Original Portrait Art

My ins and outs this year!

Do you agree? Let me know if I missed any in the comments!

Hang in there for me on this one (I feel very passionately about this topic 😂). One of the things we care most about when designing homes is where the pieces come from. Vintage and antique sourcing isn’t just about finding something “different”... It’s about choosing pieces that already carry a story.

The truth is, the most memorable rooms aren’t built all at once or off a single shopping list. They’re layered over time. A chair with worn arms. A table that’s been repaired more than once. A piece you weren’t looking for, but couldn’t leave behind. Those are the things that give a home its soul.

When you bring vintage into a space, you’re investing in more than furniture. You’re investing in craftsmanship that’s hard to replicate today, materials that have already stood the test of time, and details modern manufacturing simply doesn’t prioritize anymore. And there’s something deeply satisfying about living with pieces that feel personal.

This is why we source the way we do. Not to fill a room, but to give it meaning. Collected doesn’t mean cluttered. It means intentional, patient, and a little emotional (in the best way).

A home should feel lived in, loved, and uniquely yours.

Ok here’s the truth- I have a lot of favorite whites- but this may be my new fave for cabinetry!

Here’s the part no one tells you:
Most “bad” white cabinets aren’t bad colors… they’re bad context. White fails when it’s chosen in isolation. Paint chips are judged under fluorescent store lighting, held next to nothing, and decided before cabinets, counters, floors, or hardware are even finalized. Then that same white gets wrapped around an entire kitchen and suddenly feels gray at noon, yellow at night, or weirdly dull no matter how much light you have.

That’s why we chose Shoji White by Sherwin-Williams for our kitchen cabinets this time around.
Not because it’s trendy.
Not because it photographs well.
But because it behaves.

Shoji White has a soft warmth that doesn’t show up on a chip, but does show up when it’s next to real materials. It stays steady throughout the day, doesn’t compete with natural wood or stone, and doesn’t turn chalky once it’s covering full-height cabinetry. That consistency is what actually makes a white “safe” — not how popular it is.

Designer truth:
If a white only looks good at one time of day, it’s not a good cabinet white.
If it needs perfect lighting to work, it’s not a good cabinet white.
If paint decisions make you spiral, it’s not because you’re bad at this (it’s because white is reactive, and no one teaches you how to test it properly).

Our blog goes live today at 3:00pm PST, where I break down how to evaluate whites in your actual space and share a few other cabinet whites we consider truly “safe” — the ones we use repeatedly for clients because they hold up in real life, not just in photos.

Save this if you’re choosing cabinets soon.

When I turned 50, I thought my story was already written.

Turns out, I was just getting to the good part.

I’ve rebuilt homes—and rebuilt a life.

Left what was familiar. Started over more than once.

Turned a lifelong love for design into a business alongside my husband, creating intentional homes for people all over the country.

I believe spaces should hold real life… the messy, meaningful, beautiful moments.

And I’ve always looked at older homes and thought, look at the potential. Maybe that’s why starting over has never scared me, because I see life the same way. Not as finished, but as full of possibility.

How about you? Are you in the middle part of life and just getting going??? I want to hear! And, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you want some advice on how to get started- I’m realizing we are all in this together. 🤍

Life is short. Make it beautiful.

January, already?!

This month’s edit ended up being a mix of things I naturally reached for: cozy knits, everyday staples that don’t try too hard, little home upgrades that make winter feel more intentional. A few things for staying in, a few things for stepping out, and a few things that just make the house feel good again after the holiday rush.

It’s that in-between season where comfort wins, neutrals feel right, and anything with warmth or texture just makes sense. Simple, useful, grounding.

Here’s what’s on my radar as we settle into the new year. Comment “edit” for all my monthly picks! (Live on the blog at 3:00pm PST).