Flower Power • Layout

Read the full interview in our first-ever Kids issue, and subscribe here for design inspiration for the whole family all year round.

Jonah:

Drew:

Drew Barrymore on the Magic of Color and Why She Takes Her Time to Decorate

Flower

Power

Produced by Kate Berry

Interview by Jonah Larson

Photography by Mei Tao

Makeup by Robin Fredriksz using Flower Beauty available at Walmart

and minds.”

then they can expand their horizons

If people have access to books

“[Books] can be a great equalizer.

lot of different people.”

a lot of things to a

for. And that can mean

that’s what we’re here

other. I do believe

to take care of each

“We’re here [on earth]

The essentials for a mom-daughter party? Drape cozy patterned textiles and pillows over every surface, set the table with mix-and-match melamine pieces, deck out the playhouse with a delightful dress-up station, and cue up the playlist!

Let’s Dance

I Heart You Dishware and Cups by Drew Barrymore Flower Kids walmart.com; Vintage Palm Table Throw by Drew Barrymore Flower Home walmart.com. On Barrymore: Elani Belted Midi Skirt and Kaiyah Shirt by Miguelina net-a-porter.com.

net-a-porter.com.

subscribe here

our first-ever Kids issue,

Credit

Our first-ever Kids issue cover star brings family fun home.

That is the power of books; they can do so much. Without your help, the library I had built in Ethiopia wouldn’t be finished and filled with books. Okay, I’d like to end on a light question. If I were to come to your house—which is hypothetical because of the coronavirus—what would we do? And in terms of ice cream, what flavors would we eat? I think we would have mint chip—the cheap and cheerful drugstore kind that I ate when I was a kid. I don’t like fancy ice cream! We would play board games (we have a closetful at the house), and then we would run around outside and chase fireflies if we were lucky enough to be in nature. That sounds like a nice day! I’m sure we’ll make that happen. I’m just excited about all the positive things we’re going to do. We have similar goals of taking care of people and putting books out into the world and talking about the things that are really happening. I think having honest conversations is so important. That’s how we’re all going to learn and grow from everything. I totally agree. Well, I’m glad I’m in it with you. Thanks, Jonah. So much.

A famously free spirit and voice of optimism since she first graced the big screen at 5 years old, Drew Barrymore has evolved into a super-successful actor, producer, director, and author—as well as the design mind behind Flower by Drew (with home, beauty, and eyewear collections available at Walmart that radiate sunny vibes and color, always). It’s no surprise a daisy has become her unofficial signature—Barrymore brings joy and curiosity to every project she touches, including being mom to Olive (8) and Frankie (6). WithThe Drew Barrymore Show, her newly launched daytime talk show on CBS, she’s flipping the script and guiding the cultural conversation on topics meaningful to her (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhoodwas an inspiration). Topping Barrymore’s list of favorite collaborators is 12-year-old crochet pro Jonah Larson of Jonah’s Hands, whose vibrant pieces (the blanket featured here was made specially for “Auntie Drew”) help support his philanthropic work. So it only made sense that the duo connect on a Zoom call and chat for Domino’s first-ever Kids issue. I’m so excited about your questions. They’re so good and thoughtful and cool, just like you. Thank you very much. I wanted to not ask what everybody else would—but those deeper questions where you have to stop for a moment and think and have your own point of view. Having been an interview subject my whole life, you sort of get a format given to you and you have to give your answers within that context. I want to set the rule book on fire. So I am with you, Jonah. Take it away!

Okay, what is your favorite thing about being a mom? Well, the other day I told Olive that I thank her so much for making me a better person. I know of all the relationships I’ve had—whether it was a boyfriend, a marriage, my own parents, my best friends who were my original family—no one has forced me to push myself to be a good person as much as my kids. The most accountable, the most stable, the most emotionally rational. It’s like they’re the catalysts; they have inspired me to change a lot of things about myself. Because it’s what I need to be for them. That kind of goes right into my question about what are the main things you can teach your children? I want to teach them to not let their fears hold them back. Because fear can stop you from living your dreams. It can stop you from being honest with yourself. Sometimes change is about facing fears. That makes a lot of sense and it’s deep. You know a thing or two about being deep, so thank you. Ever since I’ve been a kid, I have a favorite toy in my bedroom that I cherish—a penguin wearing a little jacket that my mom got me when I was 2 years old. Do you have something like that from when you were a kid?

I am absolutely terrible at keeping things. I lose everything. But I do have the red cowboy hat I wore in E.T. It is in the girls’ room somewhere and reminds me that I was 6 years old wearing that hat. I’m so glad I still have it. When we’re kids, we don’t think something will be important to us one day; we clean out our room and throw stuff away. It’s nice if parents put something of theirs in their kids’ rooms, so it’s a transference of memories and energy. Yes. On that point of always keeping memories with you: I was adopted in Ethiopia in a very rural area, and it just so happened that my mom—well, I hope it was my mom—left me by a tree on a water trail. A woman found me there when she was going to get water and brought me to a safe place, and eventually I came to the United States. Now I have a nice big picture of her up in my room. I mean, you can go to that picture and kiss that woman for me, please! That is so special and important, and a perfect way of honoring that person every day, to say “thank you” and keep her fresh in your world—and for you to know that someone had your back and that you’re safe. Because of this woman many other things came about in your life. Exactly, some things just completely trigger a memory and you like to have them around. Right now it’s a very frightening world, with the coronavirus, racism, and staying at home. What did you do to help your kids when they were scared? I did a whole parenting series on Instagram, because I wanted to honor and acknowledge everything that’s happening. This is not the time to promote things or talk about anything but the conversation at hand. I made protest signs with my girls and bought a whole slew of new books to read—like this wonderful book called Raise Your Voice: 12 Protests That Shaped Americ, about how protesting is so important and such a catalyst for change. 2020 is a powerful number because it also represents hindsight. If we look back at our history, we have to change and grow and evolve. I believe the world is—I don’t know how else to say this—having a rebirth. I like that because racism and all these issues have been happening throughout our history. People are saying Black lives matter because of the protests, and then there’s another group that says all lives matter. I was wondering what your thoughts are on that. It is true, in my opinion, that all lives matter. But right now we’re focusing on Black lives, so we can fix that first and then move on to the next.

I think that’s a very good example. What I understand about this moment is that it is very focused. I want to listen and follow and support so we can reach an equality that is accepted by the people who are asking for it. It’s just a couple words, but it really means a lot. Okay, now we’ll have a few lighter questions, starting with how did you get into home decor and designing for kids? I had always lived in hotel rooms and apartments and weird places all over the world for my job, and I never knew where I was going to be living next. But then I realized I didn’t have a stable base. So I bought a house 20 years ago and refurbished it slowly. I created this wonderful home and fell in love with decorating. The more you get into interior design, the more you learn about different styles and read every magazine (I’m obsessed with them—that is my happy place), and discover designers who teach you things. Funny enough, I met designer Ruthie Sommers—who was on the very first cover of Domino—and asked if she would help decorate my home, which we did over a 10-year period. That’s how I made sure each room had its own personality. So design has been something that I’ve dedicated myself to. It started out as a hobby but became a real passion—looking at the way things are made or wanting to make things myself, which is how I got into designing Flower Home. And then I had my daughters. There was a trend where kids’ stuff almost looked like an adult version in gray and white, sort of serious and boring. So I wanted to make a more playful kids’ line that was still chic—and bring color in because it’s so joyful. It changes my mood. Yes, in the blanket I used eight different colors—some deeper tones, some more bright and tropical. Well, that’s because you’re going to have a home line, too. I would really like that because I love design. Okay, so my next question is: Who is your favorite president?

Good question. I have two; is that okay? Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama. Those are my two favorites. It’s not just about politics—Abraham Lincoln was a Republican and Barack Obama is a Democrat—it’s about their morals and how they acted and their sympathy and compassion. And I think they both proved that change is possible. We as human beings have the power to make bold choices. The other night my daughter Frankie was in the bathtub, and we were hanging out, and she said, “Mom, why are we alive?” And I asked if she meant physiologically, like how do we breathe, or what’s the meaning of life—why are we here, what is our purpose? And that’s what she wanted to know. I thought, Okay, cool bath-time talk here. I was looking around the room, asking myself, What is the meaning of life? I wanted to have an elaborate answer, but there were simply a few words that came: We’re here to take care of one another. I do believe that’s what we’re here for. And that can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. I’ve asked my dad and my mom similar questions and had conversations with my younger sister and older brother, because there’s no definitive answer and so many ways to interpret it. Yes. What do you think the meaning of life is, Jonah? You know, I agree with what you said, that we’re here for one another. We’re here to give back. We’re here to be kind. We’re here to help others and make them stronger. That is the reason we’re on earth.

This earth is a powerful thing and we need to take care of it right back. We humans have been in a “save ourselves” fight-or-flight mode, and we have to save our planet and maybe live with less. We all learned a lot this year. It’s been very humbling, very eye-opening. And I hope that brings about a gentleness and an awareness. And just to stop with greed and judgment and righteousness. If we come to each other with a different tone in our voice and a different energy in our body—that’s something I’m excited to do on the new show. But a lot of people have a lot of reasons to be angry, and you can’t argue with that. So I guess how we deal with it is where we go from here. I crochet to relax. Do you do anything to calm down or unwind after a hard day? Yes, I like to watch cooking shows while eating food and not talking. I’m like an animal. Nom, nom, nom. I am also obsessed with cookbooks and want to start a cookbook club. I’ve always been an avid reader, and I want other kids to read. With books you can have such a good education. You didn’t go to school when you were a kid, and look how successful you are now! You and I are both so passionate about books. They can be a great equalizer. If people have access to books, then they can expand their horizons and minds. I didn’t go to school; I went to movie-set school. You’re not really paying attention—you’re at work! When I was 14, I realized I had zero scholastic education, but I certainly had life education. I always tell Olive, there is book smart and life smart—and you have to have both. Reading was the way I educated myself. You are a fellow wordsmith, Jonah. Words matter. They can save or break a situation; they can hurt or make someone feel amazing. Books are so much a part of who I am and gave me a lot of knowledge to feel confident to go out in the workforce and become a businessperson and all that stuff.

Raise Your Voice: 12 Protests That Shaped America

always

The Drew Barrymore Show

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

E.T.

Nom, nom, nom

Credit

Pillow from the Retro Bolt Complete Bedding Set, Pom-Pom Decorative Pillow, Pink Ceramic Cloud-Shaped Night-Light by Drew Barrymore Flower Kids walmart.com; Abstract Marble Area Rug and Velvet Decorative Throw Pillow with Tassels by Drew Barrymore Flower Home walmart.com; The Tropical Waves Afghan by Jonah Larson jonahhands.com.

jonahhands.com.

Neighborhood

Makeup by Robin Fredriksz

Raise Your

“The colors make it what it is—not too bright but with a nice pop,” says Larson of the blanket he crocheted for Barrymore especially for the shoot. (Olive tie-dyed the t-shirt for her mom in complementary shades.)

Yes Way Crochet

“I love things that are layered and feel like they were collected over a long period of time,” says Barrymore, who weaves a vintage vibe into her home designs with happy-making color combinations and vibrant patterns.

Bring The Fun

“I became so passionate about the way that kids decorate when my children were born,” says Barrymore of the spark that ultimately led her to designing her whimsical kids’ collection as part of Flower Home, available at Walmart.

Forever Young

Raise Your Voice: 12 Protests That Changed America

Credit

On Barrymore: Shirt Vintage Jeans.

railsclothing.com;

Jonah Larson

Styling by Lee Harris Hair by Lona Vigi Makeup by Robin Fredriksz using Flower Beauty available at Walmart

Styling by Lee Harris Hair by Lona Vigi

Styling by Lee Harris Hair by Lona Vigi Makeup by Robin Fredriksz using Flower Beauty available at Walmart

Styling by Lee Harris Hair by Lona Vigi

Credit

On Barrymore: Shirt railsclothing.com; Vintage Jeans.

railsclothing.com;

Credit

walmart.com;

Credit

walmart.com.

walmart.com;

walmart.com.

Cups

walmart.com;

available at Walmart

Walmart

Flower Beauty

Cups

Dishware

Throw

walmart.com;

Dishware

Throw

Night-Light

Bedding Set

Pillow

Area Rug