Refine, Don't Redo
Stop Blowing It Up
I don’t know about y’all but this Scorpio moon has had me effed up. I want to rip down light fixtures, knock down walls, paint furniture, throw out half my closet, and lie down and do none of it — all at once.
Whenever I feel untethered, I want to redo everything. New room. Clean slate. It feels like action or progress. In reality, a redo is often just avoidance in disguise.
It’s much easier to blow it all up and start fresh. But when I sit with whatever is nagging me about a room and figure out why it’s nagging me, that’s where I make a discovery. My choices, my instincts, and my taste all guide me towards the refinement. Harder than a redo, but much more worth it (and less wasteful).
I have a side table and a console I’ve thought about replacing more times than I can count. They’re showing their age and imperfections. But every time I consider swapping them out, I come back to the same vision: one day, I’m going to have them lacquered in a fun color. A deep coral, a glossy french blue — something unexpected.
I’m not unhappy with the pieces. I’m unhappy with what I haven’t done to them yet.
And that’s the thing about refinement: you can’t lacquer something in a fun color if you don’t know what fun means to you. You can’t edit a space if you don’t know what you’re editing toward. Refining forces you to develop a point of view. A redo lets you defer that work indefinitely — you just keep starting over before you ever have to commit.
So next time you feel the urge to knock down your house or rip a curtain rod down, ask yourself a few questions. What does this room actually need? And what am I really responding to here? That question, answered honestly and repeatedly over time, is how taste develops. Not through endless fresh starts, but through the work of editing what's already there. The answer is usually already in the room.
In The Know
Pepper Home has released silk curtains and romans.
I’m obsessed with Lake August’s new textiles. I adore this fabric and would love it on pillows, a bedspread, or curtains. I like this pink fabric, this brown floral, this fun floral, and one of my favorite wallpapers is now in a fabric.
Mrs. Alice released some new fabrics, like this trellis one.
Athena Calderone launched a collab with Amuneal.
One of my favorite UK influencers, Lucy Williams, has released a collab with WNU. I want these cobalt trousers, this slouchy sweater, and this boyfriend shirt (and in linen).
This corner chair is so cool.
This mattress is the dream and what they use at The Six Senses.
Jayson Home x Tensira is great. I love stripes!
This Ralph Lauren Home x Cabana collab is fun.
Leanne Ford released dinnerware and the polka dots are fantastic.
My favorite Ruti pants just came out with some new colors.
Urban Outfitters fun vanity and stool set just came out in more colors.
Here are this week’s interior finds. . .
1. Big Squeeze Mirror 2. North Chair with Light Blue Frame 3. Redondo Outdoor Resin Side Table 4. Pieni Omppo Fabric 5. Marble Dish 6. Checker Stoneware Indoor Outdoor Planter Pot 7. Clematide Dinner Plate 8. Cecil Tea Light 9. Lara Hanging Basket 10. Fiber Terrazzo Urn 11. Zip Canvas Pouch 3 Pack 12. Nova 500ml Tumbler Glass Set of 4 13. Alpine Chair in Fir Wood 14. Bachelors Button Wallpaper
15. Tiger Print Lampshade 16. Orbetto Outdoor Acrylic Short Tumblers- Set of 8 17. Set of 2 Wavy Metal Counter Height Barstool 18. Feet Up Rattan Footstool 19. Tassel Trim Sunbrella Outdoor Pillow 20. Trompe-L'oeil N1 Krater Stoneware Vase 21. Marc Catesby Etchings Hand-Colored by Thomas Williams (Pair) 22. Scatola 48" Square Brown Burl Wood Coffee Table 23. Colby Desk Chair 24. Katie Bench 25. Viaggio di Nettuno Luna Mug 26. Duck-Egg Blue Lacquer Rectangle Side Table 27. Carmela Planter
28. Hourglass Nightstand by Sarah Sherman Samuel 29. Jylin Woven Sculptural Chair 30. Tulip Vase 31. Cascade Dining Table 32. Camille Italian Carved Chair 33. Pink Tulip 34. Set of Two Leather Sling Chairs 35. Small Brass Calla Table Lamp 36. Luc Antique Wooden Pillar 37. Sula Chair 38. Ceramic Mirror by Stig Lindberg
Here are this week’s fashion finds. . .
1. Graphic Maxi Dress 2. GapFit Tech Windbreaker 3. Baggy Dad Barrel 4. Willa Flat 5. ZW Collection Lace Blazer 6. Red Stripe Mara Trousers 7. Sheer Coverups Long Kaftan 8. 100% Organic Cotton Waffle Stitch Open Cardigan 9. Rustic Oversized T-Shirt 10. Amelie Linen Dress 11. Sophia Sunglasses 12. Chandelier Paper Trench Black
13. Die-Cut Leather Bag 14. Techno Taffeta Barrel Pants 15. Chemise Leonor Rayures Blanc et Bleu 16. High-Waisted Cut Out Wide-Leg Pant 17. Onzo Top 18. Seby Pant 19. Cotton Cut-Out Belted Midi Dress in Cream 20. Sophia Bag 21. Lerato Inez Long Kurta Dress 22. Cotton-Blend Top 23. Taylor Cardigan 24. Tie Back T-Shirt
25. Palm Springs Maillot 26. Monogrammed Waterproof Pool Tote 27. White Marilla Eyelet Button Down Shirt Dress 28. Kythira Ruched Bikini Bottoms 29. Terry Sarong 30. Vintage Hotel Du Cap Eden-Roc T-Shirt 31. Rhodes Cup-Size Swimsuit 32. One-Shoulder Padded-Cup Swimsuit 33. Natural Brie Hat 34. Hayden Studded One Piece 35. Hotel Danzy Cap 36. Beach Pant with Pom-Poms
Wishlist (Not a Shopping Cart)
This mesh sequin tote is fab in all color ways.
A dear friend uses this to chill or champagne on the go and it’s brilliant!
This duster is to die.
I want these Chanel slingbacks B-A-D.
I want to buy everything from Land’s End right now. I’m a black bathing suit gal and this one and this one look fab. I also like this shirt.
This salve looks soothing.
This body bar seems yummy.
I want this so badly. It was literally made for me and the cavalier in the picture solidifies that even more.
The Layered Home is a fab coffee table book.
Home Maintenance Reminders
Mosquito season is upon us. I’m considering stocking up on some candles.
My Irrigation was turned on this week. It’s set for 3 days of deep watering: 15 minutes for grass zones and 5 minutes for mulch bed zones. Towards the end of summer, depending on how much rain we get, zones will need to be adjusting to 20-25 minutes for grass and 7-8 minutes for mulch beds.
Things I’m Trying and Liking
This Nespresso cup is my new adult sippy cup.
This scalp treatment is supposed to be amazing for hair loss.
I recently bought this shirt in black and white. It’s giving Isabel Marant for less.
Recently for my 20th high school reunion, and I wore this red dress and this polka-dot dress.
If you’re recovering from a hangover and horrible illness, Biolyte is amazing.
I just got these towels and I’m LOVING them. I just ordered more…
Current Obsessions
Goodbye Stealth Wealth, Hello Niche Riche.
Terracotta Kitchens are having a moment.
Blue is my favorite color- how adorable is this New England Cottage.
Karl Lagerfeld’s country home is for sale. A dream.
The Chanel Cruise Show.
These glass pieces are truly works of art.
Design Consult Services
I am now offering design consults services. Here are some of the projects I’ve helped people with for you to check out!
Things I can help with:
Picking out materials and finishes
Furniture options for needs and budget
Reworking a room, reimagining what you already have
Talking through your ideas you’re not sure about (think of me as a sounding board)
Making the most cost effective decisions for your space and current phase of life