I lean fairly neutral in my interiors and also in my wardrobe, but when it comes to art, anything goes. I’m much more drawn to bright, colorful, abstract pieces.

I was thinking about all of the artists I’ve saved over the years that are still sitting firmly on my wish list, years and years later. If money grew on trees, I would buy their work in a heartbeat.

So for today’s post, I thought it would be fun to share some of them with you, just for a little inspiration.

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Of course, there are so many new and emerging artists, especially on Instagram, that are popping up all the time, and I absolutely love discovering and supporting those artists, too. But for today, I wanted to focus on some of the artists whose work I’ve loved for a while — in no specific order and with no specific price point in mind.

And honestly, I don’t really know how to describe what I love about each of these artists. I think that’s part of the beauty of art. Sometimes you can’t pinpoint exactly why a piece catches your eye or why you keep coming back to it. You just like it. It makes you feel something.

So rather than attempt to give you a little art-history lesson on each, I’m going to let the work speak for itself.

1. Ethan Cook

2. Lourdes Sanchez

3. Lawrence Calver

4. Max Cobalto

5. Petra Cortright

6. Mel Bochner

7. Stanley Whitney

8. Colt Seager

9. Karina Gentinetta

10. Johnny Abrahams

One of my favorite Instagram follows is Creative Art Partners. I love the contemporary art they curate and especially seeing it in real homes. So much good inspiration. They also sell some pieces on The Expert!

And a little Artsy tip for you: if you follow artists and heart pieces you like on Artsy, it will start sending you weekly updates with new pieces and available work based on those preferences. I’ve found it to be a really fun way to discover new artists, too.

And yes, this is very much a “fun to look at and daydream about” list — not a budget art guide. :)

Which one is your favorite? Or, more importantly, who should I add to my forever wish list?

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I was thinking about this on Sunday as we got home from a few days away and I felt exceptionally exhausted.

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Traveling with kids is amazing, and of course I love it. They teach you to get curious. You notice things you probably wouldn’t have paid attention to before. You see their eyes light up at every turn. They go to bed later, they still wake up early, and you probably don’t have as much downtime scheduled. Naps will be missed. Plans will change.

But it is 100% worth it.

A change of scenery is good for everyone. Stepping away from your routine makes you appreciate it even more when you return. Maybe it’s not a true vacation, but it is a vacation from the dishes, laundry, household chores, and the ever-running mental list in your head of things to be done.

As we embarked on our four-hour journey home Sunday by ferry and car, I was thinking about how tired I was, yes. But I was also thinking about all the things I was excited to do once we got home that would leave me feeling good come Monday morning.

Here’s what I’ve learned works for me:

1. Book the earlier flight.

After testing this out many, many times over the years, with and without kids, I have learned that I will never regret taking the earlier flight (or, in Sunday’s case, ferry).

More often than not, you have to check out early anyway, and by that point, I find that we’ve seen and done what we wanted to do. The looming departure time kind of just hangs over us all day, so if there’s an earlier option that will allow me to get home at a reasonable hour, I’m going to choose that.

I’ve also found that traveling later in the day can mean more delays, more traffic, and sometimes a much longer-than-expected travel day.

2. Order grocery delivery.

The last thing anyone wants to do is run to the grocery store right when you get home.

I have a handful of go-to items I always like to have on hand, so having those waiting for us when we return makes the transition much easier. Usually this includes fruits and veggies, yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, ground beef, chicken, pasta, sweet potatoes, and sausage.

Grocery delivery also means we’ll have breakfast stuff on hand for the next day. I usually like to order enough to cover the next 2–3 days so I don’t have to immediately think about another grocery run.

I still like to shop in person at least once a week, and it’s a good activity to bring your kids along for too. :)

3. Unpack right away.

Another perk of getting home at a reasonable hour is that you can get everyone unpacked, clothes and luggage put away, and laundry sorted the same day.

You do not want to feel like you’re still living out of a suitcase even though you’re home because you haven’t unpacked yet. If I don’t do it immediately, it will probably sit there much longer than it should.

Now, I don’t start the laundry immediately. But at least it’s sorted and ready to go.

Unrelated, but I also like to crack a bunch of windows when we get home because the house is usually stuffy and fresh air gives me life.

4. Cook a simple dinner.

Unless it’s really late, the plan is to cook something quick with the ingredients that were waiting for us.

And usually, after a weekend of indulging a little more than normal, I want a home-cooked meal rather than picking up takeout or ordering dinner.

We have a handful of staple meals that we can quickly whip up: ground beef + sweet potatoes + cucumbers, pasta + ground beef and red sauce, sausage + rice + veggies. Super simple, filling, and usually enough for leftovers for lunch the next day.

If you know you won’t have time to cook, or won’t want to, leaving meals in the freezer to reheat can be a good option.

5. Prep for the next day.

We generally do this every day, but it feels even more important after a trip. It helps the transition back to work, school, and normal life go much more smoothly in the morning.

For us, this usually means preparing coffee (we are nearly six years strong with our Moccamaster and couldn’t love it more), breakfast (usually overnight oats), and kids’ lunches for school if needed.

Basically, anything I can do on Sunday night that means I don’t have to think about it Monday morning, I’m doing it.

6. Everything shower.

Usually when we’re away, I’m without a lot of my products. Especially after a long travel day, I want to do an everything shower before going to bed.

Hair washed. Body scrubbed. Lotion everywhere. Current Body red light mask on. Slugging on all the face products (I always have Doctor Rogers Healing Balm at my bedside, too). Basically, just give myself a reset.

There is something about clean pajamas, clean hair, and an extra moisturized face that makes me feel 1000x better.

7. Early bedtime.

If you can swing it, getting into bed early is essential.

Sleep while traveling is never the same as sleep at home. You aren’t in your own bed, you’re usually awake later, and if you have kids, you’re still waking up early. Maybe there’s jet lag involved. Maybe someone slept terribly in a hotel room. Maybe everyone is just a little off.

So perhaps one of the most important things you can do when you return from a trip is simply get a good night’s sleep.

The everything shower is a good lead-in to this. Then I like to take magnesium by Pure Encapsulation, crawl into bed, put on mouth tape (just restocked this one), and read on my Kindle until I fall asleep.

Sometimes it’s a page. Sometimes it’s longer. But reading before bed is a little ritual at this point and I rarely skip it. Currently reading Lena Dunham’s memoir, btw!

I also watched a show in bed before reading this past Sunday — started Sterling Point on Amazon and loving it. Anyone else watching?!

8. Wake up and work out.

Last one, technically the morning after, but this is what really kickstarts my week: waking up early and working out.

We have a garage gym, which means I can quite literally roll out of bed and be in the gym within 10 minutes. In the moment, it feels so hard after a trip. But I always feel so much better afterward and ready for the week ahead.

I’ve tried so many different workout apps over the years — does anyone remember the huge Kayla Itsines phase?! But for the last few years, I keep coming back to Build and Burn, which gives you a nice split of two build days and two higher intensity burn days and then you can fill in with pilates, running, walking, or whatever else you enjoy!

At this stage in life, I’ve realized the goal isn’t to come home from a trip feeling completely rested. It’s just knowing what helps you feel like yourself again once you’re home.

What’s your non-negotiable when you get home from a trip?

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I wasn’t planning on writing about AI this week, but I recently realized the article I wrote a few months ago on ways I’m using AI as I build an interior design business has been viewed five times more than any other post I’ve shared! Whoa.

I don’t think my audience wants me to become an AI writer, but I do think readers resonated with building something. I’m certainly not the only one at a career crossroads. So many of us are craving more flexibility, more ownership, and the chance to spend our time doing things that actually light us up. So I think this post appealed to a wider audience than normal: those interested in AI, those interested in entrepreneurship, those interested in interior design, those curious about career pivots, and those building in the margins of motherhood.

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So I’m back with part two this week! I’ve spent the last several weeks playing around with Claude Design specifically, and quite simply, I’m blown away. Again, as a one-woman show with limited time and money to put into the extras like branding, social, and website, this has been a game changer.

Here are a few of my use cases lately:

Designing a Logo Suite

This all started because I wanted to update my website. More on that below. And in updating my website, I then wanted to create a Substack banner that felt cohesive with it. I could have named my Substack Studio JKC, but I opted to call it The Living Space, as an extension of my brand where I could write about topics beyond interior design. Other than matching colors and fonts, the two felt a bit disconnected. This is where Claude Design comes in.

Like anything with AI, the more context you give it upfront, the better the results. So I created a project, uploaded my brand guidelines (for me this was not much, just a few hex codes and fonts I use), and gave it a little backstory on my existing brand, my Substack, and what I wanted.

A Substack banner led to a Substack avatar and wordmark, and then the thought — maybe I should just create a complete logo suite across everything: Instagram, Substack, Pinterest, website. And minutes later, voila! Of course, we went back and forth a handful of times on placement, spacing, and overall layout. But in the end, I had a complete logo suite saved into a folder directly on my computer.

Business Cards

It’s funny how one project always seems to turn into six more. I had been thinking about making business cards for a while. At this stage I don’t need anything fancy, but it would be nice to have on hand in the event I want to give someone my info. Once the logo suite was complete, Claude created examples of the logo on real world applications: project proposals, email signature, letterhead, and my favorite — business cards. We went back and forth on the front and back of the cards, and once we settled on the design, Claude saved the front and back each as a PDF I could take directly to Moo.com to print. I even asked specifically how I should print these using Moo.

Website

I talked about my website in my first AI post. At the time, ChatGPT gave me step-by-step instructions for building something in Squarespace because I simply wanted something up and running. But now with Claude Design, I realized I could probably give my site a much needed refresh.

Like always, I started with a really specific prompt. I told Claude the role I wanted it to play: an experienced brand and website designer who works with emerging interior designers. Then I shared my current website, a little about my brand, my services, the pages I wanted, and a few websites I loved for inspiration.

Claude mocked up an entirely new homepage and site structure. We went back and forth on the layout, what should and shouldn’t be included, and how to make it feel cohesive with the rest of the Studio JKC brand. The final version feels much more aligned with where the business is today than the website I launched back in January.

Unfortunately, you can’t just click a button and have it magically appear in Squarespace. Maybe one day. But I did ask Claude for step-by-step instructions on exactly how to recreate the design in Squarespace, and that’s what I’m working through now.

Content

The last place I’ve been testing Claude Design is for content. Not creating content from scratch, but helping repurpose content across platforms. Before, every platform felt like starting from scratch. Now it feels more like adapting the same idea for a different audience.

I need to constantly remind myself that I don’t need to reinvent the wheel for each platform — what I write on Substack can usually be shared in a different way for Instagram or Pinterest, and vice versa.

For example, the post I wrote on what to do with kids’ art was repurposed as an Instagram carousel and a Pinterest pin. I now have templates for each platform, so anytime I have a Substack article I want to share elsewhere, I can paste it into Claude and it will generate a draft for Instagram and Pinterest using the content I already wrote. From there, I just swap in my own images and make any additional edits I want.

At this stage of my business, I’m trying to be intentional about where I spend money. Every dollar I don’t spend on branding or a custom website right now is a dollar I can put toward photography and future client projects.

I still have a lot to learn. But if AI can help me speed up some of these behind-the-scenes projects, giving me more time to actually design, write, and serve future clients... I'm all for it.

Have you tried Claude Design yet? I’d love to hear how you’re using it!

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P.S. If you’re curious about more ways to incorporate AI into your personal or professional life, there are so many great writers on Substack covering this topic. A few I enjoy following:

• Women+AI

• Dangerously Educated by Tayla Burrell

• Allie | Curate and Harness

Alexandra De Lara also wrote an article What Women Are Actually Using Claude For (I’m grateful to be included!) and she mentioned this was one of her top-performing posts as well.

It certainly makes me wonder if people are less interested in AI itself, and more interested in seeing how real people are actually using it.

My husband and I stayed there in 2019 before a wedding in Positano, and every time it pops up again, I’m reminded of how incredible it was, and how much I’d love to go back.

Recently, I decided I wanted to write about it, so I dug out my old laptop to look through the photos from our trip. For a minute, I wasn’t sure it was ever going to turn on (insert mild panic), but then the screen flickered to life and I scrolled back to August 2019.

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The photos weren’t exactly how I remembered them. I remembered the big picture, the coral-colored hotel perched above the sea, the striped umbrellas, and the sweeping views. What I’d forgotten was how much attention I’d paid to the details.

My camera roll was filled with wallpaper, drapery, coffee cups, breakfasts, olive trees, stone pathways, cocktails, and terraces overlooking the water. At one point, I’d even photographed the bottom of an espresso cup so I could remember who made it. (I am who I am!)

As I scrolled through those photos, I of course missed Italy, but I was more-so longing for was the feeling I had while I was there.

Breakfast was long and leisurely, but I guess that’s all meals in Italy, right? Coffee was served in a mug that made you want to sip slower just to savor it’s beauty. Even the room where breakfast was served felt elegant against an array of pastries, from the green tree wallpaper that mirrored that of the property, to the matching green trim on the cabinets. Walking to the pool meant winding through perfectly manicured gardens and stone paths. Happy hour overlooked the sea with live music.

No detail was overlooked.

As I clicked through the photos, another thing stood out to me. Seven years later, I love everything about the hotel just as much, if not more. The wallpaper felt just as beautiful. The furnishings didn’t feel dated. Nothing looked like it was trendy.

It reminded me that timeless design isn’t about following trends. It’s about creating spaces you’ll still love years later, that are influenced by the architecture, the surroundings, the culture. The more I looked through these photos, the more I realized I wasn’t documenting luxury, I was documenting the little details that made everyday life feel beautiful.

I’ve thought about that often since pivoting careers to interior design. It’s easy to think good design is about beautiful furniture, expensive materials, or choosing the perfect paint color. Those things matter, but I don’t think they’re what we remember most. We remember how a space made us feel.

That realization has shifted the way I think about my own home. With two young kids and a dog, I’m not trying to recreate a vacation, but maybe I can recreate that feeling in small ways.

Because it wasn’t the grand moments I wanted to bring home (although those are nice, too). It was the slower mornings, the intentional details, and the rituals that made everyday life feel just a little more beautiful.

This week, I’ve been asking myself: What part of that feeling can I bring home? And here are 10 ways you can, too —

• Use your special dishes daily instead of saving them for guests. If you don’t have special dishes (I don’t), maybe it’s time to start collecting.

• Buy the wallpaper you’ve been talking yourself out of for fear of not being timeless.

• Swap your everyday coffee mug for one you love, and don’t forget the matching saucer. (This one is calling my name.)

• Set the table with a linen tablecloth, cloth napkins, and candles, even if it’s just family dinner.

• Invite friends over for a breakfast buffet, just because.

• Keep fresh flowers or greenery around the house.

• Light a candle while you cook dinner with jazz music in the background.

• Add a scalloped umbrella, terracotta pots, or colorful outdoor cushions to make your patio feel like a vacation.

• Set out olives, nuts, and homemade cocktails, even if it’s just the two of you.

• Wake up a little earlier so you can sit outside and savor your coffee before the morning rush begins.

While I would love to go back to Italy, that’s not in the cards this summer. So instead, the goal is to borrow the small details that made everyday life feel just a liiittle more special and weave them into my own.

What part of your favorite vacation could you bring home this summer?

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Chat soon!

Jenni

If you’re not familiar with color drenching, it simply means painting the walls, ceiling, trim, and doors the same color, usually just in different sheens.

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Since their room is fairly small, my husband and I decided to tackle most of the painting ourselves. We painted large samples on the walls and lived with them for a few days to see how they changed throughout the day. The room gets beautiful morning light, but it looks completely different by afternoon, so I wanted to be sure before committing. I also had the boys weigh in. I showed them the three options and asked which one they liked best (the middle!). It felt like a fun way to include them.

I had actually purchased twin beds by Monte Design before we ever picked the paint. My older son had been sleeping in his for a while, and when I ordered it, I bought a second one knowing we’d eventually need it for his younger brother. I love this bed for a few reasons. You can add-on a guardrail that matches the bed frame seamlessly, there’s plenty of storage underneath (which is a huge win in our small house), and it can even be used as a trundle bed. More than anything though, I wanted to invest in pieces that wouldn’t feel temporary. I wasn’t designing a room just for the ages they’re at today. I wanted the foundation of the room to last.

Once the paint was decided (Benjamin Moore Philipsburg Blue if you’re curious!), the rest of the room came together much more easily. I found a blue and ochre striped coverlet from Morrow Soft Goods that almost perfectly matched the paint, and a rug from West Elm in a very similar tone. Rather than introducing a bunch of different colors and patterns, I wanted everything to feel layered through texture.

One decision I went back and forth on was the window treatments. I was torn whether to do these in a similar blue shade, or stay neutral to match the bed frame and sheets. I ended up going with Everhem’s linen blackout shades in Ivory for a couple reasons: they didn’t offer the darker blue I had originally envisioned, and I wanted to keep consistent with the adjacent bedroom that has the same shades in Sand. Overall, I’m happy with the way they tie into the other light pieces.

The ceiling light took the longest. I also went back and forth on this for weeks until I came across a handmade blue fixture from Huey Lightshop that was almost an exact match to the paint. It took twelve weeks to arrive, which felt like forever, but it was well worth the wait!

The artwork ended up taking a completely different direction than I expected. Originally I had a race car print and a few other elevated kids’ pieces saved, but I kept hesitating. Then I thought about what we already owned that hadn’t found its place yet.

A framed photograph I took in Joshua Tree almost eight years ago on a trip with my husband fit perfectly above one bed. There was also an abstract painting that had been leaning against a random wall. The wood frame ties in with the floating bookshelves we previously owned, and it brings another layer of color into the room without overwhelming it.

Then one day we were at my in-laws’ house and I noticed a framed drawing of a carrot hanging on the wall. I talked about this piece in my article on ‘What To Do With All The Kids’ Artwork’, but it turns out my husband drew it as a kid and my mother-in-law had framed it long ago. I love that it’s proof kids’ artwork can become something timeless. I immediately brought it home with me.

The final piece isn’t hanging yet, but a family friend painted an elephant watercolor for my oldest son when he was born. I’m having this plus the carrot piece reframed, and that’ll complete this little corner ☺️.

I’m still deciding on a solid oak dresser to go between the beds, as well as sconces above each bed. I love blue and red together, but wasn’t sure I wanted to add another color. But then I remembered the guitar is red, the abstract art has streaks of red, there are books with red, so now red sconces feel like a natural addition.

I’m really happy with the result, even though it’s taking much longer than expected (such is designing for yourself!). I intentionally used fewer patterns and leaned more into texture and timeless materials. I know their interests are going to change a hundred times over the next few years. My hope is that the room can evolve with them instead of needing to be redesigned every time they move on to the next phase.

Let me know if you have any questions!

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Chat soon,

J

I wasn’t actively looking for a coach. I happened to hear her on a podcast where she mentioned she had gone to the same small college I did, which felt somewhat fortuitous. After the episode, I went to her Instagram, saw she was launching an accelerator for the month of June, and signed up. It felt like the right thing at the right time.

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Up until this point, posts on my business Instagram have been primarily of pretty spaces or moodboards, shared sporadically at best. I’ve probably invested more time into this Substack than creating content there… what can I say, I love to write! But my main goal is to grow my paid client base, and I knew I needed to kick things up a notch.

Looking back on the month, I realized these lessons don’t just apply to interior design. They apply to anyone building a service business.

In no particular order, here are the four ideas I’m putting into practice first.

1. Show your face.

This one makes me laugh because it is probably the tenth time I’ve heard it. It’s obvious, yet it’s something I’ve been avoiding. Not because I don’t like being on camera, but because I worried about what other people would think. Which, when I actually write it down, feels kind of ridiculous. Why would I let people who were never going to hire me anyway determine whether I build the business I actually want?

The biggest mindset shift for me was realizing I don’t need everyone to like my content. Think of all the people using Instagram daily. You only need a handful of them to resonate with your content, purchase your services, and help kickstart your business.

And, when I flipped the script and thought about the people I follow, every single one lets you see who’s behind the account. They talk to the camera, share pieces of their lives, and have opinions. You feel like you’re getting to know a real person, not just consuming another perfectly curated feed.

Especially now, when so much online content looks polished or AI-generated, seeing someone simply show up feels refreshing and genuine. So that’s my goal. You’ll probably see a lot more of me around here too. Sorry not sorry. :)

Side note: I also chatted with the lovely Ariane Anusbigian in her office hours last month (highly recommend!) and we discussed this topic too — don’t let the fear of being cringe prevent you from showing up.

2. Be selective about the content you’re consuming.

When I first created a design account, I followed hundreds and hundreds of other designers. Anytime I saw a beautiful space that caught my attention, I’d follow that designer, engage with them, and repeat.

The designer leading the accelerator mentioned she follows very few other interior designers. At first, I thought that sounded strange. Aren’t we supposed to constantly engage with everyone in our industry? There is real value in building relationships and supporting other designers, but it shouldn’t feel like another box you have to check every day to grow a business.

Her reasoning made a lot of sense. If you’re constantly consuming other people’s work, it becomes harder to separate your own taste from everyone else’s.

If I spend hours scrolling Instagram, I usually leave feeling behind. Like everyone else is more talented, further along, or doing something I should also be doing. But if I spend thirty minutes walking or running without my phone, I almost always come home with three new ideas, a renewed sense of clarity, and more excitement about what I’m building.

It’s a good reminder for all of us: do you actually like something because it truly resonates with you, or because you’ve seen it so many times that it feels right?

For designers, inspiration can come from other beautiful homes. But it can also come from nature, travel, old design books, restaurants, museums, or simply paying closer attention to the world around you. Lately I’ve been following more founders, marketers, AI builders, and creators outside the design industry to better learn how people build businesses and communicate ideas.

3. Speak to the spiral.

In one of the workshops, we had a timed writing exercise. Write about your ideal client’s day from the moment she woke up until she went to bed. Where does she feel overwhelmed? What frustrates her? What problems does she keep walking past every single day? Then, speak to these moments in your content.

People don’t hire designers because they saw one beautiful living room on Instagram. They hire designers because they feel seen. And they’re tired of living with problems they don’t know how to solve.

Instead of saying, “Here’s a beautiful family room,” maybe the better conversation starts with describing her life — “You bought the cheaper sofa because you have kids. Now it’s uncomfortable, already showing wear, and you still don’t love your living room.”

Or maybe she’s completely overstimulated by the shoes, backpacks and coats piling up at the front door every afternoon...

The finished space is still the solution, but we’re leading with the friction. Once someone sees themselves in the problem, they’re much more likely to buy into the solution.

That changed how I think about content. Historically, I’ve mostly shared the nicely styled spaces, but I’m going to create more content that addresses the problems my ideal client experiences every day.

4. Closing the gap.

Once your content has done its job and someone now wants to hire you, they shouldn’t have to wonder what happens next. Do they send a DM? Fill out an inquiry form? Book a call? Email you?

The simpler and more consistent your process, the lower the barrier for someone to say yes. Whether it’s a family member, a past coworker, or someone who found you on Instagram for the first time, the experience should be the same. (I am guilty of not doing this!)

An inquiry form leads to a discovery call. A discovery call leads to a proposal. A proposal leads to an invoice. Whatever your process is, keep it simple and consistent. It becomes much easier to track leads, see where people fall off and identify what’s working.

My next project is refining my inquiry process and making the path forward much more straightforward.

And that’s it! Did anything here surprise you? For me, I’ve spent years (decades?) thinking about design and last month reminded me that building a design business is a completely different skill.

If you have any questions, feel free to DM me or leave a comment. 🫶

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One thing I’ve always loved is the hunt. Friends and family often ask if I can help them find a particular piece or where I found something in our home. I’ll start looking for one thing, then somehow end up discovering an incredible shop I’d never seen before. Going down rabbit holes like this is just the best.

I love browsing Chairish, Etsy, and more established vintage retailers, but I also love discovering smaller, independently owned shops that have already done the hunting for me. They each have a distinct eye, and I’ve discovered some incredible pieces I never would have found on my own. Many also offer sourcing if you’re searching for something specific.

Below are ten under-the-radar shops for vintage, antiques, original art, and other one-of-a-kind pieces for the home (all with fewer than 10,000 followers!). I’ve also included a few of my favorite finds from each so you can get a feel for what they carry.

Ink & Porcelain

Handmade objects created by women artists. Because can you ever really have too many vessels, bowls, or vases? I don’t think so. These are definitely investment pieces.

Currently loving:

Antigua Interiors

Antigua Interiors sources one-of-a-kind antique and modern pieces. I love founder Cynthia’s philosophy that the things we bring into our homes should have character, history, and a sense of permanence.

Currently loving:

Ventana Home

A family run business based in Austin, Texas offering a beautiful mix of unique vintage and found treasures that bring character and warmth to your space.

Currently loving:

BK Antiques

What began with sourcing antiques across France, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands has grown into a beautifully curated collection of vintage pieces, work from independent artists and artisans, and their own BK Limited designs. Their site is full of incredible finds, and they’re constantly adding new arrivals.

Currently loving:

Maison Luna

Handcrafted pots, planters, and vessels sourced from artisans around the world. Even if you’re not shopping for a planter, it’s worth following for the beautiful craftsmanship alone.

Currently loving:

Art Shoppe Co.

Founded by artist Jess Pirro, Art Shoppe offers original paintings released in small collections alongside one-of-a-kind vintage finds. The work is inspired by natural tones, shifting light, and understated landscapes.

Currently loving:

The Garage Vintage

Vintage furniture and decor with an emphasis on craftsmanship over trends. Their philosophy says it best: solid wood, real brass, honest age, and proportions that stand the test of time.

Currently loving:

The Dusted Capsule

Another Instagram only source for vintage and antique furniture, especially warm wood pieces that instantly make a home feel more layered and lived in.

Currently loving:

The Flat Westport

From wicker dog beds and antique tapestries to artwork and tabletop pieces, you never quite know what you’ll find here (in the best way!).

Currently loving:

Down The Street

Down the Street specializes in original works by emerging and established artists, along with bespoke sourcing if you’re searching for something specific. Bonus: they also have a Substack, !

Currently loving:

What I’m usually hunting for

Whenever I’m sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces, I’m almost always looking for one (or more) of these:

• Antique stools and benches

• Art

• Lighting

• Pottery and vessels

• Mirrors

• Side tables

• Decorative objects

• Wood furniture with plenty of age and patina

This list could have easily been twice as long, and I already have another running list saved for Part 2! If you have a favorite home shop I should know about, leave it in the comments.

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P.S. I focused primarily on online shops to make this list accessible no matter where you live, but nothing beats stumbling into a great vintage shop in your own town or while traveling.

This was the first time in a long time I was truly off the grid. No cell service or wifi for the majority of the trip. Yes, you can buy a robust wifi package, but do you really need that? No.

Last week when I did log in to my limited “free wifi minutes” for a brief moment to check my newsletter, my inbox was flooded with emails about Amazon Prime Day and Shopbop Amazon picks from brands and creators. I was so overwhelmed, I instantly deleted them. But then I felt a pull to go on Amazon to see if I needed anything… (I didn’t). And for this same reason, I haven’t logged back into Instagram, because over there it’s even easier to feel bombarded daily by hundreds of links and people telling you what you need. mentioned in her phone boundaries newsletter that she doesn’t even watch stories. This is smart for that reason, and would require some serious discipline on my part.

All this to say, I didn’t miss Amazon Prime Day shopping roundups during my time away. I missed reading thoughtful pieces from writers and connecting with readers here. So maybe I will keep my no Instagram streak going…

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Now let’s get into it! For those new here, my Notes From Home is a monthly collection of things I’m loving, using, noticing, reading, and bringing into my home.

What I’m Making

Homemade Jam

Most store bought jam includes added sugar or other things I personally don’t want. The cleanest brand I’ve found is by Smash Foods, available at Whole Foods, but it’s expensive for the tiny jar you get. My mom is always bringing us homemade jam so I finally asked her for the recipe she’s been using — it really is better than any option you can buy. Turns out it’s this recipe on Goop, by Sweet Laurel Bakery. I buy two bags of frozen organic raspberries from Trader Joes and they work perfectly here. We mix the jam into yogurt, on top of waffles or pancakes, and of course with PB&J.

Blueberry Muffins

I’ve made these blueberry muffins by Emily DiDonato over a dozen times. Everyone in my family is obsessed. I love the addition of greek yogurt to make them more filling. Most recently, I subbed olive oil instead of coconut oil and used wild frozen blueberries. 10/10!

What I’m Reading

I finished Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. I was completely swept away by the remote, desolate island setting, the family secrets, and the twists and turns that unfolded throughout.

I also breezed through Carly Fortune’s newest book, Our Perfect Storm while on vacation. I am a big fan of her books and this one was no different.

I’m now about 30% through My Friends by Fredrik Backman. So far I’ve found myself both tearing up and laughing out loud.

What I’m Watching

Speaking of Carly Fortune, I was excited to watch Every Year After on Amazon Prime, based on her book, Every Summer After. I don’t know if it’s because I’m watching after Off Campus so the bar is HIGH, or if it’s because the plot has some changes from the book, but it’s not as good as I was hoping!

What My Kids Are Loving

Digital Cameras

I picked up these digital cameras at a gift shop in Alaska. The timing was perfect because my boys kept wanting to use our phones to take photos and I was wishing they had something of their own to use. They come with a USB to plug into your computer and download the photos. Pretty cute to see what they capture!

Disneynature: Bears

Thank you to the cruise for bringing this documentary to our attention. I try to limit screen time to weekends, but some evenings in our room, while trying to get ready or after dinner when they were so wound up, we needed to put something on the TV for 20-30 minutes to help them chill out. Enter: Disneynature Bears, a documentary that follows a year in the life of a mother grizzly bear and her two cubs as they navigate the Alaskan wilderness. My husband and I were both fully engrossed with this, and I kept wondering, how are they even filming this?! I just noticed they have other documentaries that cover Penguins and Polar Bears. Making a mental note for future family movie nights!

In Case You Missed It

And happy (almost) Fourth of July! What are you reading, watching, or making lately? I’d love to know.

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Talk soon,

Jenni

I was gifted a facial for my birthday last month, something I hadn’t done in a very long time. As I lay on the heated bed, the esthetician painting an enzyme mask on my face, I started thinking about all the gadgets I’ve tried in the name of beauty and wellness. Some worth it, earning a permanent spot in my routine. Others collecting dust in a drawer somewhere.

First things first: I am a firm believer that beauty starts from within. Take care of yourself, and then add these on top. For me that looks like drinking lots of water, getting outside, moving my body, eating whole foods and protein, and prioritizing sleep. When the foundation is good, these tools can absolutely help elevate your routine further.

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Quick disclaimer: everything on this list I purchased myself, with the exception of the Shakti Mat, which was a gift from my brother. No sponsorships, just my personal opinions.

For the Face

Current Body Red Light Mask — the most used of everything on this list, probably five nights a week. Part of that is probably just convenience, I can strap it on and keep doing other things, unlike everything else on this list that requires actual focused effort. It also actually helps with discoloration and evening out skin tone. I didn’t see dramatic wrinkle reduction in my crow’s feet, but maybe it’s preventing them from getting worse? I’ll take it.

Wildling Gua Sha — I really love this one. My face feels lifted and refreshed every time, especially good if you wake up puffy or want to be more lifted for the day. The catch for me is that you need oil, and almost every oil breaks me out. My skin is sensitive and unforgiving. So I use it less than I should, simply to avoid the aftermath.

Skinny Confidential Ice Roller — worth it. When you wake up tired and puffy, rolling it across your face until it’s no longer cold is instantly refreshing. Simple, effective, no learning curve. I’ve tried cheaper options from Amazon, but this one really is better. The stainless steel roller stays cold much longer than others, and just feels better IMO.

Skinny Confidential Rollerballs — rarely used. If you already have a gua sha, these feel redundant, not to mention bulky. The gua sha does the same job better. The only edge the rollerballs have is maybe feeling slightly faster, but not by enough to justify both. If you want to go this route, there are sleeker, stainless steel options available that seem promising, like this one by Joanna Czech.

The Natural Faces Face Tape — I ordered two rolls and have yet to use them. My problem is that I do my evening skincare right before bed, which doesn’t give it enough time to absorb before applying the tape. These are supposed to help temporarily smooth out wrinkles, so maybe good before a big event? I will open them one day… once I make time to read how to properly place them. Have any readers had success with face tape?

Jamie Ann Aesthetics 0.25 Dermaroller — my most recent purchase, described as safe microneedling at home and designed to improve product absorption, and support firmer, smoother skin over time. I started following Jamie on Instagram a while back. She used to work as an injector and got Botox and filler regularly herself, until she developed Botox poisoning after a mindless gua sha session too soon after botox accidentally moved the product. It sent her on a healing journey, and she’s since become vocal about how unnecessary or unsafe a lot of the industry’s treatments are. I was intrigued enough to try her roller. I’ve done my fair share of lasers and microneedling in the past, mostly pre-kids, so it’s been a while.

Verdict: jury’s still out. I got a three-pack, each roller good for about ten sessions. Jamie recommends two to three times a week, I’ve been doing about once a week and haven’t even finished my first roller yet. The process: clean your face, apply serum, roll horizontally, apply another layer of serum, roll vertically including your neck, then lotion and whatever else you use. No actives like retinol for a couple nights after, similar to if you had it done professionally. You’ll feel a tingling sensation and maybe mild redness, nowhere close to actual microneedling redness. I actually like the tingle, it makes me feel like the product is penetrating and doing something. No dramatic before and after yet, but I’m liking it so far. Time will tell.

One thing I keep reminding myself with Jamie and other natural skincare influencers: many of them spent years doing Botox and injectables before pivoting to “natural.” Which means their skin already benefited from all those years of treatment before they stopped. It’s not exactly apples to apples when someone says look how good my skin is now that I’ve gone natural. The deep lines were likely already softened by years of the very things they’re now steering you away from.

Side note on Botox: transparently, I’ve gotten it once for my very present crow’s feet a couple years ago. I’ve debated going back multiple occasions but hesitate because I’m not sure if I’m done having kids and might as well wait. I will probably get it again.

For the Body

Dry Brush, Wooden Body Sculptor, Wildling Body Gua Sha, and Biotyspa Cup — these four live in the same camp for me, all claimed to support lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness or the appearance of cellulite. If I had to pick one, it’s the dry brush by far. Quick swipes along my body before a shower, takes less than five minutes, and feels good and energizing every time. The body gua sha and biotyspa cup get used far less, mostly because they require more time and a few extra steps that don’t fit easily into a quick shower or post-shower routine. The wooden body sculptor has been unused for a while now, I should probably just get rid of it at this point. All this to say, you definitely don’t need all four of these!

REVO Red Light Cup — doesn’t get used much and no, it did not cure my cellulite. BUT! I wish I knew about this after my unexpected C-section in 2023. Did you know scar massage is really important for breaking up tissue and helping it heal? A cupping tool combined with red light, which can help stimulate collagen production and support scar healing, would have been such a good combo. If you’re postpartum or have a scar you’re working on, this might actually be worth it for that reason specifically.

Nood Hair Removal Device — solid. I’d had professional laser hair removal done before getting this, which probably helps the results. I mostly use it on my armpits and bikini line. Laser can be especially helpful if you’re prone to razor burn in these areas, like me. Doing my full legs always feels like more time than it’s worth, even though it probably isn’t, I’d rather just quickly shave. I was on a good rhythm when I first got it, then like so many things, slowly stopped using it. I’ll probably pick it back up soon, now that writing this is reminding me to use it! Compared to professional laser, it’s a great value, even if it requires more consistency than I’ve given it lately.

Shakti Mat — a gift from my brother. It’s an acupressure mat covered in small spikes, meant to trigger an endorphin release that helps with relaxation, muscle tension, and stress. You lay it across your bed or floor and lie on it bare back. A little uncomfortable at first, then you get used to it. I’m not someone who deals with back pain or muscle tension regularly, so I honestly don’t see much benefit for me personally. My husband and I will occasionally pull it out, more as a novelty than a routine. If you do struggle with tension or soreness, it might be worth trying. For me, it’s a nice to have rather than a need to have.

On My Radar But Can’t Justify Yet

The ZIIP HALO is something I see literally everywhere, so I’m intrigued to try it, though I have a feeling the lifted feeling it promises might be pretty similar to what I already get from gua sha. Tell me, is it really worth it?!

An upgraded red light panel like the Lumebox 2.0 is also on the list, less of a mask, more of a full panel you sit in front of. From what I’ve read it can help with pain relief anywhere on the body, and some parents even use it for things like ear infections in kids. My son has a scar on his forehead from a fall, and I’m curious whether it could help with that too. Intrigued by all of it, just not yet convinced enough to spend the money.

A few final thoughts before you go down a rabbit hole of your own: with any of these gadgets, you’ll find someone who swears it changed their life and someone who says don’t waste your money. You know yourself best. Try things, see what works for you.

And none of these are going to cure all your problem spots overnight. I think of them less as fixes and more as maintenance, maybe slowing down what’s coming rather than reversing what’s already there. My red light mask hasn’t erased my crow’s feet, but my hope is that consistent use is at least slowing the progression. Five or ten years of small, consistent habits might matter more than any single product.

And above all else: SPF. Water. Movement. Everything else is secondary.

What beauty gadgets, if any, do you use regularly? I always love to hear what’s working for others!

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Whatever the case, you might be asking yourself: What do I do with all of this art? How do I decide what to display? What do I keep forever? What gets tossed?

There is no right or wrong way to do this. My kids are only three and four, but we’ve already accumulated a lot of artwork over the last few years. Here’s how I think about what stays and what goes, and how those pieces show up throughout our home.

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How to decide what to keep

The first question, before you even think about display, is what you’re going to keep. We get a lot of scribble art on character or seasonal printouts. I personally do not want to keep this. I want the colorful painting on a plain piece of paper, the little handprint with hearts for Valentine’s Day, the head popping out of a flower for Mother’s Day. My kids aren’t writing yet, but I imagine there are a few handwritten “I love you” pieces down the road I’ll want to save too. This immediately weeds out a lot of what comes home.

Ways to display

The simplest option is hanging it. A pinboard, often already in the kitchen, pantry, or hallway, or even the fridge itself, anywhere you’re already pinning cards and mail works perfectly. That’s what I currently have in my kitchen. I just pin the pieces I like as they come through.

Beaded clip garland is a great option if you don’t want to put a pin through anything. You can string a bunch of pieces together along a wall.

Magnetic display bars are a low-profile solution that feels a little more streamlined. Screw them into the wall, no pins needed, and just attach the art directly to the bar with the included magnets. Great in a playroom, kid’s room, or kitchen.

An opening frame is a nice middle ground. You can consistently swap what’s inside, and it can sit anywhere in the house, on a dresser, shelf, or mounted on the wall, and instantly feels a little more elevated than pinned paper.

The more permanent options

A true gallery wall of framed art is beautiful when done well. I’ve considered doing this myself, but always get hung up on deciding which pieces deserve that kind of permanence. Once you’ve framed something to a specific size, swapping it out becomes harder.

I’ve seen great examples though, a dozen or so matching frames, white with a thick white mat, hung gallery style in a kid’s room or playroom. I personally don’t think I’d want this in a hallway, but for a kid’s space, it’s fun and they’d genuinely love looking at it.

For truly special, one-off pieces, I might frame them individually and let them live somewhere permanent, like an office or hallway. Think: their first family portrait, all stick figures and hilariously inaccurate proportions. Or the first time they write “I love you.” Those moments deserve their own frame, separate from the everyday rotation.

One thing I will say is that these pieces can end up being surprisingly timeless. My mother-in-law recently gave us a piece of art my husband made as a child, a drawing of a carrot that she had framed long ago. I immediately hung it in my boys’ room. It made me realize that while most artwork probably won’t be displayed forever, a handful of pieces really do become family keepsakes.

Another idea for handwritten items that’s especially sweet, and not just for kids, is sending in their handwriting from a note or card and having it turned into a piece of fabric art. Little Love Notes on Instagram does this beautifully.

And if you happen to be renovating or redoing a space, I recently saw this designer use magnetic wallpaper under high gloss lacquer. How cool and sleek is that?!

Turning it into a book

This is something I’ve done and loved. There are sites where you mail in all the art you’ve accumulated, tell them how to organize it, and they bind it into a real hardcover book, then either dispose of the original art or send it back to you. You could do one book per child every few years, or one for preschool, one for elementary school, and so on. Everyone has room for a few more books on a shelf.

I used Plum Print for this. My son’s old nanny did the most creative art with him, things like making an animal for each letter of the alphabet using his hand or footprints. I wanted to remember the size of him during that season, and a book felt like the perfect way to hold onto all of it. Looking through it now feels a little like a time capsule.

What happens after it comes down

Once a piece rotates off the pinboard or garland, the question becomes what to do with it. If it’s something worth keeping, a file box per kid works well, or even just a drawer where the art can accumulate.

At the end of the school year, go through it with your kids and let them choose a few pieces they want to hold onto. Not a whole stack, maybe three favorites. Letting them pick gives them ownership, and the rest can go (or snap a last-minute photo if you reallllly want to).

Then, after a few years, when it feels like your “saved” pile is overflowing, you can edit it down, turn it into a book, or do nothing at all! There’s no right answer.

The seasonal exception

Seasonal pieces such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day are harder to part with for me. There’s usually a photo, a handprint, or something personal tied to a specific moment.

For these, I file them in with my seasonal home decor. Every Valentine’s Day, alongside the other decorations, I’ll set a few of those pieces out too. Same with Mother’s Day or any other holiday.

After a few years, you might find yourself thinking, do I really need every single one of these? Do they all start to look the same? Probably. But for now, I love giving them a yearly moment instead of just storing them away forever.

How do you display and store your kids’ art? Anything I missed here that you’d recommend? Leave me a note in the comments!

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Talk soon,

Jenni

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Last week I really dug into my stats on Substack for the first time. Unfortunately, I don’t have any revelations on how to grow to 3,000 subscribers in three months. Quite the opposite, actually. I sat there looking at the data, feeling somewhat discouraged. After nearly five months of writing, I thought I’d have more answers than questions.

What surprised me most was that I couldn’t find some grand theme across the newsletters that performed best. In fact, the most interesting takeaway was that the vast majority of my subscribers have come from Notes. What exactly that says about my newsletters, I’m not sure…

Still, I found myself staring at a blank page this week, trying to come up with some great topic worthy of a newsletter. Everything that came to mind felt forced. And then I stopped myself.

Maybe I should write about this. The feeling of wanting to create something for performance when it should really be the opposite. Writing something because I want to. Something I’d write even if no one were reading. Isn’t that the whole point?

Not every week is going to contain some major life update or profound realization. Most weeks are fairly ordinary, spent bouncing between school drop-off, laundry, walking the dog, working out, client work, and trying to keep up with everything else.

But since my brain is incapable of ever taking a break from design, here are a few things I’ve been loving.

Pewter Accessories

Lately I find myself gravitating toward pewter and silver-toned accessories. Small bud vases, candleholders, trays, and objects that feel like they may have lived another life before ending up in your home.

Maybe it’s because so much design has felt very polished the last few years, but pewter feels a little more storied to me. It brings character without overwhelming a space, and I’m noticing it pop up everywhere right now.

Tapestry Art

I’ve become increasingly drawn to tapestries as art, especially in rooms with tall ceilings or large open walls. I recently saw a beautiful example above a marble fireplace and loved the contrast between the two. The tapestry softened the space and brought warmth, history, and texture.

There’s also something romantic about them. I dream of stumbling across a treasured tapestry in a little antique shop somewhere in Europe one day and bringing it home in my suitcase. Until then, I’ll keep saving photos of them...

Wallpaper in Unexpected Places

I’ve touched on this before, but I am obsessed with wallpaper showing up in places you don’t expect. Behind bookshelves. On a ceiling. Inside a pantry.

Maybe it’s because these spaces are often treated as an afterthought. A pantry is supposed to be functional. The wall behind a bookshelf is often hidden. But adding wallpaper suddenly turns those overlooked spaces into something special.

One place I’ve seen it popping up more often is on the ceiling, particularly in kids’ rooms. Wallpaper is expensive, so covering only the ceiling can be a more approachable way to incorporate it. And maybe this is the mom in me, but I love the idea of a child lying in bed and having something fun to look up at.

My wheels are definitely spinning on how to incorporate more wallpaper into my own home.

Marble Trim

Marble has obviously never gone away, but lately I’ve been noticing it used in smaller, more architectural ways. Marble trim around a kitchen window is popular, but also: marble baseboards, marble framing a doorway between a kitchen and pantry, even marble incorporated into stair details.

I love these applications because they’re surprising. Instead of being the main event, the marble is a detail that catches you off guard.

Thanks for reading my mid-week ramblings. I appreciate you!

Talk soon,

J

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And at the same time, I’m seeing it across interiors too. Everything from fish wallpaper (which I actually started planning for a client’s powder room a couple months ago) to fish bowls, aprons, artwork, and more.

Not only are people wearing fish, they are eating it too. Specifically, tinned fish. According to a quick google search, the ‘tinned fish trend’ started on TikTok a few years ago. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact driving force, but canned fish brand Fishwife launched in late 2020 with fun, colorful packaging and a strong marketing strategy across social media designed to make eating tinned fish somehow cool and aesthetically appealing.

I spent eight years working for a retail analytics start-up, and watching how trends move from social media into actual purchasing behavior was always fascinating to me. What starts as a niche interest can quickly become impossible to ignore once enough people begin sharing, buying, and talking about the same thing. This is exactly what happened with Fishwife.

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If you’re fish-curious, here are some ways I’d do it:

Around the House

For the home, I’d do it in ways that feel timeless rather than overly themed.

Wallpaper is probably my favorite example if you really want to commit. Fish wallpaper can be playful without feeling childish, especially in a powder room where you can take a few more risks. I also love it in kids spaces.

Art is another great option. Depending on the style of the home, fish artwork can feel coastal, collected, vintage, or even contemporary. Some of my favorite pieces right now are by HSYA Studio. She does commissions and also just launched a small print collection. I love the way she incorporates fish into her paintings in such a subtle way.

Another artist doing it right is Australia-based Brittany Ferns. She uses a range of materials and techniques to create paintings inspired by her surroundings. Etsy and Chairish are go-to’s as well — I love this sardine oil painting in a gold frame and these striped fish prints that would look great in a kid’s room.

Tabletop is one of the easiest ways to embrace the trend. Fish motifs feel especially at home around food, whether that’s through linen napkins, coasters, tablecloths, serving pieces, or dishware. In a coastal home, these pieces can feel timeless. For me, they’re most appealing in the summer, especially for outdoor dinners and casual entertaining in the Pacific Northwest.

In Your Closet

STAUD is one brand that immediately comes to mind. I love the way they incorporate fish into almost everything: bags, dresses, cover-ups, swimsuits, sandals. I tend to gravitate to neutrals in my wardrobe and would rather lean into the theme through jewelry or a bag. But I’m not opposed to a pop of color in the summer! Here are a handful of pieces I’ve saved:

For The Kids

Kids grow out of things so quickly that I think there's a little more freedom to embrace playful trends and seasonal motifs. Unlike wallpaper or artwork, these pieces don't need to last forever. They just need to be fun. A few of my favorites right now:

Maybe it’s the algorithm. Maybe it’s Fishwife. Maybe fish have always been there and I’m only just paying more attention now. Either way, I’m not mad about it.

How are you embracing the trend?

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Homemade Birthday Cakes

My mom has made all of my boys’ birthday cakes and it is better than any gift she could get them. They started off simple and are getting a bit more elaborate now that they have specific requests/are a little more demanding 🙃. I love how much she loves doing this.

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White Soft Pants

I ordered these pants from J.Crew that I was told were a great Donni dupe. I am pleasantly surprised with how good they are. I sized down. I also love my Reformation Olina Linen Pants that have been going strong for a couple seasons now.

What are you reading? I finished Heart the Lover (I didn’t love it like seemingly everyone else?). Famesick and Yesteryear are all over my feed (added both to waitlist!) and I recently started these two:

I shared this note and I need parents to weigh in. Does anyone else have an accident prone child? 🆘

For the last two years I’ve gifted my husband this mug with the boys’ faces on it for Father’s Day. The first year he thought it was hilarious. By year three he’s probably expecting it, but I love a personalized gift and I’m not stopping.

I have been wanting to switch the door knobs in our house for a while. Now that my kids think it’s hilarious to slam the doors, it feels like the right time. With round knobs, they won’t be able to open them…for now. I am eyeing something like this:

To wrap up, a few recent reads —

A beautiful write-up by on how to simply do what you already know how to do and don’t let the pressure to have a perfect summer prevent you from actually being present.

A Family Affair by Liz Adams

You Already Know What to Do

Something I think about often, as someone who shares her life online: is what I put out here actually worth your time? I’m not an expert, I don’t have life hacks or a proven method and I can’t promise that anything I do is the right way. I’m just a mom navigating life through her own experiences…

Read more

3 months ago · 22 likes · 2 comments · Liz Adams

In honor of my youngest turning three, this article by was very timely and real.

mother curious

the drama of living with a threenager

we’re still five months out from official threenager status, but within the past two weeks it feels like everything has changed. my angel baby turned into a hellion overnight, just in time for me to get off birth control and have my own big feelings (read: hormones…

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3 months ago · 12 likes · 8 comments · Annaliese Godderz

It really does seem like psychics are having a moment. I recently found myself searching for psychics in the area to help me answer things like if I should have a third kid, if I’m on the right career path, and other important life questions! put together a great list if you’re into this sort of thing.

Off Hours by Sabeena Ladha

OK Fine. Here’s My Psychics List. ✨

The highly requested running list of psychics, energy healers, mediums & astrologers. I already posted part of this on IG, but I keep getting repeat questions, so figured I’d house the full list here and update as I dabble & get more recs. Apparently we are all into psychics rn…

Read more

3 months ago · Sabeena Ladha

P.S. I am going to move my Notes From Home series to monthly. See you Tuesday for the usual long-form post!

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I agree. I need solitude to recharge. I need alone time the way other people might need social plans.

Which is probably why I care so much about making home feel good to be in.

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Here’s what that looks like for me —

Movement first.

If I have a free hour, I’m using it to move my body above almost anything else. This usually means stepping into the garage for thirty minutes. My mom said I had a Barbie step aerobics set that I used right alongside her as a kid. Clearly it stuck. I am a better person after I workout. And I guess it’s true — kids learn from watching you, not from what you tell them.

I’ve been pretty loyal to Build and Burn workouts the last few years, and might throw in a little Melissa Wood Health here and there. And of course, a walk can do wonders when I’m feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or burnt out.

A tidy space.

I hate that I’m this way, but I cannot recharge in a messy room. We have a small house and the toys bleed into everything, so a quick tidy is non-negotiable. A cleaner every two weeks equally so.

Fresh flowers.

I stock the house weekly with a few bunches and I will never stop. When I’m having a quiet moment at home and I look up and see them, it genuinely uplifts me.

Candles.

Lighting a candle in a clean, tidy space with fresh flowers nearby is its own kind of luxury IMO. I light them year round, the scent usually changes throughout the season. I’ve been loving Flamingo Estate candles, they smell sooo good (I just ran out of Tuscan Rosemary and am eyeing the Tomato scent next). A couple other clean candle brands I have in rotation are Lavant (local to Seattle) and Nette.

Nice things for every day.

A really nice mug for coffee or tea — Cabana and Nickey Kehoe if you want to treat yourself! Indulgent hand soap. Soft hand towels. House slippers. Nontoxic cleaning products that smell great (looking at you !). These are things I touch every single day, they should feel good.

Comfy clothes.

Elevated pajamas, athleisure, oversized sweats. Pair that with the list above, something good to drink, a book, magazine, or show, a cracked window for fresh air if it’s morning or dim lights in the evening. Pretty ideal combo for recharging if you ask me.

I read something in ’s newsletter about never apologizing or feeling guilty for spending money on things that boost your mood. I completely agree.

I’ll always find a way to have fresh flowers on the counter in a beautiful vase. I’ll always light the candle. I’ll always invest in the things I touch every single day.

I used to think loving being home made me boring. Now I know it’s just how I recharge.

Any other “hermits“ here? What are some ways you recharge?

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I’m starting a new series spotlighting designers I love. No set cadence, just whenever someone feels worth sharing. First up: DISC Interiors.

When I sat down to write this, I struggled to articulate exactly why I love their work so much. And I think that’s actually the point. Design at its best creates a feeling before it creates a thought. We’ve all experienced it — a hotel lobby that stops you in your tracks, a room that feels like a deep exhale the moment you walk in, a piece of art that makes you pause a little longer.

That’s what DISC Interiors does for me. Their spaces feel layered, like they’ve been lived in and built over time rather than styled all at once. Neutral but never flat. They have an incredible eye for art. And nothing ever looks trendy.

Their philosophy says it better than I can: they design homes intended to become broken in, not broken. Spaces filled with less that still feel powerful. Materials that patina and soften over time. That’s exactly what you see when you look at their work.

P.S. If you want to infuse a little DISC Interiors into your home, they have their own furniture collection on their website, plus a few fun collaborations with Lulu & Georgia, Lawson-Fenning, and Marc Phillips Rugs. Their coffee table book is also a great option for more inspiration. I have it and love it.

P.P.S I have no affiliation with DISC Interiors, just a designer who admires their work. :)

I am entering day two of four solo parenting and let me just say, getting out of the house with your kids is the best thing you can do for yourself (and them!). Playdates, dinners out, park, pool, you name it, I find it so much easier to solo parent when we are out and about.

Do you have any solo parenting survival tips?

I recently bought Rachael’s Good Eat’s second cookbook, High Protein Plate and we have made four recipes in the last week. I have always been a fan of her recipes because they feel simple enough for anyone to make, are fairly quick, and of course, are healthy and delicious. For Mother’s Day, my husband made the smash burgers and I made the brown butter chocolate chip cookies (for my mom), both 10/10. We also made the coconut curry meatballs and shredded chicken bowls, both of which I know will become staples in this house. If you’re looking for cooking inspiration, highly recommend!

We have a wedding next month and I was originally eyeing a yellow Staud dress until this ASTR The Label dress popped up in Shopbop’s new arrivals. It instantly reminded me of the Rodarte Floral Halter dress but for about $1500 cheaper… so I immediately ordered and hope it works out.

A few other things from the week —

Soft pants are everywhere. DONNI, Leset, La Ligne, GAP, Banana Republic, Buck Mason, and so on. I loved reading ’s review of four popular options and am now inspired to try the BR ones!

I went down an embroidery rabbit hole and found Klein Designs. I initially stumbled upon her embroidered napkins, but she does so much more. This is such a great idea if you’re looking for anything personalized — for a bachelorette or wedding, a brand, or just for yourself. I want to get a tote branded with my business logo… that I have yet to create :).

Have you heard of HIGHSTAY? Luxury apartment rentals in Paris for short or extended stay. If you are design obsessed like I am, have fun perusing their site 🤩. And now I’m just trying to figure out how I can get my whole family to Paris, especially after reading this Paris With Kids guide by last month.

I’m seeing single bud vases everywhere right now and for good reason. They are understated and add a simple touch of elegance to any room. Roan Iris has a couple great options!

LOSTINE dropped a new group of vintage furniture and fine art yesterday. So much goodness.

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I DM’d an interior designer I’d been following after she mentioned she went to the same college as me. The next morning she sent back a voice note with thoughts on my profile, tips for starting, and other words of encouragement. We proceeded to share voice notes back and forth for the next two mornings. She could have simply sent me a message back and left it at that, but the continuous voice notes were so unexpected in the best way possible.

After posting my Tuesday newsletter about How I’m Using AI As I Build My Interior Design Business, I had a full Baader-Meinhof moment. Suddenly AI was everywhere in my feed. A few newsletters worth sharing:

• Using Claude for a Closet Rebuild by — I’m definitely going to try this.

• shared her Creator Toolkit which includes using Claude to save time and do things she doesn’t want to do (looking at you, pivot tables and charts). A great use case.

• How to work out what you want by — While not technically a post about AI, it’s about how to figure out what you want, and in her case, AI is a means to buy back time to figure that out.

Have you read any other great newsletters on the topic lately?

Aside from this, a handful of other things I’m eyeing from the week:

Ernesta rugs launched a Family Collection of playful, durable rugs and I’m bookmarking for a future kids space.

Amber Interiors launched a new lighting collection with Four Hands. How cute is the Cerie sconce?!

Ciao Lucia! launched Ciao Bambini, mini versions of their best selling dresses. I don’t have a daughter but if I did…

This Laguna Beach home featured in AD by is stunning. I truly love every room.

Runny noses are endless in this house and I’ve been on the hunt for a chic tissue box cover (or two). These options from Pierce and Ward fit the bill.

My local bookstore featured this book as one to read if you want to write better.

That’s all for now! Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms reading this. 🤍

And as a one-woman show trying to build a business, raise two little boys, keep a house running, have a social life, spend time with my husband… (and the list goes on!), I don’t have unlimited time. So yes, I’m going to embrace anything that helps me move faster and stay out of my own way.

I really do think we’re at a point where you can choose to lean into it or ignore it. And if you don’t, that’s totally okay. I respect that.

But for me, after spending a decade in tech, it feels natural to use it as a tool.

So here’s what’s actually been helping me lately as I build my interior design business. (I’ve capped this list at five points, but there are so many use cases beyond this too. If you’re curious, feel free to DM me!)

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Website & Branding

I had zero idea how to build a website. I knew I wanted a neutral palette (no surprise there!) and something simple and functional to start.

I could have spent hours researching, but instead I asked ChatGPT to give me step by step instructions on how to create a simple website in Squarespace. I want these tabs, this content, here is some inspiration, I don’t have many photos. GO.

Within a week, I had something live.

From there, I refined fonts and colors and now have a simple branding guide saved in Canva that I use across Instagram, Pinterest, and Substack to create some consistency.

Transparently, I did this at the start of the year before switching over to using Claude primarily, so I might take another pass at using Claude Code to build a website. But not a priority right now.

Client Presentations + Templates

For my first client presentation, sure I could have made something in PowerPoint. But knowing myself, I would have spent way too much time tweaking every little detail and it still wouldn’t have looked the way I wanted.

Instead I used Claude Cowork to create a client presentation framework. I explained what I wanted included: project overview, inspiration by space, design direction, specific selections, and so on. I also gave it my branding guidelines and a few inspiration slides.

Claude built a template in Keynote and saved it directly in the requested folder.

Done.

3D Renderings

I’ve been using Nano Banano Pro to create realistic visualizations and it has been beyond helpful for both me and clients.

I can take a photo of a space, create a moodboard of what I want it to look like, and generate a realistic visual in minutes. From there I can swap wall color, paint color, materials, or finishes to compare options. You can also use a floorplan and a moodboard to create a 3D rendering, or quickly swap fabric on a chair, add in a piece of furniture, and so on. So many ways to use it.

Just last week Anthropic announced that you can now link Claude directly to SketchUp, which is huge. My SketchUp skills are far from great, but with Claude x SketchUp, designers can now use precise dimensions and Claude will give you a file that can be opened directly in SketchUp. This is the next thing I am really excited to dive into.

Sourcing

If you’ve ever hunted for something new for your home, whether it’s a table or a piece of art, you know it can take hours of scouring the internet. I genuinely love this part, and I often stumble across things I wasn’t looking for but will bookmark for later. And yet I also know how time consuming it can be.

So if I’m having trouble finding something or want more options, I’ll prompt: “Find me an oval oak dining table that seats six, here is the price range, here are some places I typically shop to give you a sense of the vibe, present me five options.”

It doesn’t replace my eye. But it gets me additional options much faster.

I also listened to Kelly Wearstler on Emma Grede’s podcast last month and was inspired to hear that she is running an AI-first design studio, investing heavily in teams and technology. She specifically references using OpenClaw as an agent to source items for clients. Using AI to create efficiencies enables her and her team to be more creative. Love this.

Learning & Development

I am not a formally trained interior designer and I won’t pretend to be.

There is still a part of me that feels like I’m missing foundational knowledge. I did not want to spend thousands on a course, so I asked Claude Cowork to create an expedited interior design course for me and I now have a 12-Week Accelerated Home Study Program. And… I’m so excited about it! At the end of each week, it asks me to rate myself on a 1-5 scale based on set criteria. I’m beginning this week and excited to share my progress.

What AI is NOT doing:

• Designing the space for me

• Building client relationships

• Networking with other designers

• Measuring spaces

• Going to site visits

• Walking showrooms

• Touching materials

What it is doing:

• Helping me move faster

• Helping me get unstuck

• Helping me take action before I feel fully ready

And right now, that’s everything.

Are you using AI in your work or daily life? I’d love to hear how.

I’ve been thinking a lot about gifts and what a three year old actually loves. I have a four year old and already can’t remember what he loved at this age. What are the things your three year olds can’t get enough of?!

And since I’m always curious what other kids love, here are a few things on repeat in our house.

Tappi Books

These are soooo good! I think I was served an Instagram ad for them last year and ended up buying them for Christmas.

They’re interactive books that talk, sing, and play. They come with a pen that you use to tap different parts of the page. When in learning mode, it can prompt your child with questions like “count the pink flowers” or “where is the cement mixer?”

I’m not exaggerating when I say my kids will sit with these for 30+ minutes fully engaged. It obviously doesn’t replace reading to them, but for independent play or quiet time (or when you just need a free minute!), these are amazing.

Octopus Shocktopus

This book was gifted to us last year and my four year old has been obsessed with it ever since. Every night when I ask what books he wants to read, it’s always this one. For his birthday circle at school, this is the book he wanted us to read to the class. I think I have every page memorized at this point… but it’s such a cute story and the kids love it which is most important. :)

I’ll also link a few other toys I shared early on here that are still going strong in our house: toddler toys I’d repurchase.

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One more unrelated thing on my mind this week: embracing spontaneity.

I’m definitely someone who loves a plan. I don’t always do well with last-minute pivots. But last weekend, a friend texted us and said they were renting a bounce house for no reason and grilling burgers and hot dogs if we wanted to come by.

We went, stayed for a few hours, 8+ kids ran around, and we actually got to hang out with our friends.

Such a good reminder that it doesn’t need to be complicated. Not a perfectly planned backyard party or elaborate meal. Just simple food, drinks, and kids playing. The bounce house was a bonus, but not necessary. We were actually laughing at one point because all the kids were inside playing with the toys.

All that to say, I think my mantra for spring and summer is keeping things simple and being a little more spontaneous.

And lastly, a few pieces of content I enjoyed this week:

The hardest part about change is the invisible period, and not knowing how long the silence will last. (Can confirm it is really uncomfortable!) — By

A really great read about doing the shit you say you’re going to do. Hint, it doesn’t need to be perfect. — By

Tory Burch on Emma Grede’s podcast. She opens by talking about having three boys under four and being at a crossroads between continuing her career or staying home… and how that time is when she started building her business. I feel like so many moms are in that place right now, trying to figure out what balance looks like, and knowing there’s no one right answer.

I order the album. I spend an overwhelming amount of time going through old photos, trying to figure out what’s worth printing. I upload my selections to Walgreens for same-day pickup.

To this day, the photos are still in the Walgreens box. The album sits unopened.

Why?

Because somewhere between picking up the prints and actually putting them in, I started noticing what was missing. Where am I in these photos? Where are the grandparents? The first steps? The soccer jersey his dad brought back from Ireland? The photo of us on the rooftop deck of the first home we lived in?

The desire to create the perfect album, something chronological and complete, with the right mix of milestones and in-between moments, stopped me from taking any further action at all. And now another year has passed. I’m even further behind on printing photos.

At this point, I’m going to have to just slip them into their little plastic slots without overthinking it. Because anything is better than nothing. My now four-year-old does not care what his photo album looks like. He will simply enjoy flipping through the photos. Don’t even get me started on the second kid’s album.

This has become increasingly clear as I’ve tried to put myself out there for the first time. Writing on Substack twice a week. Trying to launch an interior design business. Navigating imposter syndrome on a near-daily basis. It shows up the same way every time.

I’ll take ten photos of the same corner of my house, trying to get the light just right. I’ll feel like I’ve run out of angles to photograph. I’ll scroll through the accounts of designers I admire, compare what they’re doing to what I’m doing, and instead of trusting my gut and posting, I stop. I don’t post.

And yet here I am, three, almost four months in, already questioning everything. I’ve barely made a dent. Not enough time has passed to know anything yet. But I get so easily overwhelmed by the pressure to do the right thing, the perfect thing, that some days I think maybe this just isn’t for me. Maybe I’m not cut out for this.

And then I stop and look at what’s actually happening. It’s the same thing. Every time. I get so consumed by wanting something to be perfect that I do nothing at all. The album is in the box. The Instagram account sits untouched. The Substack draft stays in drafts.

I don’t have a perfect resolution. I’m still in it. But I think what’s finally shifting is this: I can’t help clients for free forever. At some point, waiting for perfect stops being a standard and starts being an excuse.

And honestly, no one is thinking about what I posted, or why I did it that way, or whether the light was right in that photo. They’re not analyzing it the way I am. They’ve moved on. They probably have their own album sitting in a box somewhere.

And there’s something else. My kids are watching. They will pick up my traits, the good ones and the bad ones. Do I want them to see a mom who was paralyzed by the fear of imperfection? Or do I want them to see a mom who showed up anyway, even when it was a little messy?