House Favorites: useful things I also love to look at
From forks to furniture...
A few years ago, I made myself a promise: I would only allow things I truly love into my space—whether they’d be tucked away in a closet or on display in the living room. Shifting to this mindset changed the way I shop and consume; I became more thoughtful and intentional before making a purchase. After a few years of following this practice, I’ve curated a space that supports my creative process, offers moments of exploration, and encourages me to turn my home into a collaborative environment.
I love to pair sturdy vintage furniture with contemporary, high-quality pieces—almost every room in my house follows this formula. For example, my living room consists of a Restoration Hardware couch (found on Facebook Marketplace), a vintage Percival Lafer smoked glass-top rosewood coffee table (also a Marketplace find), an Arrel speckled wool-blend rug from Arvin Olano’s collection with Rugs USA, and two vintage wood stools from a Pierce & Ward sample sale.
I’ve previously talked about the importance of moodboarding, but when it comes to designing my home, I find it extremely important and useful. Moodboarding allows me to explore different textures, color palettes, and design styles before making any commitments. I’ll pull references for everything from vintage furniture and fabric swatches to lighting and artwork. It helps me see how pieces might interact together in a space and pushes me to be more intentional with each choice I make.
Designing my home isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating a space that feels grounded, lived-in, and personal. A moodboard becomes the blueprint for that feeling. And sometimes, once I have it all laid out in front of me, I realize I already own exactly what I need—I just needed to look at it in a new way.
LIVING ROOM, KITCHEN & BEDROOM FAVORITES:
AnZa White Espresso Machine, $1,180: It pulls an amazing espresso and looks incredible on my kitchen counter. It’s expensive, but after roughly 200 cortados at home it’s paid for itself? haha girl math.
Essential Floor Mat, Hawkins New York, $48: A gorgeous dark neutral floor covering that doesn’t show dirt, is soft to the (foot) touch, and is very reasonably priced.
Bamboo Room Divider in Honey, Bed Bath & Beyond, $348: I love this room divider, it’s so malleable to my space and allows for all types of coverage. The tones of the wood match almost everything, too.
Linen Venice Set, Parachute, $549: My friend Kaela put me onto this bedding, I dragged my feet on Parachute for a while, but truly it’s my favorite bedding I’ve ever had. Gets softer with every wash and leaves me wondering: when will it reach peak softness?
Unlacquered Bronze Cutlery, FARRA, $210: My friend Farra makes the most gorgeous, substantial cutlery on the market. If you can get your hands on it, you will become an addict like me.
Arrel Speckled Wool Blend Rug in Brick, Rugs USA, $240: One thing I don’t like to buy used are rugs—and Nordic Knots has become out of my price range. Arvin Olano’s collaboration with Rugs USA became the perfect solution. They’re amazing quality for the price point and add a really nice depth to my living room.
Bibelot Wavy Black Metal Mini Table Lamp, Crate & Barrel, $129: I have some pops of metal around my home, but love that this lamp also incorporates the rattan shade, which, when illuminated through, provides a really nice warm light to my room.
Pins & Needles Candle, Adlan Fragrances, $85: This is my favorite candle I have ever burned. Hands down. A very niche comparison—it smells like the pine scent they used to spray (or maybe still do) on the Soaring Over California ride at Disney California Adventures. Both nostalgic and delicious.
The California Dreaming Pillow, Pierce & Ward, $350: My friend Drew put me onto these pillows, they’re pricey, but feel like heirloom pieces that will live with me on every couch that I have. I paired a circular one with a square one to create some dimension.
BATHROOM FAVORITES:
Organza Cord Cover, Iko Iko, $70: These are the perfect accessory to make something as mundane as a cord, feel exciting. They also make for the perfect gift for that person who is impossible to shop for… because, well, nobody already has this haha.
Karst Fragrance, Aesop, $200: The sales people at Aesop knew what they were doing when they kept spraying my bags with this fragrance every time I would shop in store. I started associating it with myself and ultimately had to have it. It’s fresh, woody, a lil sweet—the perfect scent for someone who wants to smell good but also earthy.
Beeswax Taper Candles, Nickey Kehoe, $16: One thing I hate is overhead lighting—when the sun goes down, I am lighting candles throughout the home. I like to stick to beeswax tapers because they last a long time, don’t drip, and cleanse the air.
Renewal Hair Mask, Crown Affair, $58: I’ve used this product for over three years at this point and will continue to purchase it until I find something better. It leaves my hair feeling silky smooth (I have naturally wavy hair for reference) and smelling amazing—I almost always get a compliment on the smell if I go into the world after a shower.
Yukine Towel, $21 (on sale for $10.50 right now): A few years ago I made the switch to using these super absorbent Japanese face towels from Shinto which “feature a characteristic “squeaky” feel that comes from their “atozarashi” refining method. This process takes place after the towel has been woven and it is used to remove any remaining starch and impurities from the fabric.” It transformed my skin and gives me main character at the spa energy when I am simply at home in my own bathroom.
Foundation Conditioner, RŌZ, $42: I just started using this conditioner from RŌZ after all the girlies were raving about the brand and I have to say, I really love it! I am a bit of a snob when it comes to conditioner, but this one gets the job done well and smells incredible (Crown Affair should be scared haha).
Exfoliating Grass Sea Sponge, $12: Loofas are disgusting IMO, but I love having something soft to slather my body in soap… queue the sea sponge. It gets SO soft when you use it, and isn’t made of plastic! Make the switch, your body will thank you later.
Lil Effing Clip in Buttercream, Emi Jay, $30: My friend Jordan gave me a few of these last year and they have become my staple clip! So sturdy, come in the cutest colors, another great gift for the girl who has everything!
The Towel, Crown Affair, $55: Okay, this is starting to feel like a Crown Affair sponsored post, but I promise it’s not. This towel is better than every single one I’ve ever bought—from Target, HomeGoods, wherever—combined. It’s actually worth the $55. I have it in white, but honestly, I need it in black too.
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xM
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AD, when is the home tour?