We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zachary Lampe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Zachary, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I was 11 years old. I visited IKEA outside of Chicago and bought 12 round mousepads with my lawn mowing money; 4 green, 4 orange, and 4 yellow. When I returned home, my parents looked at me with ‘WTF’ energy, yet they knew I had an idea in my head. I went to my bedroom (which had orange, blue, and green Pottery Barn bedding) with 12 finishing nails & a hammer. I sorted and scattered my new mousepads across the wall above my bed in an abstract dot pattern spanning from above my bed to the ceiling. They ended up staying there for years—mainly bc people raved about the finished project, all the while looking at me and asking ‘where/how did you come up with this idea?’

The answer to those questions was easy because my big idea was instinctual. Somewhat impulsive, yet a gut feeling of ‘this will look so unique.’ I was determined to my core, because I KNEW—and I’ve chased & embraced that feeling ever since.

Fast forward 25 years to now: I implement my wild yet polished & chic ideas in my sublimely-renovated historic townhouse in downtown Dubuque, Iowa, creating & sharing an ever-evolving prototype/display of fresh decorating and styling tips for my followers (and my guests!)

Zachary, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a stylist, decorator, & entrepreneur, I strive to inspire people to create homes & gardens full of life! I coach clients on decor choices/ideas, helping them conceptualize their own stylish spaces, indoors or out, virtually or in-person. I am constantly browsing top brand websites for new and fresh pieces and products, visiting showrooms, and fine-tuning my expertise in the home furnishings world. I also share my own ideas/concepts/purchases with my followers, utilizing my beautifully restored historical townhouse in the heart of downtown Dubuque, Iowa–complete with a secret garden–as the backdrop for the majority of my posts.

I believe my website says it best (playinghaus.com)

“Beautifully Unexpected, Brilliantly Perfected
Interiors & Occasions”

“Our ethos? Livable-Luxe; Make the ‘everyday’ a soiree by elevating your atmosphere. Beautiful moments don’t require a crowd.”

“Playing Haus Design is the PhD your home deserves. We develop elevated, curated spaces & places that celebrate the everyday. We give the mundane permission to be extraordinary, because we believe beauty and joy begin & end in the details.” (Interiors & Gardens)

“Playing Haus Design injects a fresh excitement into event-planning (& attending!) From vibe to menu, invites to small bites, we orchestrate your soiree with polite precision, promising details & delights your guests won’t find anywhere else.” (Soirees & Occasions)

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I finally decided to take the career leap into the creative sphere two months before the pandemic. I was the general manager of a Hilton hotel–while I enjoyed the people-aspect of the industry, over the years it turned into an accounting-heavy desk job. I crave people. After five years managing my property, I resigned and decided to forge my own path as a creative, There is no greater satisfaction than clients getting the goosebumps when they see their finished spaces. The bonus: they get to actually live life within those spaces. I have the ability to elevate anything & everything for friends, family, clients, and followers. I help people capture the aesthetic they crave from scrolling social media or magazines, and I bring it to life.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to unlearn many lessons, but one that stands out is believing that your own talents & instincts must be ‘earned.’ Yes, education is important, along with experience. But at the end of the day, your God-given talents and your instincts will take you places, if you allow yourself to explore, practice, and perfect them.

“Live in your own world. Ignore normal. Ignore news. Ignore notifications. Ignore anything that pulls you away from the mission. The others will try to distract you. They’ll say you’re too narrow. Too linear. Too extreme. Lack of conviction loves company. So they will drag you down to their reality. Recognize and resist. Outliers are outsiders who simply kept going. Stand outside, and you will stand out. Stay in your world, and the world will reward you.”

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Contact Info:

• Website: https://playinghaus.com
• Instagram: @playinghaus
• Facebook: Playing Haus

Image Credits

Zachary William Lampe (me)