Olympic Gold Medalist Nastia Liukin Takes AD Inside Her Dallas Digs
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Nastia Liukin has lived most of her life on the road. But this year, the gymnast—who dominated the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and brought home five medals including the gold all-around—was ready to put down some roots in Dallas. She purchased a new place over the summer, and after moving in with her nine-month-old Goldendoodle Harley, turned to Pottery Barn to help her decorate three rooms: her office, guest room, and dining room.
“I have owned homes and lived in so many different places, but this is kind of the first place that has truly felt like home,” Liukin tells AD. A consultant named Kelli from the store’s complimentary service, the Pottery Barn Design Crew, helped bring Liukin’s vision to life—and even helped her overcome some hangups about color and rugs.
Below, the Olympian and host of the Nastia Liukin Cup tells AD how she made her house a home.
Architectural Digest: How did you describe your vision for the home in your initial conversation with Pottery Barn?
Nastia Liukin: My team and I, including my [clothing] stylist Gabriella, we talked to them and worked with them to help marry my personal style with my home style. Before we even had a conversation, Gabby showed me a bunch of Pottery Barn pieces, which really led me to rediscovering the company.
Interesting! How would you describe your personal style when it comes to clothes?
I feel like it has changed over time. I have kind of evolved. [But I’d say it weaves between] pretty, modern, neutral, and classic. That is how I tried to transform the home as well—with little pops of edge. I would say the style at the home, at least how I read it, is kind of warm with a lot of natural earthy tones throughout. Also fresh and modern; I wanted everything to flow, and as with my style, I wanted it to be timeless. I didn't really want to do too many things that were trendy right now.
One of the rooms you decorated was your office, but at first glance, it looks like a living room/dining room.
Yeah, so, it is my office! When you walk upstairs in my house, it is a huge landing area. I wanted to make it my office because my team and I work from there every single day. The idea really was to make it Nastia Liukin headquarters. It was an idea I had even before the pandemic. It ended up being the most incredible space just because working and creating four different brands with all of our ideas and brainstorming and creating, I wanted a space that felt cozy, warm, and inviting but also that felt inspiring. That was kind of why half of it looks like a living room. I wanted the space to feel really comfortable but also feel separate from the rest of the house.
And is that a dining room table in the office?
It is. I wanted the workspace to be very communal and I didn’t want a desk and chair. So I loved that we were able to do that without it really looking like a dining room.
Were there any pieces that you weren’t sure about at first but that you ended up loving?
The way I grew up in my parents’ home—they were world champions and Olympic gold medalists as well—we never had any Olympic medals or memorabilia out in the open. It was something that we, of course, are proud of, but it wasn’t anything that we felt the need to display or show. That is just kind of the way that I have also designed and created my home, and it is kind of the same with personal photos and memories. I always kept that stuff in my bedroom. But what I really love is the dining room photo wall that we did. We made all the photos black-and-white, but they are all little glimpses of things that are really important to me and the memories in my life. I actually feel like now it is such a cool talking piece if people do come over.
What did you learn about design during this process?
Definitely being open to some color—that, and rugs. For some reason I have really always hated rugs. I don’t know why—I didn’t understand them. But having so many really added a lot of texture and warmth. I feel like the guest bedroom really helped me understand that you can still have neutral and natural tones but adding a little color. There’s green in there, which is still a calming color but not white.
Lisbon Cane Dining Chair and Armchair in Brushed Ebony
$599.00, Pottery Barn
Wood Gallery Single Opening Oversized Mat Frames, 4" x 4"
$85.00, Pottery Barn
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
