This newsletter is sponsored by Lumens, my go-to source for exceptional furniture, lighting and decor.
a room of your own
“It’s very difficult for me to put a name on my work. I’m a little bit an architect, absolutely a collector, an art dealer. Some people call me a decorator, which I hate. I think there’s no rule, no dogma — it’s a lot about intuition.” — Axel Vervoordt
Last summer, after being away for months, my wife and I walked back into our house and immediately said to each other: "What a beautiful home this is." We saw it with completely fresh eyes. Details we'd stopped noticing suddenly felt intentional again.
That moment reminded me of something essential: distance feeds creative hunger.
We've been staying in a family member's condo for the past couple of weeks, and it's happening again. Being away from my own space is building up that familiar creative restlessness. This place is essentially a blank canvas, other than a painted lava rock fireplace; it's ready to be filled and brought to life. I haven't done much to it yet, but I can feel the hunger building.
This is why I think every creative person needs a space they can shape — whether it's an entire home, a single room, or even just a corner. A place where you can edit, move, and make things as good as they possibly can be.
The tools I use are pieces of art, decorative objects, furniture, paint, lamps — the elements that make a room feel alive.
I had never seen the video tour of Axel Vervoordt's Belgian castle, and was struck by how deeply personal and intuitive his spaces feel. This is clearly a life's work.
After buying it in 1984, he stripped the walls back to bare earth and infused every room with his layered sensibility: Japanese wabi-sabi, European antiques, and contemporary art.
There are no categories, no definitive style — just a seamless blend of eras and influences. That's the power of having a workspace where you can experiment and not be constrained while also having a strong vision. This property is such a great example of having a theme that guides each space but without overdoing it.
Each room feels entirely its own and yet held together by Axel's taste. Check out the linked video above and you'll see what I mean!
I often dream of a large, well-lit studio where I can rearrange objects and explore ideas in three dimensions. It would make a lot of sense, especially from a video creation perspective.
When you live in a home, your biases set in. You stop seeing all the possibilities. That's why leaving and returning is such a healthy, creative practice. Being away sharpens your perspective, and when you return, you're able to see your space with fresh eyes.
Find that space. It might be a spare bedroom, a corner where you can rearrange objects or even just a wall where you can hang and rehang art until it feels right. Give yourself room to play. Move things around. Trust your instincts.
I have always learned by doing, and I am going to carve out some space to "do" more in my own home, this condo, and hopefully, a studio.
What's your version of this?
curation for LUMENS
If I had to pick two things that would most dramatically impact any home, it would be paint and light fixtures. Light fixtures make such a difference in how a space feels because they are one of the first things you notice.
These 5 pieces from Lumens are versatile enough to work in most spaces and help to achieve a quick, upgraded look.
We recently used this for a project, and it’s so versatile. Modern and yet very much reminiscent of French fixtures from a century ago. Beautiful, elegant shape. These would look great as a series in a hallway or as a single flush in a bedroom.
These provide a perfect small vignette of downlight. I was having dinner on a rooftop with my wife last week, and we had one on our table. We were talking about how these would be interesting on a kitchen island or dining table, not just outdoors in a hospitality setting.
Most fluorescent lamps are ugly, but the Roll & Hill Pendant has that same feel as a ’50s-’60s fluorescent lamp, except it’s in a much more beautiful package. I would love this over any table or work surface.
The ambiance of a picture light in a home is gorgeous. Something like the Rowan has just the right amount of interest and would work anywhere. I like the cream shade with the holes in it and contrasting hardware.
Ever since I can remember, I loved the brass reading lamps in my mom’s parents’ home. This kind of thing is totally timeless and is equal parts beauty and function.
Such a nice iteration with the rattan wrapping. Can’t go wrong with this kind of thing.
I’ve always felt Lumens does an incredible job curating the best products from all over the world. They prioritize quality and artistry at every level, truly living up to their tagline: “Your home for design.”
that's a wrap!
I hope you enjoyed reading this, whether this is your first or 99th time. I sincerely appreciate you. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to write about.
