Leanne Ford remains hesitant to acknowledge her brilliance and describes her style as warm, easy and minimalistic-ish. But that humility belies what we all recognize in her cozy creative work. To arrive at such an authentically effortless look, you have to be guided from a very buoyant interior landscape. The look reflects flow. She models such beautiful restraint and refuses to over-work what a space offers. She seems to celebrate the NOW rather than feverishly hunt down the perfect pieces for every room. With such an approach, it’s pretty genius to also be minimalistic-ish if you ask me (saves a buncha time doncha know). Is it fashionably cool to love what she does? Probably, but I’d design freakily follow had she her star stayed small. Leanne Ford Style often embodies restraint, effortlessness and warmth.
![Leanne Ford designed cozy rustic modern minimal interior with fireplace and wood ceiling. #leanneford #cozymodernrustic #cozyinteriors](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/001-leanne-ford-amyneunsinger.jpg)
Leanne Ford Style: Restraint, Effortlessness & Warmth
Restraint for Color & Effort
The thing is, anyone can gut a place and start fresh with a healthy budget.
![Leanne Ford designed living room with walls rubbed with coffee, a mix of pieced together flooring, white slipcovered sofa, and rustic organic modern style - photo by Erin Kelly.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-the-cottage-erin-kelly-002.jpg)
But to preserve soul and spend little? That calls for a more remarkable level of consciousness and a set apart range of sensibilities.
![Leanne Ford rustic modern warm interior in a cottage kitchen she designed - photo by Amy Neunsinger. #leanneford #rusticmodern](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-camp-california-amy-neunsinger-001.jpg)
Leanne Ford seems to be a favorite of many for reasons beyond her reverence for white everything.
![Leanne Ford designed kitchen in her Pittsburgh guest house - in Domino magazine. #leanneford](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/001-leanne-ford-kitchen-erinashkelly-hilaryrobertson-dominomag.jpg)
Her cozy warm minimal modern style celebrates slow living and luxurious livability.
![Leanne Ford rustic modern warm interior in a cottage living room she designed - photo by Amy Neunsinger. #leanneford #rusticmodern](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-camp-california-amy-neunsinger-002.jpg)
There’s also a rich sense of self-worth and soul in the work. No one is showing off or flexing.
![Leanne Ford designed porch at Camp California. #leanneford](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/001-leanne-ford-camp-california-front-porch.jpg)
Maye that is why she is regarded as “cool” so often.
![White painted floors, seagrass Frnech baskets, white slipcovered sofa, and natural fiber rugs in a modern rustic California cottage designed by Leanne Ford (photo by Amy Neunsinger).](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-camp-california-amy-neunsinger-003.jpg)
Leanne Ford Style & Authentic Understatement
Typically when a designer speaks of an “understated look,” they aren’t referring to the humble appearance of things in their worn from use, threadbare state.
![Leanne Ford designed white laid back California cool sun room for Feel Free magazine. #leanneford #laidbackluxury](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/001-leanne-ford-feelfreemagazine-amyneunsinger-hilaryrobertson.jpg)
More often, an understated look in design means less embellishment, nothing too shiny or flashy, or simply a quiet color story.
![Leanne Ford designed living room with walls rubbed with coffee, a mix of pieced together flooring, white slipcovered sofa, and rustic organic modern style - photo by Erin Kelly.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-the-cottage-erin-kelly-001.jpg)
But understated in Leanne’s work feels more like gentleness and not overworking surfaces or footprints. Time after time, she proves it’s more than okay to use what you have.
![Leanne Ford designed living room with walls rubbed with coffee, a mix of pieced together flooring, white slipcovered sofa, and rustic organic modern style - photo by Erin Kelly.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-the-cottage-erin-kelly-003.jpg)
I love how she uses challenges to inspire her creatively. She knew the walls in her Pittsburgh guest cottage (above) needed something, and since she had coffee grinds lying around?
![Leanne Ford designed guest cottage with coffee rubbed walls, pieced together rustic brick, cement and wood flooring, and modern rustic decor - photo by Erin Kelly.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-the-cottage-erin-kelly-007.jpg)
Of course. Coffee wash the walls. In other cases, she uses ordinary supplies like grout in fresh ways.
![Leanne Ford designed bedroom. Twin antique beds in a rustic vintage bedroom with rough textured white walls and wood floors - photo by Erin Kelly.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-the-cottage-erin-kelly-005.jpg)
Taking Risks Because It’s Only Decor
There’s always a measure of risk, but her design attitude is a refreshing one.
![Leanne Ford designed cozy rustic cabin space with stone fireplace. #leanneford #rusticluxe #cabinvibes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/001-leanne-ford-cozy-fireplace-cabin-amy-neunsinger-photo.jpg)
It is only decor after all – there’s no need to sacrifice a calm nervous system for the seriousness of it all.
![Leanne Ford designed serene and vintage cool study in HGTV's Rock the Block. #leanneford #vintagestyle #rocktheblock #interiordesign](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/001-leanne-ford-hgtv-rock-the-block-study.jpg)
Her magazine is all about permission to try new things and follow our own creative impulses.
![Healing quote from Jung Pueblo on Hello Lovely Studio. #personalgrowthquotes #perfectionism #healingquotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/healing-quote-perfectionism-jung-pueblo-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
Ever see the show stopping cool interiors (including the study, above) she designed for Rock the Block?
Free-spirited Lighthearted Whimsy
So many occasions, it’s what Leanne Ford doesn’t bother with that feels genius. For example, trim and casing! When most designers opt for such radical restraint, it becomes necessary to finish all surrounding surfaces impeccably. Trim and casing always hides so many sins! But when the style is this relaxed…
![Leanne Ford's warm rustic modern bathroom design with concrete skimmed walls in a master bath by Leanne Ford on HGTV's Rock the Block. ##rusticmodern #organicbathroom #leanneford](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/001-leanne-ford-hgtv-rock-the-block-master-bathroom-vessel-sinks.jpg)
I don’t think Leanne hopes anyone will copy her designs or rip off all their moldings. The idea is to release yourself from conventions and make decisions from a place of self-awareness and freedom.
Psst. Loving the textured, plaster-like wall (like the one above) and wishing you could create one? You can. It’s a skim coat of a concrete product (Sure Tex “Whitewater”) RIGHT HERE.
![Leanne Ford rustic modern farmhouse kitchen with rugged wood ceiling beams, Sputnik chandelier over farm table, white cabinets, and stainless appliances.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/001-leanne-ford-rustic-kitchen-farm-table-sputnik-chandelier-wood-ceiling.jpg)
Leanne Ford’s Fashion Stylist Past Shines Through
Before interiors work, she was a fashion stylist in LA, and the influence is apparent with so many California cool vibes.
![Leanne Ford rustic modern interior with cowhide, herringbone wood floor, white sofa, and barn door - photo by Josh Franer.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/001-leanne-ford-warm-minimalism-interior-design-cow-hide-white-sofa-josh-franer.jpg)
![Family room and modern farmhouse kitchen in the Faraci home. #restoredbythefords #leanneford #modernfarmhouse #interiordesign #familyroom](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/001-leanne-ford-warm-minimalism-modern-farmhouse-alexandra-ribar.jpg)
She also uses black to great success. If you watch her HGTV shows, you may remember this bar she created (they antiqued the mirrored back).
![Antiqued mirror (original was copper) is used on the back of a bar with shelves in an episode of HOME AGAIN - design by Leanne Ford; photo by Erin Kelly. #leanneford #antiquedmirror](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/001-Leanne-Ford-Interiors-Bell-Interiors-Erin-Kelly-Photo-41-768x1152-1.jpg)
Effortless Underbaked Chic & Relaxed Cool
I appreciate how the rooms Leanne tackles end up like the best brownies, truly underbaked.
![Leanne Ford designed cottage with peach door, rustic pieced together flooring, and slipcovered white sofa - photo by Erin Kelly.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-the-cottage-door-erin-kelly-001-.jpg)
With such an unfussy approach, an imperfect room can evolve. Leanne models this beautifully as she changed her mind about those coffee streaked walls and all the warmth she added to her guest house. She eventually covered it all with white paint and is not sorry!
Riffing on What Exists Now
If you have watched Leanne’s creative approach on TV, then you know she is not quick to dismiss elements in place. Must all the wallpaper be removed just because it won’t match perfectly? Could it be modified or somehow elevated for historical love?
![Rustic modern bedroom by Leanne Ford with partially removed wallpaper and rough textured walls - photo by Erin Kelly.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/leanne-ford-the-cottage-erin-kelly-006.jpg)
![Tacos quote on Hello Lovely Studio. #tacolover](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/001-funny-taco-quote-exhale-negativity-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
Curious about the paint colors Leanne favors? SEE THIS. Here’s a warm white she loves:
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Restraint & Warmth
Mix Your Whites. We explored a gorgeous cottage owned by antique dealers who know their way around white HERE, and Leanne is adept at the art too.
![Leanne Ford designed tonal bathroom with tumbled beige tile and soaking tub.](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/001-leanne-ford-tonal-bathroom.jpg)
Warm modern minimal luxe often relies on editing and restraint. Think thoughtfully-curated accessories you love looking at but not too many of them for a light and airy look.
![A glorious modern rustic farmhouse kitchen by Leanne Ford for the Faraci family on Restored by the Fords. #restoredbythefords #leanneford #interiordesign #farmhousekitchen #modernfarmhouse #kitchendesign](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/001-leanne-ford-warm-minimalism-modern-farmhouse-kitchen-4-alexandra-ribar.jpg)
Essentials & Learning the Look
![Leanne Ford Get the Look Decor mood board for ideas to shop the decor style of this designer. #hellolovelystudio #leanneford #geththelook #whitedecor #modernrustic #rusticluxe #furniture #homedecor](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/leanne-ford-get-the-look-mood-board-lookbook.jpg)
Just look at what an inexpensive stencil can do to a patio…this genius stenciling pattern on ordinary concrete exudes the look of cement tile.
![Leanne Ford's gorgeous stenciled patio from HGTV's Rock the Block. #leanneford #interiordesign #stencil #rocktheblock](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/leanne-ford-hgtv-rock-the-block-patio-backyard.jpg)
If you love the Zellige handmade tile Leanne often installs maybe you’ll want to try a sample…it runs about $17.50 per square foot.
A more budget-friendly idea for a similar look but with ceramic tile is this one:
For Living Rooms
Ideas For Bedrooms
![Funny pet quote about dog on Hello Lovely Studio. #doghumor #dogquotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/001-funny-quote-dog-follows-sofa-humor-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
For Kitchens & Dining Rooms
![Holly Wire Dining Chair](https://secure.img1-fg.wfcdn.com/im/74977343/resize-h800-w800%5Ecompr-r85/4738/47388907/Holly+Wire+Dining+Chair.jpg)
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71fpcfzAsoL._SL1500_.jpg)
![Antique Stoneware Marmalade Jar James Keiller & Son's image 0](https://i.etsystatic.com/6496191/r/il/850f6b/2000682058/il_794xN.2000682058_qa79.jpg)
![Beamon 12 - Light Sputnik Sphere Chandelier](https://secure.img1-ag.wfcdn.com/im/68415659/resize-h755-w755%5Ecompr-r85/3206/32065015/Beamon+12+-+Light+Sputnik+Sphere+Chandelier.jpg)
Tour Leanne Ford’s Cabin
More ideas for modern rustic style HERE, and also find decor options here:
![Cozy Neutral Decor for Home - Hello Lovely Studio. #interiordesign #furniture #decoratingideas](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/cozy-neutral-decor-hello-lovely-studio-banner-furniture-interiordesign.jpg)
![Funny Midwesterner tweet from @midwestern_ope about an Uber ride on Hello Lovely Studio. #midwestnice #midwesterners #funnylifequotes](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/funny-midwestnice-quote-from-midwestern_ope-on-Hello-Lovely-studio.jpg)
![Minimal luxe style get the look on Hello Lovely Studio! #shopthelook #minimalluxe](https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/minimal-luxe-style-banner-hello-lovely-studio.jpg)
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
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