When Alicia Lund launched her blog, "Cheetah Is the New Black," in San Francisco back in ye old school days of blogging (aka 2009), she was working full time at an investment firm and writing on the side.
Now, the onetime side gig that launched Lund into a fashion career with an editorship at Elle has come full circle: With more than 160,000 fans on Facebook and 90,000 on Instagram—and sponsors who want to reach them—Lund has finessed her work for CITNB into a full-time job—not to mention a showcase for her stylish life and home.
Now living full-time in Sacramento with her husband and two-year-old son, Lund balances the mommy thing with work, which currently includes partnerships with Mini Cooper and Jo Malone London. And since she works from home—spending most of her free time there cooking, reading, and gardening (when the family isn't traveling)—having a beautiful, functional space is key.
Lund collborated with her friend and interior designer Deborah Costa, of Sacramento-based Design Alchemy, to remodel her 1940s home in a style she describes as "modern eclectic." The open floor plan is dressed in neutral tones and feels minimalist but warm, speckled with carefully chosen pieces that hold special nostalgia, many of them collected from her travels, as well "some pretty great family heirloom pieces of furniture that bring such sweet stories to each room. I love a good conversation piece," she says.
"My style is unfussy—I didn't want anything too precious or formal," she says. "We have a toddler now, so nothing is off limits. He's already destroyed half our house, but I am the kind of person who thinks that adds to the character. I don't mind the crayon markings on our leather couch and Moroccan rug."
Her go-with-the-flow attitude can absolutely be seen in her environment, where natural light and greenery keep her in a happy headspace, and the mingling of black, white, and bohemian vibes echo the palette of the blog that brings her so much joy.
"Working on something you're truly passionate about and that inspires you is the key to the happiest of lives."
