We once again partnered with Vanessa Chaverri-Gratz of The Gratz Life to explore part of the journey of turning a house into a heartfelt home through door hardware. Learn Vanessa’s creative process behind home updates and renovations, from sourcing materials that honor vintage charm to the joys and challenges of each project. Whether you’re a design enthusiast or seeking inspiration, there’s something for everyone on this adventure. Let’s get started!
Hi Vanessa! Thanks for working with us again to install more Nostalgic Warehouse hardware in your home. What inspired you to create The Gratz Life?
I wanted a platform to share my creative process for making our house a home, our adventures, and my favorite things. It started as a little bit of everything, really a lifestyle account/blog, but over time, I found that sharing “everything” wasn’t what excited me—sharing the design and decor process was what made it fun for me. Once I made that switch, “The Gratz Life” took off.
How has The Gratz Life evolved over the years?
The Gratz Life has evolved from a lifestyle blog sharing everything that I was interested in into a space truly for home, garden, and decor enthusiasts. I love that when you find me, whether on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, or Facebook, you know you’ve found The Gratz Life. You can quickly identify what I share and what my style is.
How has your style evolved over the years?
My style has evolved as I’ve moved around. With the mindset of “letting a house lead you,” it’s almost required to allow your style to evolve with the space. I went from being pretty eclectic living in a 2000s home in California to leaning very mid-century modern in a 1970s home in Texas to now really allowing myself to indulge in a mixture of styles but all with the essence of an English countryside Tudor in our 1926 home in Michigan.
How do you go about sourcing materials?
First and foremost, I let the house lead me. With any project, I want to respect the style and period of the home, and my goal is almost always to bring it back to its original glory. For this project, I wanted to bring the charm back to the upstairs that had previously been modernized. I knew brass was likely what was used in the home when it was built in 1926, so it was the only material I was interested in using. The choice of “unlacquered” also made the hardware feel like it had been here forever.
What is your favorite part about doing home updates and renovations?
It’s the after! It's so special to enjoy a newly updated space. The opportunity to bring a home or a room to its fullest potential makes it worth it.
What is your least favorite part about doing home updates and renovations?
If I’m being honest, the process of renovations or updates isn't my favorite at all. I’m not a natural DIY-er; I am more of a circumstantial one. My husband grew up with what I call “Do-er” parents. They did everything from tile work to flooring to roofing and piping. They have helped us a lot with getting over the hump of “how do we do this?”
What have been some of the highlights of your career so far?
I’ve been lucky enough to have some cool opportunities so far. Being asked to pilot season 4 of Diary of an Old Home on the Magnolia Network is by far the most exciting opportunity to date. The experience of filming, sharing our story, sharing our home, and just being given a platform like that has been such a gift.
What have been some of the biggest challenges so far?
I’m not formally educated in design or decor, so for me, it’s just the learning process. Understanding different aspects of this world, cultivating relationships, and using trial and error are hard, but they’re all worth it.
What are your favorite types of projects to work on?
I love living rooms. I call them the landing pad of the home. In our house, I also call them the heart of a home. It’s where you spend most of your time; for me, it’s where I display my most special finds. I love creating those for clients, and I love constantly evolving ours.
What is your current favorite room in your home and why?
Right now, it’s my office. I recently updated the space in a very moody and big way. It’s a beautiful space, and I am so lucky to work in it daily!
Is there anything else you would like to share?
If you are a design and decor enthusiast or professional who loves unique and collected spaces emphasizing historic charm and sourcing vintage and antique items - find me. I’d love to connect! @thegratzlife
Thank you once again for sharing your home with us, Vanessa! Note to our audience: mortise sets are a custom order that can be placed through our customer service department. You can reach them here, by calling 1-800-522-7336, or emailing [email protected].
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