Drew Barrymore invites you to prioritize yourself

Drew Barrymore doesn’t need much of an introduction. So instead of naming the approximately 87 things she’s starred in since becoming a famous actor at age 7, or talking about her eponymous daytime show that you already watch if the ratings are any indication, I’m just going to tell you how nice she is.

- Landon McMahon

The way she is on that show—wide open and friendly and gushing and kind—is exactly how she is in real life. When we asked her to take over a room in our REAL SIMPLE Home, she came back with an enthusiastic “YES!” and has been demonstrably fired up about it since. We offered her the gig because she’s proven herself as a design and housewares savant, with a line of furniture, appliances, and other goods that habitually sell out at Walmart (this in addition to her successful production company and beauty brand). And because she is just so REAL SIMPLE.

During our interview, she and I bonded over The Simpsons (see my editor’s note on page 6), being divorced girl moms (the highs and the lows), and our shared passion for using design to create a home we can be our own happy selves in—and helping others do the same. Even though she’s the famous one and I was there to ask about her, as we talked, she expressed genuine curiosity about me too. She’s just like that. You know. She’s Drew.

LAUREN IANNOTTI: We’re so excited to have you design a room in the REAL SIMPLE Home. Your assignment was a wellness space, or as you call it, a “feel-good room.” Tell us about it.

DREW BARRYMORE: I was excited when you guys threw out the word “wellness.” I immediately thought of a spa waiting room, and I felt like the striped couch from our line would be just right, although it wasn’t designed with that in mind. Then I went through all these paint colors, and I loved this bright kelly green that made me think of juice. But I thought, Is that our brand?

LI: So you went with something a little warmer.