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I kicked off this episode right where so many of us get stuck: drowning in throw pillows, 50 open browser tabs, and a vague sense that something is just… off. I’ve seen it all—the accidental French country phase, the “eclectic with a touch of hoarding” situation, the guilt over meaningful heirlooms that don’t quite fit. And here’s the truth bomb: The problem isn’t your taste. It’s starting from a category instead of your own story. “Life informs style” means two things: your home should support how you actually live, and it should reflect your specific, one-of-a-kind life. Not a catalog’s version of you. When you begin with what you want to feel—calm, grounded, inspired—you make clearer decisions with a lot less overwhelm. Even in tight seasons with kids, budgets, or rentals, beauty isn’t a luxury; it’s a refuge. Start with your story, and the room follows.

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In this episode of Think Like a Designer, I sit down with Christina Cruz to talk about what slow style really looks like in action. Her aesthetic may be more modern and pared back than mine, but it’s just as layered and soulful. We explore how she blends antiques with clean lines, incorporates meaningful travel finds, and uses natural materials to warm up contemporary spaces. From gallery walls built around collected art to a moody office-turned-bar and family-friendly kitchens that don’t sacrifice beauty, Christina proves that great design isn’t about trends—it’s about intention. Different look, same philosophy: create a home that tells your story.

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Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

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Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

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Sitting down with Abi Dare to talk about her new book, Bring the Outside In, felt like having someone quietly turn on a light in rooms I thought I already understood. We started with the idea of nature in our homes, but very quickly moved far beyond the usual advice about adding more plants or maximizing daylight. Abi shows us how the landscapes we love can become a roadmap for every decision we make — from color palettes pulled from forest canopies and sunsets, to the mix of textures that make a space feel layered and alive. We explored curving shapes, reclaimed materials, and why a sleek piece of glass or metal can still feel deeply connected to the natural world. And then we went even deeper.

We talked about prospect and refuge — that powerful instinct to feel protected while still being able to look out — and how it explains everything from our love of restaurant booths to the magic of a window seat. We discussed mystery and enticement, the importance of what you glimpse from one room to the next, and why transitions like hallways deserve far more attention than they usually get. My biggest takeaway? When you let nature lead, the pressure to “get it right” disappears. The choices start to feel intuitive. Personal. Grounded. Let nature do the heavy lifting.

Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style

Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

Learn more at our website

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode!

In this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of stepping inside the Los Angeles home of designer Sean Leffers—someone whose work I admire for its depth, sensitivity, and extraordinary sense of narrative. From the moment we walk through the door, it’s clear that Sean doesn’t decorate; he curates a life. His rooms are layered with art, antiques, travel finds, spiritual references, and handmade pieces that carry memory and lineage.

As we tour, Sean shares the stories behind Japanese metalwork born from peacetime, Brazilian and Sri Lankan furniture, colonial Peruvian carving, block-printed textiles from India, and contemporary works by artists he loves and champions. We talk about how culture travels, how objects evolve across borders, and why the blurred line between art and craft makes a home feel human.

Most of all, this episode is about connection. Each vignette becomes an invitation—to ask questions, to linger, to see more.  If you want a home that feels personal, soulful, and deeply lived in, this conversation is full of inspiration.

Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style

Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

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Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode!

In this episode, I’m reflecting on the idea that it’s never too late to begin again—especially when it comes to our homes. After returning from a deeply inspiring trip to London, where I was immersed in British craftsmanship and design culture, I found myself thinking about how differently we approach decorating in the UK versus the US. The British emphasis on creativity, comfort, patina, and lived-in beauty feels closely aligned with my slow style philosophy, especially when contrasted with America’s fixation on trends, perfection, and convenience. I explore how our fear of imperfection and maintenance has quietly shaped our choices, often pulling us away from natural materials, meaningful objects, and the joy of caring for what we own. To bring these ideas into practice, I invite you to step away from algorithms and quick fixes and instead create a tangible, real-life vision board for your home—one rooted in personal experience, inspiration, and the kind of life you want to live there.

Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style

Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

Learn more at our website

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode!

This episode is part two of my Best of 2025 series, and it’s all about show and tell—those moments when designers walk us through a room and explain why it works. I pulled clips from conversations where we slowed down and really looked at composition, color, pattern, texture, and the quiet decisions that hold a space together. These are rooms best seen as much as heard, which is why this episode pairs especially well with YouTube. From bold, expressive spaces to calm, disciplined palettes, each designer reveals how intention, repetition, and play shape the way a room feels. It’s a reminder that beautiful interiors aren’t accidental—they’re built thoughtfully, one choice at a time.

Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style

Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

Learn more at our website

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode!

I’m bringing you along with me to Santa Fe for a quiet, layered look inside the home of designer Heather French—a place that feels deeply rooted in its landscape and gently expressive of the family who lives there. Walking through her territorial-style house, especially dressed for the holidays, felt like a reminder that good design isn’t about spectacle, but about intention: rooms shaped by how they’re truly used, materials that show age and wear with grace, and traditions that build warmth over time. From fruit-laden tables and needlepoint banquettes to a kitchen designed for lingering and a living room meant for both conversation and rest, Heather’s home is a beautiful example of how style can be personal, soulful, and quietly enduring

Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style

Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

Learn more at our website

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode!

As we wrapped up the year, I found myself gathering the moments from the show that moved me the most—the conversations that nudged me to think differently about home, beauty, and the way we shape our days. Revisiting these clips felt a bit like walking back through rooms I love: Olga reminding us that tiny shifts in our spaces can spark self-worth; Danielle celebrating the joyful friction of mixing styles; Bailey inviting us into that fearless creative “zone.” Then there were the makers—Francesca stirring pigments into velvety limewash, Brea and Guy rescuing centuries-old stone, and Michal weaving stories through embroidery—each one revealing the human hands and histories behind the things we live with. Sharing these voices again felt like opening a window to everything I believe about Slow Style: that beauty is both mirror and guide, and that home is an ever-evolving conversation between who we are and who we’re becoming.

Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style

Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

Learn more at our website

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode!

This week’s episode is a sweet, simple reminder of how small changes can make a home feel more like you. Laurie and I began in her kitchen, at the long window seat that greets you the moment you enter from the back door. Even with its beautiful view, it felt unfinished to her—like it wasn’t yet saying, We live here. As we talked, I encouraged her to trust the instincts she already had: using her own textiles, adding a little color, choosing organic patterns, and even hanging plants to bring some life into the space. We moved through the nearby rooms too, touching on lighting challenges and the beginnings of a gallery wall. In the end, every question circled back to the same truth: her home just needed more of her, and she already knew exactly how to make that happen.

Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style

Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

Learn more at our website

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode!

Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style

Buy the book, "Slow Style Home"

Learn more at our website

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!