A Note on Designing for Real Life

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes a home truly work.

Not what makes it impressive or beautiful at first glance, but what makes it feel easy to live in day after day. The kind of home where mornings run smoothly, evenings feel calm, and nothing ever feels like it’s fighting against you.

In my experience, good design starts with paying attention. Not to trends, but to habits. How you move through your home. Where you naturally drop your bag. Which chair you always sit in. Where clutter quietly collects, even when you try your best to stay organized.

These small, everyday moments tell us far more than a mood board ever could.

One of the most helpful things anyone can do, whether they’re working with a designer or not, is to notice where friction shows up in their home. Is the kitchen beautiful but hard to cook in? Does the entryway feel chaotic every morning? Are there spaces you avoid without really knowing why?

Those pain points are often design clues.

I also believe deeply in designing with restraint. It’s tempting to fill every space, to make everything feel “finished,” but some of the best rooms are the ones that leave a little breathing room. Spaces that aren’t over-styled tend to age better and feel more comfortable over time. They allow life to show up without constant maintenance.

If there’s one takeaway I’d offer, it’s this: design should support your life, not complicate it. When a home is working well, you don’t notice the design. You just notice how good it feels to be there.

That’s the goal I come back to again and again, both in my own home and in the homes we design for others.