Mosey Loves Alex Berrocal

Alex caught our eye last year and we just couldn’t look away. Her vibe is so bright, creative and unique, and as you can see from her Instagram, that extends to personal style and home. On top of that, we love how she blossomed from her full time career in footwear product development to pursuing her passion for vintage home goods and starting her business Pretty Space Happy Space.

Alex took the time to tell (and show!) us her beautiful home in Brooklyn, NY, share how she got to where she is today and what inspires her.

Read on to fall for Alex just as much as we have!

What star sign are you?
I am an Aquarius.

Where do you live & why do you call this place home?
I live in Brooklyn, New York but I am originally from Wappingers Falls, NY. It is a suburban town 90 minutes North of New York City. I call New York home because the bulk of my family lives here or in neighbouring states and I enjoy being close to them. Family is very important to me. It’s also one of the most inspiring cities for creatives. Everyone is so unique here and I love being in the midst of so many different types of people with various backgrounds and experiences.
 
What were you like growing up, what were your interests and hobbies?
Growing up I was always very interested in the arts. As a child, I remember doing a lot of arts and crafts projects with my Godmother who is very creative herself. I was also always drawing. I’ve always been attracted to beauty in all forms, whether it is art, nature, architecture, or aesthetics. Anything that allows me to express myself creatively or be visually stimulated has always been my happy place.
 
Are you still working in the fashion and design space?
I no longer work in the fashion and design space but it will always be a love of mine. Even before the pandemic, my heart was starting to drift a bit from footwear product development, my previous full time career. When my past job downsized, it presented the perfect opportunity for me to put more effort into things that I considered hobbies but brought me a lot of joy.
 
Tell us about Pretty Space Happy Face. What inspired you to start selling curated vintage?
I created Pretty Space Happy Face, my curated vintage home goods e-shop during the beginning of the pandemic in July 2020. I had just moved to Brooklyn in March 2020 right before NY shutdown and I had been doing a lot of vintage shopping to furnish my apartment. While in quarantine, I noticed a lot of small vintage re-sellers popping up via Instagram and I thought to myself, “I can do that too.” I have such an appreciation for vintage, especially pieces from the 70s and 80s. I’m so drawn to those eras. There were so many good designs created back then that deserve to be appreciated by current and future generations. I’d like to think I am doing my part to save some bits of history.

How do you find inspiration for projects?
I’m inspired a lot by past decades, most often the 70s. I always say that if I could have experienced another era, it definitely would have been the 70s. I love the colors, the vibe, the shapes. I’m also often inspired by period pieces. I recently watched The Assasination of Gianni Versace and the interiors and the way it was shot was so stunning. I found myself pausing and replaying scenes to really take in all the beauty. Another great series I loved for aesthetics was The Queen’s Gambit. I love and appreciate the painstaking detail it takes to create a visual that successfully transports you to another time.

What has been a career highlight for you so far on your journey?
I would say a career highlight of mine thus far has been being recognized for my interior styling skills and personal aesthetic. I never thought simply sharing things that I love would resonate so much with people. It’s a beautiful thing how social media can connect people and allow us to appreciate others' work no matter the distance.
 
What has been a career challenge you’ve faced?
One career challenge I have faced is diligence. When you work for yourself, you have to be your own biggest cheerleader. There is no one over your shoulder making sure you complete your goals for the day. You have to have enough faith in yourself to recognize that if you truly believe you are meant to achieve a certain caliber of goals, you have to put in the work daily. Breaking down my goals into smaller (monthly) seemingly more attainable goals has helped me to not become overwhelmed with my overall goals for the year.
 
Now to your beautiful home ☺
 
What is your favourite room in your apartment and why?
This is such a hard question because I’m literally in love with every space in my home but maybe I would say the living room. I like that it is very minimal but every piece makes a statement. It also feels very airy and inviting which I think is great for a space built for entertaining.

Do you have a favourite piece in your home? If so, why?
My favorite piece in my home is my Cold Picnic rug, hands down. I’ve been obsessed with Cold Picnic for years but the high (but so worth it) price point always deterred me. When I moved into my current space, I searched for a while for something similar and less expensive but honestly nothing matched the quality of Cold Picnic. So I bought it. I guess you would say, it’s my splurge piece. My pricey pandemic piece that literally makes my living room space.

What are the specific things you look for when you are purchasing pieces for your home?
When I am purchasing pieces for my home I look for quality, originality, and that must-have factor. I have to feel like I can’t live without the item.

And lastly, what is your favourite piece from our Mosey Me range and why?
I love the Salento quilt cover set in Blue & Clay. The print is so dreamy and the color is perfect. It reminds me of ocean waves, so relaxing.
 
Rapid Fire Round
 
Sunrise or Sunset? Sunrise
Ocean or Forest? Ocean
Good Movie or Good Book? Good Movie
Silver or Gold? Gold
Salty or Sweet? Salty
Pink or Purple? Pink
Wine or Cocktail? Cocktail
Who’s the one person dead or alive you would have dinner with given the opportunity?! Definitely Michelle Obama. She has such a powerful presence and I believe she would drop so many gems during conversation.
 

Find Alex at @iamalexberrocal