Color & Materials
How to Choose Paint Colors That Work in Every Light
The same white can look creamy at noon and gray by dinner. My method for testing paint so the color you love in the store is the color you live with.
6 min read
From the journal
Latest stories
Kitchens & Dining
Designing a Kitchen for Real Mornings
Beautiful kitchens are easy to find. Kitchens that handle the 7 a.m. rush with grace are rarer. These are the details I plan before choosing a single finish.
8 min read
Bedrooms
A Bedroom Built for Rest
Your bedroom should be the quietest room you own. Small choices in color, light and what you leave out make the biggest difference to how well you sleep.
5 min read
Styling Notes
Shelf Styling Without the Clutter
Open shelves can look curated or chaotic. The difference usually comes down to three things: rhythm, restraint and a little breathing room.
4 min read
Color & Materials
Why Every Project Starts With a Material Board
Before I choose a single piece of furniture, I gather real samples of wood, stone, fabric and metal in one place. It is the most useful hour of any project.
5 min read
Living Rooms
Small Apartment, Big Calm
Small spaces do not need small ideas. How to use scale, light and pieces that do double duty to make a compact living room feel generous.
6 min read
Explore by topic
Find your room
Every story is filed by the space it helps with, so you can go straight to the room you're working on.
- 01Living RoomsLayering, lighting and layouts for the room you spend the most time in.2 stories
- 02Kitchens & DiningHard-working kitchens and dining rooms made for gathering.1 story
- 03BedroomsCalm, restful spaces for the start and end of every day.1 story
- 04Color & MaterialsPaint, wood, stone and textiles, and how to choose them with confidence.2 stories
- 05Styling NotesThe finishing touches: shelves, tabletops and the art of editing.1 story
My approach
“The best rooms aren't finished in a weekend. They're collected slowly, edited often and lived in every day.”
Live first
A room has to work on an ordinary Tuesday before it can look good in a photograph.
Fewer, better things
Natural materials and well-made pieces that grow more beautiful with age.
Collected over time
Homes evolve, so I always leave room for what comes next.
Elise Marlowe
Interior designer
Work with me
Planning a room of your own?
Whether it's a single room or a whole home, tell me what you have in mind and we'll find the right place to begin.
Start a conversation