athome Editor’s Note: Sparking Joy

Photographs by Bob Capazzo

Collecting seashells is one my favorite things to do at the beach. It’s also become a bit of a vacation ritual for me, and I always return home with a few treasures tucked into my suitcase. Lately, I’ve been thinking about creative ways to display my finds around the house. Not in a Pinterest-perfect way, but one that feels more organic—little reminders of beach combing in Puglia, Punta Mita, Boca Raton. So, I’ve been delighted to see them everywhere lately, from scallop shell candlesticks to sculptural conch pendants. There were too many to include on just one Goods page (p. 14) that I had to add some here, too. I hope they serve as reminders to embrace the things that bring you joy, to surround yourself with objects that spark memory and meaning.

MADE IN CT!

After all, our color issue celebrates the bold, the layered, the lived-in, with homes that don’t shy away from pattern, paint or personal touches. In Darien, British designer Elizabeth Hay took on the task of transforming a blank-slate new build for a young family (p. 28). Armed with her signature block-printed florals and a fearless use of color, she turned white-on-white rooms into warm, welcoming spaces full of texture, charm and thoughtful details. Designer Michelle Morgan Harrison is no stranger to color, but a recent project for a pink-loving client pushed her palette further than usual (p. 42). With each phase, the client encouraged her to go for more, dialing up the print-mixing and challenging Harrison to step outside her comfort zone—in the best way. Meanwhile in Greenwich, Nina Carbone took a quieter approach, using soft, muted tones to carve out inviting corners and serene, streamlined living spaces (p. 58), proof that color’s power lies just as much in subtlety as in statement.

Color, in all its forms, is about emotion. Whether it’s a daring paint choice or a seashell placed on a shelf, these details are deeply personal, and I hope this issue inspires you to lean into the hues and pieces that speak to you. And if you’ve brought that spirit to life in a project of your own, we’d love to see it. Submissions for our annual A-List Awards are accepted through May 30th, and we invite you to share your work with us—bold, understated or somewhere beautifully in between.

MEGAN GAGNON

Editor
megan.gagnon@moffly.com

 

 

 

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