If exposed beams, whitewashed wood and a disciplined palette sound like the formula for your dream digs, you're in good company. That's the esthetic of Remodelista.com, one of the web's most influential sources of inspo for DIY decorators, Julianne Moore and Diane Keaton among them. Having cofounded the site, Julie Carlson also lives the look: Her family home outside of San Francisco is a study in back-to-basics chic and budget-minded minimalism.

Brett Walther: What makes for a good do-it-yourself project?

Julie Carlson: "Simplicity. My coffee table [above] is a great example. It's a solid walnut desktop that my husband and I found in a secondhand store, and it's propped up on concrete blocks, one under each corner. I meant to have legs made for it, but I grew to love how casual and humble it looked as is, and it's turned into a signature piece in our living room."

BW: What's the key to mixing high and low price points?

JC: "It's less about the individual pieces and more about having an overall scheme and being consistent in that vision. It helps if you keep your palette contained. And if you develop a good eye, you can see beauty in really humble things."

BW: Where do trends fit into your designs?

JC: "It can be really fun to experiment with trends, but I'm more interested in investing in classics that won't look dated in five years. I'm already over that owl motif, for instance. If I never see another one again, I'll be happy."

Check out our five minutes with bedding expert, Joanna Goodman.
                                               

This story was originally titled "Five Minutes with Julie Carlson, Cofounder of Remodelista" in the April 2014 issue.             Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!