This Must Be the Place

You know that feeling when you walk into a space and get instant feels? A cozy bookshop, a well-styled boutique, or a beautiful hotel that makes you think, Yep, I could stay here awhile. Pay attention to the key attributes of these environments that trigger those feels. Could be a chandelier, a worn leather chair, the flow of how your eye is encouraged to travel. That quiet moment when you know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be because the vibe is just right.

That’s always been my goal when turning a house (or an apartment, or even a shack) into a home.

Home is my favorite place. It’s where I go to reset when the world has completely drained my energy and patience. It’s my safe place. I didn’t grow up with that feeling about home, so creating it as an adult became really important to me.

For me, a home needs to be comforting to the soul, practical, and genuinely beautiful—in that order. Over time, I’ve learned that achieving this comes down to a few key elements that need to be thoughtfully curated: the spacing, the walls, the floors, the seating, and the way everything is layered together. Going outside in, and scaling from big to small enables intentionality and cohesiveness.

When we built our house, I designed every space to feel square—entryways, living areas, bedrooms, even the patio. The way a space flows matters. It should feel balanced and open, never cramped or chaotic. No matter where we’ve lived, even with awkward floor plans, I’ve always tried to create defined, square spaces by rearranging furniture and being intentional about placement.

Our first home—a condo in Santa Clara—was where I learned an important lesson about color. It was 2007, peak iPod era: electric blue, bright avocado green, hot pink. Since we both grew up with sterile white walls, I painted the master bedroom avocado green and one of the bedrooms electric blue. SMH. Lesson learned early on: color is best used thoughtfully, not everywhere all at once.

In our current home, a very light warm gray anchors every room, paired with white trim. I’ve found that simplifying the largest surfaces creates a calmer, more comforting environment. From there, I layer in color and texture based on scale, letting the space build naturally.

Most of my color inspiration comes from nature. Those tones already exist together, so they’re easy to live with. Dark wood floors, a muted blue sofa, and a green ivy wall carry most of the visual weight in our living space. Texture adds depth and character. During the 2020 pandemic, I created a gallery wall with a mix of gilded frames. When we moved to DC for a couple of years, I recreated a gallery wall in each apartment—it instantly made those temporary spaces feel intentional and lived-in. (Note to self: always use heavy-duty Command strips instead of nails.)

Layered textiles—pillows, blankets, rugs—add warmth and comfort. I switch out textiles and accoutrements seasonally and sometimes just because. Gold accents are scattered throughout, just enough to feel special without the Midas touch.

Finally, I consistently try to stay clear of clutter. A house in order is a happy house, but in a relaxed way and never sterile. Oh, and make sure it smells good.

We love having people over and having parties. Designated areas for dining, chatting, and bar section suggests conversation and gathering in a variety of spaces.

Because when a home is curated with care, it becomes more than a place you live—it becomes the place you want to return to.