Behind the Design (The Blog)
Welcome to “It’s Not About the Rug”: Design truths, real-life confessions, and unfiltered takes.
It’s Not About the Rug
This is where I get to share the thoughts that don’t always fit into a client presentation.
After years of tailoring ideas to suit each project (which I genuinely love), I wanted a space where I could speak more freely—no filters, no design briefs, just me talking about design the way it lives in my head.
This blog is less about clients or their projects—and more about the layers of design that we don’t always talk about. Because while I adore this work, I’ll be the first to admit: design can get a little… pretentious. Overly polished. Superficial. Sometimes even a little ridiculous. Like the time a client flew across the country to secure a $20K chunk of coal "art" piece. The result? A literal huge block of heavy coal plopped down in the living room for everyone to walk in and say, "What the hell is that?" (Honestly, same.) At first, it felt like exactly the kind of over-the-top choice that made no sense. But after getting to know the client better, she shared the deeply personal connection the coal had to her father. Suddenly, this giant, expensive block of black wasn’t really about the coal at all. It was about memory, meaning, and something far deeper than anyone would expect.
And while I’ve worked with luxury materials and big budgets, I’ve also worked with clients who value comfort and function above all—and I love both. Fancy can be fun, but cozy with a little weirdness? That’s where I live.
The truth? In heavy times, I’ve questioned the “importance” of design.
I’ve had moments where it all feels trivial. But here’s what I’ve come to believe: everyone has their stuff. And if I can help someone live just a bit more comfortably, create a space that supports their life, or makes them smile when they walk in the door—then it does matter.
Everyone deserves to live in a space that lifts them up, not drags them down. Extra bonus if it makes you laugh, breathe easier, or finally feel like you.
Which brings me to this blog—because here’s the thing: I refuse to take design too seriously. Yes, good design matters. It can change the way you live and feel in your space. But also? Let’s revel in the strange, the fun, and the downright quirky parts of it. The stuff that makes you stop and smile (or laugh, or raise an eyebrow).
My favorite designs are never the ones that copy and paste the same Pinterest-perfect look. They’re the ones where we dig a little deeper and find that one weird, wonderful, totally unexpected thing that makes your heart sing. And no—don’t tell me it’s white subway tile. We’ve all seen it. We’re good..
Somewhere between questioning the meaning of throw pillows and realizing I had way too many half-funny, half-heartfelt design stories to keep to myself, I figured—why not share them? This isn’t about preaching perfect taste or curated lives. It’s about the real stuff: the quirky, the unexpected, and the strangely emotional rollercoaster that is home design..
As for the name? It comes from those moments I’ve witnessed way too many times: clients locked in a passionate, oddly emotional debate—over a rug. Or a paint color. Or whether the toilet paper should roll over or under (it’s over, by the way).
Let’s be honest—it’s never really about the rug.
So, what is this blog? It’s the not-always-said side of design. The behind-the-scenes stuff. The little things I think about but don’t always say out loud. You’ll find opinions, favorites, confessions, a few pet peeves, and probably some unpopular takes. I might gush over a faucet one week and confess my love for a weirdly themed room the next. (Yes, I appreciate a good kitschy moment—don’t judge. Give me a tiny powder bath themed like a speakeasy and I’m in.)
Whether you’re a fellow designer, a client, or someone who just loves nosing around in other people’s design thoughts—welcome. Glad you’re here.
No promises on where it’ll go, let’s see what spills out.
