The Goods with Taylor Abbott, Home Designer
Navigating from a 'cult' to the country, finding her passion for designing and building spectacularly beautiful homes, all while thoughtfully raising two kids.
Name: Taylor Abbott
Age: 29
Location: Oregon
Kids: Ozzy (4) Honey (2)
My relationship with Taylor is funny in the sense that we originally met when she was maybbbeee 20 years old when I hired her as a sales associate at my shop in Portland, WM GOODS, yet now I’m the one constantly texting her for advice and guidance. In my eyes, Taylor perfectly exemplifies an aspirational yet attainable version of slow or thoughtful living, something that I strive for. Whenever I’m feeling too neurotic or high strung and operating at an uncomfortable frequency I check in with her to see what it’s like on the other side. She has followed her own path and it led her to something unexpected yet so perfectly fitting for her that I can’t help but feel inspired to try and slow down and create space for whatever is meant to come next. I’m so grateful she was willing to answer this Q+A (not going to lie, it took some cajoling as she is exceptionally modest). As you’ll read below, she is wise beyond her years and ‘influences’ me in the most positive ways to be a better, more present parent and to intuitively lean into what gives me a sense of fulfillment. Read on for the magic.
How would you describe who you are and what you do?
I loathe this question! What a beautiful way to begin this interview. :)
My first and favorite role is being a mama to my two toddlers. They’re two years apart, so I am essentially on my toes at all times. This is my most used emoji if you know me: 🎪
My second role is an accidental business owner with my partner at Dune Homes, a design-build construction company that focuses on making luxury livable and style accessible for the average buyer. I love what I do! I say it was accidental because I don’t have a clear path to where I currently am- but the older I get the more I realize, who actually has had a clear path?
You’ve had an interesting life path (perfect transition!). Can you share a little about your background and how you landed where you are today?
I was raised in a cult in Utah and moved to downtown Portland at 19. I experienced sensory overload being in a new environment / world- suddenly I was surrounded by incredible people, art, culture, food, freedom. I didn’t know what I was doing or wanted to do with my life in my 20s.
The first home we bought needed to be entirely renovated, something we did on our own and it ignited a little spark in me of, wow, I really like this. Fast forward to another remodel in Portland and I was hooked on all things design / build / construction. We had our first baby in Portland and decided it was not the place for us as we were craving a slower lifestyle. We bounced around and lived at the coast (more on this later), Arizona, California, back to the coast where we acquired a surprise baby, haha, then to Utah to take on a couple passion projects and have said surprise baby. We realized after a few years of being lunatics where we truly wanted to be which is in sunny central Oregon. We finally moved here and bought land at the beginning of 2021 and are feeling grounded and excited for this next chapter.
I never think it sounds like a lot, but now that I’ve written that out I’m like ………
Tell me about how Dune Homes came to be? How have you figured all of this out without a technical background?
While working on remodels, I created a witty Instagram account, @horchatahaus, where I logged things we were doing in a real way. I joke that it was all fun & games until the account accidentally gave me a job, and I will forever label myself “Amateuríst” because I can’t take anything, including myself, seriously.
After remodeling homes and learning about the process, Dune did its first spec house in 2021 where we learned even more. From there we did another remodel and one of my favorite projects, a Cliff May restoration in Salt Lake City, and worked on our first passion project (while I was literally 9 months pregnant)- a desert build in southern Utah. From there we have been lucky to land some incredible clients and are super excited to take Dune to the next level.
We have figured out the logistics and structure of Dune out as we grow- without backgrounds, but with experience. Something important I’ve learned about growing a business without a technical background is if you don’t ask, the answer is always no. Ask, grow, learn, and lean into curiosity. If there’s a question I don’t know, my answer is always, “that’s a great question, let me find the answer for you”- and I will work impatiently until I find it. Type A? Perhaps.
I’m always inspired by how engaged of a parent you are. What’s your approach to parenthood and finding a balance between time with your kids and fulfilling your creative and work needs?
This is the biggest compliment- so thank you for saying that.
I have a calm, loving and open approach to parenthood. I prioritize presence and privacy with my kids and have from the beginning. We have a fun and active household, and my kids feel grounded and safe which is my greatest accomplishment in life.
But also this is my first rodeo and I’m on my own so there’s also a lot of, “sh*t what the f*ck is going on!” energy in there too.
This being said, I think being a mom today can seem pretty heavy for the reason of it’s hard to feel like you’re ever doing anything right. With the amount of information and pressure-media out there I think it's been hard for parents to find and feel good in their approach. I struggled with this with my first baby- I tried to do everything right as any new parent does- eating, scheduling, sleeping etc., and one day I was just like, this is making me feel crazy. When my second baby came along I really backed off of myself and my stupid phone, and gave myself space to lean into my own intuition and what feels right for my family, and I feel that really helped me with where I am as a mom today.
When it comes to balancing work / home life there is no equal balance. I am currently working on this as Dune grows and we have never had help or childcare. Creating a weekly schedule has been key for us as we work and parent together. Knowing that I have time carved out to work and be creative helps me to be a more present and fun mom when I am with my kids. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if I am thinking about work with my kids, or thinking about my kids when I’m at work. A schedule has helped me to feel more accomplished and driven as of late- but it is absolutely a balancing act that I’m still figuring out. Sometimes (a lot of times as my kids are getting a bit older) the day will go totally south and I’ve implemented a mindset where at night instead of feeling guilty about it I will say, “well, tomorrow is a new day and we will try again.”
Motherhood is a breeze. Super easy and not mentally or physically taxing in any way. Phew!
You have fantastic taste! Where do you find inspiration?
This compliment put me on my high horse coming from the style icon herself.
Thank you, this is funny to me because I generally feel like a subtle wreck. I have always just liked what I like, which is usually a wrinkled white button down and Levi’s. I find inspiration from all over; traveling, the internet, cool girls / hot moms.
There was this time in my young 20s where I worked for this cool girl at her cool shop I’m certain you’ve heard of.. WM GOODS?
I learned a lot about personal flair during my time here. It was a very nostalgic time for me of self discovery- and to this day I will still buy things you used to carry in the shop because it reminds me of being in a cool city working at the coolest shop for the coolest boss.
I reach out to you every time I have an urge to slow my life down because you embody this idea of ‘slow living’ so well in my eyes. Has that been innate to you? How have you arrived there?
We moved to a tiny coastal village for a stint of time, and it was there where I truly learned how to slow down. I had a beautiful support system there who healed my heart and helped me learn that nothing is so serious. We’d shop only at the farmers market and spend our days outside and it was a natural way of life that really resonated with me. We lived there to figure out our next step in life, and it totally changed the trajectory of who I am and the slow life I crave and implement now for my family. It was not easy to arrive there, but eventually gave me all the clarity I was longing for. We now live on our land in the country and are excited to build our forever home here.
What are your favorite wellness tips and tricks?
I can go really deep and weird with this, haha.
We’ll keep it simple with some of the things I love to implement: tongue scraping, dry brushing, daily movement, magnesium + spearmint tea drink before bed.
We were recently messaging about some internal work you’re doing. Can you share more about what that looks like for you right now and any practices you’ve found helpful?
I am committed to my yoga practice, and without it it is hard for me to feel grounded. It calms my mind in a way that I need, especially in my current stage in life. Big fan of trauma release therapy and energy medicine.
What are you looking forward to most in 2024?
Ease. Softness. Contentment. A deeper sense of belonging and gratitude.
Rapid Fire One Sentence Answers:
Coffee or tea? How do you take it? Both. Caffeine owns me.
Coffee: caramel breve or a cortado
Starbucks: triple shot blonde white mocha (sorry)
Tea: matcha, I mix it with collagen, colostrum, and manuka honey
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be? Amsterdam
Are you more of a skincare or makeup person? Skincare, absolutely. Snail mucin and Cicaplast baume b5 forever.
Current read? Eh, I should be reading more. I read more in the summer. I watch movies in the winter.
Favorite artist? Chris Stapleton xoxo
Current show? Movie girl here. Lately I've been rewatching some my more light-hearted favorites- Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Focus, Beginners, Pretty Woman. I have a ridiculous movie list in my phone.
Tips for getting out of a funk? I have leaned into just being in the funk. Become the funk. Let the funk pass.
So are we moving to Bend?