Elizabeth Rees comes from a convention of printing, and is aware of that the precise graphics can have an enduring affect. The household enterprise specialised in large-format tasks like billboards and commercials discovered on buses. When Rees lived in Manhattan, she helped a good friend who wanted to replace her workplace, and got here up with a peel-and-stick wallpaper. Not solely was it uncomplicated to operate, it is also modified to go well with a spread of interiors. Her wallpaper was the proper product for design-obsessed shoppers who needed to experiment with shade and sample with out having to decide to an costly renovation.
Rees co-founded Chasing Paper together with her brother Mike Rees in 2013. Right this moment Rees and the corporate are based mostly in her hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the place she lives together with her husband and two daughters. Chasing Paper now gives a whole line of options and merchandise produced in collaboration with famous designers and influencers, from murals to tile decals.
Surrounded by motifs and hues from each finish of the spectrum, it’s no shock that Rees is a visible learner. She hopes her personal story will probably be in print too, within the type of a guide that bibliophiles will cherish. “I really like to inform tales and discover the precise phrases to convey a sure feeling or second in time,” she says. “It will be a dream to put in writing a novel in the future.”
Rees has loads of tasks on faucet, and her days embrace totally different sides of management. By no means afraid to talk in entrance of an viewers, Rees has found that she enjoys being a facilitator. She moderated two panels final yr, and the function got here naturally to her. It was additionally a enjoyable break from her routine, and she or he’s trying ahead to extra alternatives to interact on this method.
Steadiness isn’t at all times uncomplicated to realize, however one behavior ensures that Rees stays centered it doesn’t matter what is occurring. “I believe getting outdoors or on the treadmill permits me to transition from work to residence life,” she notes. “Strolling helps me to clear my thoughts and scale back the stress I’ve been carrying in my physique through the day.”
Right this moment, Elizabeth Rees joins us for Friday 5!
Exterior of operating a enterprise, I’m additionally a mother of two! The Charmspring Springboard is one in every of my favourite methods to provide my household a way of routine and management in a enjoyable, visible, and design-forward method.

Photograph: Kaboompics
2. A Stack of Books (At all times!)
There’s one thing a couple of stack of well-loved books that immediately makes an area really feel lived-in and layered. Proper now, I’m deep into by Rick Rubin – a must-read for anybody within the design world. I additionally love novels and simply completed , which was so immersive and effectively written.
I’m at all times searching for methods to be extra current, and the Brick system is such a intelligent tackle digital detoxing. It’s a minimalist block that restricts what you’ll be able to entry in your smartphone, permitting you to be within the second with out the distractions of social media and countless notifications. Whether or not I’m brainstorming fresh wallpaper designs or coloring with my daughters – this system has helped me get some vigorous distance from the pull of being at all times linked to know-how.
Marimekko has mastered the artwork of daring, graphic prints, and their Inexperienced Inexperienced Tea Towels sample won’t ever exit of favor. I not too long ago added a set to my kitchen, and so they immediately make on a regular basis moments really feel extra gleeful. It’s a reminder that nice design isn’t only for large assertion items – diminutive touches will be simply as impactful.
5. Classic Wicker
I’m at all times on the hunt for distinctive classic finds, and currently, I can’t get sufficient of classic wicker. It provides simply the correct amount of texture and heat to an area, balancing out extra up-to-date items with a little bit of character. Whether or not styled with a throw pillow or left naked for a sculptural second, it brings easy appeal to any room.