Anna Jacobs Takes Us Through Her Minimalist-At-Heart Aesthetic

New construction houses are beautiful and all, but there’s something special about older houses, and that’s evidenced in this home tour today. Bend, OR-based photographer Anna Jacobs discusses why she is attracted to older homes and why she loves her 1940s cottage so much. She also talks about her preferred design style, her favorite places to buy home décor and her many passions (renovating Airstreams is just one of them). Needless to say, there’s so much to discover in this home tour, so let’s get started.

How would you describe your home’s style? How does it align with your personal style?

I’m a minimalist at heart, and am drawn to light, airy spaces that feel clean, warm and inviting. Naturally, Scandinavian and mid-century designs are appealing to me, and our home incorporates elements of both. I tend toward clean and simple lines, neutral colors and inviting textures. For the walls, ceiling and wood trim in our house, I chose a soft white palette; for the floors, we went with pale white oak so as to showcase rather than compete with the furnishings, rugs and artwork. I find clutter to be distracting, and so you’ll find little of it in our home. When I do incorporate collectibles or tchotchkes, they’re imbued with meaning—little gold bowls brought home from Oman, an old Polaroid camera gifted to me for college graduation, small ivory carvings handed down from a family member or a map of Morocco that Damian purchased in Fez, snuck back in his suitcase and had framed as a housewarming gift for us. If I’m going to have ‘stuff’ around, I want it to be ‘stuff’ that brings us joy.

What made you decide on a beautiful cottage?

I grew up in Vermont, in homes built in the 1800s, homes that were full of character and charm. When we began to look for a home in Bend, OR, I was overwhelmed by all the new homes on the market. Though I realize there are innumerable benefits to new construction, I find some to be lifeless and nondescript. We found this cottage built in the 1940s, which is relatively old for Bend, and fell in love. It has a spacious yard for our dogs, enjoys a lovely amount of natural light and it’s a five-minute bike ride to the city center. Do any of our baseboards sit flush with the floor? No. Is there weird texturing on some of the walls? Yes. Does our hallway have a slight slant to it? Mmhmm. But it feels like we’re home from the minute we walk in, and that’s what I love about it.

You moved from Vermont to Oregon. What made you decide to make a big move?

I was living in New York City after having graduated from college in Vermont. I came to Bend to visit some friends and became entranced. As much as I adored living in the city, I didn’t want to be a part of that particular rat race. I wanted a better quality of life that involved getting outdoors more, neighborly connections and a better work-life balance.

Where do you like to shop for your décor items?

I wish Room & Board gave out frequent flyer cards, because so many of the big pieces in our home are from there. It took just a few purchases to realize the quality of the products. Every time I am in a city that’s fortunate enough to have one, I visit Design Within Reach—I’m infatuated with the minimalist aesthetic and iconic designer pieces. When I’m on the hunt for something locally, I visit Root Adorned, a beautifully curated store that sells the most happy plants and hand-picked rugs, poufs and throws from Morocco. I head to Abode when looking for decorative pieces: it has such a lovely collection of glassware, planters and pillows. Found Natural Goods does the best job of collecting second-life home goods as well as locally made items.

You’re a photographer, but you also renovate Airstreams? How do you balance multiple passions?

When Damian and I restored our first Airstream a few years ago, it was a labor of love, one that lasted three times as long as we’d expected it to. Since then, it has evolved into a full-time business. We have a small crew that works in an industrial shop space five days a week, building out custom vintage Airstream. It’s a blessing that my passion for photography and my love for vintage Airstream aligns. Taking photos of these small spaces is a challenge, and one I’ve been excited to take on. It has also led me to branch out in my photography, and photograph other interior spaces for local interior designers.

What drew you to renovating Airstreams?

Neither Damian nor I had ever stepped inside an Airstream, but we were taken by their uniquely bold designs, their historical significance and by the passion they evoke. We found one for $1,000 on the Oregon Coast, had no idea what we were doing, but decided to buy it and renovate it to become an adventure-trailer, and then an Airbnb when we weren’t using it.

You and your partner, Damian, run your renovation business together. What tips can you share for other couples who want to work on projects together?

In Damian’s words: “Don’t” (haha). In all reality, it’s about balance. When we worked side-by-side on our Airstream, I had to remind myself to take deep breaths and he had to be patient with me. We were both learning, and we were learning together. Nowadays, Damian works in the shop and I work from home running a digital marketing agency and handling all administrative and marketing work for Mountain Modern Airstream.

How do you see your businesses growing over the next few years?

We would love to start building Airstreams out to sell (currently all of our projects are commissioned by clients). Our goal in the next few years is to always be working on two projects: one for a client and one flip that we get to design all on our own.

Your feed is full of different gorgeous travels! What were some of your most recent favorite trips?

We recently visited a small island a few hours northwest of Cancun, called Holbox. This little island is a piece of heaven. I found Hotel Punta Caliza on Instagram and booked our entire trip around it. It’s a family-owned boutique hotel that was built on a triangular lot. The architects flexed their creative muscles and built each room to border a meandering pool. We split our time between Punta Caliza and the most incredible Airbnb that was featured in Architectural Digest. The owner, Marco, is a professional photographer and has impeccable taste. To no surprise, there was a lot of white and warm tones in the space, surrounded by natural light, and I felt right at home. I asked Marco if we could stay forever.

What’s the most recent book that you’ve read?

Embarrassingly enough, when I have time to read, I pick up The New Yorker from my ever-growing stack of The New Yorker magazines. They provide me with everything I’m looking for: news, true stories of inspiring people, fictional tales and personal experiences.