
Designer Heidi Merrick Invites Us Into Her Spanish Abode
Written by James Kicinski-McCoy
Photography by PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICKI SEBASTIAN
Heidi Merrick seems to be living the ultimate California dream. The surf-shop gal turned fashion designer was born-and-raised on the west coast, riding waves and helping with the family business—her father is Al Merrick of Channel Islands Surfboards. She now has her own namesake clothing line Heidi Merrick, which launched in 2007 and is the epitome of breezy, California cool. Here, the down-to-earth mama of two (daughter Hiver, 6, and son Alfie, 1 3/4) shows us around her beautiful, eclectic home and gives us her take on style, the fashion buiz, and motherhood.
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"It's a 1920's Spanish. My husband Johnny does real-estate, so I'm pretty sure he nailed it for us."
Heidi wears the Drake Tee and Langley Harem Trouser from Heidi Merrick.
- "Goodness, I don't know. I'd love to say clean, but that wouldn't be true—I have two kids."
- "We really didn't change a lot. I think it's good to teach them that not everything is for their grimy little hands. Ha!"
- "They keep their toys in their room as much as possible, but we all have projects in different places around the house. Unfortunately right now, Alfie's main form of transportation is his tricycle. He likes to lap the house and check on everyone. This has led to me constantly tripping on his abandoned trike."
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"Alfie's room. The low bed makes it easy for us all to cuddle and go in and out. It also stays the coolest in the summer."
Hiver wears a dress from Morley.
- "I love the things that have been passed on to me by my mom, or given to by my mother-in-law. I also love the things I bought for myself once I'd earned some money and felt free to buy more aspirational pieces like my living room chairs."
- "Love everything you have. Don't try to match or make vignettes or tell a story that isn't yours. Allow yourself to be you in a beautiful way, don't over curate, and keep what you love."
- Horsey hugs.
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"I'm happier. Having Hiver took away all my wallow time and that was life changing for me. I'm much more productive in business and creatively. Sometimes, if I'm at my studio late, I'll think fondly on the days I'd work until 10 at night and get home whenever I wanted, but having an evening of cuddling far outweighs that freedom."
Heidi wears the Bahia Dress from Heidi Merrick.
- "How much more I'd love my husband."
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"Watching them grow. It's really unspeakable how intriguing they are to me."
Hiver wears a white top/navy skirt dress from Heidi Merrick.
- "My brother lost his daughter to cancer, so I'm aware that we aren't promised life. I'm continually weighing how I spend my time. On one hand, I want my daughter to see me work and feel accomplished. And on the other, I want to be at their beck and call. So, I fret over schedule changes and time with nannies. I'm not 100% about my choices and I approach them with great care."
- "My daughter is Hiver Psalm, pronounced eve-air. Hiver is French for winter and it was hailing in LA the day she was born. Her name can literally be translated Winter songs of praise. Alford Paul is named after my dad, Al Merrick and my husband's dad. I love his name because no one really knew my dad's name was Alford.
- "We wake up in Silverlake and eat a big breakfast, drive to our land in Carpinteria and they nap on the way. Then we go to the beach all day, eat dinner with my family, and sleep in our safari tent that night."
- Beautiful garden view.
- "I think Hiver is super compassionate and smart. She's also intuitive and flirtatious—I love everything about that girl. Alfie is so loving and hilariously boyish. Since his main words, that I can understand right now, are purple, mine, marshmallow, and Hiver, I can only say that he's awesome to be around."
- "I try to be intuitive. My main struggle is to be present. I tell myself often to be in the moment, look them in the eyes, and jump at the first opportunity to laugh."
- "I think I'm very similar, but I'm an older mom than she was and that creates subtle changes."
- "I really pay attention to the other moms at school, what worries them, how they budget their time—it's just helpful to have a peer group and I have a very strong circle of accomplished and loving woman. My mom is iconic, I always look to her for advice. My mother-in-law—her sons are both awesome, compassionate, and so confident that they seem selfless, which always points to good parenting. I'm still trying to dissect what she did so right."
- "I don't think I've gotten it yet."
- "I would remind them, like everyone did me, that it goes fast. The stages pass quickly."
- "I do a lot in my crockpot, like curries and roasts—they last for days. That's how we function best, with a few good meals that go a long way."
- Heidi wears a dress wears the Palma Dress by Heidi Merrick.
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"Being present. It's hard to be with kids and not futurise or ask about school. I want to observe better, laugh harder, play more."
Alfie wears a sweater by Jacardi, pants by Billabong, and shoes by Adidas.
- Aelfie's big-boy room.
- "I want them to know they are loved and cared for and have a place that feels magical to them. I also would love for them to know they have their own space in life. When we moved Alfie into his room, I'll never forget the look on his face to see all his toys and shoes in one place. We lowered his bed and I moved all my fashion magazines to make room for his things—it was well worth it."
- "I love Alfie's surfing pictures. My friend Sachi Cunningham gave me a beautiful photograph for my 40th birthday, and since Alfie and I are a day apart, his 1st birthday was eclipsed by mine, I thought giving him my best gift would be a worthy exchange. In Hiver's room, I love her canopy. We just made it for her in the studio and now I'm going to manufacture them. I think it feels like a little Californian princess."
- The canopy fit for a princess.
- "I love the cultural diversity and that we can still surf and play outside. Los Angeles is amazing."
- "Maybe, why not?"
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"Goodness, I don't know. Me?"
Heidi wears the Roman Dress by Heidi Merrick.
- "I think I get better every year, so I hope so. I am an expert in breastfeeding in nearly anything."
- "Harem pants, muscle tees, cashmere sweaters, and black dresses."
- "I love Dries Van Noten."
- "I make what I want pretty quickly."
- A collection of well-loved perfumes.
- "I am a fashion designer."
- "I'd say it's feminine and cool. Very California."
- "Beautiful scenery and what I feel like I need to wear."
- "Yes! I don't have time to muff about. I've got more important things to do than just fashion."
- "With constant attention to both."
- "Yes, we are making some of our best pieces in kids sizes! I made a poster for our spring collection and Hiver circled all the dresses, all 20 of them, and asked if they were coming in her size. I said a few were, so stay tuned!"
- "People want to box you in, don't let them."
- To keep up with Heidi and her crew, check out her Instagram page.
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