The fact is that most high-perfection homes you see are in print, digital spaces, or film—magazines, art books, Instagram, HGTV shows—and the bad stuff is edited out. The seemingly perfect homes you actually visit have very likely been cleaned aggressively before your arrival.

There are good reasons we expect interiors in magazines and design websites to look perfect. Interior design is an art form and as such, it should be curated for maximum impact just as an exhibit would be in a museum or gallery. When you walk into an upscale shop, you enjoy its carefully styled vignettes and are stimulated by the harmonious bounty.

No one is impressed with clutter and chaos.

Houzz reveals kitty box solutions that require modifying or redesigning cabinet space. Apparently the latest cat door trend is to make cute shapes like this one. (Photo: Houzz)

The darker side of perfectly curated spaces is the frustration we have knowing that our own home looks nothing like them. Call it social media-induced inadequacy, FOMO, or an inferiority complex, we react to our reality in ways that don’t help our joy levels at all. No matter how smart we are about the artificial nature of a staged home, it doesn’t always stifle the small voice inside whining, “Why can’t my home look like that?”

When this happens, just remember that the only way to maintain a perfectly composed home is if:

1. You don’t have any excess furniture, books, or clothing

2. You are childless

3. You are wealthy enough to have space for all your possessions and well-designed storage

4. You are an OCD type who spends hours every day cleaning and putting everything back where it belongs

I do know people in all of these categories but since none of them apply to me I need to find my own way. Not by dismissing their success but by recognizing the rich life I have, the benefits of which often eclipse the “no kitty box in sight” prize.

And by the way, I do not imply you must be wealthy to have a beautiful home. I’m simply acknowledging that many significant home improvements, like the kitty box storage ideas shown here, involve modifying your home, whether it’s cabinets or enclosed space underneath a staircase. That means you not only own your home, you also have the discretionary income to make structural changes. These things are out of reach for many people.

This high-end laundry room not only has a built-in pet washing station, but it also hides a cat bathroom directly underneath. Better hope the dogs and the cats get along. (Photo: Houzz)

What it takes to stage a home

Between my years as a photostylist and acting as my own home stager, I know pretty well what lengths you must go to to make an ordinary house look extraordinarily good.

About one-quarter of your furniture—especially the small stuff—needs to disappear. Cords and electronic devices must be completely hidden or put away. One framed photo instead of five. Ample negative space in your bookshelves. Mismatched rugs: out. Calendars, poster art, indoor twinkly lights: out. Remove shoes, coats, keys, shopping bags, sports bottles, the weekly pileup of mail—everything must go.

Kitty box contained in a cabinet beneath the staircase. (Photo: House and Garden)

To make yourself feel better, keep in mind that once the cameras go away or the open house is over, all that stuff comes creeping back. And in photos and videos like what you see on Instagram, only the best angles are captured. You’re not getting the mudroom debacle and that is very intentional.

A modernist interior designer in China came up with this cat box concealment that is part of a shoe cabinet. (Photo: Abso Studio for Ca Wen Studio)

There are fun ways to teach yourself the artful techniques of making a nice home even nicer. Try taking on a small piece of your home environment and improve on it. Whether it’s moving the kitty box into an underutilized closet or reorganizing the furniture to encourage nightly interaction with your kids (or favorite books), you will love how significant these domestic accomplishments can be.

Don’t forget to take a picture of it.

Light, strong wood species with interesting grains combined with elaborate black metal hardware make the tansu a very distinctive piece of furniture. (Photo © Eastern Classics LLC / tansushop.com)

My mother admired Asian design and dotted our homes with Japanese prints, Chinese ginger jars, and even a curious porcelain neck pillow. Her style was completely anti-style and was defined mostly by color (lots of it), ethnicity (a little something from every country she or her friends traveled to), and comfort.

A Chinese neck pillow—these became popular in the sixth century, to keep elaborate hair styles intact. (Photo: Poshmark)

But the most beloved of her possessions were a couple of Japanese tansu cabinets. They have a place in my memory (and endless family photos), sitting quietly in the background, holding keys, knickknacks, and a lamp or two.

One small tansu in particular followed my mom into her final days. It acted as a nightstand, with a generous surface for all the paraphernalia of the elderly. The various-size drawers were easy for her to access as she spent more and more time in her bed. Missing hearing aids? Check the tansu.

My mother’s tansu looked a lot like this one. Its size is ideal for a nightstand. (Photo © Eastern Classics LLC / Tansushop.com)

History of Tansu

Tansu’s meaning comes from two Japanese characters denoting the functions of carrying firewood and storage. While the earliest existing tansu dates back to 647, its tap roots formed in the 17th century, when the Tokugama family ruled from 1603-1868. The Edo Period (named for a small castle town that ultimately became Tokyo) lasted for 250 years and saw a massive evolution of tansu production, diversifying by usage, wood species, decoration, and regional specialties.

This antique tansu has a wiped lacquer finish with two large drawers to hold kimonos and two small drawers to hold accessories. Note the U-shaped handle, designed so that the chest can be more easily carried. (Photo: Zentner Collection)

Despite their popularity, these ancient tansu were heavily regulated by the Shogun, who only allowed the wealthy and royalty to have fancy ones. Each piece was designed both for its ultimate function and for the owner’s socio-economic status.

Tansus were extremely useful; their lightness and mobility were well suited to the traditional Japanese interior. Despite their simplicity, these cabinets were very well made, using finely grained wood and secure joinery that withstood the pressure of constant carrying and movement.

The cha-dansu was made for storing tea and tea supplies. This 100-year-old cabinet is a stunner, with pressed glass cabinet doors and a deep, dark oil finish. (Photo © Eastern Classics LLC / Tansushop.com)

The Meiji period (1868-1912) was when Japan broke loose from its feudal isolationist past and began to develop its technological prowess. New tools, machinery, and the tastes of a global market advanced tansu making into an art form. Pieces from the late 19th and early 20th century show an elaborate array of designs stamped into the metal trims and locks. Cheaper and easier to produce, tansus became a significant export.

Types of tansu

The word “tansu” refers to the general category of furniture or cabinet. But when you add a prefix to indicate exact usage of the tansu, it becomes dansu. Got that?

In the caption above, “cha” refers to tea service; it is followed by dansu. Here are some more typical prefixes that indicate the tansu’s function:

Choba-dansu: For storing account books

Funa-dansu: Trunks used by sea merchants. Though well-used, these small trunks were often very ornamental since they were brought to wealthy business partners.

Isho-dansu: Used for clothing, these were coated with lacquer and finished with fancy iron hardware

Katana-dansu: Chest with long drawers for storing swords

A kaidan-dansu is used to support a host of indoor plants. (Photo: Tokyo Jinja in Doha)

Kaidan-dansu: Very distinctive set of drawers and cabinets shaped like stairs. They may have been used for getting into attics, but are mostly decorative and for multi-purpose storage.

Kusuri-dansu: Apothecary chests

Mizuya-dansu: A kitchen cabinet, like a pantry or a sideboard

Tansu have a surprising amount of space and different ways to store things. Shelves, drawers, and cubbies all present in this mizuya-dansu, perfect for use as a pantry or a china cabinet. (Photo © Eastern Classics LLC / Tansushop.com)

Raised on metal legs, this handsome mizuya-dansu makes a stunning media table. (Photo © Eastern Classics LLC / Tansushop.com)

Tansu for Today

Built with simplicity and care, the tansu has maintained its popularity for four centuries. Any of these pieces (and this is just a small fraction of the sizes and designs available) would complement all types of room layouts. The best aspects of classic Japanese design tradition married to modern construction and materials result in a furniture piece that looks as good as it functions.

This tansu is two chests stacked on top of each other. It was in the bedroom of an Airbnb rental where I stayed recently. I thought it added a lot of style to the space.

I guess Mom was onto something.

Resources

Eastern Classics/Tansu Shop, Berkeley, CA

FEA Home, Yonkers, NY

Shogun’s Gallery, Portland, OR

Zentner Collection, Emeryville, CA

While most of them are the result of custom kitchen construction, I bet you could come up with creative hacks that are just as good.

Instant Extra Counter Space

Better than a breadboard: a pullout shelf for extra counter space by Glenna Stone Interiors. I am a sucker for any pullout gadget to hang, stage, and display. (Photo: Houzz).

Built-ins and pullouts used to be very common in house design. I say let’s bring them back. One of the best things about my current (1960s) home is the pullout board between the upper and lower linen cabinets. Love it.

Toekick Kitty Hub

Toekick drawer designed by Studio Dearborn opens out to a little feeding area. It’s an easy way to sweep away the cat clutter when you have guests. (Photo: Houzz)

Toekick space might be the most under-utilized thing in your kitchen. This shallow pullout drawer tucks away neatly in between cat chow times.

Cutting Boards Within Reach

The tilt-out drawer by Everingham Designs provides easy access to cutting boards and cooling racks. (Photo: Houzz)

Tilt-out drawers are the progeny of general store bins that were built with a 45-degree slant so that customers and/or storekeepers could easily reach what was inside. They’re handy! Another favorite in many homes is the shallow tip-out drawer right under the kitchen sink that holds sponges.

Waste Station

Pull-out cabinet by Studio Dearborn houses two full-size bins for trash and recycling, and a metal compost bin alongside. And did you notice the clever paper towel cubby above? (Photo: Houzz)

We have a city-supplied compost bin that sits on our kitchen island. While I appreciate having one, I hate how it looks and the fruit flies it attracts. This metal tub suits me much better. (taking notes)

An Under-Sink Workaround

U-shaped pullout drawer by Amy Storm & Company gives you at least a portion of that precious space beneath the kitchen sink that’s hogged by pipes and garbage disposal. (Photo: Houzz)

Under-the-kitchen-sink space is notorious for its utter lack of user friendliness. This drawer skirts around the tangle of plumbing and makes your cleaning products more accessible.

Shoutout to Lazy Susans

Cabinet design by Neat Method New Hampshire utilizes vertical dividers at the top for all those oversized sheets, pans, and tins. Below, a couple of Lazy Susans organize groupings of condiments. (Photo: Houzz)

The other great thing about this space? Lighting. Notice how the light placement inside the cabinet makes it easier to see/find stuff, and looks good doing it.

Pegboard Power

Custom-made pegboard in a “very small Cambridge condo kitchen” opens up a lot of storage and organization directly on the wall. Design by Eric Wilson - Renovation & Remodeling LLC. (Photo: Houzz)

Let’s hear it for pegboard, which is a functional powerhouse. This well-designed version is great because it can support larger shelves, but you could also do something fun with products like this from Etsy.

Lots to See Here

The custom surround on the left by Wood & Wire frames the refrigerator so that it visually looks like it’s built in. Love the wine storage and lighted cubbies, too. (Photo: Houzz)

Nothing in this kitchen is wasted. For example, the refrigerator’s wood surround is also a wine rack and upper storage. Take a look at the designer’s other kitchens; their artistic use of lighting is really fabulous.

Groovin’ on Junk Drawers

Aren’t junk drawers supposed to be messy? Not these. They’re designed by One to One Studio specifically for the items a typical junk drawer holds. (Photo: Houzz)

The top organizer comes out to reveal the deeper drawer below. On the left is a handy built-in file drawer with metal rail inserts. Note the cabinetry’s gorgeous dovetail joinery … maybe they still do make ‘em like that.

Let’s have some fun trashing and then fixing up this dining room. It was submitted on Reddit by MadLove1348, who asked for suggestions on how to “jazz it up.”

Reddit user MadLove1348’s dining room is sweet, but off the mark in three important ways.

This small formal dining area has nice proportions, situated off the living room as an alcove. It is free of clutter and the natural wood floor and indoor plants are good features.

The Paint

The first unfortunate choice I noticed was the paint. Gray again! I actually love gray but in this room with the warm-toned wood, it is just too sad.

A warmer tone like this one would be a good paint choice. Even better, match it with a trim color that isn’t bright white. (Photo: Tyler Karu)

The shade in the room above looks like khaki or tan, and it goes well with the wood table and floors. Other ideas might include a paint color with a slight peachy undertone, giving a nod to the high-impact painting (more on that later).

Sherwin Williams’ Crisp Linen is part of the yellow family but it registers as a warm peach tone. It’s a good choice for a room that doesn’t have a lot of natural light. (Photo: Lauren Gilberthorpe Interiors)

The Light

My eye then went to the light fixture. Central light fixtures are so important; this one is dated and doesn’t do anything for the space. It’s also too high, in my opinion. First thing to do is to swap out those interrogation LED bulbs. They are probably Daylight color, emitting a bright bluish glare that belongs only in the garage.

How about something like this instead?

This Sky 5 chandelier from Josh & Main is sleek and modern, with a hint of vintage in its mercury glass panels. (Photo: Josh & Main)

Now, chances are good that the person seeking advice is renting. You aren’t so quick to swap out fixtures in a place you don’t own. All I can say is the right light fixture makes a huge difference in a room like this, which doesn’t have a lot of architectural interest. Just remember to put the old one back and bring the fabulous new one with you when you move out.

The Painting

Commenters were fixated on the high-pigment painting of a bridge and sky scene. Mostly along the lines of “can you ditch it?” But when the owner said it was painted for her by a family member and she wanted to keep it, the advice shifted. Two suggestions were very sound, and I agreed 100 percent:

1. The position of the painting is not ideal. It should be lowered by about 3-4 inches so that it hangs at eye-level when you are standing up.

2. Change the frame. The painting is very bright and it doesn’t need a metallic silver frame to get attention. I would consider a natural wood frame, or a matte black frame to tone it down. Frames are an art in themselves and it’s a good idea to pay careful attention to the ones you choose.

Here are a few gorgeous frame ideas:

Rounded corner walnut frame by Woodman Frames

Half-inch walnut “floater” frame by Woodman Frames

The painting might benefit from a thin mat, as shown in this black custom-made frame by Woodman Frames.

If you want this advice arranged in order of expense, it goes like this:

• Rehang the painting

• Switch the lightbulbs

• Repaint the walls and trim

• Reframe the art

• Find a better light fixture

With patience, research, and incremental cash outlay, your problem room wishes can come true!

The obvious way to answer this question is yes. Heirloom, a centuries-old compound word, was first associated with tools of the trade (i.e. a loom) that were passed down from parent to child, who would then continue plying that trade. Today, although you probably won’t inherit a loom, that silk ào dái tunic your great uncle brought over from Vietnam and gave to your mom who then gave it to you would qualify.

Often very humble kitchen tools are imbued with deep meaning, as Gunilla Akesson can attest. “This pancake spatula is what I chose first of all when my three sisters and I sorted through my mother’s belongings after she passed,” she says. “I watched her make hundreds and hundreds of Swedish pancakes with it, since I was a child. I love it.”

“An heirloom is any object that carries meaning across generations, whether that meaning comes from its history, monetary value, or the story attached to it,” explains Lauren Thomann, antiques expert and founder of Ageless Heirlooms and Heirlooms at Home. “In practice, they tend to fall into a few broad categories: furniture, jewelry, kitchenware, textiles like quilts or clothing, and paper goods like letters, photos, or books. But they can be pretty much anything.”

Years ago, Anita Rackerby’s grandmother told her about girls who met for a button club during World War II. “She presented her button collection to me as a gift,” Rackerby says. “I framed them all and to this day it is my most cherished heirloom.”

For hundreds of years, heirlooms have enjoyed a lofty position as the manifestation of generational wealth. The rich and titled passed down valuable items—art, furniture, tapestries, jewelry—so that their family would continue to prosper and declare their importance by displaying their ancient possessions.

The working classes had a much harder time cultivating a tradition of handing down precious objects. Theirs were often in the form of high-quality tools, as mentioned above, or humble pieces that were nevertheless beautiful and old. This is when the stories of hardship, bravery, family eccentricities, and more began to weave themselves in, adding emotional value to objects that otherwise lacked importance.

Nancy Pennewell cherishes the photos of her ancestors, and keeps them framed in her dining room. The center photo is an early 20th-century store in Half Moon Bay owned by her great-grandfather; on the left are great aunts and uncles, including a great-aunt who was a nun. “She gave me a flying nun doll,” Nancy remembers, and says she will pass these down to her kids.

Is an heirloom a thing of the past?

Another way of looking at this question is more fraught: That treasured possession, given to you by parents, grandparents, or even acquired with the intention of making it an heirloom for your kids, could very likely end up in landfills or a thrift shop after you die. Taken to its logical conclusion, it spells the end of the heirloom-passing tradition.

Leanne DuPay’s grandmother had this pair of antique plates hanging in her home. “My brother and I would giggle and call them ‘the boobie plates’ because of the exposed breasts,” she remembers. “So they hold memories for me because of Grandma and her love of fine things and the silliness of childhood. Today they hang in my home.”

A Diminishing Stream

Bleak as it may sound, the idea of heirlooms winding down as a family tradition is based on very real socioeconomic and cultural changes. Families are shrinking as birthrates continue downward. Skyrocketing mortgage costs, limited housing stock, and wages that have not kept up with the cost of living put single family homes out of reach for young people much longer than in decades past. In 1960, the average age of a first-time homebuyer was 24. Today, it’s 38.

In a Wall Street Journal article titled “The Family Heirlooms that Our Children Don’t Want,” a commenter had this to say about her situation:

Not ever having enough space seems to be the number-one reason people don’t bring heirlooms into their home. Spacious single-family homes are the exception rather than the rule for many early- and mid-career adults. Most city apartments are small with extremely limited storage. Condos and townhomes often do not have garages, basements or attics. So if the heirloom doesn’t quite fit in to the house immediately, there is nowhere to put it until circumstances change (or until it’s time to hand it down).

Sheri Hoeger’s father-in-law was a master cabinetmaker in Germany. To earn his certificate, he made a cabinet, but he also carved this nutcracker from one block of wood. “It is so precious to us,” she says.

Another troubling phenomenon is one of family dynamics: traditional ties holding families together are slowly eroding. They include the shrinking of close horizontal family ties (such as cousins and extended family relationships), less value placed on ancestry and family “lore,” and children moving long distances in order to accept a better job or to buy a home.

“When I was asked what I wanted from my grandparents house I asked for this,” says Michelle Kelly of her cast-iron turtle spittoon. “My mom thought it should go to my brother because it’s boy-like but I’m the only one who knew the story. It is from my great- grandfather’s bar.” She says it’s worth about $600 but she’d never sell. “I liked it before I knew what it was worth.”

At its extreme, eroding parent/child relationships has led to what some are calling a “no-contact epidemic.” One researcher found that 27% of American adults 18 years or older had severed ties with a family member, usually their parents. This increasing choice of personal well-being over unquestioning filial duty has made post-Boomer generations more likely to distance themselves from their family.

Melanie Griffin thinks her father bought this carved mask when he was in the Navy. “His name is Sam and at Christmas he dons a Santa hat,” she says. “I love Sam because my dad loved Sam.”

Divorce, single-parent households, even the rising number of older family members selling their homes and moving into a senior community and perhaps being forced to part with their valuables earlier than they expected, also play a part.

The weight of all these changes bears down at the same time with significant shifts in home furnishings taste. Antique furnishings wax and wane in popularity, and since the 1990s have suffered a steady decline. Heavy solid-wood (or “brown”) furniture is not in vogue at all. “Flat-pack” pieces that are plain, modern, lightweight, easy to ship, and budget friendly are what the three youngest generations are leaning towards today.

Reddit user ExtremelyRetired confirms the changing tastes of her younger family members. “I used to entertain frequently, and I loved having good china, silver, and glass,” she says. “Now that I’m retired, I’m getting ready to downsize, and not a soul in the family wants so much as a teaspoon. They have no associations or memories for specific objects as I do, and they use paper plates or order in. I’ve already tried to sell some things, but there’s absolutely no market for “brown furniture” and it’s even hard to give away most Victorian pieces.”

Ellie Hubbard’s late husband gave her the first edition 1959 Barbie doll on the left. The gift inspired her to continue adding early Barbies and now she has an extensive collection. “My children will inherit them,” she says. They know the value and will keep anything that they want and then sell the rest.”

Boomers (born between 1945-1964) are the last super-sized stronghold of possessions. Between keeping the stuff that was left to them and acquiring a great deal of their own stuff along the way, aging Boomers are singlehandedly keeping the stream of Depression glass, christening gowns, mahogany dining sets, and eight-piece Royal Worcester china sets flowing for a while. Lots of household items are left for heirs to sort through and get rid of but the things we try and save are dwindling.

Will we know what we are missing?

This is a tragedy for some, and a complete non-issue for others. The two extreme positions are these: Either you honestly have no desire to hang onto old stuff even if it’s “been in the family” for several generations, OR you feel strong connections with people you loved through the things they have handed down to you, and will not willingly part with anything.

Lee McCall was very close to her maternal grandmother, who became a painter later in life. “In truth, I could write an entire book about her life, her resilience, and the countless ways she shaped the person I became,” Lee says. “Having something created by her hands—a piece of her creativity and spirit that remains present in my daily life—is one of the greatest blessings I could ask for.”

Once you determine which camp you are in, try wearing the shoes of the opposite side. Can you imagine yourself happily awash in old things, some with stories remembered, some without? Alternatively, do you yearn for liberation from family possessions that have piled up over the years?

The majority of us probably have a little window of understanding for both sides.

Reddit user reebeebee had wealth in her family a few generations back, and still has a few items of sentimental value passed down to her. Her great-great-grandmother’s engagement ring with engraved initials actually fits her. She also has an Italian silver sugar and creamer set she believes was purchased while her great-great-grandmother was on a Grand Tour with her parents in the 1880s.

“I’m probably not going to have children, and neither is my brother,” she says. “It is a little sad that there’s nobody to pass these stories and objects on to, but there’s no guarantee that any kids we had would be interested in any of this anyway. Many people just see this stuff as old crap to be sold, melted down, or tossed.”

This 1889 painting is probably my most treasured heirloom. Painted by Anker Skaga, an obscure Norwegian artist, it’s worth only about $1,500. It has deep emotional/familial value because it belonged to my grandparents, then my father, and then me.

Some things never change

Statistics and biased opinions aside, family connections through treasured physical objects continue to have a potent hold on people. Thomann has seen many instances where family heirlooms have languished in garages for years before their owners finally came around.

“I’ve seen many people inherit something they didn’t initially want, like an old but sturdy-as-a-horse rocking chair, and then eventually loving it (or regretting it for decades if they let it go),” she says. “Once they understand where it came from or start using it in a way that fits their life, it shifts from feeling like an obligation to something they genuinely value.”

The heirloom may come to you with its own story; the secret is adding to it with the story you are living yourself, today. Then maybe it will carry on with a story tomorrow. No guarantee, but a hope.

The life story of this ferry boat is like the waves: up and down and then up again. It includes about 30 years of disuse and disrepair, until the MacKenzie-Childses decided to buy it for a studio after their company was acquired in 2001. (Photo: Victoria and Richard Emprise)

Expect nothing less from the floating home of Victoria and Richard MacKenzie-Childs, founders of the famed MacKenzie-Childs home décor brand in 1983. The couple created an entirely original aesthetic in home décor and touched the imaginations of millions with their line of brightly painted ceramics, furnishings, and textiles.

Victoria’s signature black-and-white “courtly check pattern” gained an avid following during the 1990s.

For years the MacKenzie-Childses lived in a fairy tale seven-bedroom Colonial manse in Aurora, New York. In the heyday of their business, they employed hundreds of local artists and workers to make product, run their retail, and ship orders. Their annual barn sale, launched in 1996 to sell overstock and discontinued items, attracted hundreds to the tiny village. It became a kind of cult event and is still going strong.

Then, in debt and overextended, the MacKenzie-Childses were bought out by the founder of American Girl, who then called in their $10 million loan and forced them to sign over their name and assets. Embattled and disillusioned, the couple decided to start over and try to refashion their brand on their own terms. But they needed an inexpensive studio and access to New York City to do so.

The idea was to use a boat for a studio but when they realized how big the Yankee Ferry was, Victorian and Richard looked at each other and said, why not move in? (Photo: Victoria and Richard Emprise)

A not-so-average restart

Victoria donned her in-line skates and cruised around Manhattan looking for something cheap but big, where she and Richard could set up their studio. Cheap and big are almost nonexistent in the city but as she nosed around the dockyards, Victoria began to see old boats that seemed livable.

The ship’s living room is cozy and punctuated by colorful rugs, throws, light fixtures, and a sumptuous take on an ordinary beach ball. (Photo: Victoria and Richard Emprise)

After months of disappointment and “lady, are you crazy?” insults, Victoria spotted the old ferry. It was docked in Tribeca, off N. Moore Street, and although the owner had done what he could to restore it, it was pretty shabby. As Victoria negotiated with him, she realized he was pretty desperate to find a buyer and kept lowering his price. They finally came to a deal and the MacKenzie-Childses moved in.

Despite the gigantic loss of their business, the couple forged ahead and produced new creations on a smaller scale. Mismatched, mishmash, Victoria’s innate sense of design captures what the inside of our imagination might look like. (Photo: Victoria and Richard Emprise)

The ferry was originally a semi-luxurious transport for the wealthy summer crowd headed to Maine’s Casco Bay islands. Fine woodwork remains throughout on the floors, the ceilings, and even the benches lining the decks. The gig didn’t last long. When World War I began, she operated as a patroller in the Boston Harbor before wending her way down to New York to transport newly arrived immigrants between Ellis Island and New York. Its humble, humanitarian purpose was a fitting canvas for the couple, who never cared about wealth, status, or conventionality.

Tucked into one end of the boat (I’m guessing the bow — the wheel was my clue) is the sleeping area. It’s simple and beautifully appointed with a raised bed, netting, and a handful of smaller antiques. (Photo: Victoria and Richard Emprise)

Over the next 23 years, the boat was their home, painted and repainted and maintained as best they could. Inside is a tapestry of color, pattern, and patina that tells anyone without a doubt who lives in the cavernous quarters.

The MacKenzie-Childses were the subject of a documentary by Joshua Charow, who filmed the devoted older couple in their unusual home during the summer of 2025. Seven months later, Victoria died. The family listed the boat for sale at $1.25 million.

In the film, Victoria talks about her dislike of being called (or calling herself) an artist. Instead, she is drawn to the word artless. “It’s the most beautiful word in the world,” she says, struggling to make her meaning clear. “It means natural, and unsophisticated, having a natural grace.”

The formal dining table is legless. It is held aloft with ropes and pulleys, giving the sense of floating. The checkered floor is a nod to the famous MacKenzie-Childs courtly check pattern that put the original brand into décor history books. (Photo: Victoria and Richard Emprise)

My own remembrance of the Yankee Ferry

In the early 2000s I was working at Romantic Homes magazine and we did a feature on Victoria and Richard in their new funky home. I flew to New York and got to see the space in person, which was really something. There was nothing to do for styling, except maybe move things around a little bit and clear away some odds and ends. I remember the floating table and the intimate living room. I remember feeling amazed that they had the courage to start over without seeming too concerned about what the future would bring.

Around every corner is a vignette filled with curiosities that delight and welcome the visitor. (Photo: Victoria and Richard Emprise)

Creative people like Victoria and Richard often choose odd, challenging ways to live and to express themselves. They boldly restored an ancient, dilapidated boat that had already lived a dozen lives. The Yankee Ferry was cast off and waiting for its next owner—it had to be someone special. And it was.

The old, work-worn ferry was a muse and a sanctuary for two artless people. Let it be a model for what our own homes mean to us.

The Blackberry Bunkhouse is an ADU with nearly all of its 525 square feet of space dedicated to bunking. (Photography: Ethan Harrington for Norris Studio)

Sooner or later all of us struggle with the problem of overnight guests. Not that we don’t welcome them but we have nowhere to put them.

Enter the bunkhouse.

In the “why didn’t I ever think of that?” department, a bunkhouse is not that far off from a she shed, with one significant difference.

Instead of sleeping one or two, it sleeps six to eight. A mini dormitory, but much homier.

Architect Scott Harrop of Norris Studio stacked two bunkbeds on top of each other, two sets on each side, for a total of eight bunks. (Photo: Norris Studio)

You might say, “wouldn’t it be more useful as a fully articulated ADU, with a kitchen and living area?” The answer is an equivocal “depends.” It depends on your family configuration. Do you have one small family, or a couple, that visits most frequently? Will your mom or another senior relative need a place to live soon? Are you interested in creating rental income? Then a conventional ADU would be a better option.

There’s probably a microwave or toaster oven in one of those drawers so this cottage-y wet bar serves well for midnight snacks. Paint used here is Matchstick by Farrow & Ball. (Photo: Norris Studio)

But if your life situation involves a gaggle of humans under 20 who you want to keep close by, then the bunkhouse could be a brilliant move. In this family’s case, the frequent visitors are friends or cousins of their three young sons. Instead of sleeping bags strewn all over the living room floor, they now have a clubhouse that is connected to the house by an outside stone pathway.

The bunkhouse is built on an outcrop of the back patio; part of the house but separate, too. At night when dinner and a family movie are over, the lucky bunkhousers each take a lantern and make their way to the sleeping chamber. (Photo: Norris Studio)

Each bed is extra long (probably Twin XL) so that the bunkhouse grows along with the kids. Designer Stephanie Feuer went for an English countryside effect with divided-lite large windows, lavish floor-length drapery panels, and plaid desk chairs. For the bunkbeds, pinch-pleat privacy curtains and a deep velvety green Farrow & Ball paint (Green Smoke) make the sleeping area super cozy.

She also tried to avoid any recessed lighting, a bold move in our downlight-obsessed era. Each bunkbed has a very Old World reading sconce from UK lighting designer Jamb.

A partner desk allows plenty of space for two WFH guests. Designer Stephanie Feuer created layers of pattern in the textiles, softening the stone floor and expansive windows. (Photo: Norris Studio)

Although the bunkbeds take up a majority of the space, the bunkhouse still has room for a home office, a small snack kitchen, and a not-so-small bathroom with walk-in shower and double vanity.

With the many features and benefits of having a bunkhouse that turns your small home into a virtual B&B, this one is the best:

A bunkhouse is designed for sleeping, not isolation. Kids and guests will naturally rise from a good night’s sleep and follow the scent of cocoa, biscuits, and scrambled eggs back into the main house. Everyone will gather together again, as life is supposed to be lived.

In the room where families gather, the central core was first a fireplace, then a radio, and in the 1950s, it became the television set.

Since then, the television has undergone remarkable changes. Screens grew inch by inch every year, color was introduced, and the remote control was invented. In the 1970s, an unfortunate detour into projection TVs gave people a huge screen (like being at the movies!) at the cost of terrible picture quality. The first flat-screen TVs in the 1990s were plasma and pretty heavy; they were sold with special mounting hardware that could bear the weight.

By the late 2000s when TVs became smart, skinny, and tubeless with LCD technology, they were no longer rooted to the floor or incorporated into furniture. For the first time, TVs were treated more like necessary appliances and less like a substantial feature of the living room. And that’s when things got awkward.

A guy on Reddit wanted help decorating his room so that the pre-existing wall-hung TV wouldn’t look like it was floating in space.

Here’s where we are: Supersized flat-screen LCD TVs (98 inches and higher) with gorgeous, crisp screen quality. The cost of a TV has plummeted (unless you count all the streaming services you subscribe to) so many people can afford to put one in every room. All of this means that large black rectangles are taking up more and more of our wall space.

A good deal of design dilemma conversations in the 2020s involves where to put the TV. Or rather, how to hang the TV on the wall facing the couch and avoid hanging it over the fireplace. (Honestly, I never loved this solution but wasn’t aware of it being considered a design faux pas. More on this later.)

A TV “set” in the 50s and 60s often included speakers, a record player, and a radio.

Decorating decisions for a changing TV

When TVs became widely popular in the middle of the last century (5% of U.S. households had one in 1954, and around 90% did in 1962), they had 12-inch screens with huge, heavy vacuum tubes behind them. Manufacturers encased TVs in cabinets, or consoles, in order to protect the tubes and also hide the fact that the TV was essentially a large piece of heavy machinery.

These cabinets were marketed as fine pieces of craftsmanship, suitable for even the most elegant of homes.

A 1966 RCA ad claims its Victor Color TV will add a spot of beauty to your home, even though there is no TV set visible in this ultra-chic living room.

If you are around 25 to 30 years old, your first TV would have had a screen about twice as big, at 24 to 27 inches. In the late 1990s, these would often reside behind the doors of a cute French Country or Mission Style armoire-style cabinet.

As outdated as they might seem now, media armoires were a great way to contain the black hole of a constantly growing TV screen.

The armoires, wall units, and media cabinets that Gen X, Millenials, and Gen Z grew up with have become all but useless, since their framework for a TV is now too small. They are also considered dated as a furniture style.

One of the greatest advantages of the flat-screen TV evolution for the apartment and small home dweller is that wall-hung TVs take virtually no floor space, a complete departure from the big pieces of furniture in decades past. But they are somewhat of an eyesore without some kind of framework to make the big black screen look like it belongs. If the wall-hung TV can’t contribute to the aesthetic of a room, then it needs to blend in.

Designer Orlando Soria says this about TVs over fireplaces: “The only thing I care about in this world is TV’s NOT being above fireplaces. It’s the hill I chose to die on years ago.” This layout is one of his ideas for avoiding it. (Photo: Orlando Soria)

Going back to the fireplace debate, it’s a fact that using the wall above the fireplace for the TV is a very popular choice. Whether the TV is an art TV or a black screen, people have learned to live with it as a focal point, maybe hoping the beautiful fireplace below would act as a counterbalance. But it has a cost other than aesthetics, as you’ll see in the photo below.

The optimum height for a TV is at eye level … when you are sitting down. Obviously not the case here, even though it is a pretty living room. That’s another point scored for the old-fashioned TV consoles: they offered a better position for viewing. (Photo: Houzz)

The current disguise solution is Art TV, which uses sensors and non-reflective glass to display very real-looking Picassos and Van Goghs on your TV screen. Originally launched by Samsung as The Frame TV in 2017, it’s now available from a number of makers. Keep in mind that these TVs often have reduced picture quality and color vibrancy, at least according to this critic. There’s always a tradeoff.

Art TV displays “play” your favorite artwork when the TV is not in use. The edges of the screen are magnetized so you can snap on the frame of your choice. (Photo: Caitlin Marie Design)

A modest solution

When we moved to our current home, the owners asked if we wanted to keep their TV in place. Since it was larger than what we had, we said yes.

Not wanting to do anything expensive or elaborate for a home we will live in for only a couple of years, we started looking for a simple media table that the TV could float above.

This late 19th-century sideboard never thought it would be put to use as a media table. But here we are.

Before we bought anything, we decided to see if our cherished English sideboard would fit under the monster TV. Nope … not until Tim carefully removed the back piece that would have hit the sound bar. Then, wonder of wonders, it fit and looked good doing so.

I hope you agree that this isn’t a bad solution to the modern TV dilemma.

A black-and-white palette can be very effective in exterior schemes but on the “modern farmhouse” it feels stark and aggressive.

Then came modern farmhouse. Severe, minimalist, with just a whiff of the farm scattered here and there. (Notice the board and batten siding?) I’m seeing this type of house everywhere and it’s starting to annoy me.

Still, for all my complaints, I’m drawn to a lot of the interior elements that help define this agrarian and old-fashioned look. Farmhouse style got its traction from our collective imagination. Most of us live in the suburbs, fight traffic, purchase prepared food that is covered in plastic and never see the stars because there is too much urban light in the sky. We want to go back to the land. The thirst for simple, natural, and handmade created one of the world’s most enduring home styles.

A more conceptual approach to farmhouse style results in beautiful interiors that age well. (Photo: DecorPad)

Kind of funny, though, because the interpretation of farmhouse style within an urban or suburban context looks very different from an actual farmhouse.

This is a real farmhouse in Kenneth, Minnesota

This is the kitchen of that same Minnesota farmhouse

Practicality and functionality are the defining pillars of the real farmhouse. Aesthetic appeal and beauty are welcome byproducts, but are not guaranteed. I’m being a little disingenuous here, because a style is never literal. The idea is to exploit the best and avoid the worst.

The first phase of farmhouse style (approx. 2015 - 2022) did not completely disappear. Instead, it went through filters and some good, timeless features remain. I’m ignoring the second phase, modern farmhouse, because I think it goes too far in its bland austerity.

So let’s just call it neo-farmhouse. The best representation of neo-farmhouse is when it is subtle and conceptual—representing the idea rather than the concrete.

The keeper parts of farmhouse style

(Photo: Ashley Montgomery Design)

Here are the elements I think contribute to the rich tradition of country living and worthy of good interior design:

• Natural wood

• Historic silhouettes

• Freestanding furniture pieces

• Classic textiles (linen, ticking, high-quality floral prints)

(Photo: Ashley Montgomery Design)

Adding to the neo-farmhouse aesthetic is more subtle, moody color infusing the once-bland palettes. Then, the options blow wide open when you add modern takes on old-fashioned lighting, furniture, and accessories.

A very farmhousey dining set is counterbalanced by a not-so-farmhousey vintage chandelier. (Photo: Ashley Montgomery Design)

Are you intrigued by neo-farmhouse? Do you love tidiness but hate blandness? The best way to add richness and interest is start small. Try changing one element of a room with something that won’t be found in the farmhouse aisle of the local DIY/crafts store. Seek out that amazing, one-of-a-kind piece that captures your eye at a vintage marketplace, a favorite online shop, or on Facebook Marketplace.

Rookwood pottery has been gracing homes since the late 19th century and the company is still in business. Their contemporary designs blend past and present, turning simple farmhouse pitchers into beautiful objets d’art. (Photo: Rookwood)

Sometimes all a room needs is a little shaking and fluffing — a “refresh,” if you will. One really great way to infuse interest into tired decor is to capture the iconic elements in new ways. For farmhouse, it might be a water pitcher that’s pottery instead of enamelware. Or a Turkish kilim-style rug with faded color strips that brings an American quilt to mind.

This spectacular rug by Rug & Kilim has a faded elegance that nevertheless feels homey. (Photo: 1stDibs)

If all of your walls are white or cream, bringing in contrast (trim, window treatments, artwork, mantel, etc.) will inject warmth. Weed out the little things hanging around that don’t hold any special meaning (that means you, plastic plant in metal bucket). Don’t buy fake or reproduction unless it is spectacular and/or you can’t afford the real thing.

Installing curtains under a sink is almost a country cliché. But if you think about its functionality (hides ugly stuff) and its appealing form (light and feminine), it could be a good choice. I love the ethereal muslin fabric used here. (Photo: Ashley Montgomery Design)

Recognizable elements captured in new materials and forms create dramatic effect while still working within the overall look of a neo-farmhouse home. Enjoy the discovery of new ways to decorate that celebrates the country cousin inside all of us.

Growth. Decay. Renewal. These are the cycles represented in California artist Laurie MacMillan’s mesmerizing works. As you gaze at them, the paintings reveal themselves layer by layer. Her use of color, shape, and texture creates movement and life.

“Down to Earth,” acrylic on canvas, 40 by 30 inches; $2,750

MacMillan is a contemporary painter who derives inspiration from the natural world around her … often in her own back yard. “I always see mountains, geological formations, hiking trails or plant life in the abstract patterns I make,” she says.

Most of her paintings are done in acrylic, with some notable variations using oil and cold wax. She paints mostly local scenes, capturing California’s botanical abundance. And surprisingly, MacMillan did not make a living as an artist until mid-career. She sold real estate and served various roles in the travel industry. But her Santa Barbara home was always a place for creative renewal.

Second Life

When her home and studio burned down in 2008’s catastrophic Tea Fire, MacMillan moved to a new home and found solace by walking through her gardens. She knew very little about gardening but began getting her hands dirty and noticing the teeming life that thrived there. This new passion launched a whole new series called “My Backyard.”

Abstract art is based not on an actual representation of a scene or an object, but more upon how it makes one feel. MacMillan’s recovery from the fire as well as her innate ability to observe and interpret gives her art incredible animation. Some pieces are quiet, others stimulating, but all of them evoke a response that goes well past the naked eye.

“Circles of Life,” acrylic on canvas, 16 by 16 inches; $950

“Autumn,” acrylic on canvas,16 by16 inches; $975

Two of her most recent works, “Full Circle” and “Opposites Attract” are an experiment using acrylic and water-soluble markers. These smaller paintings are on a 10-inch birchwood square and are priced at $450 each.

“Full Circle,” acrylic and water soluble markers, 10 by 10 inches; $450

“Opposites Attract,” acrylic and water soluble markers, 10 by 10 inches; $450

If you’re intrigued, I encourage you to visit MacMillan’s website or check out her paintings on various gallery sites like Chairish and Saatchi Art.

Past Issues of “Art Collecting for Us:”

Meet BA Thomas

The living room in A.J. Johari’s San Francisco row house. Johari collects unique light fixtures, artwork, and textiles. (Photo: A.J. Johari)

But I’ve never crossed it with a large car monitor showing me the sweeping cables and dizzying heights of each gate in bright 3D color as I drove by. It was most distracting and I felt like a kid on a carnival ride.

San Francisco is an extraordinary place. Filled with history of California’s earliest days and now thriving as one of the preeminent tech centers of the world. Grappling with inequality and unhoused people while still enthralling millions of visitors with its Victorian row houses, wedding-cake Italianate mansions and picturesque waterfronts.

There is nothing else like it.

Gump’s, San Francisco’s oldest department store founded in 1861, offers exclusive items like this botanical garden chair that captures the city’s strong Asian influence. (Photo: Gump’s)

It’s a place with tremendous potential, recognized by its shapes and color, wildly divergent histories and lifestyles. We hear a lot about San Francisco’s spectacularly boring fashion, dominated by colorless, minimalist clothing preferred by tech professionals. So we look elsewhere, to architectural detail and color, to ethnic influence and natural curiosities. Its bridges and sharp-toothed skyline. A gilded opera house and brilliant-hued Chinatown.

Johari’s quintessential San Francisco bedroom, with warm orange accents and fog-shrouded scenery. (Photo: A.J. Johari)

After tearing my eyes away from the Golden Gate virtual odyssey playing on my screen, I began to think about the many ways San Francisco shows its colors, and quirks, and how they could be effectively translated into room design.

The Golden Gate’s hue

It’s not really golden; more of a burnt orange. The Golden Gate is painted over and over again with a custom mix called Golden Gate International Orange, chosen after considering gray (and black!) by bridge architect Irving Morrow in 1935. It’s pretty bright, intended to be very obvious for ships and such to avoid when the fog rolls in. But it also glows in glorious tandem with the Marin headlands and the city skyline at sunset.

Wall art made from original 1935 handrails of the Golden Gate Bridge that were removed in the 1990s for necessary repairs. (Photo: Golden Gate Furniture)

A small artisanal company was able to acquire much of the steel handrails when the bridge was repaired in 1993. Owner Richard Bulan created a headboard for himself and then made a few more. He now offers an array of handcut decorative items that bring a little bit of San Francisco into a home.

Den with a bay view in Pacific Heights (Photo: Laura Larkin Interiors)

Even without pieces of the bridge, you can have a lot of fun playing with a very bright and vibrant orange to spice up any room. From art to upholstery, pillows to paint, the color of the Golden Gate bridge will warm you even on the coldest of days. I think orange is having a moment in interior design, so why not make it an homage to International Orange?

A city on many hills

San Francisco rests on 50 named hills, including Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill, and Nob Hill. The highest one, Mount Davidson, is more than 900 feet high. The result is a vertiginous series of inclines and declines that astound the senses (and require nerves of steel when driving). There is nothing flat or monotonous in San Francisco.

Curvatures in the sconce and the wall-mounted sink call to mind San Francisco’s hilly topography. (Photo: DecorPad)

The narrow row houses rest easily on their sloping streets, false fronts outlined with contrasting paint palettes and pointing towards a wind-freshened blue sky. San Francisco is a vertical city in every sense, encouraging a sense of climbing and reaching for something better.

Fog banks

Dramatic fog banks march over the Golden Gate Bridge and cover parts of the city so that you need a puffer coat in one neighborhood and a pair of shorts in another.

People love it, people hate it, but fog is a defining feature of the city that lends incredible beauty to its natural landscape.

Textile designer Kelly Ventura created this “fig in fog” fabric that beautifully captures the cool and smoky look of San Francisco on a foggy afternoon. (Photo: Kelly Ventura)

San Francisco fog is not always gray; it’s lilac at birth, and turns silver when the sun shines through. I’m cautious about using a lot of gray in interiors, especially flooring. But used well, it can be astonishingly beautiful. Choose wisely and use your imagination when combining this ethereal shade with other elements in a room.

This chest has both modern lines and a moody fog color to complement an eclectic room design. (Photo: Grayson Living)

There are a lot of cities that provide exciting inspiration for room design. Some of them are obvious and others need a little time (and your full attention) to divulge their decorative secrets. Next time you are traveling to your favorite, or a new-to-you city, open up your eyes to some ways to bring it home with you.

Not a shining example of people-first corporate culture, but I did learn a lot about closets.

Builder-grade wall closets are empty canvases waiting to be transformed by … you. This is one great example by Laura Gummerman of A Beautiful Mess. (Photo: A Beautiful Mess)

There are three main problems with built-in closets:

1. Most wall closets (or built-in closets) are budget afterthoughts, with one rod and one shelf placed about five feet high. This rod-and-shelf combo typically runs the length of the closet. And that’s it.

2. Typical wall closets have “returns” on each side (that 1-2 foot part where you shove stuff you don’t use as much because it’s hard to reach). The header at the top of the closet closes off much of any potential storage near the ceiling.

3. The floor is where we usually put shoes but it is a flat, disorganized void. Limited visibility due to low-hanging clothes and awkward to reach, the bare floor is a wasted opportunity.

Look familiar? This is a closet we all know and loathe. The good news is that you can make dramatic improvements yourself. Photo: The Design Twins)

Shelving and rod placement

Every little thing you do to improve your closet’s storage capacity is to be applauded. A good place to start would be repositioning your rod so that instead of a single long one, you have two or three at varying heights.

This is a good layout for a standard walk-in closet. Three zones for hanging clothes and a large panel of shelving allow you to sort clothing by type. (Photo: This is Carpentry)

A typical rod height of about 60” means that the hanging clothes will prevent good use of the lower and floor space. The layout above includes a section with double rods so that you get twice the space for your shorter-hang clothing. On the right, a single pole is placed 66” high for coats and longer dresses. You could even put it higher, directly under the upper shelf, so that the floor below can be used for a shoe rack.

This shoe rack from Yamazaki Home expands from 16” to 27”, great for a small closet.

TIP: Wood shelving beats wire shelving every time. My experience with wire shelving and baskets has been frustrating; the structures are often flimsy and awkward. They just don’t perform like solid wood or even melamine.

If you like the single-rod style of your closet and just need to find other ways to create order, then build at least one additional shelf above the one you have. Make sure the depth of the shelf allows for space to hoist your boxes through, past the closet header. Our high shelf has a 12” depth and the total depth from the header measures 24”. It’s enough to allow for bins and suitcases.

The other great place to install shelving is in the two returns. Here are some ideas:

No-brainer DIY shelves triple the capacity of this closet corner. I like using cleats for supports if the shelves are on the shorter side. They’re easy and sturdy. (Photo: Jenna Kate at Home)

This person needed a dedicated space for her portable air conditioner, so she designed her corner shelves to fit it underneath the last shelf. (Photo: The Handyman’s Daughter)

What if you ditched the doors?

It seems counterintuitive, but removing the doors from a closet can actually add square footage to your room. The resulting alcove could total as much as 14 square feet.

This fabulous doorless closet is the end result of the messy closet shown above (The Design Twins). The big challenge here is keeping the closet scrupulously neat and organized.

It doesn’t sound like a lot, but adding 14 square feet to a small room can be a genius move. Large closed doors create a visual barrier that tends to make a room feel smaller. With good design and high-quality built-ins and/or custom shelving, you can create an open closet that blends attractively with the rest of the room.

This isn’t an easy thing but there are times when your rooms may not even have a closet and you have to create a space. That’s when good design principles and an investment in the right armoire/built-in/shelving unit will go a long way.

Divide and conquer

The closet at the top of this post has a small but important tweak. Laura Gummerman of A Beautiful Mess put in a vertical divider so that she and her husband could more effectively share the space.

She also added two more shelves above the hanging rod, which are used primarily for shoes.

Adding a vertical closet divider keeps a couple’s wardrobe separate and easier to organize. This divider is integrated into the shelves above it, with the same depth, to create a very cohesive design. (Photos: A Beautiful Mess)

These were small changes that changed everything. You’re going from a large empty box to a compartmentalized box with increased capacity and improved “user experience.”

The two positive things you can say about builder-grade wall closets is that they allow for personal customization that fits your own wardrobe and storage needs. The second thing is that even one small improvement can make your month.

My own favorite closet upgrade

With that said, I’m going to share with you the best accessory for a well-dressed closet.

Valet rods are something you can really hang your hat on (or what you’ll be wearing tomorrow).

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the valet rod! If you are a clothes liner-upper, you need one (or two) of these. Use one for the times you need to reorganize your closet and need a place to hang extra clothing. They are also terrific in your ironing station, if you are lucky enough to have one.

For frequent travelers, a valet rod really helps with packing. You can place all of your hanging clothes that are coming with you in one place, very visible, so you don’t forget anything.

I’ve always considered store design a good model to follow. Valet rods are one of retailers’ best merchandising tools. Supposedly they are also the mark of a luxurious and well-appointed closet.

My partiality for built-ins and valet rods are attributable to my time as content director at the Closet Factory. And for that, if nothing else, I am grateful.

I’m seeing stripes everywhere! What’s more, they’re making everything really cute. The same could easily be said about checks—especially gingham, to use a more countrified term. Stripes are an important design element in our country’s flag, and gingham is America’s favorite adopted fabric, so let’s call this an early 4th of July tribute.

Multi-stripe upholstered bed frame paired with velvet end-of-bed bench and a companionable checked armchair. (Photo: Andrew Howard Interior Design)

Stripes are associated with lots of cheery things, like cabanas and beach towels, rugby players and refs. They enjoyed renewed popularity in two distinctly troubling times— the Great Depression and, um, right now, purported to turn people’s minds from the dark and scary.

Despite their “in your face” reputation, stripes are surprisingly good playmates with other patterns and colors. A recent tribute to stripes in the New York Times included this comment from Katherine Finder, the chief merchandising officer for Anthropologie’s home division: “It’s a step up from a solid, but it’s a version of a solid.”

Striped Goods

Now that you’re thinking about them, my guess is you’ll start seeing some irresistible pieces to sprinkle around your own house. Here are a few striped goodies that got me smiling.

Hand-painted stripes adorn these generous-sized mugs with accompanying serving plates. Made by Jesabilsegundo. (Photo: Etsy)

Pembroke Stripe linen bedding shown here in Elderberry. (Photo: Piglet in Bed)

The French have a thing for stripes. In the south, you’ve got the bright seven-colored patterns of Basque as well as subtler “sunwashed” stripes of Provence. Brittany’s navy and white stripes up north go back to the Napoleonic era, each of the 21 stripes representing the battles he had won.

Smitten with these linen panels in a Provençale pattern of cherry-red stripes on natural background from Forest and Linen.

How about something more abstract and modern? When you really start looking you’ll notice that stripes form the basis for so many patterns, from plaid to grid to contrasting borders.

A sleek sculptural vase enhanced by crisp black and white stripes that expand with the contours of the vessel. (Photo: Wayfair)

Checks all the boxes

Did you know that gingham began its life as stripes? The pattern is attributed to Malaysian weavers in the 17th century, who called it “genggang,” which essentially translates to straight, or stripe. Somewhere along the way, via the Dutch and the British, these stripes morphed into a yarn-died reversible pattern that appears like basket weave. Intricate dark, light, and interwoven threads make it the modern gingham we know today.

Striped or checked? You could argue both ways on this handsome Berkshire rug from Scout and Nimble.

The sturdy cotton threads used in the early ginghams created a fabric that withstood wear and tear. Probably why it is strongly associated with farming and rural life (think Dorothy in Kansas).

Natural and indigo gingham tablecloth made from khadi (fabric woven by hand and using hand-spun yarn) from Auntie Oti.

Moving beyond gingham you have the checkerboard checked pattern. And you can’t mention the checkerboard pattern without including Mackenzie Childs. The bright, almost cartoonlike designs of this company have fervent followers.

Mackenzie Childs turns a simple checkerboard pattern into something extraordinary, from table lamps to bathroom accessories.

And for the grand finale, one of my favorite checked patterns: houndstooth. Although houndstooth has arguably been somewhat overused of late, it still has the power to delight when done right.

Houndstooth upholstery is a genius choice for a good piece of furniture in this stunning black and white bedroom. (Photo: Decor Pad)

Follow the trail to a new piece in your favorite striped or checked pattern, or highlight a piece you already have. See if it doesn’t put a smile on your face.

Reddit user No-Lo9955 wanted to “kick it up a notch” and asked for ideas to make it a cozier space. So that’s what we are going to do here.

That rogue window isn’t doing this plain room any favors. We need to push things around a little bit in here.

My first thought was that the bed wasn’t doing anything for the room. The linens are nice but it could use a headboard with some decorative elements and height. I envisioned an interesting headboard with open spaces (like metal or rattan) instead of a dark block of wood. Painted wood designs would also be very pretty.

This stunning headboard doubles as an art piece and would liven things up. (Photo: Pandora’s)

On Nano Banana 2 AI image editing, I tried a few different prompts and came up with this.

I am a definite novice with Nano Banana’s AI tool and this result isn’t exactly what I wanted. The machine definitely had a mind of its own and decided to move the window to the center! But I think the decorative metal headboard centered between dainty nightstands is an improvement.

Below is an East Indian style rattan headboard that is tall, but still light and airy. With such a plain boxy room I think that more attention should be given to the bed since it is the largest furnishing and commands attention.

This bedroom (a real one) looks like it’s close in size to our case study. See how much spice the rattan headboard adds? A translucent curtain across the entire wall is a nice touch and would disguise the awkward window while allowing in light. (Photo: Hallstrom Home)

The bedroom also needs some spot lighting, such as a couple of pendant plug-in lamps in the corner, if it’s a rental. For an owned home, consider a wall sconce on each side of the bed and an upgraded central light fixture.

Better Bed Placement

Did you know that there are rules regarding bed placement? I knew about feng shui but I wasn’t as familiar with certain taboos in interior design.

Feng shui principles recommend that a bed be in “command” position, which means that you have a sightline to the door, on a diagonal. The entryway should be visible but not on a perfectly straight line. The head of the bed should not be placed next to an entryway.

Common advice from interior design circles advises against pushing the bed against the wall on its widest side unless it is a child’s room. You are supposed to keep your bed in the center of the room for balance and access. Hmmm.

For this room, I might flout the rules and experiment with placing the bed against the back wall. It would open up so much more space in the front.

You can kind of see what I mean in this bedroom. The bed’s widest side is placed against the wall, giving much more space in the room’s center. (Photo: Apartment Therapy)

The undersized window and its off-center placement is a real problem. You need to work with the left section of the wall to create more of a balance.

This configuration opens up an L-shaped space and makes the window placement feel a bit more intentional. (Photo: Sustain My Craft Habit)

One way to do this is to position the bed against the left-hand wall. Then, put a dresser under the window and a shelf tower to the right of the window so that it resembles built-ins.

This AI-generated room shows what I mean about surrounding the window with furnishings. You could probably get a built-in effect with a wider dresser that buts up against a similar-looking tall bookshelf.

Using Nano Banana again, I came up with this. The bed’s headboard should have been on the back wall, left of the window, but you get the idea.

With the right headboard style, experimenting with bed placement, new paint, spot lighting, compelling art work, and either a curtain wall or some built-ins around the single window, Hi-Lo9955 could bring a lot of beauty and character into her room.

In Places of Passage, even a hallway merits notice. Its maze of patterns and quirky details, such as a keyboard hung on the wall, exudes playfulness. Places of Passage, 2025. 16 1/4 x 12 1/2 inches; $1,775.

Let’s banish the idea that good art and art collecting is the exclusive purview of the very rich. You can find art that has both aesthetic and investment value within your price range. But it takes time. That’s why I am launching a regular post (once a month, with luck) to shine a light on an artist I think is great enough to invest in, and maybe under the radar enough to be affordable.

Here we go!

A background of sprightly lace and a woven pattern frames the scene of a dressmaker’s studio. Atelier, 2025. 44 x 54 inches; $9,200.

BA Thomas

An artist who hails from North Carolina, BA Thomas paints interior and exterior spaces so personal that they powerfully reflect the human element they were created for. She is in her early thirties and already has many shows and exhibitions under her belt. We saw her paintings in Paris last summer, at Brigitte Mulholland’s gallery in Paris.

Thomas paints scenes that make us the voyeurs, expected to observe the details that make it so fascinating. Maison Aline, 2025. 36 x 36 inches; $6,800.

“People love the whimsy and lightness in BA's work,” Mulholland says. “They are intimate and filled with a lot of details that create a really lovely atmosphere. I can't tell you how many times people have walked in and just instantly fallen in love with the work.”

It’s pretty much what happened to us. My daughter, in particular, spotted the paintings first and they appealed to her on a very deep level. We wandered around the gallery for at least an hour, taking them in. Thomas plays with spatial perspective and incorporates layers of color and texture in ways that strike you differently every time you look away and then back again. A writer in Artsuite describes Thomas’ technique like this:

“In her paintings, space breaks apart and behaves irrationally; objects tilt at strange angles as if seen from different viewpoints. The overall compositional perspective is slightly voyeuristic, akin to peering down into a dollhouse or theater set. The representation of space in Thomas’ work is at once confounding and familiar, both impossible and somehow believable.”

Another reason we like this artist is because her work celebrates interior spaces. She is not a realist by any stretch, but her immense attention to detail reveals a love for everyday objects—things perhaps we don’t always acknowledge but would certainly miss if they weren’t there.

It’s as if the monied client and the attentive shop clerk have exited the room just momentarily. Haute Couture, 2025. 54 x 40 inches; $8,800.

Thomas says she spends a lot of time observing interiors from all kinds of media, from Airbnb listings to magazines to her own drawings as she enounters places that speak to her. Often her paintings capture the essence of multiple places, which may explain the layered effect they have.

Reflections, repetition, point of view—all are captured dreamily in Thomas’s Building What Is Home, 2025. 12 x 9 1/4 inches; $1,385.

Thomas mentioned one of her most important sources for design is Ilse Crawford, a UK design firm dedicated to making “responsive homes that support and embrace people’s physical, emotional, and psychological wants and needs. For anyone who thinks about this essential relationship between place and person, Thomas’s painted scenes act as illustration. Sort of like your dreams made manifest.

Jennifer’s pretty little greenhouse has a powerful feature: a 55-gallon rain capture system (on the right).

Earth Day is observed by more than one billion people around the world. This year I hope that number increases, perhaps fueled by the images of “Earthset” taken from Orion during its far side of the moon journey. A planet worth cherishing, worth conserving.

This post is all about a small way to cherish your water. Water—where to find it, how to access it, how to conserve—has driven civilizations since the beginning of time. It’s a big topic so we’re just going to zoom in on one tiny piece: rain saving.

Please note: Rainwater harvesting in the United States is restricted in some states and often has rules against using it for bathing or drinking. This post is strictly focused on an under-2,000 gallon system for irrigation, which is legal and even encouraged in most areas.

I love this example from Jennifer Ainsworth (@jjays_greenhouse) and most of us could replicate it in the garage or a shed.

Her rainwater capture system uses gravity, gutters, a big container and a hose to create a free-flowing spigot, making it easy to irrigate her potted plants all year long.

Gravity flow is simply about positioning your gutters and your collection barrel so that the rainwater drains easily and doesn’t pool.

Ainsworth, a database manager in Wilmington, NC and mom to a ten-year old, wanted to try her hand at gardening “when she had some time.” That time didn’t come until 2020, when the pandemic forced non-essential workers to stay home. Jennifer had a shed but wanted to add a light-filled greenhouse onto it. She and her husband started collecting windows and built a custom greenhouse of their own design.

A Better Way to Water

After a year of experimenting and teaching herself about plant care, Jennifer’s success as a tropical plant grower increased significantly. She quickly filled her new greenhouse with potted tropicals, while at the same time planting exterior gardens including vegetable beds and a wildflower patch.

Soon the hand watering became an onerous task. “I was filling up watering cans to water everything, which wasn’t too bad when we first started, but it got old quickly,” Jennifer says. Her husband did a little research and decided to create a simple rain capture system.

There’s something deeply satisfying about tapping into rainwater with just a barrel and a hose.

The result was a game-changer. “We save time and energy,” Jennifer says. “The plants really thrive on the rainwater.”

The gutter is 20 feet long and the rain barrel holds 55 gallons. According to Ainsworth’s calculations, the system can collect as much as 2,000 gallons during the five-month rainy season.

Here’s how they did it.

Rainwater Capture System

What You’ll Need

• Rain barrel stand (bricks, cinderblocks, pressure-treated wood)

• Rain barrel

• Gutters

• Downspout

• Flexible gutter extension

• Garden hose

• Female hose adapter

• Spigot

Instructions

1. Choose a location for your rain barrel and stand. It should be close to the downspout from your gutters and on level ground.

   

2. Install the rain barrel stand. Make sure everything is level and stable. Then, place the rain barrel on top of the stand.

3. Install the gutters on your greenhouse roof if they’re not already in place. Ensure that they slope slightly towards the downspout.

   

4. Attach the flexible gutter extension to the downspout. You’ll want the end of the gutter extension directly over the opening on the top of the rain barrel. Ainsworth screwed the gutter extension to the top of the rain barrel, so it stays in place.

5. Cut the hose to the desired length. This hose will run from the rain barrel to the inside of your greenhouse.

   

6. Drill a hole, the size of your hose, through your greenhouse, to run the hose through.

7. Thread the hose inside the greenhouse and attach the female hose adapter to the end of the hose.

9. Attach the spigot and tighten securely.

   

10. Finally, make sure your spigot is in the closed position before the rain barrel fills up. Once the barrel is full, open the spigot and use the rainwater water as needed!

Most of the things in this room I already had. The curtains, Rachel Ashwell rug, and square pillows came from HomeGoods.

Our new leased home gave us two additional bedrooms, a relief for times when all three kids decide to come visit. When our oldest daughter, who lives in Brooklyn, wanted to come see the new house for her birthday and bring a few friends just a few weeks after move-in, we hustled.

The last bedroom down the hall (we called it BR #4 on our moving boxes) was dark and drab. It was used as an office/mailroom by the owners and beauty was not on the memo. I had my eye on it for a crafts/sewing room that would double as extra sleeping space but frankly, I could barely look at it during the move-in.

You never want to spend more money than you need to on a leased home but in this case, a little bit of effort went a long way as you’ll see. Also, you should always get approval from the landlord even if you are clearly making the place better than it was.

The back bedroom was so dismal that even the newer wall-to-wall carpeting in the hallway stops short. You’re lucky that I’m not showing it packed to the gills with a fluorescent light overhead.

We diplomatically asked the owners if we could make some changes and they unhesitatingly agreed. Underneath the flimsy carpet was … subfloor. So much for discovering good oak hardwoods! The paint was really bad, too.

Within two weeks, the room was completely transformed.

My favorite quilt from Auntie Oti looks fresh and pretty against the light wood flooring and taupe-y paint.

Our three big things: New floor, new paint, Murphy bed

After living with laminate for the past few years I was eager to get wood back underfoot. True hardwood flooring is difficult and time-consuming to install as a DIY project so Tim started looking at engineered flooring on Facebook Marketplace. He found a local seller willing to sell us a small lot of light-colored wood—HDC Wymill Hickory click-lock engineered hardwood, to be precise.

These slabs lock into place without using adhesive. We got ours for $220, about half the price it would have cost at Home Depot.

Most of the home’s interior has an olive green paint. It’s very nice but I wanted something a little lighter for this back room. After a short search within the taupe colorway, I found this one: Porcelain by Benjamin Moore. I was pleased with the soft lavender-gray hue. It has enough contrast with the floor and goes well with all the blue and white bedding, too.

We originally planned to center the Murphy bed but ended up pushing it slightly to the right so that we could fit in our antique pine chest.

We’ve had this Murphy bed for many years now. It is a very traditional style, with a mahogany finish. It’s been a real benefit to us because it allows even a small room to have multiple uses.

I have a thing for bunting—blame it on my years of building she sheds.

For art, I remembered having some pretty paper bunting from my She Shed Living shop. I pulled it out and hung it behind the pillows. It’s perfect because it’s flat against the wall so the cabinet can close properly.

And there you go. A truly remarkable makeover that does exactly what we need it to, and does it prettily besides.

A generous tufted bench turns this small breakfast nook into a place where lively dinner parties of up to six people can sit. (Photo: Leela Cyd for Apartment Therapy)

Eating meals in a dedicated dining room was once commonplace, but not anymore. In a recent survey, home builders state that only 20% of their new house designs include a formal dining room. An architectural firm also notes that the majority of its remodel work is removing formal dining rooms to make larger open living space.

A miniature dining room is fashioned from an anteroom, with one wall designed as a combination cabinet and seating area. (Photo: Beth Boyne | Styled by Sunday Hendrickson)

The reasons include cost and consumer preference. You can build a 3-bedroom home with a kitchen eating nook for the same price as a 2-bedroom home with a formal dining room. Since dining rooms are one of the least-used rooms in the house, it’s difficult to justify in a small house.

Today’s dinner hour is more casual than in decades past. Work, sports, and recreational schedules get in the way of everyone trooping into the dining room every night. So even if you have a formal dining room, chances are you’re still mostly hanging around in the kitchen to eat.

Instead of a traditional island, this kitchen’s central focus is a large farmhouse table for family gatherings. (Photo: Mark Lohman | Styled by Sunday Hendrickson)

A Cozier Corner

I’m not going to spend time lamenting the demise of formal family dinners or the casualification of just about everything we do. The goal of this piece is to show some attractive and functional alternatives. A well-designed eating area can exist in and around the kitchen and still nuture the elemental value of breaking bread together.

A corner banquette and small round table fits three for a meal, with room for more on the deck just out the back door. (Photo: Helen Bergen Interiors | DecorPad)

Gathering spaces rise and fall over time, but they are always imbued with meaning and memories.

Look for a narrow table and armless chairs to create an eating nook even in the smallest of spaces. This wall area within the kitchen is only about 3 1/2 feet deep. (Photo: Mark Lohman | Styled by Sunday Hendrickson)

Think like a restaurant

A romantic table for two, reminiscent of a favorite restaurant, is possible (and fun!) to recreate in several areas of your house. It might be temporary—for winter, in front of the fireplace or come summertime, in a vine-covered corner of the garden—or permanent. Designing ad hoc seating allows for novelty and the chance to see your rooms in ways you haven’t before.

Be imaginative with your eating nooks. (Photo: Yvonne Purcell @sixat21)

The best place to gather for a meal may not be the room that was built purposefully for it. Experiment with table and chair placement, take advantage of windows and views, and consider underutilized floor space in your home to create a whole new experience when it comes to meaningful eating.

Designer Mandy Cheng designed custom cabinetry around the Murphy bed in her guest bedroom. (Photo: Yoshihiro Makino for Architectural Digest)

My husband, son, and I moved last week. It was traumatic and endless drudgery. Since we all know how bad it is to pack up an entire household then turn around and unpack it all again I’ll spare you the details.

One good thing that happened is our bedroom count changed from two to four.

Now I can accommodate any of my three adult children along with their partners and friends without worrying where they’re going to sleep. We bought a Murphy bed many years ago and it is still serving us well. It would also be great to do a foldaway-type bed for the other guest room so I could use it for other things in between guests.

Extra bed options have come a long way in recent years. For small homes and active social lives, they come in very handy, to say the least. They are smart in design and take up very little space when not in use. I collected some ideas that range in scope from easy and (relatively) cheap to time-consuming and pricey (but worth it).

(The obvious option, a pullout couch or sofa bed, is not included here as I intend to save that for an article on its own.)

First, the rollaway.

The Rollaway Bed

The Millard Deluxe Diplomat Folding Bed is an option with glowing reviews on Amazon. (Photo: Amazon)

For about $350 you really can’t go wrong with the classic rollaway bed. These metal foldups still resemble the ones we all remember from family trips that ended in budget motel rooms. However, they are superior in strength and support.

Rollaways are compact enough to store in a large closet. A good-quality rollaway will have a 4- or 5-inch-thick mattress and provides a surprisingly comfortable night’s sleep. One tip: Check the reviews to make sure the mattress size is accurate to standard sheet sizes.

Next up: the futon.

The Futon

The frame on this Okinawa Bi-Fold futon frame is sleek and pretty; it also offers a drawer below and a storage rack on the back. (Photo: The Futon Shop)

One lesson to share: When you say “futon” you are technically referring to the traditional Japanese bedding set that includes a roll-up mattress filled with wool or cotton (shikibuton), comforter, pillow, and floor mat. For the couch conversion type, the correct term is “Western futon.” It includes a thicker mattress that folds and fits onto a couch frame.

Overall, you have some pretty amazing options and comfort levels. Choose from twin, full, queen, or king; organic wool and cotton mattresses; and either frames or platforms if you don’t like the idea of your guest sleeping on the floor. Prices range from $400 - $1,600 for the mattress, and $600 - $1,000 for the frame.

Your basic vertical Murphy bed operates on a strong hydraulic spring so it is easy (and safe) to pull down.

Now for a bigger spend … the Murphy bed.

Wall-mount Murphy

The full Murphy bed appears to be a large cabinet by day, and pulls down into a twin, full, queen, or king bed by night. The mattress is very comfortable, just like a regular bed, and they come in a variety of designs (formal, beachy, modern, farmhouse, etc.) and finishes.

It’s probably the best option if you want a foldaway bed that acts like a permanent bed—for example, for someone who is staying in it longer than a week or so. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the bedcovering and the pillows need to be removed and put away before closing up the bed.

These things are very expensive and heavy. They range from $2,100 not including mattress (the Bestar shown above) to upwards of $10,000 for one that’s custom built. Ours is just a frame like the Bestar, but you have others with options like side cubbies, cabinets, reading lights, and overhead shelves.

Slightly less expensive but supposedly a b**tch to assemble, cabinet Murphy beds are nevertheless an ingenious way to give your spare room more space between guests. (Photo: Murphy Bed Depot)

Cabinet Bed

The cabinet bed is a very interesting configuration. It’s a Murphy bed that folds away into a portable cabinet instead of into the wall.

The obvious advantage here is more portability and you don’t lose a large chunk of wall to operate it.

(Photo: Murphy Bed Depot)

There are many designs to choose from including some really nice-looking Mission style and “Amish” style hand-finished cabinets. (Amish isn’t truly a furniture style; it simply refers to the use of solid wood, traditional joinery, and simple hardware and finishes.)

This is a good idea for a very small room that might feel engulfed by a wall-mount bed.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask an architect if your home could benefit from a built-in sleeping space like this. (Photo: DecorPad)

Drum roll, please … the Built-in Bed

Built-in Bed

This option is very expensive and also relies heavily on the space and layout of your room to work well. It’s ideal for an older house where the room might have alcoves, or maybe an adjoining smaller room that could be redesigned into a built-in bed area.

But oh … the end result could be spectacular.

Sometimes it’s difficult for a layperson to visualize the possibilities; a professional could help here. If you think you could benefit from a remodel that includes a built-in sleeping space, get the advice of an interior designer and/or an architect.

Needless to say, a built-in sleeping space is beneficial and attractive for any size home.

Needless to say, it’s also a big investment.

Creating a bed nook changes the entire layout and enhances the architectural appeal of the room. (Photo: DecorPad)

In the best outcome, the remodeled room is more cohesive and sets a boundary between sleeping area and living area.

A Cozy Port in a Storm

No matter which extra bed option ends up working for your own situation, you will experience a feeling of deep satisfaction. It’s a joyous expression of hospitality when one can say “I would love for you to stay with us” without having to sheet up the living room couch.

Your guests will appreciate it, too.

When we are finished with our “fourth bedroom” and its Murphy bed install, I’ll share it with you.

One advantage: The master bedroom in the new home is oversized, perfect for adding a sitting/reading area or my office.

One disadvantage: The room has no built-in overhead lighting.

So I started my hunt for pretty overhead lighting, with bonus points added if the fixture is available as a plug-in.

My search started off with a bang, with this:

This cluster of fabric-covered lanterns is called “Japanese Restaurant Lighting” and I immediately fell for it. Until I read the reviews. (Photo: Lighting-Forest)

It’s just one of the company’s many fixtures that are made essentially by clustering lanterns of various shapes and sizes. And yes, it does capture the ambiance of a well-designed restaurant. Each light fixture cost around $200, so not a cheap endeavor. But how pretty! How unique! As soon as I confirmed that the options included a plug-in pendant, I was eager to share it here with you.

Then I happened to glance at one of my search threads, which contained words like “never again” and “don’t buy from this company.” I had to look at what other people were saying about Lighting-Forest.

Sadly, we all know the drill

Most of it was pretty negative. Apparently these lanterns in reality (and other light fixtures supposedly manufactured by the company) are made with synthetic fabric and often arrive in a different size or shape than what was ordered.

But even worse, attempts to return the merchandise were met with a demand for shipping charges to China that were up to $100. It’s beyond insane. The company instead offers $20 credits toward another purchase. And so the loop, the waste, and the frustration go on.

The reviews shown on the product page are actually quite positive, and some of them even show photos of the product arriving “as ordered” in its box. It’s definitely not a black-and-white situation. Every purchase decision we make online is fraught. Many U.S. consumers will point a finger at international companies as causing the bulk of the problems, but in reality scamming and poor quality merchandise know no borders. It’s just a little easier, most of the time, to battle it out with a company in your own country.

You can’t just hit “submit order” anymore

There are a lot of troubling things going on right now with online buying and selling. Problems include: receiving products that literally are NOT the same products in the photos; the inability to contact customer service; no refunds given; high return shipping costs; and shoddy product quality.

The wildly fluctuating tariff situation and the end of the “de minimus” rule allowing overseas products to be shipped with no import fees if the value was $800 or less has made it really difficult to understand the amount you will be paying in the end. So for now, I decided to feature a few ideas from domestic lighting designers and makers (or at least, they are shipped from a U.S. fulfilment house to you). All but one of these are hard-wire connect.

Here they are:

Rosehill by Aerin | Visual Comfort & Co.

Sutter Pendant | McGee & Co.

Dyana by Schonbek

And finally, my favorite plug-in pendant of all time: the Capiz Flower Pendant

The Capiz Flower Pendant by Pottery Barn

Here is the Capiz Flower in a shed we designed for a children’s book author in 2021. Loved it then, love it still. (Photo: Velvet Chaise)

Maybe you’ll be seeing this in my new bedroom. And if you’ve ever made a great lighting discovery that was domestically sourced I’d love to hear about it.

Be careful out there!