Embracing Life, Creativity and Imperfections
Mandi Gubler
Designer and DIY'ER Mandi Gubler of Vintage Revivals is known for the way she uses color in her design projects. She loves mixing different styles; nothing is off-limits if it has the right energy. She combines new with vintage pieces with a story, and you can most likely find plants in just about every corner of her home.
Mandi took on her biggest design challenge when she and her husband Court bought a 1928 commercial property called the Santa Clara Merc, located in a small town in Southern Utah. The Merc, short for Mercantile, is one of the most historically significant buildings in Santa Clara. When the Mormon pioneers settled in Santa Clara, a few members started a co-op in a small room in one of their houses. The business grew, and in 1928 a modern store was built.
In 2016 Mandi and Court started building a new construction home, but she explained something did not feel right about the process. She got a call to visit a commercial property that had the potential to be a storefront, and when she walked into the Merc, she fell in love and knew this would be the home she meant to build.
"When I walked into the Merc, it had the most incredible energy and was a big blank canvas my soul connected with and recognized.”
"Styles and trends don't matter. For me, creating a space that feels good is about creativity, life, and imperfections.”
Mandie designs spaces based on her feelings when you walk into a room. Having an emotional connection to the building, she intentionally celebrated its rich history and embraced the impact of the Merc's first 100 years of life. "Styles and trends don't matter. For me, creating a space that feels good is about creativity, life, and imperfections. I love the idea of our family adding to it. Choosing items like our homemade tile or unfinished maple floors makes me happy as it will show our proof of life," she says.
Mandi loves houseplants and has filled every room in the Merc with them. It inspires her every day to have good energy. She is happiest when her two daughters are laughing, her husband and son are playing catch, and she's watering her plants. When she is with her family making memories, she can take a step back and realize all the hard work they did to get the Merc renovated was worth it.
