It’s been a while since we shared progress on our K Street project, and while we’ve shared updates on Instagram, the journal posts have been quiet. With six weeks (ish) left in construction, it felt like the right time to offer a peek. This brownstone renovation leans into classic architecture and timeless materials—always our favorite combination. As historic home designers, we’re always balancing restoration and reinvention.

There’s no shortage of design in West Hollywood—Los Angeles shopping and dining at its finest. WeHo has some of the coolest restaurants, brunch spots, and coffee shops around. Every meal (or break from design meetings) offered plenty of inspiration. Beyond strong Americanos and great cocktails, I was drawn to the hospitality design and retail environments—spoken like a true former commercial interior designer.

LA is full of contradictions. A city, but sprawling like a suburb. Industry-driven, yet business deals go down in flip-flops. Full of both grit and glamour; famous, yet somehow still faceless. What I learned is that LA’s architecture is hyper-varied: One block with a Spanish Colonial Revival, the next Craftsman or a Mid-Century Modern. What LA does best is to tuck it’s architectural gems into places you don’t expect.

Looking to elevate your next photo shoot or home staging project? These indoor plant styling tips, inspired by a recent LA showroom visit and a South Shore photo shoot, offer easy-care greenery ideas that photograph beautifully and thrive indoors. Before styling any space for a photo shoot, I start with greenery. Fresh-cut flowers are lovely but are often a last-minute call and are fully dependant on what’s available at the market.

Open floor plans once ruled the real estate market—but today, they feel loud, inefficient, and out of touch with how we actually live. Developers cling to them, as they lag behind real design trends, overusing high ceilings, black windows, and copy-paste layouts from proverbial ‘catalogs’. Gross. Open floor plan problems show up fast: sterile, echoey, and dated. Read on to see why we prefer smaller, enclosed spaces.

My friend didn’t need to do much convincing for me to join her for Design Los Angeles. The former La Cienega Design Quarter (LCDQ) has recently rebranded under the leadership of Rebecca Birdwell, supported by a board of notable industry figures. We spent most of our time in West Hollywood, where LA’s interior design showrooms cluster along La Cienega, and seeing them on the West Coast felt essential and energizing.

I’ve been a fan of Sarah Flint shoes for years: her pieces are beautiful, well-made, and built for walking. Recently, I met Sarah at a Boston pop-up on Newbury Street and she’s smart, warm, and full of creative energy. A local talent from Lincoln, Massachusetts, she studied at FIT in New York and did intensive ‘shoe’ training in Italy. Her mission is clear: make beautiful shoes that are actually comfortable.

Toronto’s neighborhoods offer more than just a pleasant stroll—they’re a study in layered history, evolving styles, and architectural details that still feel lived-in. On this trip, I wasn’t only browsing boutiques and admiring façades—I was gathering historic home design inspiration at every turn. From Georgian buildings reimagined as luxury storefronts to rows of Victorians, the structures hold strong.