I believe in the power of home spaces to sustain and heal us. Here are a few extraordinary design moments to nourish you…
01. Jeremiah Brent is my fave (of all of my faves)
I love design. I love Jeremiah Brent. So I did an unveiling of his new book in the video above. I’ve seen unboxing of books done… but maybe that’s supposed to be reserved just for authors and their own books? Haha. Click above to watch me unwrap my newly purchased Jeremiah Brent book. ‘Skinny with excitement’ is my mom’s expression for a moment like this.
His book is everything that I experience him to be: heart-centred, gorgeous, layered, interesting and life-affirming. This one passage (below) captures the essence of the book and the love you feel in every single page:
In a very strange twist of events, the little house on Fifth Avenue – our first home – became ours again while I was writing this book, nearly ten years ago after we first said goodbye. I had spent seven years trying to get it back. By the time we did, I had beeen thinking about the idea of home for so long. I write these words from the first home I ever loved, the home we live in again now, in the very spot where I crafted my wedding vows.
– Jeremiah Brent, THE SPACE THAT KEEPS YOU, When home becomes a love story
02. Leanne Ford’s FEEL FREE Magazine
How I feel when Leanne Ford’s Feel Free Magazine hits newstands every few months is how I imagine football fans feel about the Super Bowl (or the major games leading up to it that I don’t know the names of – but for the sake of this metaphor I persevere, undeterred).
Leanne Ford’s interior design aesthetic is wonky, scrappy, stunning, innovative and restorative.
I have never. Not ever. In my entire life. Stalked magazine racks when a magazine is set to release. I do this with her magazine. It’s a source of inspiration and delight for all artists and creatives.
03. Tiles with a message
I’ve seen how tile can fundamentally alter home spaces. It’s one of my favourite design elements. And I really, really, really love this super simple tile application. Inexpensive. Fun. Get thee some penny tiles in contrasting colours of your choosing, decide on a message that inspires you and get to work.
I’m used to seeing this kind of tile application on bathroom floors but this one was found on a store’s doorstep during a fun day trip to Cold Spring, NY with my dear friend, Natalie. A micro dose of design beauty.
04. Start of tulip season
I love me some tulips. Yes, I do secretly believe I hail from Holland (apologies, Canadian-Irish roots).
05. The timeless style of Nate Berkus (circa 2008)
I hate to be cliché and put Nate and Jeremiah in the same design post (for those of you who don’t know – they are partners). I added Nate here because the timelessness of his work is kind of mind-boggling to me.
It is RARE I can see design from decades ago and still swoon and wish I could live in the space today. I don’t think I ever realized just how good Nate actually is until I saw this old school video (from 2008 – remember Nate and the Oprah show days?!). I do not say this lightly but I do find his design stands the test of time.
Watch this full ‘Before and After Reno’ of his tiny West Village gem of an apartment and you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about.
Design bonus: I dream of painting my window frames this colour
Writer and performer Lena Dunham’s design personality is summed up in the bright pop of colour she painted these window frames. Are they tangerine? Orange? I need a colour sommelier to help me. Watch her full interview and home tour here. This tour might be one of my fave design segments archived for gloomy days.
