A former furniture refurbisher, this now house flipper and blogger shares the inner workings of her home and life on In The Fun Lane. What began as a chronicle of her new family life has become an ongoing written adventure of home decor, food and fashion spread among the life and times of blog founder and author Holly Baker. We've been enjoying seeing her DIY projects revealed on the blog as much as she revels in unveiling them. We got to dig a little deeper and find out what inspires Holly and learn a few tips and tricks from her, too! 

1 What motivated you to start your blog?
Holly Baker I was 24 years old, we had just bought and started renovating a new home, and we were expecting our first child. It seemed like life was busy and I needed a little corner of the Internet to call my own. Over time it has evolved but it still feels like my own private getaway when I sit down and work on my blog. I definitely feel a passion for blogging!

2 If you could shadow any designer for a day, who would it be?
HB I just love Atlanta Bartlett’s cool, casual style. If anyone has mastered casual minimalism it is her. I would love to learn just a few of her secrets and get motivated to edit back more.

3 Where do you look for an obscure source of inspiration?
HB I find food styling to be so inspiring. There are a handful of truly amazing chefs/stylists on Instagram and in the blog world that give me tons of inspiration for a lot more than just food. Linda Lomelino is one of my favourites – she will wow you daily!

4 Favourite restaurant?
HB A dinner at Gjelina, in Venice, California, was one of the very best meals I’ve ever had. It may have had something to do with the amazing girlfriends I was with, but we ended up ordering almost everything on the menu that night. It was life changing!

5 What’s your favourite room to decorate?
HB I have so much fun playing with my family room. Family rooms are typically relaxed and casual which is exactly my style, with a few hits of glam.

6 What’s your current paint colour obsession?
HB Nude/peach, bright pink and seafoam green. Those colours together make the inner mermaid in me really happy (in small doses though, so the minimalist in me doesn’t get too freaked out!).

7 If one song could be the soundtrack to your life, what would it be?
HB Wow, that is the hardest question for me! It would probably be Emotions by Mariah Carey. It's a fun, happy song that makes me believe I am a diva for a few minutes. But I promise I am most definitely not one in real life. Usually.

8 What’s the one store you could spend hours browsing?
HB I get sucked into an Indigo at least once a month! The decor accessories are always calling my name and I can never settle on what book I want to leave with.
9 London, Paris or New York?
HB Paris. It embodies effortless style, romance and, of course, macarons!

10 If money were no object, what one thing would you buy?
HB A full frame camera. I had no idea it would become such a hobby of mine, but thanks to blogging I fell in love with photography. I would love to expand my camera skills on a fancy pants professional camera.

11 What do you consider to be the most iconic design piece of the past century?
HB This is something I do not feel remotely qualified to decide upon. If I had to pick one thing I feel to be the most timeless, I think I would say white subway tile. It looked good way back when and it still looks fresh today. It totally reaffirms my love of white decor basics, because you can easily update everything around it and it stays current.

12 Favourite movie?
HB I could never pick just one, but Marie Antoinette is right up at the top. It is exactly what I picture when I hear the term ‘a visual feast’. Every scene is a masterpiece, and I would have loved to attend one of those bashes!
13 What’s your favourite movie interior?
HB The general consensus in blog-land is that Nancy Meyers movies have impeccable homes ( It’s Complicated, The Holiday, etc.) and I will add my name to the list of people that dream of living on one of her sets.

14 What do you think is the easiest way to update a room?
HB I make a conscious effort to keep all my key pieces a neutral so that I can switch up the feel fast with a few new pillows and art. But if you want to change the vibe really quick I would suggest trying slipcovers! It is so easy to find a store-bought cover and tailor it for a custom fit with a little tailoring (I simply hand stitch where needed). You could even get crafty and use fabric dye to do a cool colour you otherwise wouldn’t buy upholstered furniture in.

15 Best coffee table book?
HB In a past life I believe I may have been an astronomer, I could look at photos of the cosmos for hours so I always have this book out: Magnificent Universe.

16 What’s your favourite way to spend a lazy Sunday?
HB Sleeping in, a lazy breakfast at our favourite bakery, Duchess, and then hitting a book store.

17 What do you think is the best renovation you can do to your home?
HB Make it your own! My motto is that life is too short to live in a space you don’t love. That can mean a lot of things depending on your circumstances and budget, but I believe it is a big investment in your happiness to feel like your space is a good reflection of who you are.

18 What is your favourite space that you’ve designed?
HB I renovated a townhouse I flipped a couple years ago and I still adore that kitchen design. It was a big transformation on a small budget!

19 What’s the biggest design faux pas?
HB Being too trendy. I don’t think you need to fill your house with Pinterest projects, sometimes it is good to think long term and go for quality or investment pieces.

20 Marilyn, Audrey or Jackie?
HB Can I say all? Each one is timeless, but was so chic and cool in the moment as well, which is how all good design should be.