Graphic designer Erin Zieske, who works for Print Mark-et, surrounds herself with items and décor that make her happy. The art-filled, 704-square-foot ranch sits in the Cottonwood Neighborhood on the west side of Rapid City, and 605 stopped by to check out her eclectic abode.
“i just think all colors go together.”
ARTSY ACCESSIBILITY
Zieske, who has released a recipe book, Record Recipes, and has a popular weekly e-newsletter, Honor Content, created a space that helps fit her specific needs.
“The kitchen had a dishwasher, but as a single person who owns a lot of wood dishes and would never utilize it, I took it out and replaced it with more storage,” she said.
Open shelving helps with easy-to-grab dishware, but Zieske says that it comes with a price.
“I love an open shelf concept, but it takes extra dusting and you might need to do a quick rinse of a dish you haven’t used in a couple of months up on the way top,” said Zieske. “But other than that, yeah, they’re great.”
One glowing detail that’s hard to ignore is the neon pizza light above the stove.
“The neon [light] is definitely one of my favorite parts of the kitchen, which is super rad,” she said. “I have always been a fan of neon art installations; I even have a tattoo about neon art, so when I found this ridiculous pizza, it was on.”
COLOR, COLOR, COLOR
Walking over from the kitchen to the living room, you pass two towers of books.
“It’s basically every book I never want to get rid of,” said Zieske. “Or if I get a new one then I find one that can go.”
“SOME OF THE COOKBOOKS THAT ARE VERY SPECIAL TO ME WILL FOREVER BE THERE.”
Below are record displays that hold an array of current and classic albums, which Zieske says she utilizes when she hosts get togethers.
“I did so much looking around for record displays that weren’t bulky and would compliment a somewhat modern space, and I found these on Etsy,” she explained. “I throw on records every time I have a dinner party, because then guests have something they can do while I’m being a beast in the kitchen.”
Throughout the home, it’s also apparent that Zieske has a love for animals.
“I’m obsessed with all of my hidden animal totems all over my house.”
When it comes to her style, Zieske describes it as “lumberjack ballerina.”
“[My style] is a little woodsy and a little feminine,” she laughed.
In regard to mixing and matching colors and patterns, she replied, “My favorite color is rainbow—I’m just not afraid of color. I feel like I’m skirting a line of ‘too much’ and the whole trend to go absolutely monochromatic with your home. I’ll do grays, but I want to bring in as much color as possible.”
VINTAGE FURNITURE
Zieske says she collects Eames pieces, though her couch is form Furniture Row. The vintages blue chair was found by happenstance on a drive around town.
“I found [the blue chair] on the street. Some gentleman had passed away and his kids were liquidating his estate, and they just put it for the garbage pickup,” she said. “I drove past it and yelled, ‘Oh no!’ I found something to go back and fit it in and dragged it home with me.”
“most of the original pieces in the house are by folks that I know, and the overwhelming majority of them are local black hills artists. it’s so awesome to surround yourself with pieces by friends.”
A WELCOMING SITE
Near the living room is the first visual you get when you enter the home—the bar cart.
“It’s the first thing you see when you walk in. I’m constantly asking people walking in the door, ‘Can I get you something to drink?’ I usually have about eight types of gin on rotation.”
Leaning against the cart from Ikea is a piece of art that is near and dear to Zieske’s heart.
“One of my friends, Manning Krull, is a paper mâché artist and did this big vignette with all of these oversized candies, but he lives in New York City,” she said. “I came home one day and there it was waiting on my doorstep, and he had sent it to me as a surprise.”
The “sucker” art and other elements, such as the cursive straw, showcase Zieske’s adoration for the color pink.
“Pink is a good theme to my house. It’s so cheerful, so I try to bring it into every room.”
“THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFE THAT I’VE HAD WINDOWS IN MY BEDROOM. WHEN I GOT HERE, THE FIRST THING i DID WAS LIGHTEN IT UP BECAUSE I WANTED IT TO BE THE BRIGHTEST ROOM IN THE HOUSE, WHICH IT IS, TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE A HARD TIME SLEEPING IN.”
UNPREDICTABLE AESTHETIC
Speaking of pink, the spare bedroom/office is a hodgepodge of more artwork and figurines, all topped off with a pink ceiling.
“One of my favorite designers, Orlando Soria, said everyone deserves a pink room, and I really took it to heart,” she laughed. “I think my favorite was painting the ceiling pink with gold glitter flecks. My front door is the same way.”
The Japanese platform-style bed folds out to a queen for friends coming for a visit, or perhaps for a safe place to slumber after a successful dinner party.
Near the desk is a large dinosaur figurine, which somehow fits the home’s unpredictable aesthetic.
“It was a birthday present from one of my girlfriends when I was completely too old to be getting a stuffed dinosaur for my birthday,” she said. “I think I was 26. That’s me in a nutshell.”
To sign up for Zieske’s e-newsletter, visit tinyletter.com/erinz.
