When we spoke to the creators bringing our Pride campaign to life this year, there was one word that came up again and again – and it wasn’t ‘rainbow.’
It was the word safe.
“Home really is an extension of yourself,” interior designer Daniel Matthews tells us. It’s obvious the moment you step inside his Chelmsford home, where every corner reveals a considered collection of pieces, thoughtfully styled with his signature eclecticism.
In Boorloo, Perth, on Australia’s West Coast, KA Rung’s home is different in style, yet she shares the same sentiment driving her design decisions. “This isn’t just a house,” she tells us when we ask about her wildly colourful home. “It’s a space that feels safe. A space that holds love in its bones. Every detail is intentional, every colour a declaration that we get to exist fully, loudly, softly – however we need to.”
“Home is definitely our safe space,” agree Berlin content creators Federico and Ralph. “We’ve intentionally created an environment where we feel comfortable, inspired and fully ourselves.”
These conversations really got to the heart of what we’re all about at Mustard. We believe that your home should be a reflection of you. Not just a safe space, but a celebratory one – a place where you see yourself, express yourself, and are free to be exactly who you are.
Every year we celebrate Pride, a cause that Becca and Jess feel passionately and personally about. We’re really proud to be partnering with Outright International for the third year running, an organisation dedicated to advancing the rights of LGBTIQ people around the world. For the whole month of June, we’re donating 10% of our global sales to Outright.
In honour of Pride month, take a look inside some of our favourite colourful homes around the world, where queer joy is truly a part of the furniture.
Aurelia | Naarm, Melbourne, Australia
Comedian Aurelia shares her Footscray apartment with her wife Tamara and their dog Kenzo. Despite having an extroverted online persona, she describes herself as an introvert and a homebody. “My favourite place is home,” she says. “I like being surrounded by all of our stuff and having it on display. We even have little nicknames for different rooms and areas in our home – the kitchen is called the restaurant, the bedroom is the hotel, our Standard locker is where I keep any spare skincare and haircare products, so it’s called the shop. It’s like our apartment is its own little city, and it’s always cute when Tamara compliments the restaurant (because I cook) or when I tell her to check the shop for conditioner. We’re really proud of the little slice of heaven we’ve created in our home.”
The Standard in Poppy | The Shorty in Berry
“Whenever there’s a choice between a neutral and something more bold, we opt for colour. Poppy is such a gorgeous, sexy red, especially when paired with the reeded glass in the Mixer cabinet, that it was just a no-brainer for our home.”
Aimée and Amanda | North London, UK
Aimée and Amanda have spent four years slowly renovating their Edwardian terrace, room by room. It’s been a labour of love for the couple, who once wondered if they would ever be able to bring their vision to life. “For a while, we genuinely didn’t think we’d ever be able to afford a place of our own,” they say, “and during our nightly dog walks around our neighbourhood, we’d nosey at all the front doors and dream about what colour we’d paint ours one day if we ever had a period home of our own.”
Now, step inside their pickle green door – an actual dream come true – and you’ll find yourself inside a cosy, colourful home with “bags of character.”
The Collector in Mustard | The Ledge in Sage | The Storyboard in Poppy | The Buttons in Ocean and Mustard
“After renovating, finally getting colour into a space felt like breathing new life into it – it’s amazing how transformative it can be.”
A pop of sunny Mustard brightens up the office where Storyboards in Blush and Poppy create space for keepsakes and moodboarding. “Since moving into this house,” they say, “we’ve discovered a whole new appreciation for red, which has been really fun to experiment with. One of the best parts has been giving each room its own identity through colour and letting the mood shift as you move through the house.”
Federico and Ralph | Berlin, Germany
Federico and Ralph may share their home with their dedicated online audience, but it’s still the place they feel most at ease in, and that’s by design. “We love that our home doesn’t feel overly staged,” they tell us. “It reflects who we are, our creativity and the life we’ve built together. What makes us feel house proud is when people walk in and immediately say the space feels warm and personal.”
The Storyboard in Berry | The Shorty in Butter
“We wanted to create a space that feels inspiring but also calming, somewhere that sparks creativity while still feeling like a true sanctuary. We both spend a lot of time at home, so it was important that every corner feels authentic to us and reflects our personalities.”
With busy, creative lives, home is the place where Federico and Ralph can slow down and enjoy the little moments – “usually with our dachshund Sir John stealing the attention!”
KA | Boorloo, Perth, Australia
Ask KA to describe the home she shares with partner Zeth and their dogs Oatly and Arlo, and she doesn’t hold back. “A space drenched in colour – literally. Deliriously maximalist, and unapologetically, intoxicatingly in love. I still can’t quite believe this is ours.” From the jewel-box dining room to the bright pink bathroom, pops of red everywhere and the zesty orange living space (“it glows no matter the time of day,”) colour holds a deeper meaning for KA. “Colour, for me, is so much more than making a statement. It’s the part of us, the inner child, that’s always wanted to be seen and heard. That’s why our home feels like a healing space.”
The Skinny in Poppy | The Standard and The Storyboard in Poppy
“For a long time, I avoided who I was because I was genuinely afraid of what it would mean, and the sacrifice that would come with that. I knew there would be a cost to living authentically in a world that still debates the rights of my community. There are still moments where we’re pushed aside, misunderstood, or made to feel like we need to shrink ourselves to fit in. But I’ve stepped into myself fully and I’ve thrived. It hasn’t been easy, and it hasn’t been without loss, but along the way I’ve built a community of incredible people who support me, nurture me, and help me be the best version of myself. Being queer and full of joy is resistance, and I’ll never stop saying that.”
Casey | Boston, USA
Casey’s sweet studio home is brimming with personality. From the kitchen archway, festooned with colourful garlands to mark seasonal holidays, to the ornate mantle with its green tiles, this space is proof that good things come in small packages. “I’ve been snowed-in a couple times at my apartment,” Casey says, “ and I think I’ve created the perfect place where I can stay warm, start a puzzle and movie, and have a cosy drink.”
The Shorty in Olive | The Mixer in Olive
A glance around the space is all it takes to see that for Casey, keepsakes and trinkets are her prized possessions. “What makes me house proud is being able to see a home that is lived in and full of memories and love. I take a lot of pride in the way I’ve decorated my home because it feels representative of all the things that make me who I am. There are reminders everywhere, of the places I’ve travelled to, the people I love, and my different interests and hobbies.” The Storyboard in Poppy is dotted with film strips, notes and mementos, while her Olive Mixer displays precious photographs and cards.
“As a queer person, it’s important to design my space in a way that is true to me,” Casey says. “It really is a privilege and joy to be able to come home to a space that feels safe and authentic to me and all the growth I’ve experienced throughout my life.”
Daniel | Essex, UK
“My home is my most favourite place ever,” says Dan of the Chelmsford semi he shares with husband Archie and their miniature schnauzer, Blue. It’s a place where colour touches almost everything, yet the result doesn’t feel overwhelming – instead it’s balanced, warm and beautifully curated. “I really think of spaces as a whole, but also having a master palette for the house,” he says, “so not one room feels out of place or different from the rest. I just use the colours in different quantities in each room. This way, my home feels exciting and colourful, yet put together and very considered.”
The Lowdown in Poppy | The Storyboard in Ocean | The Mixer in Olive
Whether it’s an unexpected colour pairing that just works – like a Poppy Lowdown paired with an Olive wall – or a joyful clash of patterns, Dan’s home doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s what keeps it true to him. “My home expresses everything about me. The fun little accessories, the care and attention I take for adding thoughtful details in my home. What makes me house proud is creating a home that feels authentically us. It’s a place for friends and family to gather, and a safe space for them to be authentically themselves too.”
For the month of June, Mustard is donating 10% of global sales to Outright International, so you can shop with Pride.
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