Category

Essential Guides

Category

Balancing beautiful flooring with the realities of family life is one of the most common challenges I encounter in my design practice. After years of helping families create spaces that can withstand everything from soccer cleats to art projects while still impressing dinner guests, I’ve compiled this guide to help you navigate the world of durable yet luxurious flooring options. Understanding What “Family-Proof” Really Means Child-friendly and pet-resistant flooring in a family home setup. When…

The golden hour—that fleeting window when sunlight bathes everything in a warm amber glow—transforms ordinary gardens into enchanted spaces. This magical time, typically occurring just after dawn and before sunset, offers a unique opportunity for garden designers to create extraordinary experiences. When carefully planned, a garden can capture these ephemeral moments and extend their wonder through thoughtful design choices. Understanding the Golden Hour Golden hour light creates soft, diffused atmospheres in home gardens, elevating ordinary…

In the quiet conversation between our homes and ourselves, touch points serve as the most intimate dialogue. These are the places where our hands meet our living spaces—from the cool brass of a morning door handle to the soft give of an evening armchair. Touch points create the tactile rhythm of our daily experience, often overlooked yet profoundly impacting how we feel about our spaces. Let’s explore how these seemingly small details can transform your…

Every home has its quirks—those stubborn features that resist your grand design visions. Whether it’s awkwardly placed windows, outdated finishes, or structural elements that can’t be moved, these unchangeable aspects needn’t be design deal-breakers. After transforming hundreds of challenging spaces, I’ve discovered that the most inspired designs don’t fight against these fixed features—they embrace them creatively. Common Unchangeable Home Features and Their Design Challenges Identifying common architectural constraints helps in designing innovative solutions. Before diving…

In the world of design, nothing elevates a space quite like the thoughtful combination of different materials. Whether you’re renovating your kitchen, refreshing your living room, or transforming your garden, mixing materials creates depth, interest, and that coveted designer look—all without requiring an unlimited budget. This guide will show you practical approaches to combining textures, finishes, and materials that create stunning spaces while keeping costs in check. Understanding the Art of Material Mixing A successfully…

The art of displaying collections beautifully while maintaining an uncluttered space is perhaps one of the most rewarding design challenges I encounter in my practice. Creating harmony between cherished possessions and the spaces that house them requires thoughtful balance—a curator’s approach rather than a collector’s tendency to simply acquire. This guide will help you transform potential chaos into elegant, meaningful displays that enhance your home rather than overwhelm it. The Curator’s Mindset vs. The Collector’s…

Thoughtfully designed gardens have a unique ability to dissolve age barriers, creating spaces where wisdom meets wonder and stories are exchanged alongside seeds. Having witnessed countless moments of cross-generational connection in gardens across America, I’m convinced these spaces offer something our increasingly age-segregated society desperately needs: common ground where different generations can literally grow together. Understanding Intergenerational Gardens Intergenerational gardens are thoughtfully designed for connection across age groups. Intergenerational gardens are intentionally designed spaces that…

In my experience, the most fascinating interior spaces are rarely those dedicated to a single style. Rather, they’re thoughtfully composed harmonies where contrasting design elements coexist in delicate balance. Creating a home where different aesthetics merge successfully requires an understanding of both design principles and the art of compromise. This guide explores how to navigate the complexities of blending design styles to create spaces that feel cohesive, intentional, and deeply personal. The Psychology Behind Mixing…

Finding moments of solitude and peace is essential in today’s interconnected world, especially when living with others. Creating a personal retreat space within a shared home offers an opportunity to recharge, reflect, and reconnect with yourself without sacrificing the benefits of communal living. This guide explores practical approaches to carving out meaningful personal sanctuaries within shared environments, regardless of your home’s size or your living situation. Understanding the Need for Personal Retreat Spaces Understanding the…

As the seasons shift outside our windows, our living spaces deserve to evolve in harmony with nature. Through my years designing responsive environments, I’ve discovered that the smallest seasonal touches often create the most profound transformations. You don’t need complete overhauls four times a year—just thoughtful adjustments that honor each season’s unique character while creating spaces that feel both timely and deeply connected to the natural world. Core Principles of Seasonal Design Seasonal design principles…