The Studio Edit | February
The Studio Edit | February
It’s that time of year when many days still call for cozying up inside; a fire lit, a good book in hand. The days remain short, darkness lingering into the early morning hours. Couple that with the cold that’s settled over Charleston these past few weeks, and February has arrived exactly as expected.
And yet, there’s also a quiet shift happening.
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With SEWE on the weekend docket and spring break plans on the horizon, I can feel a subtle hint of spring in the air. The energy of the season is beginning to turn, and with it, my natural inclination toward a life edit.
This in-between season carries a certain kind of quiet. I’m noticing it in my desire to filter more, consume less, and mute the noise. It’s showing up in my home, my design work, and even in my calendar.
Here’s what’s been on my mind lately.
What I’m Loving
Soft contrast
Pale plaster against dark wood. Linen with structure and texture. I’m increasingly drawn to spaces that feel calm but grounded, an ode to the outdoors and the quiet beauty of nature.
A return to restraint
“Fewer, better things.” The ethos of Cuyana has been resonating deeply lately. It’s a philosophy that applies just as much to my design projects as it does to my closet and my schedule.
A daily ritual that doesn’t need optimizing
Morning light, meditation, matcha, no phone. Simple, unhurried, anchoring. As a recovering perfectionist, I often need the reminder that presence is more powerful than perfect optimization.
In the Studio
We’re in a phase where several projects are moving from vision into execution, the stage where clarity matters most.
Lately, I find myself returning to a few grounding questions:
Does this decision truly support the client’s lifestyle?
Will it still evoke the feeling they’re aiming for?
Is this an investment, or simply an indulgence?
Those questions tend to sort everything else out quickly.
What I’m Learning
I’m realizing that growth doesn’t always look like expansion.
Sometimes it looks like:
Saying no — cutting through the noise to hone focus
Trusting my first instinct (it’s rarely led me astray)
Allowing space, because that’s where creativity actually lives
There’s a quiet confidence that comes from not filling every gap.
What I’m Editing
Over-productivity without direction. I recently cut roughly a third of what I was doing. This business audit has been essential, not just for my well-being, but for the bottom line as well.
Naysayers. Who you spend time with directly affects how you show up. I recently listened to a powerful episode on The School of Greatness about investing in the right rooms and showing up as your aspirational self — a timely reminder.
White and stainless steel kitchens. Dark and moody are having their moment — and I’m here for it.
More than anything, I’m interested in working on the right projects with genuinely cool people. There’s a difference between being busy and being aligned. I’m choosing the latter.
What I’m Craving
Travel that’s slower and more tactile. My husband and I kicked off the year with a trip to Europe, staying in the South of Spain. Days filled with tea at the local café, long walks, and an evening glass of wine, the kind of pace that stays with you. This reset was much needed, and we’re thinking about making it an annual.
Intentional choices in life, in wardrobe, in design. I made a list of pieces I want to add to my closet this year, and if it’s not on the list, it doesn’t make the cut. Here’s to a capsule wardrobe. The next addition: a pair of versatile, effortless pantsfrom local favorite Vincent James. Their sustainable, regenerative approach is one I deeply admire. I’ve also added an incredible bag and this pair of perfect black booties to the roundup … everything I’m loving lives here.
Long walks, no headphones, with my husband and our pup.
As always, this is less a list and more a snapshot of what’s shaping how I’m designing, working, and living right now.
Until next time,
Kelly