We’ve all walked into homes that feel elegant, follow the “rules” of design, and look like they could be in a magazine…but lack heart and warmth. And then, other times you enter a space and immediately feel comfortable and curious.

The home and all the furnishings seem personal, inviting, and almost alive. Behind every piece of art and furniture is a story; maybe a bud vase is a family heirloom while a painting of lavender fields was purchased during a honeymoon in Provence. These are the types of spaces that we help our clients create.

Architect, artist, and furniture and textile designer William Morris once said, “Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

This quote has become a guiding principle in our designs because it exemplifies the idea of making your home a unique place that reflects you and your life. The design process is intrinsically personal: only you have the life experiences, the influences, and the interests that will shape your home.

Approaching each space and noticing which pieces “speak” to you (such as a beloved family photo or a newly acquired antique secretary desk) will help you determine the key elements in your home that you want to highlight.

If you look around a room and feel disconnected or uninspired, it’s time to revisit it. There may be pieces of furniture or art that you or a family member once loved, but that no longer “spark joy” or that you have simply outgrown.

For example, you may have used storage containers to corral toy cars, but now have kids that are old enough to drive real ones.

While it’s tempting to hold onto items for nostalgia-sake, donating, selling, or upcycling them will immediately make your home feel less cluttered and more intentional. A space can feel stagnant if it’s only serving as a “museum of memories past” so updating photos and swapping in a new souvenir from a recent summer vacation can go a long way in freshening up a room.

If you are a collector, we can find ways to artfully group and showcase these assortments by turning them into art. We’ve framed sets of wax seals for a cool, historically-influenced yet non-traditional display that beckons guests to come closer for a better look as well as assembled dozens of lighters gathered from across the world.

For a family that loves glass and earthenware vases in a variety of colors, we installed glass display cases so that they could be visible all the time (instead of stuck in dusty cabinets or drawers).

Along with the aesthetics of these collections, they also provide insight into a family’s priorities. From whimsical dolls to framed chess pieces, collections can offer a glimpse into how you spend your time and what brings you happiness.

Even as the home serves as the place where we eat, entertain, gather, and (more so today than ever) work, it’s first and foremost a sanctuary, a place where you and your family can rest and simply be yourselves.