In this edition of Real Cool People, Real Cool Apartments, check out the Hartford, Connecticut home of Man Repeller community member Azua Echevarria. Our intentions behind the creeping: to learn what she’s all about. As with clothes, the way you decorate a room expresses your personality. In its most ideal form, it signals to guests how you interpret yourself. Take a peek into her house and brain, then meet her in the comments below.
Neighborhood, # of rooms:
Our crooked little treehouse is nestled in Hartford’s Historic West End. We like to call our place “Heaven on Earth” because it’s our personal sanctuary. We have six rooms (not including our porch).
How long have you lived here?
I moved here in 2013 after a divorce.
What do you like about the neighborhood? Has the neighborhood influenced the aesthetic of your home in any way?
I grew up in the West End over 30 years ago, so it’s cool to be back here. My partner and I love that it’s centrally located and has a broad dynamic of residents and businesses; everything is very convenient. Nature is also abundant here with large established trees and Elizabeth Park nearby. The surroundings play a huge role in our home’s aesthetic, as we spend tons of time on our porch. Being on the second floor grants us the privilege of keeping our windows open for fresh air and allows us to appreciate birds and nature’s soothing sounds.
Who do you live with (animals included)?
For just over a year, I’ve shared this space with my partner Toni Johnson, a recent transplant from Texas. Until recently, we lived with my daughter Mina, but she just moved into a place of her own with her partner. I share custody over our family dog Whoopi, a parti-mix poodle, who visits from time to time.
What do you do for work?
I do many things. In addition to being the mother to two amazing kids Mina (22) and EJ (16), I am a healing artist. I make natural Reiki-infused healing products for the body and spirit for my line Age Into Beauty. I also offer healing services such as Reiki, spiritual baths and custom healing oils and candles. Toni and I collaborate on a line of upcycled clothes and accessories called Wild Woman Twin Flame — everything is made from vintage denim and textiles and leather. I recently added playwright to the list of things I do with “Universal Womb,” a performance installation that chronicles the reimagined life story of my mother set in nine womb states (set to premiere in January 2019).
What did you think about when decorating? What was the process like?
This space has many similarities to the condo I lived in for 16 years, so decorating was a very smooth transition. I didn’t have to think about it much. I knew right away that I wanted to hang a disco ball in my living room because a part of me resonates with the vibe of the 70s. Decorating for me is all about curating vignettes of color, artwork, family heirlooms and plant life. I like to be surrounded by beautiful, thought-provoking original artwork. We are fortunate to know many artists whose work we are proud to have in our collection — Ricky Silverspoon, Kimberly Cannon, Sandy Welch, Mina Echevarria and her father Ellis Echevarria.
I also find a lot of things at tag sales and thrift stores, and some stuff has been passed down in my family. We have several altars in our home paying homage to our ancestors. My vision was to create a sacred space so cozy that all would feel welcome. I love rich, luxe environments but I want a home that feels real, cozy and love-filled. A home is truly a reflection of those who inhabit it. I’ve been decorating spaces since I was a kid — my mother would come home to rearranged furniture and new tableaux on the regular. As a result, this home is a true expression of who I am now.
If we were a fly on the wall of your home for a weekend, what would we typically see?
On a typical weekend you’d find Toni creating jewelry for her line of hand-wrought copper and crystalline wearable art, Rework Creative. Also, cooking is a huge part of our life and grounds us. Everything we make is soul food incorporating mostly plant-based ingredients. You’d definitely catch me chilling out on our porch catching breezes and sunshine. I’m an expert at the art of relaxation.
What do you think your home says about you? And how do you want visitors to feel when they walk into it?
Our home reflects our love of travel and different cultures. I’m sure most find our home to be very eclectic, but for us this is normal: being surrounded by things that express our personalities. Decorating is much like dressing in this way, so our home is abundantly accessorized. I’m a maximalist at heart.
Where is your favorite place in your home and why?
We are very fortunate to have a huge porcelain bathtub that we both fit in. The bathroom and tub are my favorite place to reconnect with myself and recharge. There’s something magical about our tub! It’s where I meditate.
What are your favorite home “scores”?
Artwork by Ricky Silverspoon is my personal favorite “score.” His work is political, important to our historical culture and has a raw feel that I can’t get enough of. We have many pieces that are rolled up on reserve for whenever we move somewhere with more wall space.
What’s something about your home you want to change and why?
For two women who are avid makers, collectors and vintage hounds we definitely require more closet space and storage for our materials and supplies than we currently have. We envision eventually not cohabiting with neighbors (this is a three-family house), having land we can harvest and grow on and much more privacy. A more modern space — perhaps a converted container home with clean lines.
What’s something you’ve been looking for forever but still have yet to find?
I’m looking for the perfect mid-century modern couch in a brightly colored velvet that has clean lines and a broken-in, comfy feel.
Where do you look for decorating inspiration?
I grew up scouring glossy coffee table books about African design and delving into issues of Architectural Digest and The World of Interiors. I also follow many Instagram accounts depicting modern boho vibes.
What’s the best piece of decorating wisdom you’ve ever heard?
My grandfather was the biggest influence on my interior design aesthetic. He had a passion for antiquities of Chinoiserie. He was also very gifted at curating spaces comprised of “good taste”(that’s what he called it), culminating in furniture, artwork, collectibles and culture. He used to say a home should not look decorated — it should look like you are well-traveled and “of the world.” I so agree. He thought me how to thrift shop and recognize quality textiles and well-made furniture with “good lines”(he’d say that too). He taught me to seek out a broad mix of colors, textures and eras that tell a story. Nearly everything in our home is found, thrifted or inherited. And that’s just how we like it.
Photos by Genevieve Garruppo.
