Halloween insanity and sugar bombing has this going out a bit late. We had a flower fairy, a snow fairy, a ghostbuster, Wilbur Coot and Ted Lasso in our house - what did your family go as?
For new subscribers, in this weekly newsletter I share my top picks for the week - trends or particularly noteworthy design. Each week I share an interior, a real estate listing and a style item that I think are special. I hope you'll let me know what you think!
1] Handpicked: INTERIOR
One of my favorite interior design studios is Chango and Co, out of New York. Our style is similar: create a composed backdrop of soothing white and textural neutrals and pop it with joyful splashes of color, bold lighting and artwork. They're not afraid to have an opinion!
Also I love that they're often using pieces that are affordable and readily available (West Elm, Global Lighting, etc). As someone who worked at Pottery Barn, I can assure you the teams of furniture and decor designers, as well as the buyers (the people who select the collection) are uber-talented - take advantage of their assemblage of creative genius!
Not a pop of color, but love the built-in sofa (which inspired my home in Little Compton, Rhode Island) and the vintage pieces.
2) Handpicked: REAL ESTATE
My amazingly talented friend Nicole staged this Cambridge home and I was so lucky to bump into her on the street mid-installation. Apparently there is a POOL (not a pool table) on the ground floor, which is classic Cambridge-peculiar, but hey! It also has a bizarre Japonesque sitting area (elevate) in the kitchen.
Don't be freaked out. Be woo'd by the original wood details, the gorgeous original marble sinks and the feeling of the suburbs right smack in the middle of the city.
3) Handpicked: STYLE
Continuing my East Africa theme, I want to share one of my absolute favorite clothing companies, Zuri. I have literally 3 shirts and 2 dresses from them... why? Because you put on the shirt (or dress) and its tailored structure is super-flattering and it looks like you made an effort. Throw it in the wash, hang it up, and off you go. No need to iron to look pulled together.
I choose prints that aren't overtly tribal as I do not want to give the appearance of appropriation while still supporting a company that ethically employs a workforce in Kenya (guaranteeing living wages and fair working conditions).
For me the dress is more like a tunic, so I pair it with black jeans. Did I mention they're really, REALLY flattering?
4) BONUS TOOL: What will it cost?
For those of you who are wondering if the boom construction market is going to turn around and materials prices are going to drop, I encourage you to check out my recently released Renovation Spreadsheet. It details all the expenses involved in renovation construction and can be used for a single bathroom to a full home.
I hope you love these handpicked favorites! I would love to hear from you and what YOUR favorites are this week.
Isabella x