Between photoshoots with the amazing Jessica Delaney and my trusty assistant Jaclyn celebrating a milestone birthday and going on vacation, I just could not get a newsletter out last week. This week, the beautiful weather, some major projects wrapping up and some special meet-ups with friends I haven't seen since Covid energized and buoyed me. However that joy was tempered by a veneer of deep sadness over the shooting in Texas and an incidence of racism with two of my children. This duality is present in one of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. that I lean into during these tragedy-laden times: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
The practical manifestation of this polarity in my design work is one that plays with light and shadow, high and low, bright whites and deep moody colors, private and community spaces.
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
My husband I talk about real estate a lot. And he knows that my great passion is renovating old houses. To that end he asked me last week "do you think we would ever build a new construction home?" Our answer is always, maybe... MAYBE if it were designed by Estes Twombly architecture. And tying it back to my love of dualities, their work is a master class in light and shade, texture and fluidity.
Bold and yet minimal. Stark and yet elegant. I hope you'll explore some of their projects shown above and let me know what you think.!
2) Handpicked: REAL ESTATE
This house in Little Compton is just begging for a makeover by my team. With an "affordable" price tag, walking distance to the town beach and incredible architectural details (hefty reclaimed beams, vaulted ceilings and wide pine floors), I'm shocked it hasn't been snatched up yet.
3) Handpicked: STYLE
It's another week for art, and based on our theme I'm choosing an artist who is all about light and dark. Kelly Villasenor is a high contrast, visceral brush stroke kind of painter - and I love her work.
Both prints and originals are available for purchase. And her painterly style and high contrast color palette mean that ocean landscapes aren't just at home by the sea. Check her out!
That's all from our team this week - can't wait until next week!