Hi, no long time no see! The last blog post I wrote was back at the end of June and it feels good to be back. I took an unintentional break from doing much here or on Instagram while I focused on client work and all things summer, and it ended up being really refreshing. My motivation to push creatively had started to wain and I really needed some space to figure out why exactly I was feeling burnt out and largely uninspired. I still can’t quite put it into words what has somewhat turned me off to the rat-race of pumping out (and consuming) palatable and somewhat predictable interior design content; I consistently open Instagram and immediately close the app before I’m even four posts deep. I ended up spending much less time on social media and instead dove back into Pinterest, magazines and books that I’ve had sitting on my shelves. But really, space from it all was the most helpful. Because I feel a bit like I’ve lost my creative spark I’ve been trying to put my thoughts together to try and move past this funk I’ve been in. So here are some of the thoughts I’ve been wrestling with and where I want to go from here.
When I entered this world a few years ago I think I got swept up in the wave of the “palatable design” movement and it’s left me standing on a shaky foundation. If I just recreate the design that is popular here and now, does that actually make me a true artist or simply another person riding the coattails of other designers who’ve done the hard work of paving the way before us? Thinking this way has forced me to really ask myself what kind of designer I want to be, if I can create and design in a way that has integrity and soul — and if I’m willing to take the risks necessary to get there. This has caused me to pull back and set aside the expectation to share on social just for the sake of putting out content. If I’m going to be adding to the noise then I’m determined to make it worth listening to.
There will always be a place in interior design that is relatable to the masses — that is “easy” to get on board with and implement ourselves. It’s a necessity for reaching people who want to make their homes beautiful and cozy without overcomplicating it. And I think this is where most of us start when making our homes our own, experimenting and rearranging and painting in a way we feel comfortable doing. But for the last year and a half or so I’ve been a little disenchanted with the results of this groupthink and where it’s gotten us. Social media has opened the door for all creativity in a powerful way, breaking down the exclusivity of design while showing us that it doesn’t take years of schooling, huge budgets or expansive homes to be a part of the community. But with such accessibility we’ve also risked cheapening design, watering down the true heart and artistry behind it all. It has actually shown us that creating lasting, unique and powerful design is, in fact, not for everyone. For awhile now I’ve been studying the designers who seem to function in their own creative reality, pulling spaces together that are completely unique to their personal design philosophy and are distinctly interesting, free of rules. The kind of design that makes you stop and stare, drinking in every detail, appreciating the complexity behind it all. Art in it’s purest form.
But with such accessibility we’ve also risked cheapening design, watering down the true heart and artistry behind it all. It has actually shown us that creating lasting, unique and powerful design is, in fact, not for everyone.
Creativity is such a funny thing. It takes a good amount of mental energy and work that doesn’t always yield tangible results in real-time. I’ve been in this discovery phase for awhile now and I’m finally starting to feel the more tangible affects of the work I’ve been putting in. I’ve been doing more work on our home, reimagining each space, pushing my creative boundaries and it feels so good. I’m going to take my time sharing it all — I don’t want to feel the rush to present finished spaces or short-circuiting creativity. But I do feel rejuvenated and ready to expand my thinking; to try new things that will hopefully break way to design with more integrity and less boundaries.
I’m endlessly grateful for what modern technology and communication has allowed me to do the last few years and that’s something I will never take for granted. Thank you so much for being here every step of the way and encouraging me to keep doing the hard work. I’m excited to be “back” and can’t wait to reconnect with you all!
lately
One of the highlights of our summer was finding our home featured in the July/August issue of Good Housekeeping!! We designed and built this radiator cover 3 years ago and it’s still a favorite. It’s so fun and rewarding to see our hard work be loved by so many of you, and seeing it in actual print is pretty surreal. Our local news source even wrote a little article on Home Theology and our GH feature — follow the link below to give it a read!
Cohen’s little room is shaping up – and he just loves it, which makes it even sweeter. I have been working on figuring out wall decor and art in here, and I pulled out these vintage oars I’ve been hoarding. I collected these years ago when we lived in our previous home and I’m excited that they found a place in our current home. I just bought sawtooth hangers and we nailed those into the backs of the oars so they’re easy to hang. I love the bit of vintage it adds to his room!
All other sources for his bedroom are linked here:
what’s in my shopping cart
There’s a few things I bought over the summer and recently that have been great purchases — including the sunrise clock I now use (no more phone in my bedroom at night), nightstands, a new floor lamp for the living room, the chunky sneakers I’ve been eyeing, my wine aerator and more . Click below to shop!
Happy Friday, friends!
XO —
