
Pregnancy Style: Kelly Harris Of Bash Please
Written by James Kicinski-McCoy
Photography by Photographed by Max Wanger
You know those perfectly put-together and incredibly beautiful party photos we find ourselves re-pinning on Pinterest while on the hunt for our own celebration inspiration? Chances are Kelly Harris is one of the ladies behind some of them. As co-founder of the creative event and styling production duo Bash Please, the busy mompreneur is one serious businesswoman with an eye for everything cool. The mama to three-year-old Lucy Roux just welcomed her most-recent creation, daughter Coco Marie, into the world. Here, she chats family, work, and style just days before giving birth.
- “When we bought our home five years ago it was a diamond in the rough. We loved the flow and character of the house, but didn't love the finishes or details. The walkable neighborhood and nearby parks were a big sell, knowing we wanted to start a family. And any sort of backyard in Los Angeles is such a coup! We spent the better part of our first year as homeowners renovating it ourselves—painting, refinishing floors, and gutting the kitchen. It was a total labor of love. Putting in our own elbow grease has only made it feel more like home to us.”
- “Our home is a 1940’s charmer with a great layout and casual feel. We keep things pretty neutral in terms of color and bring in interest with eclectic and colorful decor items.”
- “It’s definitely gotten more colorful and cluttered! I’ve relaxed in terms of keeping our home spotless and have learned to embrace the beautiful mess that comes with a happy family life.”
-
Morning cuddles and storytime.
Kelly wears the Carlo Jumpsuit from Steven Alan. Lucy wears a chambray jumper from Gap Kids.
- “As a Dutch girl, I love the delft vases in our room. Chris and I stumbled upon a tiny ceramics shop in De 9 Straatjes on our first trip to Amsterdam. We went back again last year with Lucy in tow. Looking at them brings back a flood of memories of two very different times in my life. Our commissioned Jimmy Marble piece is also very sentimental to me. We had him use a line from Pablo Neruda that was also a part of our wedding ceremony, “Do not take from me your laughter.” The color and the energy of the piece always take me right back to our wedding in Palm Springs.”
- “We try to collect things that make us happy, speak to us, and help create lasting memories of our travels. I also gravitate towards simple lines and neutral tones—this structure calms my mind.”
- “We do our best to keep the kid stuff confined to the front room and Lucy’s room. It’s important to us that Lucy feels like she has her space to play, create, and have fun. I don’t like a home to feel too stale, so embracing the kid stuff has been key to that. I am, however, a stickler for getting everything neatly back on the shelves at the end of the night!”
- One little monkey jumping on the bed!
- “Her room was the most fun because I felt free to dial up the color and whim more than with any other space in our home. Most importantly, we wanted to create a space that was both inspiring and open so she could make it her own and change it according to her needs over the years. She loves to sit in her window seat and read books or play with her dolls. It’s her own space and she appreciates that. Although, with a little sister on the way, she’ll be sharing her space very soon!”
- “I love her changing table dresser. It was one of the first pieces we bought for the room—a vintage walnut piece we found at the flea market. I’m also quite proud of the built-in along the back wall. My husband and I designed it and he built it when we were pregnant with Lucy.”
- “Her favorite piece in the house is her play kitchen. Chris built it, but she thinks it came from Santa’s workshop. Go figure.”
- Rings and things.
- “We spend most of our time as a family in the front room. It doubles as Lucy’s playroom and a comfortable place for me to work. At the end of the day, we all tend to find our way into that room to talk about the day and enjoy the evening light that pours in. We also spend a lot of time outside. We tend to the garden (which Lucy loves to water), swing in our hammock chairs on the front porch, and hang out in Lucy’s teepee in the back yard.”
- “So much has changed since entering on this journey of motherhood. The most profound change for me has been a strength and confidence I didn’t feel before Lucy. Her arrival into my life set forth a new version of myself that was sure footed and intentional. I’ve learned so much about myself through her. Children are the ultimate mirror—it’s impossible not to see who you really are as you guide them through life.”
- “How much fun it is! Lucy is my best friend. I wasn’t sure if I wanted kids for a long time. Even while being pregnant with Lucy, I doubted if that motherly instinct would kick in, but I absolutely love being her mama and can’t remember what life was like before her.”
- “What excited me before Lucy came and what still excites me is getting to know this little human over time. She is constantly changing, growing, and revealing herself in ways that I could never anticipate. It’s thrilling to have just a small part in that and have a front row seat.”
- Pickle the pup.
-
“That I’m not doing enough or being enough for my kids. I own my own businesses, so I work a lot. I have a very full life outside of being a mom, so it’s hard to push away the guilt that comes with that. Thankfully, I have a very supportive village around me and friends that remind me that we’re all just doing our best.”
Lucy wears a dress from Gap Kids.
- “Naming a human is so difficult. I always loved the name Lucy and have profoundly happy memories of my mom and I watching I Love Lucy as a kid. Roux is something that my husband and I made up. It’s a culinary term that is the basis for any good sauce. We still vacillate between calling her Lucy or Roux. When she was born I thought we’d call her Roux, but now that she has a voice, Lucy seems to be the front runner.”
-
“I’m incredibly busy during the week with work, meetings, and running around, so on the weekends I just love being home for family time. Starting the day with a family snuggle in bed, making eggs, listening to Cyndi Lauper on the record player, going for a walk to the neighborhood park to watch Lucy run around, picking strawberries from the garden to make smoothies, painting with watercolors, and lots more snuggles. A simple day spent close to home makes me the happiest.”
Kelly wear an embroidered vintage dress.
- “Lucy exudes a bright light from within. She is so happy and carefree. She is a little sprite who is up for anything. I love her energy—she reminds me to be grateful for the little things in life and to laugh, a lot.”
- “She is a precocious one, full of curiosity and interest in all things. You can see the wheels turning in her mind when she has discovered something new. She has an excitement for life and all it can offer, which is so contagious. She loves dancing, swinging, and painting. She’s also pretty obsessed with her little sister Coco.”
- Ceramics envy!
- “From a very young age, my mom spoke to me like an adult. I have always appreciated that and will work to give my children the same respect as individuals with thinking minds.”
- “All of my mama friends. Watching them with their children has been inspiring and educational as I navigate motherhood. Whether they are working moms, stay-at-home moms, or a mishmash of the two, they are following their intuition and doing their very best.”
- “‘Change is the only constant.’ A dear friend shared that with me and it rings true in so many ways. Setting yourself up for the expectation of change is imperative to happy parenting.”
- “Put down the books! You don’t need to read every book or online article about parenting. I actually think it can cause anxiety and put unneeded pressure on first-time parents. We have no idea what kind of parent we will be until our little ones make their way into the world. Let you instincts be your guide and your babies will be just fine.”
- “Permission to Parent by Robin Berman.”
- “Salt & Straw on Abbott Kinney for ice cream and Yoga Vista in Playa Vista for an incredible prenatal class.”
-
“My husband and I made a promise to each other pre-children that we would always put our relationship first. After all, our love is what sparked this family of ours and that needs to be tended to and cultivated. We fail at this often, but always go back to that intention when the blinders come off. Go on dates, even if they are on your couch at home. Look into each others eyes and remember why you’re on this crazy ride together in the first place.”
Lucy wears a dress Kelly purchased while in Mexico.
- “Everything!”
-
“I don’t cook. It’s just not part of my skill set. My husband is the chef in our family, thank goodness. I have learned to make a root vegetable rice bowl that is pretty simple, even for me. You just roast your favorite vegetables, steam some forbidden rice, and combine in a bowl with any dressing or sauce of your choosing. When Chris is home, we get spoiled with a fried egg on top.”
Kelly wear a dress by Free People.
- “It’s hard to say. My husband and I both grew up with one older sibling, so two kids feels good to me. But after this pregnancy and birth, it’s hard to say we won’t do it again. Time will tell.”
- Fresh green beans in the backyard!
- “Ever-changing. Easy. Diverse.”
-
“There’s a common thread to my style through the years. I focus less on it these days.”
Kelly wears a dress by Isabel Marant.
-
“Thankfully, my style works with or without a belly. I didn’t buy a stitch of maternity wear with either pregnancy.”
Lucy wear a dress by Nico Nico Kids.
- “Always long, flowy dresses and rompers.”
- “Ulla Johnson, Black Crane, Rachel Craven, Madewell for jeans, and vintage clothing.“
- “Lots of walking around the neighborhood and yoga, when I can make it to the studio.”
- “I’m a newfound Beauty Counter addict.”
- “I am a creative entrepreneur. I own the event production company Bash Please with my business partner Paige Appel. We design and produce weddings, social events, retreats, and sometimes dabble in interior design. We are branching out to open a brick and mortar boutique in Culver City called MIDLAND later this year.”
- “I worked in branding and advertising for seven years before being laid off and starting my own design and floral company. I’ve always been a creative being, so getting out from behind a desk was the most enriching move I’ve made in my life.”
- “How dynamic it is. It’s never stale or boring (for better or worse!)”
-
“We are opening a brick and mortar boutique called Midland. It’s been a pipe dream of ours for many years and the stars have finally aligned to bring it to fruition.”
Kelly wears a dress by Ulla Johnson. Lucy wears a dress by Zara Kids.
- “It’s all about perspective. I think the goal of balance is unrealistic. We have to make intentional choices we believe in. There are days when I have to put work first and there are days I can put my family first. My ultimate challenge is being present in whatever I’ve chosen to direct my attention to in that moment.”
- “The ocean. Lucy loves being at the beach and chasing the tides. Also, the access to variant terrain. The coast, desert, and mountains are all a short drive away.”
- “Superba Food + Bread for weekend breakfast and Scopa for pasta! Alla Park for playtime, Playa Del Rey for beach time, and home for cozy time.”
- For more on Kelly and what's in store for the ladies of Bash Please, follow them on Instagram.
Share this story