I’ve got a winding tale today that in theory is about home decor but it’s also about life seasons (because what that I write isn’t about life seasons?). When I shared my antique market field trip, I got a great response from Rachel who wondered if I could talk more about decorating with thrifted treasures so the whole house feels done instead of just having little vignettes of things. She mentioned she loved how I have layered my home over time.

I was delighted by the question first because it’s a fun newsletter topic and second because wow, it’s been a journey to become a person who “layers their home.”

From 2013-2022 I was a Minimal Queen. White walls, cleared surfaces, naked windows, white walls, simple rugs, light wood, white walls, light frames, white mats, white tile, white walls. (Did I mention the white walls?) Before writing this post, I went back and looked at photos from our previous two homes, both in San Diego, both mid-century builds.

It was shocking. I feel the same as when I look back at photos of my hair in 2017 or my outfits in 2008. Yes, I guess I recognize that person, but I don’t feel like I know her. The before and after photos of our first house in particular were wild because they don’t look like afters! They look like middles! Where is the stuff? 

The answer is we had almost no stuff. Instead we had little kids! And I had a job that was in the budding and then blossoming phase. I couldn’t handle any things other than the kids and the work. My hands were full. My brain was full. My energy was depleted and I didn’t want to look at stuff.

AND THAT’S OK. My heart goes out to past me and current everyone who is in the thick of it all.

Above is my favorite spot in our first house. It was my favorite then and it remains an absolute favorite now. I can see current me in this space. It’s the leaning frames. It’s the frames being different styles. It’s the painting by my Grandpa and the lightbulb Paul made in high school ceramics (both are still displayed proudly in our current home along with that brass unicorn). It’s the chair that is not gray (it took me twelve years to buy a couch that wasn’t gray or tan).