The Curated Edit #23 Design Dispatch: Lighting is one of the few things that can make a beautifully designed room still feel slightly off, but when thoughtfully planned, it becomes one of the defining elements of a well-crafted space. But most of the time, people assume the issue is the fixture itself. Usually, it is not. One of the biggest misconceptions around lighting is that the solution is simply adding more. More recessed cans. More brightness. More fixtures layered in after the fact....
25 days ago • 6 min read
The Curated Edit #22 Design Dispatch: Some design decisions are easy to change later. This isn’t one of them. Choosing the right slab is less about what looks good in the moment, and more about what holds up over time. When clients ask me what stone they should choose, I do not start with the material. I start with questions. How do you live in your kitchen?Do you want something that stays pristine, or something that evolves over time?Are you someone who will notice every mark, or not think...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
The Curated Edit #21 Hello my design-loving friends, There’s been a shift happening in design that I first noticed when I went back to school in 2014. It's been subtle, but over the past few years it’s been more fully embraced. It’s less about how things look, though that still matters, and more about how they actually work. Design Dispatch: Zero-entry showers. This is one of the most consistent features across my recent projects, and not just for how they look. At its core, it’s about...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
The Curated Edit #20 Hello my design-loving friends, Design Dispatch Some of the most important parts of a project happen long before anything is installed. They’re quieter, less visible, and often the difference between a smooth experience and a frustrating one. This subject has been coming up as of late, so I thought I’d give you a bit of insight. Let’s talk about lead times and sourcing. If you’ve worked on a project recently, you already know timelines are not what they used to be. While...
2 months ago • 3 min read
The Curated Edit #19 Hello my design-loving friends, Some weeks are about outcomes.Others are about process. This one was firmly the latter. Design Dispatch | Inside Raoul Textiles Raoul Textiles has long held a quiet authority in the design world. Founded in 1981 by Sally McQuillan, the company built its reputation on hand-drawn patterns and traditional printing methods that haven’t been diluted for speed or scale. Today, her children, Madeleine and Gene, have taken the helm—continuing the...
3 months ago • 2 min read
The Curated Edit #18 Hello my design-loving friends, Some cities grow. Others curate themselves. Santa Barbara did the latter. Last weekend I was there with Veranda Design Society, spending a few days immersed in architecture, textiles, gardens, and antiques. It’s a place where the built environment feels unusually intentional—and once you notice it, you can’t unsee it. That intention traces back nearly a century to a decision that permanently shaped the city. One of the most resonant themes...
3 months ago • 4 min read
The Curated Edit #17 Hello my design loving friends. This will be a quick hitting issue. I’m just back from KBIS—our industry’s largest kitchen and bath show. By the time you read this, I’ll be en route to Santa Barbara with Veranda Design Society. We are hitting antique stores, a textile manufacturer, and Lotusland in inimitable Montecito —I’m especially excited to soak in all of the Spanish Colonial lineage from the likes of George Washington Smith and Lutah Maria Riggs. Architecture that...
4 months ago • 5 min read
The Curated Edit #16 Design Dispatch | The Domino Effect It started, as it often does, with something simple. The floors. My parents are in the process of downsizing and found a wonderful home — and in a twist that almost never happens, they purchased it under budget. That gave them the rare gift of making thoughtful upgrades before moving in. The plan felt straightforward:Paint the interior.Replace most of the flooring. The existing finishes were well-loved (translated=in need of upgrading)—...
4 months ago • 4 min read
The Curated Edit #15 I’m starting with a little honesty: this one took longer to write than usual. The past month has been full—family transitions, logistics, and one of those seasons where life needs your attention before work gets its turn. And in a way, that pause shaped this entire edition. Design Dispatch | Luxury That Thinks Ahead The past 6 months have been a whirlwind as I’ve been helping my parents downsize after twenty-seven years in the same home. Twenty-seven years of memories,...
5 months ago • 3 min read