Is interior design just a room full of Stuff?

When thinking about interior design what comes to mind? Maybe furniture that is put in a room? Perhaps placing furniture in a space and painting the walls to match? Interior design is so much more than that. It is a complex series of elements that make up a room. Go sit in the living room and look around. What do you see? Stuff? Or lines and Texture? All the elements that make up that room will be clearly seen. Such as lines, textures, shape and color. All of these elements are important to consider. Especially when choosing pieces that go into design. It's not just furniture that goes into a design. There are accessories, artwork, and so much more. Stuff is not the only thing that makes up a room, it’s you. Choosing things that represent individuality, that represent people, places, and experiences is essential. Creating a space that is inviting and creates a feeling, is vital to any design. Often, we don’t think about how a room impacts us. You may look around and see a lot of unfinished projects. Or maybe a lot of items laying around. Having a clean and well decorated home is essential to the success and functionality of life. Why is it so important? Because you live your life in it. 

When choosing a home, you picture living life. It’s the same with design and furniture. A sofa is not just a sofa. It’s the place you're going to sit and watch your favorite movies. Somewhere to have deep conversations with family, maybe a place for a friend to crash after a party. That picture on the wall, is it another picture? Or is it a picture that represents an adventure? Maybe it brings back memories of someone precious and dear. Things don’t make up a home, It’s the people and places that came before. The people that are present now, and maybe the person you hope to be. So, when you think of design, don’t think about the stuff. Remember all the things that make up a life. People, places, experiences, and hope for the future. That’s why it is so important to choose the right elements and pieces to make a design. Take a moment to look around. Does your home represent these things? The people, places, and experiences you treasure. If not, it might be time to remodel. Till next time....

Love, 

    Samara

Designing the Shape of Memory

As the season begins to shift and the first leaves loosen their hold, I find myself reflecting on the meaning of home. What truly transforms a house into a home? Is it the furniture we choose, the colors we paint on the walls, or the way objects settle into place?

I’ve come to believe it’s something far deeper. Home is where we gather. Where stories are told, meals are shared, and the small moments—often unnoticed at the time—become the memories that stay with us for a lifetime.

September was always a busy month for my family. My grandparents were farmers, and each year we harvested apples together. It was demanding work, but it carried a kind of magic. I remember sitting on the porch with my grandmother as neighbors pulled up to buy apples. I listened to her stories, her laughter, the way she welcomed every person as if they were already part of our family. At the end of the day, my grandfather would come in from the fields, and we would gather around the table to share a slice of my grandmother’s homemade apple pie. Later, we’d settle into the living room and watch westerns together, the quiet comfort of belonging filling the room.

Those moments—simple, unhurried, and full of love—are the ones I treasure most.

As a designer, I think often about how the pieces we bring into our homes become woven into these moments. We may begin by choosing what is beautiful, what reflects our style, or what feels right in a room. But ultimately, our homes are the backdrop of our lives. They hold our celebrations, our conversations, our quiet evenings, and our everyday rituals.

It is the dining table where families gather for holidays.

The chair where a grandfather tells stories.

The sofa where friends talk long into the night.

The pieces we live with become part of our memories.

That is what I love most about designing a home. It isn’t simply about creating a beautiful space. It is about shaping a place that feels like you—a place where life unfolds, where stories are shared, and where memories take root.

Because in the end, home isn’t just where we live.

It is where our lives become ours.

Sincerely,

Samara