Last week I visited a friend's house for the first time. She graciously gave me the full tour of her home, walking me through every room, pointing out interesting pieces, and giving me an intimate look at where her family lives.
She comfortably ushered me around, letting me see bedrooms and bathrooms, sharing stories about particularly unique or humorous items. Her house is beautiful, but also filled with a comfortable vibe that made me feel at home. I loved that she didn't pretend every room was perfect, but instead welcomed me into her real world, unmade beds and all. Isn't it wonderful to remember we all live in varying states of imperfection?
I digress.
Once the tour was over, I lingered and looked at her library shelves, her kitchen cabinets, her bar cart. I love to look at other people's things. Not in a creepy way, but with genuine curiosity and wonder.
You can really get to know someone by looking at their things. The books they read. The items they collect. The photos they display.
You can also learn a lot. New ways to store spices. An unconventional use for a brass tray. A product you've heard of but never tried.
I find myself inspired when I walk through someone's space, taking mental notes of things I want to try in my own home. Look at that floor to ceiling gallery wall! Look at how you framed your child's collection of friendship bracelets! Look at the clever way you repurposed curtains into a slip cover!
Isn't it fun to drink in the details of a friend's home?
If you agree, I think you might enjoy a nook of my website specifically designed to encourage curiosity and inspiration by letting you see the details of my real life. It's called the Shop Page.
Imagine the Shop Page as a guided tour through my home and life. If you came over, I would want to show you around, and we would start in the Kitchen where you might ask about my must-have skillet or notice my favorite spatulas. I would make sure to point out items I love to use on my Table, and maybe a few of my favorite Organizational tools.
Then we would move to other areas of my Home where I would point out frames or vases before finally lingering together at the Library, talking through titles that have impacted my life.
Then, we might move to my Closet where I would show you the no-fail white shirt I wear weekly, talk about Beauty products and the sunscreen that turned me into a believer, and discuss the trusted titles in my Cookbook collection.
The tour would end with a conversation about Needlepoint and Gifts, two of my favorite topics, and by the end, I hope we would feel a sense of mutual connection.
In a world saturated with options, sometimes it feels good to see a pared down collection of items from someone you trust, to be welcomed into the real spaces of a friend, and encouraged to take your time soaking it all in. If you're interested, the Shop Page is always available, and is my offer to show you around, provide product recomentations, and let you see the items I use in my life regularly. I hope you find something you like!
