“My husband is an architect and in 2008 we were lucky enough to find land to purchase. We asked the only shaman we knew, Durek Verrett, and our friends to clear any negative energy and bless the land for us. Five years later, we moved in. It’s perched high off a cliff in Silver Lake, with a mere 70 steps to the front door. It’s like our family tree house! Climbing those crazy stairs is my daily reminder that anything is possible.”

"Our house balances my husband’s minimalist style and my need for a family home that is comfortable. The interiors are cozy, warm, and timeless. Nothing is too precious." 

"I believe in functionality over aesthetics, especially when you're raising kids. If you're constantly worried about spilling on the furniture or the rug, how can you relax in your own home? With 3 kids, I have so little energy already, I can't spend too much time worrying about keeping everything perfect. My mom is an interior designer, and as a kid we weren’t allowed in the living room. I remember the vacuum cleaner lines on the baby blue carpet. We are the opposite, we use every square inch of our house." 

"I love where Scandivanian and Australian design styles meet—muted colors, light, calm, peaceful, and welcoming. I can’t get enough of the designer Simone Haag, her house is dreamy. We’re a 30-minute drive to the ocean on a Sunday morning, so we feel connected to the salt and sand. The floor is a white oak, the walls are a warm white, it’s beachy and cozy. One of our living room walls completely opens to the outside, so we’re drenched in light and fresh air." 

"I wanted a couch we could all fit on, so it’s larger than I would typically design for a client. It’s cotton with slip-covers that I can throw into the wash. The coffee table is a one-of-a-kind piece made from reclaimed wood. It’s indestructible! Every color of crayon and marker have touched it and Play-Doh lives in the seams. It functions as a play table for the kids, and can seat 20 kids at birthday parties! Both are by local furniture company Cisco Home—everything is thoughtfully hand-made here in L.A. from all organic materials." 

Cleo wears a Black Crane jumpsuit.

"We designed the house with the idea that all the kids' stuff could be downstairs where their bedrooms and laundry room are. But now we share our bedroom with a toddler, so yep every room is a playroom!" 

"I grew up in Wisconsin, so as much as I miss full seasons, I’m so thankful for the temperate climate in L.A." 

"Yes, after the kids go to college my husband and I would love to retire in Paris, or get an apartment there. That’s the dream!" 

"For us nature is really the best babysitter. The kids have wet suits, so we go to the beach year round. We like Annenberg Beach House because you can always find parking, and the public bathrooms are clean. When we have more time, we try to get up to Malibu. We usually go to El Capitan Cabins in the spring, they have a charming Easter egg hunt. Joshua Tree is the best playground for kids. We go straight to White Tank where the rocks are low and easy to climb. It’s especially magical during Super Bowl weekend. We’re happy to skip the game to seemingly have the park to ourselves. Our toddler loves the pony rides and carousel at Griffith Park, we are there every weekend. As for shopping, I prefer to shop locally in Silver Lake or Atwater. For fashion and gifts, I like Midland, Mohawk General Store, Avion Clothier, or Individual Medley. I also try to go to the Echo Park Craft Fair seasonally and support small, mostly local businesses and artists. My favorite local restaurants are Speranza, Small Town, Salazar, Little Pine, Botanica, Dune, Cortez, Night + Song Market, All Time, Kismet, and Little Dom's." 

"Right now the baby is the heart and soul of our family. She is so joyful and amusing, we’re all totally smitten with her. She has brought so much humor and lightness, we get excited every time she learns a new thing. She’s talking so much now, it’s very exciting!" 

"My upbringing was challenging for me, so I hope I have the tools and intuition to give my children what they need to be compassionate humans, and succeed in this world. They really are their own people, and as much as I have tried to mold and shape them, I feel like my job is simply to keep them safe (and feed them). They are going to be what they want to be."

"I thought I had this all figured out. Our oldest daughter isn’t a great sleeper and she’s an incredibly picky eater (except for Japanese food). She’s sensitive to tags in her clothing, and, well, very specific about pretty much everything. She’s far more emotional than our son, who doesn’t fight sleep, and for the most part is an easy, straightforward little guy. But then I had a third...and our baby girl seems to be a combo of both 'gender traits,' so my whole theory has been blown out the water. I would say, in general, boys are easier, but girls are more fun to dress!" 

Cleo wears an Ulla Johnson dress.

"Emerson, my firstborn, was named after the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. She has his quotes all over her room, so thankfully the name resonates with her. Our very first baby is our dog Rilke, so Eme followed suit with a poet name. Our son Lake is loosely named after Greg Lake. My husband’s family teased us after we named our daughter Emerson, and sent us an Emerson, Lake, and Palmer album. I had no idea who they were until I played the album and strangely I knew all the lyrics to 'Lucky Man.' I don’t love band association, but fell in love with the name Lake. Our third baby I wanted to name Celeste, it means heavenly. Being pregnant at 44 felt like a gift from God. But...she was born on St. Particks’ Day and my husband, McShane, clearly Irish, didn’t love a 'French' name. So, in my fog of giving birth, Rowan was the only Irish name I liked that I could also pronounce correctly." 

"Eme is 13 and she’s into her friends, Brandy Melville, and does TikTok dances all day long. She also loves school and swimming. Lake is into video games (we're working on this!) and all sports, especially soccer. We got season tickets to LAFC and they both love going to games! I fought the idea of a trampoline forever, because you hear of so many injuries, and I finally gave in a few months ago and they all use it everyday. The big kids love to do flips and it’s been a great way to keep their attention off technology. The baby loves it too! So far no accidents." 

"Honestly, for me it’s been harder than I thought it would be. I have a small business and zero time for myself, which has been my challenge. I’ve had to put a few things I love on the shelf for now: exercising, cooking, even socializing has been tricky. Plus having a baby in my forties has been hard on my friendships and somewhat isolating."

"My first two are 18 months apart, it was all-consuming and fulfilling, so I never considered a third until my youngest went to kindergarten. At that point I was 40 and the whole idea seemed so crazy, even dangerous, to everyone around me and I agreed with them. But secretly I wanted another baby, and it came pouring out of me in a women’s circle. I shared this with my incredibly supportive husband, and he agreed to try for a third. I had to work hard in my thirties to save for a house, we both did! So, there was a part of me that felt like I missed out. I never took maternity leave, both babies were in daycare by 6 months. I had never heard of 'The Golden Month' or a postpartum doula. With the third baby I did things a little differently. I do find myself falling back into my work, but I make much more time for all my kids than I used to." 

"Yes." 

"My first two babies were breech, I had to have c-sections but getting pregnant was simple. Getting pregnant the third time, many years later, was much harder. For the first year or so we tried on our own. Then I saw a specialist, he tested both of us and helped me track my cycle at first with no drugs. I had an ectopic pregnancy, which was scary for a moment, but I was hopeful—this was progress! About 6 months later I got pregnant again. I had been monitoring the fetus closely and going to the doctor every week. I saw the heartbeat at 7 weeks, so it all felt very real. For the 13-week visit I brought my husband for the first time, but the heartbeat was gone. I was surprised how hard I cried, I think he was, too. Nearly a year went by and we agreed to try IUI. I went on the drugs and we had the insemination, but it wasn’t successful. Then 2 months later we went to a friend’s wedding in Sicily. I distinctly remember watching my family play in the Ionian Sea and decided in that moment that my life was complete without a third. I had become so preoccupied with my baby fantasy, that I wasn’t present. When we got back from our trip I missed by period. I had a perfectly healthy pregnancy and a successful VBAC at age 44. Mother nature has her ways." 

"Yes, I did a full 3 months maternity leave, and for the first year worked half days. 

"My Loom class and all the delightful mamas there were so helpful. Nicole Makowka, our facilitator and lead educator at Loom, is a remarkable woman and my ultimate 'mother muse' she’s also a marriage and family therapist. I also adore Melanie Snell, our RIE class facilitator." 

"Doctor Shefali Tsabary and Janet Lansbury. I also look up to many of my friends as mom icons. Elizabeth Antonia has been a great mothering mentor and friend over the years, especially with my older kids. I adore Sophie Assa, she’s a wealth of knowledge and such an open book. Also Paige Appel and Kelly Harris, I joined them last fall at the Midland retreat they host in New Mexico and we continue to meet in circle. This has been spiritually opening and a beautiful resource as a mother."   

"My parents did their best! When I was nine, they got divorced, sold our family home, gave away my beloved dog, and we moved into a crappy apartment. I lived there with my dad and two older brothers until I was sixteen. Living with three men as a young girl was a challenge, but I've learned to cherish that time and what I learned from them. I lived with my mom for a short time before I left for college, graduated, moved to New York, and never really looked back. I love family, but my childhood feels broken." 

"Overarchingly attachment style, also very permissive. I was never able to sleep train my babies, our toddler sleeps in our bed, she’s still nursing at nearly two. I don’t really have set expectations for them, I want them to be kind to each other, and do their best. Studying R.I.E. has helped me set more healthy boundaries. It’s a work in progress." 

"I feel a responsibility as a mother to set an example and make my political views clear to my kids. We talk about what’s in the news and I try to explain what’s happening in a way they can understand. We protested at the Women’s March, my husband and my son included. We hosted a poster-making night in our office, and I designed and printed hundreds of t-shirts for our friends and community. My daughter loves to wear these! She recently asked me if she could come with me to vote, so we waited in line forever and talked about the government and she was into it. She's a powerful, strong-minded girl with a point of view. I'm fascinated to see how she will mature as a woman and use her voice." 

"Ask yourself what you want your child to be like when they are your age, and model that for them." 

"No. But I wouldn’t rule out fostering a child, I feel like I’m getting better at this as I get older." 

"I’m the co-owner and creative director of a design and architecture studio, Project M Plus. I currently lead the branding and interiors teams." 

"I went to college at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, and moved to Brooklyn the moment I graduated. My first job was at the Guggenheim Museum, then I became an agent and producer at B&A Reps. I felt a need to work more creatively and decided to study graphics at Parsons School of Design. Before founding Project M Plus, I worked at design and advertising agencies in New York and London for 10 years, including Saatchi & Saatchi, Pentland Brands, and The Body Shop." 

"Yes. I always wanted to be a Creative Director, but I knew I wouldn't be able to raise a family and work agency hours, so I created my own studio. I also work with my husband, so we share both our responsibilities at home and in the office." 

"We have no family in town, which is tough, but do have a full-time nanny who we absolutely adore. I have a wonderful network of mom friends, but don’t get to see them as much as I would like." 

"Employees and clients come and go, what really matters is being there for your family and friends. Go to the birthday parties, attend the weddings and funerals, take every opportunity to celebrate with your friends and family. If you get an invite and care about that person, try your best to make time! Also, 'to have and to hold' is in your vows. If you love your family, have sex with your husband or partner. At times it’s the last thing on earth I have energy for, but I feel better physically and mentally, and my relationship is stronger and more patient." 

"Yes, I have so much mom guilt. I co-sleep with my kids if I need a little extra time with them, or have had a long day away from them. I take big bubble baths with them (we can fit 3 in our tub). I’m a terrible singer, but I still sing to them everyday. I try to find a little time to have intimate moments with each of them. Lake, my 11-year-old boy, is slow to fall in love with reading so we 'tag read.' I read one page (or two) and he reads the next. We cried through Wonder and Where the Red Fern Grows and just finished Hatchet. Because I’m a working mom, the way I see it, it’s not the amount of time, it’s the quality of time. I have a cute way of indulging them without spoiling them. If they ask for ice cream at 8pm, instead of saying 'No,' I’ll say, 'What flavor ice cream are you craving? How many scoops? Any toppings?' Or, I get this one a lot, 'Can we get a puppy?' And I'll say, 'Oh, I’d love a little puppy, too. What type of puppy? What color? How big? What color leash or bed? Girl or boy?' You can have so much fun with this!"

On Emerson's room: "Our views from the house are pretty epic, so we designed a window seat for Eme’s room. The fabric on the window cushion is by Kufri, Rex in Blush. I adore this company, the founder, and her mission. The fabric on the drapery is Teton in Snow by Schumacher. Eme loves checking off the dates on her oversized calendar, we’ve been purchasing it from the designer 1Canoe2 for years."

"It’s vital. I think about this all the time, they are mirroring what they see." 

"It’s been a roller coaster with some very dark moments of panic, sorrow, and letting go. And also touching moments between deeply supportive and loving friends and family. The first two weeks were terrifying and hardest professionally. I resisted the change, the layoffs and furloughs, the cancelled projects. Our company felt like it was slipping out of our hands. Since our nanny lives with her extended family, I took over the household and childcare. But unlike the super-quarantiners we’ve all seen on Instagram, I felt like I couldn't dance, or make bread or deep clean my house. It all felt very dark, the news was overwhelming, I even had a hard time following friends on social media. I took a digital detox."

"My friend Amanda sent me this article that summed up what I was feeling: grief. It’s like that quote by MLK Jr. 'But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.' Last week, I felt my energy shift and I started feeling more compassion for myself and others. We did our first Ryan Heffington Instagram live. We did a cleanup dance party with the kids, and I taught the big kids how to do laundry. The 8pm shout-out became thrilling rather than tear inducing. We’ve celebrated three birthdays in quarantine; myself and my two daughters. Our friends showed up for us with so much love and baked goods! I let go of some of the grief and found myself thankful for my health. We started saying grace at dinner every night. It’s been a transforming time."

"I finally made a schedule, strangely this was what we were all craving. It’s pretty loose and centered around my 5th and 7th grader, but it’s been helping. It goes like this—9-10am: breakfast & breakfast cleanup (the cleanup part is key); 10-11am: exercise or art; 11-12:30pm: lunch and lunch cleanup; 1:30-3pm: walk or drive; 3-5:30pm: baby nap and big kid free-time & technology; 5:30-6pm: prep for dinner; 6-7pm: dinner and dinner cleanup; 7:30pm: bath, games, movies; 9:30pm: bedtime."

"Some resources we’ve actually used: Bravery Magazine's FREE four-week daily homeschool curriculum; Sweat Fest Dance @ryan.heffington on Instagram Live; Scholastic Learn at Home for 6-9th grades; and wisdom and grounding with @satsukishbuya and @nataliemartinot."

"We have a small unit above our garage that we rent on Airbnb, and since those bookings have been cancelled, we’ve had a quiet space to work at home. My husband has always been an early riser, so he gets up at 6am and works until 3pm. I play teacher, chef, and housekeeper all day, prep dinner, and go to work at 3pm down in the unit. McShane can put the baby down for her afternoon nap, and I typically come up for dinner at 6pm and go back to work afterwards, until 10pm. It’s a marathon but we’re managing!"

"They’ve each responded in their own way. The baby is happy to have Dad home for afternoon naps and he’s enjoying the gift of time with her, too. They are very into books right now: Busy, Busy Town, A Visitor for Bear, Trashy Town, and In the Night Kitchen. My older daughter just celebrated her 13th birthday in quarantine. Her friends came by and decorated the sidewalk with chalk and covered the garage with artwork for her. She’s also teaching herself gymnastics from YouTube. My son, who is quite easy-going, needs so much more exercise than I can give him. He’s literally bouncing off the walls—I'm so glad we invested in that trampoline, it’s saving us!"

"The loss of loved ones for so many people in our country is tragic. I also worry about the emotional scars of people who have been critically ill and alone in the hospital. I truly believe this is an environmental issue, too. Deforestation has caused bats to seek food in urban areas and brought them into closer contact with humans. If we continue to ignore our planet’s warnings, we will keep experiencing unprecedented disease and natural disasters."

"I do. In my book of dreams, I would have more time for the kids, so it’s a welcome pause from the hectic day-to-day of running a business. I hope the solidarity we feel globally brings us closer to our common goals of peace and prosperity for all."

"We’re lucky and privileged to have a safe, lovely place to call home and to have jobs that let us continue working from home. The feeling of home as sanctuary and safe space has never felt more true. How do you design a space that supports you not just functionally, but emotionally? That’s a new dimension we can explore creatively moving forward."

"As much as I like my house, I am looking forward to getting out of it and being in the world with people I love."

The aforementioned sanity-saving trampoline.

"It depends on my mood and my day. If I have a design meeting with clients, I might go a little more bold and eccentric. I lived in New York and London for ten years, and Los Angeles is very casual by comparison. Some days I miss the 'parade,' that feeling of walking down the street and being noticed for making a little statement." 

Cleo wears a Rebecca Taylor La Vie jumpsuit.

"I honestly can't remember the last time I wore heels. I wear very little to no makeup. Most days I put on a belted jumper or my Jesse Kamm sailor pants, it’s embarrassing how many pairs I have but I actually wear them all." 

"I wear my Martiniano slip-ons nearly every day. Doen’s Jane Blouse is a weekly staple. I also like Rebecca Taylor denim—I started buying some of her La Vie separates after Isabel Marant and Rachel Comey got too expensive and a little too weird for my taste. Apiece Apart, Black Crane, and of course Ulla Johnson. I live in Babaa cardigans, and locally there’s Avion for beautifully made modern clothing." 

"In the evening I love Tata Harper oil cleanser. In the morning I put on Aesop SPF, and Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Defense, and a little YSL Touche Eclat All-In-One Glow Foundation. I love everything by Fat and The Moon, especially their Lip and Cheek stain—on the weekends that’s about it. I just finished designing the branding and packaging for Prima in collaboration with my studio M Plus, I love their Night Magic Oil." 

"When I was pregnant I was great at caring for myself. But this has changed a lot in the past two years! I regularly attend women’s circles, but don’t meditate as much as I’d like. We hike on the weekends in Griffith Park, there’s a trail head across from The Greek Theater. It's flat and easy for the kids, the views are magic." 

"For 'me time,' I literally have to get on a plane and leave town. I managed to do that twice last year. Once to Antara Retreats in Taos with Midland, and another quick getaway to Be Tulum in Mexico."

"To stay healthy. I’d like to have a network of wellness practitioners in my life and a deeper spiritual practice. I also want to find another piece of land and build a house. We design houses and businesses for our clients everyday, we’ve been able to help many of our friends, too. I’d like to create an investment this year." 

For more on Cleo and her company, Project M Plus, follow along on Instagram here and here.