An Inside Job: January Jams

Let there be LIGHT

Hello!

What a year last year was. I struggle to even say it 2-0-2-2, as though somehow the ghost of the year past will come back to haunt me. I think we all felt the weight of it in our own ways, as I’m sure this new year too will have a weight all it’s own. However, I am choosing to go glass half full this January (yet also half empty because I’ve been better at hydrating ;). For balance this year I am reaching for LIGHT in all it’s forms. My aim is to embody lightness, keep things light, and follow the light bulb moments wherever they lead me.

When I look at the last time I sent out a newsletter it was May 2022, and while I attempted to send other newsletters, my head and heart were just not aligned in sending them. This year in my spirit of lightness I am going to try to keep these letters short and sweet. I’m also officially scrapping the term “newsletter” in favour of “letter” because these are letters really from me to you, and the word itself feels lighter.

My hope for all of you beautiful humans reading this letter is that you have a bright and brilliant year ahead, and that you find lightness be it in my letters to you, or in your own miraculous adventures through life. Here are some inspirations and design sensations to get you out of your head and more into your heart. Cheers!

Inspirations

7 Reasons to Invest in Your Dream Chair
New Year, new you, and maybe a new chair too! Here to empower or perhaps embolden you.

A Room with a View
Introducing a new format of visual exploration I am experimenting with this year. Inspired by beautiful views and brilliant objects if you like what you see I’ll be sharing new views every Sunday. If you don’t want to miss my latest view, feel free to subscribe.

Design Sensations

LISTEN {HEAR}
This brilliant Billy Joel cover by Hannah Connolly is a beautiful reminder to slow down, to lighten up, and that it’s okay to disappear for a while, to lose a day or two. I hope you get lost for at least a few minutes listening to this jam.

WATCH {SEE}
Lately I’ve been craving the analog days before computers and smartphones ruled the roost. The lightness of living without the pull of the world ever at your fingertips. I love this short clip from the Mexico City home of Michael Nyman produced by Apartmento. In only a minute this clip captures the sound of the land line ringing in the background, the paper drowned office of an analog artist, and dreamy furniture draped in sheets of music. These kinds of spaces now feel like artifacts worth getting lost in, even if only for a minute.

SMELL {SCENT}
After spending most of December in bed sick, on January 1st I felt the need to bring new life and new aromas to my home. I was inspired by Pomanders (oranges decorated with cloves) that I spotted in a local storefront so I decided to make one of my own. Interestingly cloves are said to provide protection and good financial fortune. Oranges in many cultures also have long been gifted as an offering of good luck. Together they are quite the lucky charm. The term Pomander comes from a French term “pomme d’ambre” or “apple of perfume,” and I can attest they certainly provide a sensational scent. So if you’re looking for extra luck as you launch into this new year a Pomander could do just the trick!

TASTE {SAVOR}
I am not a huge cook, in fact, during the pandemic I declared that I “hated cooking.” Dramatic, I know, but this little cookbook, “All the Stuff We Cooked,” I stumbled on while perusing my favorite bookstore here in Paris. The cheerful cover peaked my interest, and then miraculously the pages that followed got me following recipes again with joy. From the ingredients to the line drawings that accompany them it’s a simple yet heartfelt approach to cooking that feeds as much through the recettes as the stories that accompany them.

TOUCH {FEEL}
I am always drawn to the warmth of a fire, the light it produces, the embers, the sounds, the scents; it’s truly a sensational experience. As an environmentalist I struggle in winter to save energy by using my heater sparingly, yet my body requires it. I often wish I could replace my electric heater with a wood burning fire place, the making and crackling of a fire is something I crave. So if you’re so lucky to find yourself in front of a fire, savor it. Perhaps try to distinguish the subtle sensations; the unique warmth that can only be felt from the burning flames of a fire.

Curious?

As always if you have a design quandary or question for me don’t hesitate to send it my way. I’m all ears! And if by chance you feel this letter might bring some joy to someone you know please feel free to share it via the button below. Happy New Year!

Xx
Katie