6 THINGS WITH ALI PRIMROSE
6 Things with Ali Primrose Founder of Lyke Minded
Based in Orange County, Ali Primrose is the founder of Lyke Minded, a community that encompasses living mindfully. What started as sharing beautifully curated charcuterie boards and one-of-a-kind recipes has turned into a cookbook and now a custom Lyke Minded tableware collection. There's no doubt that Ali can make anything look good. As a true multi-hyphenate of many skills, she brings her creative direction to interior styling, sourcing, and graphic design. Ali's work in all aspects is stunning and is a visual portrayal of mindful California living.
1. What started it all for you?
After high school and working retail jobs since the age of 14, I moved to LA. I quickly realized my home was back in Orange County with my now-husband. While I was studying visual communications, I had also started working in interior design and fell in love with storytelling through textiles and found objects and furniture. Simultaneously, I also fulfilled a marketing position and event planning. I started creating artful charcuterie boards for the events due to budget and not wanting to hire a caterer just for an intimate PR gathering. This grew into an endless adoration for California cuisine and has led me to this—Lyke Minded. Lyke Minded is a community that has been built from the ground up, created to inspire others in their own home, whether that’s cooking a soulful recipe from the Lyke Minded Cookbook or serving an intentional dinner in my new custom tableware collection.
My love for cooking turned from a passion to a safe haven during the pandemic. Creating vibrant meals with my husband and furnishing plates with intention became a ritual. It didn’t matter if I was hosting for two or ten—I wanted aesthetically pleasing homestyle recipes that looked just as good, if not better, than a plate at a restaurant. It only felt right to turn Instagram content into something physical that would be treasured, gifted, and used as a resource for all-a cookbook. In addition to the Lyke Minded cookbook, I recently launched custom serveware that doubles as dinnerware. From sourcing and styling, creating one-of-a-kind graphics, and collaborating with like-minded brands, Lyke Minded is a place to be yourself and break bread, together.
2. What drives your creative spark?
3. Most treasured home decor item?
We definitely cannot pick a favorite! We have been collecting vintage as a couple for 5+ years so each of our finds has special places in out hearts. Some favorites would be our mid-century round sofa, secondhand dining table, wood island, English pine hutch, 1800's wine rack.
4. What’s the best advice you've ever received?
Don't work hard, work lovingly.
This stood out to me because we are taught as a society to work hard, party hard, study hard, try hard, but rarely ever are we encouraged to work joyfully, happily, and truly do what we love. When we are doing something "hard", we typically complain as it is not a pleasant experience. But when we're doing something we are excited about, we perform at our best. Don't get me wrong, work is not easy and there are many trials and tribulations, but dedication is just as important to me as passion. Your work should light a fire in your soul and give your tummy butterflies.
5. It's 5 o'clock at home. What would you be pouring?
Orange wine or Vinho Verde! My cocktail of choice would be a skinny margarita on the rocks with lime and a splash of orange or grapefruit.
6. What are your favorite 6 accounts that you follow for inspiration?
@cabincorn
@lisadanielle__
@shallweshallot
@maison_flaneur
@gpschafer
@nickeykehoe
SHOPÂ ALI'S 6 HOME PICKS
"My love for cooking turned from a passion to a safe haven during the pandemic. Creating vibrant meals with my husband and furnishing plates with intention became a ritual. It didn’t matter if I was hosting for two or ten—I wanted aesthetically pleasing homestyle recipes that looked just as good, if not better, than a plate at a restaurant." -Ali Primrose
