You're Not Going to Believe This New Decor Trend 🫜

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Fenimore Lane design summit, the brainchild of talented designer Ariel Okin. Part shopping marketplace, part educational experience with pro panels and DIY workshops, the vibes were immaculate for any design lover, starting with the setting, The Mayflower in Washington, Connecticut, which is about as idyllic as it gets (with interiors refreshed by the iconic Celerie Kemble to boot).

The summit was even larger than last year’s — an extra tent for shopping, more activities, and a great mix of returning talent and new companies involved. It’s always fun to make time to go to these kinds of events. You discover up-and-coming brands, see old friends, and typically end up with lots of decorating inspiration and trendspotting opportunities without even trying to find it.

Case in point? I saw so much silver, starting with the shiny vintage vase pictured above, which I bought from a friend and amazing vintage seller, Jacqueline from The Sleepy Flea. Other trends? Shell-encrusted accessories and oyster plates seem to be all the rage right now, though that could be a seasonal thing. And apparently, asparagus is the new cabbage, at least when it comes to decorative dishware. I saw so much Majolica around the summit with this motif. I even discovered that an asparagus dish I bought earlier this year for $30 at Housing Works is actually a 19th century French antique worth about 6 times what I paid! That’s why it’s always worth hitting up your local thrift stores. You never know what kind of gems are hiding there!

Enjoy this week’s reading “assignments” below. We’re talking paint, some very cool show house inspo, and unexpected decorative uses for a few inexpensive, practical finds.

You’ll get the most bang for your buck — and time — here.

Part medieval, part glam.

Say goodbye to your “clothes” chair for good.

🌺 I spent 7 years looking for a nightstand in my tiny bedroom — then I found this garden gem.

💅 This IKEA patio find makes any backyard feel like a boutique hotel.

🛋️This might be the best sleeper sofa I’ve ever tried, and it fits in my small apartment.

If a room’s designed purpose isn’t working for you, go ahead and change it! That’s exactly what this family of four did in their 700-square-foot New York City apartment. Instead of keeping the primary (and only bedroom) for themselves, Khrystyne Jaspers and her husband, Nic, decided to give the kids that space. They use a Murphy bed in the living room for their sleep setup, and it just works. Sure, an extra bedroom (or two!) would be ideal, but they loved the home’s light and vibe so much, they got creative with the layout to make it work for them.

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