiving of something new.
What’s your favorite room in the house, and why?
The kitchen. It’s just so cheerful! The color palette in that space is energetic and joyful, creative and connective. As someone who lives and works with a chronic illness, I need that kind of boost from the external world, and I feel like the cottage kitchen gives me that on a daily basis. It’s a lovely space to wake up to in the morning, and make a cup of tea in.
My husband and I also love to cook and bake (we had fun recently making strawberry shortcakes for the first time), and it’s such a cozy-yet-functional space to do that together.
What details make your house feel like home?
We did everything on a tight budget, so there’s a mix of elements that are both new and old, many of which were thrifted from Marketplace, found deeply discounted on places like eBay, or sourced from budget-friendly retailers like IKEA. Having such a small budget definitely forces you to get creative, and I feel like the vintage pieces especially are what make it feel storied, and lived in, even though we’ve only been there a short time. We did splurge on a few statement pieces of furniture, though. Taken in all together, I think they strike a nice balance. One of my favorite pieces is the vintage couch we had custom reupholstered by Clinton at Platte Upholstery in a fabric by Knoll. It’s a midcentury Mastercraft of Omaha couch. It’s fun knowing it was originally made in the city it’s now enjoying a second life in. We have also enjoyed collecting little treasures along the way to fill the cottage with, including handcrafted pieces from artists and makers we admire, and antique keepsakes we hope to have for a very long time. Two of my favorite recent additions are the Klein-Blue ceramic horse by Christiana Hedlund, and the hand-painted Delft-style tile with a leaping blue burro by Lonesome Pictopia. I think they make such a sweet pair.
Any advice for someone decorating their own home?
Don’t be afraid to express yourself! So often, I encounter people with bright, colorful personalities who live in watered-down spaces because they’re scared to bring in too much personality. They fear it won’t be good for resale, and/or they’ll get sick of their choices over time. But I truly believe that distinctive, timeless interiors reflect the lives of their inhabitants. You can’t reflect your life with an interior devoid of the color, art, objects, and stories that are undoubtedly you. If you’re nervous, that’s okay. Start small, and stick to things that aren’t a huge financial commitment. As you slowly and carefully learn to live with more color and expressiveness, you might just find yourself willing to take bigger risks, and reaping the rewards of doing so.
What's your favorite Hawkins product?
I love how Hawkins does basics, but in a way that’s not at all boring. The Hawkins Essentials Shop is a go-to when I’m sourcing items that will stand the test of time, but also have ample color and personality. I love how there’s such great color cohesion in this range, too. It makes it so easy to create a seamless look across spaces and elements—from essentials for the kitchen and dining room, to items for the bedroom and bath.
I’m also really loving the blue and white Ogee serveware collection. The platters are perfect for serving dessert during afternoon tea or coffee, and feel right at home amongst the antiques and vintage pieces in the cottage.
