Your Burning Questions

Today I take off across the Atlantic for a macro-dose of offline inspiration. More on that soon. Before then, this week’s letter is a Q&A sourced from your questions on Instagram and the VIPs in the There Y0u Are chatroom.

Let’s get into it.

Q: What’s the most recent song you saved?

A: brand new chanel$ by Slayyyter.

Q: Where do you recommend someone start when wanting to pursue a creative career?

A: This is a tough one to answer without knowing, frankly, how good are you, really? That said, when I was in art school, I cold-emailed a photographer I admired, Driely S, with a similar question. She generously responded with this Ira Glass quote, which shadowed me through my early creative career:

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. […] It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. […] It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.

Q: Fav cozy date Brooklyn?

Petite Crevette, Rucola, Brooklyn Inn

Q: No art in house. Where to start looking?

A: I’ll be completely honest: none of those curated-new-original-art sites have hit the nail on the head for me just yet. For new original art, remember it’s free to follow artists! Then follow their friends, their friends’ friends, then the galleries that they post, etc. etc. Don’t be afraid to message an artist directly and ask about their available works.

South Loop Loft does a beautiful job curating vintage art, though it is pricey. I spend hours on Chairish, eBay, and Etsy looking for original art; there is no cheat code for these, it’s just patience and knowing what you like even when it’s not styled and ecomm’d out for you.

Q: What hair products do you use for your curls/waves?

A: I’ve been using the same 3 products for 10 years: Davines Love Curl Shampoo, Davines Love Curl Conditioner, Davines Curl Building Serum. I recently started using the Mare Reverie Mediterranean Sea Mist for beach-y texture and will re-purchase.

Q: Where is the plaid blanket in your AD from?

A: It’s a very old Pendleton blanket that I stole from my parents’ house. Similar here.

Q: Theory or design reading recs for people looking to learn more about design?

A: I’m thinking of the song Million Dollar Bill by Dawes. Textually, the song is a man wondering what his next job will be after his relationship ends. But what I learn from the song is a lesson on regret, feelings of inadequacy, class, heartbreak. The song, in my opinion, would feel less masterful if it explicitly harped on any of those themes. Too ham-fisted.

I feel similarly about developing my art and design POV. The works that most furthered my design POV were often not explicitly design books. Frankly, a book strictly on design theory probably wouldn’t be able to hold my attention. Living Rooms from The Middle East Archive is more docu than interior design, and it definitely isn’t theory, but I’ve found it more influential on my POV than, say, Modern Scandinavian Design. I also own and reference Modern Scandinavian Design, but I’m not ingesting it cover-to-cover the way I do with Living Rooms.

Q: If you could have any new bag, what would it be?

Probably a big, fat, Balenciaga Rodeo.

Q: How on earth do you store shoes near your door (without a coat closet) in a way that looks reasonably cool/stylish?

A: I like to do a long, low bench that you can tuck shoes underneath. If it’s a true bench without a back, you can add a catchall and a little lamp so it functions as a pseudo entryway table. Consider adding a cushion to signal “hey, take a seat, kick off your shoes, and come on in”

Q: When collecting furniture/objects over time, how to pull it all together and when to know when something is worth keeping vs. letting go, especially if it’s not quite the right fit

A: I am ruthless when it comes to this. If it’s not the right fit for my current space, I sell it. I’d rather make more room for the right fit. I believe in Marketplace karma. That said, if there’s a piece of art you really can’t let go of, there’s an argument for a gallery wall. It takes the pressure off a single piece and can function more as an altar to your journey than a statement of your taste.

Q: Favorite female artist?

Probably Tracey Emin (pre-neon era) or Jenny Holzer.

Q: Fav sneakers and sandals?

A: Transparently, I did an ad for Asics, so they sent me a pair of their HYPERSYNCS. That brand deal is behind me but I’m still wearing the shoes more than any other sneaker in my closet.

As for sandals, I did an experiment last summer where I walked 10k+ steps per day in a different pair of sandals until I could crown the official city sandal of summer. It became a thing on TikTok. The winner was the Camper Dana, and they’re still going strong.

Q: Ph5 or Frisbee above a kitchen table?

A: Personal preference: PH5.

Q: What’s your take on throw pillows on sofas?

A: It depends on the shape of the sofa. But if I had to boil my feelings down: unless you need them to feel comfy, pass.

Q: Best ever TRR purchase?

A: Tough one, but maybe this $30 Kiki De Montparnasse top for which I’ve achieved stunning cost-per-wear (same neckline here for an XS).

Q: How to decorate a long hallway?

Consider a picture ledge, a series of little pendant lights, or a runner. I also like to anchor the end of the hallway with a demi-lune table with a piece of art over it, so your eyes rest at the end of the hall.

Q: What is your daily routine, from morning until night?

A: A standard work day, as weekends are anyone’s guess:

7:15am: My phone alarm wakes me up. I Brick my phone at night to keep me from scrolling on The RealReal until the wee hours, so the motivation to get out of bed is usually to un-Brick so I can read my emails, et cetera (sad).

7:45am: Walk around the neighborhood or go to the gym. Shower.

8:30am: Sourdough, avocado, and two soft boiled eggs.

9:00am: Arrive at the studio and start the work day with 3x Office Hours calls with clients (30-minutes each, one-on-one mini consults).

10:30am-1:00pm: Work (source for clients, write, build decks, catch up on emails).

1:00-3:00pm: 3x one-hour consults with clients.

3:00pm-6:30pm: Realize I’m famished around 3pm, try to eat something. More work.

6:30pm: Walk home, ask my fiancé if I can pick anything up for dinner, he always says no. He’s an amazing cook, though my favorite dinner he makes is “dog food” AKA ground turkey, rice, and vegetables. He just does it extra good!

7:00pm: Eat dog food, if I’m lucky.

8:00pm: Neighborhood stroll with my beloved.

8:30-10:30pm: Email catchup and media time (TV, movie, book)

10:30pm-11:00pm: Wind down, goodnight!

Xo,

Talia