Today is my birthday. The newsletter is a little late because we've had nonstop video shoots for the past 3 days. The final one was this morning at Arrington Woods. Truly, there's no better way to spend a birthday morning than being immersed in nature, watching a vision you had three years ago come to reality.
On the beat
Here are a few things I was reflecting on — about life, design, and doing work that matters.
Small things make the biggest difference in both design and life. Painted trim. An interesting curtain tie-back. The type of counter profile. Address numbers. Salt. A kind word from a friend. Something your grandparent said to you. These tiny decisions & moments shape how a house feels — and how life feels. Instead of getting overwhelmed with big things, by being consistently better in the small stuff, like writing an email or making pasta sauce or the extra detail in a lookbook for a client, life gets better.
The secret is volume. You don’t get better at anything by thinking about it. You get better by doing it — a lot. When I started making videos, it felt impossible to find the time to do so. Then it became part of my day. Same with design work. Same with writing. If you want creative change, increase the volume. Most things you do will not be great. So, if you want to create great things, do a lot.
Find someone to model or something to copy. Almost all design is just an iteration on an already good idea. Find a room you like, and make a few changes to it. Create a piece of furniture or light fixture by starting with one that already exists and iterating on the form and material. Great creatives don’t reinvent the wheel — they tweak it by 5-10%. Same with careers. Find somebody who is doing what you want to do and do what they do. If you do the math on this, modeling means you only have to figure out 10%, not 100%.
Perfect isn’t interesting. The best rooms usually have something off — a weird window, a low ceiling, something asymmetrical, a bulkhead, a light fixture that's out of place, a weird fireplace. It gives soul. It creates a story. Like sprezzatura but for rooms. That’s what we’re after.
Build something people can see. The age of credentialism is over. No one cares about your title. What counts is output. By creating and sharing, things just happen. And they do not have to be big things. It could be a bathroom. By building something, you will inspire others and have the opportunity to work with them. There is a TikToker whose entire account is dedicated to showcasing cozy lighting in his living room. Put something out and see what happens.
The best interior design typically revolves around one or two truly beautiful elements.When you look at photos of the best spaces, there is often one or two things of exceptional beauty. A painting, wall mural, room divider, light fixture, chair, or floral arrangement. If you wonder why most interiors fall flat, it's because we often feel uncomfortable with inordinately beautiful things. It doesn't fit in our modern vernacular. But the spaces that sing know this is the cheat code and lean in.
This is a project by Pierce & Ward, a design duo I love. Floral arrangement is the perfect illustration of what I'm talking about.
7. It's not about you (or me).It's no fun to have the world revolve around you. Too heavy. I have been plenty selfish in my life, and it's just no way to live. True joy in a project always has to do with doing the best for and with other people. One of my favorite quotes is, "God is not outdone in generosity." I have found this to be profoundly true in my life, over and over again. Giving is what creates meaning. When you create something great, not just for yourself, but as a gift or an offering, it somehow comes back more than you could have ever imagined.
Final Thought: Thanks for being here. Birthdays can evoke a range of emotions, but I’m feeling grateful. Honestly, still blown away that anyone reads this. Thanks for coming along on the ride.
Fabscarte – Skov Hand Painted Wallpaper by Maria Nielsen
Horse Stable Wallpaper - Mind the Gap
that's a wrap!
I hope you enjoyed reading this, whether this is your first or 96th time. I sincerely appreciate you. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to write about.