The beauty of an unfinished home.
On finding comfort in the unfinished, creating corners you love, and letting your home evolve slowly.
Welcome to the Wednesday style note where each week, I share the intention behind something I love in my home or closet.
Recently a few of you asked how to style a home. At first I thought to myself, how could I possibly answer this? Our apartment is far from perfect! We’ve only lived here two and a half months! We’ve still got to do this, this, and this…
But then I looked around and realized that every day, the apartment looks a little more like us. Objects that steady me and add a sense of ritual, warmth, and groundedness in this season of transition. Natural water marks on an old wood table. A stool we had one idea for that naturally found its own purpose. It made me appreciate the beauty of the beginning, of the small things brought in with intention that make any space feel lived in.
So whether you’re settling into a new space or just craving a refresh, remember that it’s okay if your space evolves slowly. It doesn’t need to be perfect or fully formed right away.
Still, over time, I’ve noticed a few gentle principles that always guide me when I’m styling a space, whether it’s my own or a friend’s.
Fill your home slowly and intentionally with items that bring you joy. If you’re unsure of something, keep it in the virtual cart for a few weeks to avoid quick, regretful purchases. This requires being okay with a space unfinished (I know, this can be uncomfortable for some!). What’s funny is that some zodiac signs—looking at you, Taurus—seem to nest beautifully overnight. I learned this while living in LA, when I went to the coolest 1970s hippie artist house inhabited by three women in Silver Lake. I asked them how many years they’d been living there, and they said, “a few days.” One of the girls was a Taurus and stayed up all night hanging old paintings in tiny nooks and crannies that made the space feel perfectly lived in. I’ve never forgotten it.
Focus on how you want your space to make you feel. For me, I want my space to feel organic and calming, but functional above all else. Especially in the kitchen. Your space can look pretty, but if it doesn’t work in action (like a pendant light that looks beautiful but is too dim for meal prep), I don’t want it. Nothing pisses me off more than a beautiful cabinet door that can’t open all the way because someone didn’t think about where the brass knob would hit.
Match your decor to your architecture. Don’t force a New England cottage fantasy into a modern glass high-rise. Pay attention to the lines, materials, and mood of your space, and decorate in harmony with what’s already there. Good design listens to the space itself.
The things I’m loving that feel intentional in our home:
A simple stone dish for bathroom bar soap. 10/10 bar soap in the bathroom, always. This could also work as a sponge holder at the kitchen sink.
Nothing like a fresh clean bar of soap. Soap dish tray: $10 A string of pearls plant hanging from the bathroom window nook (not in an “aesthetic"/custom plant hanger like this one, but still brings me joy every time I walk into the bathroom.)
A marble tray in the kitchen to keep all the high-use items displayed nicely.
A calm, clear, and functional desk space.
Fresh seasonal flowers. Right now, dahlias.
A good candle always burning. Currently burning Mornings at Levain which is paraben-free (yay!) and smells like salty, creamy, nutty cookies. Levain is a family favorite and this candle is perfect for a cozy cloudy fall afternoon spent writing at my desk. I am a candle freak (it happens when you’re a scent-head) and I believe investing in beautiful candles that smell divine is of the highest priority. At this point it’s not even a choice… I’m just fully addicted.
A chicken wire fruit basket. Inspired by my inner Julia Child. I found this one on Facebook Marketplace but you can find them on Ebay or Amazon.
Things we still haven’t done in the spirit of normalizing slowness.
Measured or ordered custom linen curtains (though if we are only staying here for two years, I’m seriously wondering if it’s worth it. It is, right?!)
A new mattress (we are still using an old cheap one and finally ordered one from Helix which should be arriving soon!)
New bedding, quilts and sheets. We are still using a queen-sized duvet for a king-sized bed.
Acquired rugs. I want some beautiful burgundy persian vintage rugs.
I hope this makes you feel better—no matter where you are in your home decorating journey. Homes, just like us, are always works in progress.
I have gotten some gorgeous and well-priced vintage rugs from this shop on eBay over the years: https://www.ebay.com/str/bestrugplace