#AllCoopedUp with Nina Freudenberger, Interior Designer and Author
Nina is one of the coolest people I know. She is an incredible interior designer who happens to write AMAZING design books. We are neighbors in LA and in Malibu. She graduated in 2003 with a BFA and Bachelor’s of Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. In 2007 Nina founded Haus Interior, a private residential interior design firm in 2007 with offices in Los Angeles. In 2017, Nina Freudenberger published her first design book, Surf Shack: Laid-Back Living by the Water and in 2019, her second design book Bibliostyle: How We Live at Home with Books. Her books are my go to hostess gifts. Photos by Jessica Alexander.
What’s your profession, and what does your day-to-day work experience look like now?
I’m an interior designer and book author. These days, work is the same in a lot of ways, and also totally different. Does that make sense? There is no better way to describe it. I am working on two hotel projects, and that has been keeping me incredibly busy, but working from home as a creative is SUCH a challenge. It takes me so much time to get even the smallest decisions made.
Are there objects or spaces in your house that you are newly appreciating? Or are there objects and spaces you have come to loathe?
I am actually just grateful for what I have. I think I’m also in a bit of denial—I know I should be sitting at a dedicated work surface instead of my dining table, but this is working for me at the moment, so I’m just going with the flow. If anything, I am focusing a little on the boys’ rooms. I really want to make sure that they feel joyful and happy for them, especially during this time which I think all this change is confusing to them.
Describe your at-home quarantine uniform.
Oh boy, it’s pretty horrific. I have never been into athleisure, but WOW, I’ve really gone deep. It’s really a big question of mine: will I ever wear anything with a zipper on it again??
Who are you quarantining with? Do you feel the need to “get away”? How do you make it happen?
I am quarantining with my family, but my husband and I are taking turns going to our second home to work for the whole day. It’s really nice to have complete silence and no random tasks to distract! But have my husband and I gone on a date? Hahah, no, but we did do a little tie dye in the driveway at night recently, and I feel like during this time, that might have been a date?
What’s the last thing you purchased online? Regret or obsessed?
Jeans. I just bought these Swedish jeans in early March, and now I’m like WHY? Will I ever wear jeans again?
Tell us the best shows, podcasts, or books you’re loving right now.
Oh so many. I have all my favorite shows covered: Killing Eve, The Rain, Normal People, and I loved Unorthodox. I am really making sure to take time to read every day (well, that’s a positive to come out of all of this!). I loved Laura Groff’s Fates and Furies, and I’m currently reading Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney which I’m totally into. And obviously, the podcast Crime Junkie whenever I have a moment to myself in the car.
Do you have any new quarantine activities or rituals?
I am working hard on learning 2 new recipes during the week and I started home work-outs with The Class that I love.
What is your favorite quarantine snack? What restaurants are you ordering takeout from?
I am trying not to snack too much, which is basically impossible considering I make 18 bazillion snacks for my children a day. If anything, I try to grab fruit! Malibu is a little tough for takeout, so we have been really good about ordering produce boxes to support local farmers, etc. Last time I was in LA I ordered the taco kit from Guerilla Tacos, and we loved that!
What is the one item you’re glad you stocked up on? What do you wish you’d stocked up on?
Hair dye. Hahaha, just kidding. I would never do it to myself because I’m sure I would just mess things up. I did sort of prep for this—not that I’m a prepper—but back in January I started buying masks and hand sanitizers, etc. I was reading all the news coming out of China (and I’ve always been a fan of reading pandemic books), so this looked scary and I stocked up. You can ask my friends—they all thought I was totally nuts at the time.
What is your creative outlet and how are you making space for it?
I don’t really find that I have one at the moment! Maybe I should start?
Describe your biggest quarantine indulgence.
A lot of wine. And Craig's mint vegan ice cream.
If you have kids, how are you maintaining some kind of schedule for them?
That hasn’t been easy, and it took me a lot of time to get them into a rhythm. I have increased their outdoor playtime and stopped doing Zoom with their preschool, since that seemed to stress them out. I try to come up with a fun craft every day (really using my RISD education)!
What are you doing for exercise?
The Class—I highly recommend!
Are you sharing recipes with friends?
No, and if I see one more banana bread photo on Instagram, I might scream!
What’s been the biggest challenge for you throughout this?
I think realizing that we are going to be in this for a while. At first I thought it would just be a weird spring, but then I realized no—it’s going to be a strange summer. And now I’m just writing all of 2020 off.
When this is over I cannot wait to ___________.
GO TO A RESTAURANT!
Shop The Story
