My husband, Jacob, and I officially settled into North Carolina by buying a 70’s time capsule at the very end of 2022. It’s quickly become my favorite creative outlet beyond the computer — it’s quite the challenge balancing the home’s history while bringing a modern twist that suits our personal style. It’s a total learning curve, but I am thankful for a handy partner that is willing to show me the ropes.

Follow along on Instagram!

What initially began as a budget-friendly means to furnish our home quickly transformed into a facinating exercise in consumerism and sustainable approach to decor. It’s so much fun for me to boast about what a great deal I got or show off items that no one else has — Target who?!

I love the thrill of the hunt and slowly curating our space. It feels much more intentional and I firmly believe that taking the time to find unique items that you find beautiful (read: inspired by), and surrounding yourself with them, will naturally spark creativity. Because if you do, creativity is quite literally all around you.

Favorite thrift find to date: A pair of original oil paintings that I snagged for $19 (!!)

My 30s hit hard and I quickly turned into my grandmas 👵🏻 — no hate, all love!! You can usually find me curled up at home knocking through sudoku or jigsaw puzzles, crocheting, or hobby jumping — I love trying new things!

Working with my hands and getting off the computer helps me take a step back and get out of my head. I’ve also noticed that it helps decrease risk of burn out (it’s real, y’all) and cuts down on screen time, which is especially important when that’s where you spend the majority of your work day.

Up next on my hobbies-to-try list are: ceramics + pottery, bead embroidery, plaster work, punch needling, and stained glass.

While COVID was a dark spot in all of our lives, I am thankful for the time and space it allowed to reflect on what is important to me. I quit a job that was no longer serving me or my values, took a mini-sabbatical while freelancing, and put my time where it felt more substantial.

With so much going on in the world that feels beyond repair, spending time on things I can control has brought solace in my personal life. Above anything, I cherish time with my husband, family and friends, the security and comfort of our home, and actively working to better our local community.

I currently enjoy volunteering with our local art gallery.

Traveling is such a gift and a necessity as a designer. Getting out of your bubble, whether it’s your home town, or a new place you’ve settled, is essential to creating impactful design solutions.

Experiencing new places and cultures not only helps me check my own biases and understand different audiences, but also serves as another favorite source of creative inspo — I love when I get to explore different design styles through architecture, fashion, and environmental design.

I truly believe that experiencing different cultures and learning about humans that are different from us allows designers to bring different, better perspectives to our work.

Most inspiring trip to date: Prauge, 2023