Camp Dopamine - Joy Through Design: SPACE: INSIDE THE HOME OF KELLY & DAKOTA

After a decade-long break from running this blog, I am back. This site, previously Design Is Mine, is something that I knew I wanted to start up again, I just didn't quite know where to begin.

After I moved to Los Angeles in 2024, I had a project that I really wanted to persue: peeks into the homes of local creatives. I have always been fascinated by how people live- their collections, their routines, the things that bring joy to their lives, and the messes they make. "Real life" ended up getting in the way of this project happening at that time. Now, after years of doing film portraits and finding myself ready for something new, I feel it is time to follow through with this dream. I want to peek into every corner, without it being perfectly manicured for a photoshoot.

A special thanks is in order for Kelly Rodéo for letting me spend a morning scurrying around the fantastical Glendale home she shares with her boyfriend Dakota (a.k.a. Wizard of Barge.) It is truly a treasure trove of wild toys, bright colors, teased wigs, fake plants, goblins, and high heels.

Summer: How would you describe your decorating style?

Kelly: FUN! (With a few guidelines) It needs to make you feel sparkly inside without using anything actually sparkly. No glitter- no holographic stuff- just pure color bliss. Just add hints of natural wood and maybe one or two... or a million fake plants everywhere and we're there!

Summer: What is your most cherished possession?

Kelly: Either my original Creepy Gals painting in my dressing room, or our battle axe. Such a hard choice. Ooh or the plastic Jesus plate I got from Out Of The Closet??

Summer: What's the coolest project you've ever worked on?

Kelly: Dressing up as a character for Parker Day's viewfinder toy collection- thankfully I have one as part of our huge collection in this house. One day my child will be playing with a toy featuring an image of me dressed as a trashy skank! What joy :')

Summer: What do you usually do on the weekend?

Kelly: According to this past weekend- I baked chocolate tarts, rhinestoned an entire shelf shaped like cherries for my room, watched RuPaul's Drag Race, and kissed my boyfriend.

Summer: What is the first thing you do after getting home from a trip?

Kelly: I'm a weirdo and I unpack. I'm a Virgo, I need my things in their places at ONCE! And then I go to sleep- because when I arrive back home it better be night time. Nothing gives me worse sensory booboos than coming back during daylight. I need that restart button on my brain.