2023 was one of our hardest but also one of the most beautiful. We lost loved ones and saw close friends lose loved ones far too soon. I hit some goals, forgot about other ones, and both laughed and cried a lot… many moments being torn by both pain and gratitude in one breath. I pondered (far too often) how this was humanly possible always ending in the thought that I guess maybe it’s essentially and completely human. Resilience is a beautiful thing I’ve been noticing a lot and appreciating in others this year. Praying for peace in 2024 and sending love and strength to you and yours 🙏🤍 happy new year from us to you!! Xo
The CORRECT 200-something-year-old tub has arrived at the Meadow!! 🛁And it is green!! (Phew!!) I’ve been going back and forth internally on its positioning… I have always planned for it to span left-to-right in front of the back window (1st video/ 2nd slide) but can’t forget how much I loved baths in our old tub which faced straight out out a (side) window so I’ve been wrestling with facing it towards the back window (3rd 4th slides). The glass door to the left side will lead to a walled-in garden with outdoor showers in it and the back window (not in yet) looks out to the back yard. I love the silhouette of the tub when it’s sideways and space-wise it fits the room perfectly but I can’t unsee the thought of those facing those views straight on. Here it is both ways and I’m 99.9% on team facing the views now. It somehow feels more authentic to me, having the tub face the way we will naturally want to look but I’m a little sad to see less of the tub straight on and I don’t love having my back to the room. Something I’ve written a bit about in the past is that there are some spaces where the “enjoyment” arrangement (the one you will be using and enjoying while in the space) isn’t as pretty upon entry or to look at… in these cases I think about pros and cons (enjoyment in the room usually wins unless it’s just way too awkward-feeling.) I’ll be posting a video update of our final decision once it’s made… what would you do?? Are you on Team sideways or Team Views?? 🫧 {Also, if you haven’t seen it, our first Meadow House episode is up on y o u. T ube!
The CORRECT 200-something-year-old tub has arrived at the Meadow!! 🛁And it is green!! (Phew!!) I’ve been going back and forth internally on its positioning… I have always planned for it to span left-to-right in front of the back window (1st video/ 2nd slide) but can’t forget how much I loved baths in our old tub which faced straight out out a (side) window so I’ve been wrestling with facing it towards the back window (3rd 4th slides). The glass door to the left side will lead to a walled-in garden with outdoor showers in it and the back window (not in yet) looks out to the back yard. I love the silhouette of the tub when it’s sideways and space-wise it fits the room perfectly but I can’t unsee the thought of those facing those views straight on. Here it is both ways and I’m 99.9% on team facing the views now. It somehow feels more authentic to me, having the tub face the way we will naturally want to look but I’m a little sad to see less of the tub straight on and I don’t love having my back to the room. Something I’ve written a bit about in the past is that there are some spaces where the “enjoyment” arrangement (the one you will be using and enjoying while in the space) isn’t as pretty upon entry or to look at… in these cases I think about pros and cons (enjoyment in the room usually wins unless it’s just way too awkward-feeling.) I’ll be posting a video update of our final decision once it’s made… what would you do?? Are you on Team sideways or Team Views?? 🫧 {Also, if you haven’t seen it, our first Meadow House episode is up on y o u. T ube!
The CORRECT 200-something-year-old tub has arrived at the Meadow!! 🛁And it is green!! (Phew!!) I’ve been going back and forth internally on its positioning… I have always planned for it to span left-to-right in front of the back window (1st video/ 2nd slide) but can’t forget how much I loved baths in our old tub which faced straight out out a (side) window so I’ve been wrestling with facing it towards the back window (3rd 4th slides). The glass door to the left side will lead to a walled-in garden with outdoor showers in it and the back window (not in yet) looks out to the back yard. I love the silhouette of the tub when it’s sideways and space-wise it fits the room perfectly but I can’t unsee the thought of those facing those views straight on. Here it is both ways and I’m 99.9% on team facing the views now. It somehow feels more authentic to me, having the tub face the way we will naturally want to look but I’m a little sad to see less of the tub straight on and I don’t love having my back to the room. Something I’ve written a bit about in the past is that there are some spaces where the “enjoyment” arrangement (the one you will be using and enjoying while in the space) isn’t as pretty upon entry or to look at… in these cases I think about pros and cons (enjoyment in the room usually wins unless it’s just way too awkward-feeling.) I’ll be posting a video update of our final decision once it’s made… what would you do?? Are you on Team sideways or Team Views?? 🫧 {Also, if you haven’t seen it, our first Meadow House episode is up on y o u. T ube!
The CORRECT 200-something-year-old tub has arrived at the Meadow!! 🛁And it is green!! (Phew!!) I’ve been going back and forth internally on its positioning… I have always planned for it to span left-to-right in front of the back window (1st video/ 2nd slide) but can’t forget how much I loved baths in our old tub which faced straight out out a (side) window so I’ve been wrestling with facing it towards the back window (3rd 4th slides). The glass door to the left side will lead to a walled-in garden with outdoor showers in it and the back window (not in yet) looks out to the back yard. I love the silhouette of the tub when it’s sideways and space-wise it fits the room perfectly but I can’t unsee the thought of those facing those views straight on. Here it is both ways and I’m 99.9% on team facing the views now. It somehow feels more authentic to me, having the tub face the way we will naturally want to look but I’m a little sad to see less of the tub straight on and I don’t love having my back to the room. Something I’ve written a bit about in the past is that there are some spaces where the “enjoyment” arrangement (the one you will be using and enjoying while in the space) isn’t as pretty upon entry or to look at… in these cases I think about pros and cons (enjoyment in the room usually wins unless it’s just way too awkward-feeling.) I’ll be posting a video update of our final decision once it’s made… what would you do?? Are you on Team sideways or Team Views?? 🫧 {Also, if you haven’t seen it, our first Meadow House episode is up on y o u. T ube!
This is for the people who want to know about the knitty gritty line of thinking/ logic that goes into design! 🛁 I’m answering all the questions left in the comment section of my last post to come to a final bathtub decision (facing the views or sideways) and we’ve got it up on our you t u be ch ann el right now! Thanks so much to everyone who weighed in/ asked questions etc.! (Ps- I tried uploading the whole video here but IG is now capped at 90 seconds 😭)
Oh how I love an install day! Bluestone, plaster, vintage lighting and mirror, and plumbing by @atmosphyre_home brought this baby to life 🤍 still swapping out light switches and whatnot but I was too excited not to share!! We’ve been working on this one for a while now and it’s so fun to finally see our designs come to life! Thankful for such a great team to work with @sutphin_architecture @laurenliessandco @casecohomes 🤍
{That photoshoot moment when your awkwardness gets the best of you and you just start cracking up 😬 } Working with @rugs_usa has been a dream come true and I wanted to share that the “sold out” rugs from my collection will be back in stock in April!! Thank you so much for your incredible support and I absolutely LOVE seeing photos of the rugs in your homes!! {in the meantime there is a 1 day sale going on for the rest of the rugs in my collection and these beauties go FAST!! Sharing in stories } Photo by @markweinbergnyc
I love a good 4 chair room 🤍 {these chairs have moved to 4 houses with us but this next time I’m not sure if we have room for them 😭😭 } photo from my book #feelslikehome which is all about how I got started designing, shows all of our past homes & how we made most of the same furniture work in various architectural styles, and of course is filled with some of my favorite projects by our design firm 🤍 📷 @helennorman
Working on our kitchen fireplace at the Meadow!! We have a chimney from the original wood burning stove alcove (photo 1) that we have moved out (photo 2) to go to the barn studio. I’m SO. PUMPED. to have a true cooking fireplace in the kitchen complete with a swing arm cauldron for our weekly broths/ soups!! While we loved the wood burning stove, a fireplace in front of the kitchen table has been a dream of ours and it will suit the things we like to cook. I’m thinking of keeping the existing niche and doing the fireplace at approximately countertop height (or slightly below so I can easily peek in the cauldron) with a wood niche below. We’re putting a little stone countertop on front for workspace. The brick isn’t suitable for a fireplace interior so it will need another material instead (I’ve been looking at stone, stucco, and terracotta options and will be sharing those in videos soon.) Can’t wait to get this project going! 🔥
Working on our kitchen fireplace at the Meadow!! We have a chimney from the original wood burning stove alcove (photo 1) that we have moved out (photo 2) to go to the barn studio. I’m SO. PUMPED. to have a true cooking fireplace in the kitchen complete with a swing arm cauldron for our weekly broths/ soups!! While we loved the wood burning stove, a fireplace in front of the kitchen table has been a dream of ours and it will suit the things we like to cook. I’m thinking of keeping the existing niche and doing the fireplace at approximately countertop height (or slightly below so I can easily peek in the cauldron) with a wood niche below. We’re putting a little stone countertop on front for workspace. The brick isn’t suitable for a fireplace interior so it will need another material instead (I’ve been looking at stone, stucco, and terracotta options and will be sharing those in videos soon.) Can’t wait to get this project going! 🔥
Tub talk {plumbing & electrical are going in at our house right now, and in true shoemaker’s shoes fashion, I have a lot of back burnered work to do/ decisions to finalize to keep everything moving forward. 🏡 }. The bathtub placement is settled!! Thanks so much everyone for weighing in and I totally see merit in all of the positions!! 🤗 {to check out the video where I talked through all of the logic/ pros and cons for various placements check out out you t u be ! ❤️} photo of our bathroom by @helennorman for my book FEELS LIKE HOME… this view was my favorite!!
Another peek into that kitchen where you can spy the breakfast room through the archway. An antique family table became the centerpiece for the breakfast room which we decorated simply with antique Spanish colonial chairs and a hide rug for easy cleaning. A double pot rack over the old radiator is within reach of the new range. {tile is “sol di folium” from my collection with @architessa | cabinetry is the “bohemian” from my collection with @uniquekitchensandbaths and vintage runner accessories are from @laurenliessandco | renovation by @carrmichaelconstruction | design by us at Lauren Liess Interiors | photo by @helennorman for my book #feelslikehome where I share all the “whys” behind the design of the entire house }
Happy Saturday!! I really loved reading everyone’s comments on my post yesterday re AI imaging. Lots of different interesting perspectives. General consensus seemed to be a rallying against AI when it comes to the creation of art which most believe should be a human expression. Most people seem to think it’s ok when used as a tool to aid but not as a substitute for creator. So many crazy implications and one that strikes me the most is how this next generation will be affected creatively by the existence/ availability and potential eventual reliance on AI for creating. Anyway, today I thought I’d share a similar photo of my own work ~ a little bit of a favorite kitchen we designed and shot with @helennorman {tile is sol do folium from my collection with @architessa | the cabinets are the bohemian from my collection with @uniquekitchensandbaths | the pendants are vintage 😭 | the chairs are the revival stools from my collection with @woodbridgefurniture | the renovation was done by @carrmichaelconstruction } … AI definitely couldn’t make all these beautiful pieces that hands built and real minds made and even though there are pretty pictures being created by AI, this kitchen actually exists and is being used and loved by the family who lives there ~ which is what truly inspiring spaces are about to me.
Whoah. I’m probably late to the party but – Have you ever tried playing around with AI generated images? It’s CRAZY. You can literally type in designer’s names and see rooms that might look like their work. (2nd one I typed my name with kitchen and I could possibly move in. Lol as my dad would say “you always do beams!! You gotta do something else!!”) My favorite thing though is the FOOD!! (3rd slide) 🤯 So much to think about with how this will change most industries. As technology improves and renderings and videos etc can become specific/ more directed (with existing rooms and/ or real furniture etc.) we are in for a whole new way of doing things. Change is always a comin’ but it makes me sad in a way that the real imagery we are surrounded by (and that we work so hard to create for our businesses etc) may eventually be replaced (or at least competed with) by AI. But I also see decreased barriers to entry etc. and feel in the end it will become just one of the many tools talented people need to learn to utilize for their livelihood. 🤯 what are your thoughts??
Whoah. I’m probably late to the party but – Have you ever tried playing around with AI generated images? It’s CRAZY. You can literally type in designer’s names and see rooms that might look like their work. (2nd one I typed my name with kitchen and I could possibly move in. Lol as my dad would say “you always do beams!! You gotta do something else!!”) My favorite thing though is the FOOD!! (3rd slide) 🤯 So much to think about with how this will change most industries. As technology improves and renderings and videos etc can become specific/ more directed (with existing rooms and/ or real furniture etc.) we are in for a whole new way of doing things. Change is always a comin’ but it makes me sad in a way that the real imagery we are surrounded by (and that we work so hard to create for our businesses etc) may eventually be replaced (or at least competed with) by AI. But I also see decreased barriers to entry etc. and feel in the end it will become just one of the many tools talented people need to learn to utilize for their livelihood. 🤯 what are your thoughts??
Whoah. I’m probably late to the party but – Have you ever tried playing around with AI generated images? It’s CRAZY. You can literally type in designer’s names and see rooms that might look like their work. (2nd one I typed my name with kitchen and I could possibly move in. Lol as my dad would say “you always do beams!! You gotta do something else!!”) My favorite thing though is the FOOD!! (3rd slide) 🤯 So much to think about with how this will change most industries. As technology improves and renderings and videos etc can become specific/ more directed (with existing rooms and/ or real furniture etc.) we are in for a whole new way of doing things. Change is always a comin’ but it makes me sad in a way that the real imagery we are surrounded by (and that we work so hard to create for our businesses etc) may eventually be replaced (or at least competed with) by AI. But I also see decreased barriers to entry etc. and feel in the end it will become just one of the many tools talented people need to learn to utilize for their livelihood. 🤯 what are your thoughts??
Light shadow the power of white paint. We kept the stones and ceiling exactly the same but everything was fixed when we ditched the yellow. One of our most fun projects ~ a flip house with our partners at @propertycollective in our town 🖤 photo by @helennorman for my book #feelslikehome
Light shadow the power of white paint. We kept the stones and ceiling exactly the same but everything was fixed when we ditched the yellow. One of our most fun projects ~ a flip house with our partners at @propertycollective in our town 🖤 photo by @helennorman for my book #feelslikehome
Can 2024 be a year of slowing down? I constantly design homes, often with the goal of creating spaces that help people slow down and relax. I believe home design plays a big part in one’s philosophy of living but it must be matched with intention, mindset, and action. Small concrete steps that make up daily habits are just as important to the final outcome of what it feels like to live in a home as the design of the home itself. In 2024 I’m reminding myself that a true vision for living is only achieved in the everyday. Love to you and yours this year! ✨ {after befores of a recent project we did. Architectural details make a big ol’ difference. Design by us| construction by @ebersolebuilders | photo by @helennorman }
Can 2024 be a year of slowing down? I constantly design homes, often with the goal of creating spaces that help people slow down and relax. I believe home design plays a big part in one’s philosophy of living but it must be matched with intention, mindset, and action. Small concrete steps that make up daily habits are just as important to the final outcome of what it feels like to live in a home as the design of the home itself. In 2024 I’m reminding myself that a true vision for living is only achieved in the everyday. Love to you and yours this year! ✨ {after befores of a recent project we did. Architectural details make a big ol’ difference. Design by us| construction by @ebersolebuilders | photo by @helennorman }
Can 2024 be a year of slowing down? I constantly design homes, often with the goal of creating spaces that help people slow down and relax. I believe home design plays a big part in one’s philosophy of living but it must be matched with intention, mindset, and action. Small concrete steps that make up daily habits are just as important to the final outcome of what it feels like to live in a home as the design of the home itself. In 2024 I’m reminding myself that a true vision for living is only achieved in the everyday. Love to you and yours this year! ✨ {after befores of a recent project we did. Architectural details make a big ol’ difference. Design by us| construction by @ebersolebuilders | photo by @helennorman }
Working on some new designs that will encourage a savoring of quiet 🤍 {My bathroom was (and still is) a haven for me at home ~full of busyness, productivity and lots of little people when needed, but also a quiet space where I can exhale, think, and dream.} Never underestimate the power of a good bathroom. Photo from #feelslikehome (my 3rd book) taken by @helennorman
The coziest time of the year ✨ {the girls’ bedroom is pattern in pattern on pattern and currently has a gnome fort in process}
