The Beauty of Imperfect, Personal Spaces: Why Your Home Shouldn’t Look Like an Ad
I love perusing English real estate listings. Inigo is by far my favorite site. It has become a ritual each weekend to go there and study the spaces that are listed for sale. Not just because of the rolling landscapes and historic freeholds, but because every home is so distinctly its own. A charming cottage with a slanted roof and ivy creeping up the side, a grand old home with worn stone steps and a front door painted in an unexpected hue—each one tells a story. Each one belongs to someone in a way that feels personal, intentional, lived-in.
And yet, here in the U.S., I see so many homes that feel like carbon copies of one another. Entire neighborhoods where each house is a variation of the same theme. Interiors that look as though they’ve been lifted directly from an ad, every piece sourced from the same retailer, arranged in the same way. There's a sense of fullness, yes—but where is the soul?
The Myth of the Perfect Home
Somewhere along the way, we started believing that a well-designed home means a perfectly coordinated one. We scroll through Pinterest, save images from catalogs, and buy into the idea that a space must look a certain way to feel 'right.' The McGee aisle at Target? Beautiful, sure. But if your space is a 1:1 recreation of an ad, where is the room for creative progress? Where is the space for you?
The truth is, when we design our homes to look exactly like someone else’s, we miss the opportunity to create something that feels deeply personal. Something that evolves with us, that reflects not just good taste, but lived experience.
The Power of Letting Go
Real design freedom comes when we release the need to follow trends and, instead, listen to ourselves. How do you want your home to feel? What colors bring you comfort? What pieces make you smile, remind you of something meaningful, or simply feel good in your hands?
It’s not about rejecting trends altogether. It’s about curating from them, picking what speaks to you rather than what’s dictated as 'right.' It’s about layering in the old with the new, mixing textures and tones, and allowing imperfection to be part of the process.
Finding Your Signature Style
Defining your personal style is not about choosing a theme and sticking to it. It’s about recognizing what makes you feel at home. Maybe you lean towards minimalism, but you love the warmth of layered textiles. Maybe you admire clean lines, but an antique hutch from your grandmother makes your heart sing. Maybe you appreciate modern design, but a moody, book-filled study feels like the coziest place on earth to you.
When you stop designing for others and start designing for yourself, something shifts. Your home starts to look less like a showroom and more like a place you truly belong. And that’s where the magic happens.
An Invitation to Curate, Not Copy
If you’ve been struggling to define your space, I encourage you to take a step back from the inspiration overload. Walk through your home with fresh eyes. What feels authentic? What feels forced? What, if removed, wouldn’t be missed?
Your home should tell your story, not someone else’s. Let’s create spaces that make room for creativity, for evolution, for you.
If you're ready to uncover what that looks like, let’s start a conversation. My bespoke design consultations are built for this very reason—to help you connect with your space in a way that feels deeply personal and intentional. Apply to work with me, and let’s define your style together.
