Audrey Leary

A pastry chef with a natural eye for bold design and colorful styling – meet Audrey Leary, a mother of two based in Connecticut who runs a dinner restaurant with her husband. Besides a passion for food, Audrey also runs the Instagram account @homerunballerina, where she shares life snippets of her interior projects featuring her eclectic, bright, and upbeat style. Audrey has chosen her favorite wallpapers for this collection as well as customized her own one. Ready to meet her?

Explore Audrey's selected favorites

Hi Audrey ! How would you describe your home?

Colorful is definitely the first word that comes to mind! I don’t really think of myself as a maximalist, because I try to think of everything as being balanced and not too overwhelming, but it’s certainly very bright, filled with patterns and cheery. I really try to bring a little sense of humor to every room. I’ve always loved small details that you might not notice at first glance but that will make you smile when you do – a brooch collection balanced above a doorway, a framed letter from my son, ants in a pattern on the wall.

What does your home represent for you?

My home is all about comfort, creativity, freedom, and love. Having moved around a lot growing up—sometimes even to different states every year or two—living here for ten years is a milestone; it’s the longest I've ever stayed in one place.

“I’ve always loved small details that you might not notice at first glance, but that will make you smile when you do.”

What inspired your choice of wallpaper designs for your home?

I tend to favor simple patterns and colors, aiming for a cohesive look across my home, which humorously enough, follows a “rainbow” color scheme. However, I've noticed a recurring theme of green and blue. I’m particularly drawn to checkerboard patterns because they are both modern and timeless. Choosing this motif for the room just felt natural—it was an obvious choice!

“I really try to bring a little sense of humor to every room.”

You also created a custom Peel & Stick wallpaper.
What inspired this unique design?

I designed my own wallpaper featuring a simple, repeating pattern with organic shapes, and through Photowall's custom wallpaper creation, brought that vision to life. This design contrasts beautifully with the Square Up wallpaper’s geometric squares. The inspiration came from the elegant, curvy lines typical of classic spindle furniture—timeless yet funky. I also embraced a palette of soft shapes and bright colors, aiming for a look that's both contemporary and inviting.

ORDER YOUR OWN CUSTOM WALLPAPER

What are your top 3 interior design tips?

1.

Paint is your friend: Do not be afraid of color! This is the number one thing I’d say to anyone - it’s just paint, you can always change it, it’s relatively inexpensive and it makes the biggest impact.

2.

Invest in Wallpaper: There’s truly nothing like real wallpaper to elevate a room. Initially, I hand-painted patterns on the walls when wallpaper was beyond my budget, but investing in the real deal makes a world of difference. Remember to keep the offcuts; they’re great for decorating door frames, ceilings, furniture, or just about anything else.

3.

Rearrange Your Furniture: It’s been a favorite pastime of mine for years (first to the consternation of my parents, and now my husband!). If your space feels stale or something seems off, try moving things around, like the artwork or the sofa. It’s a free way to make your environment feel new and exciting again.

Want to know more about Audrey and follow her bright and colorful journey? Visit her Instagram @homerunballerina and get inspired!

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