Edition XI

Hi friends,

Our eldest is officially off in Maine for the summer. The build-up is always a little excruciating (there were definitely tears at the airport), but seeing the huge smile on her face when she arrived made it all worth it.

“How did you see her smile already?” you might ask.

Well, if you’re not a camp parent, here’s a glimpse into 2026: there are photographers documenting camp all day long, and an app uses AI facial recognition to identify your child and notify you the moment a new photo of them is uploaded.

I have deeply mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I love catching a glimpse of what she’s up to and, if I’m being honest, zooming in to determine whether she looks genuinely happy. On the other hand... what is happening to the world?

Anyway, while I continue to wrestle with that particular existential crisis, here are a few things I can’t stop thinking about this week. Books, craftsmanship, beautiful interiors, and objects that remind me why the tangible world still matters.

If I told you this celestial brass lamp was made by some impossibly cool independent designer and sold at Future Perfect or StudioTwentySeven, I have a feeling you’d believe me.

Surprisingly, it’s from West Elm Kids, and it’s just under $200.

I absolutely do not need another lamp. In fact, after finishing our apartment, I can confidently say I’m done decorating for the foreseeable future. But if I weren’t? This would be dangerously tempting.

And speaking of our apartment, if you missed it, Vogue published the full home tour this week. Shameless plug, but you can take a peek here.

I’ve long been a fan of David Shrigley’s cheeky drawings, but I haven’t quite found the right original to pull the trigger on.

In the meantime, his book Get Your Sh*t Together has been scratching the itch. It’s packed with his wonderfully absurd work, and the cover is graphic and playful enough that I’m perfectly happy leaving it out on display.

Sometimes the book is enough until the real thing comes along.

I’ve never booked a flight because of a bathroom... but that could change.

Cabana recently shared a peek inside the Secret Apartments of Palazzo Doria Pamphilj in Rome, including the extraordinary Bagno di Diana, a marble bathing room commissioned by a prince as a gift for his wife. Every detail was inspired by Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, turning the room into an elaborate declaration of love.

I’m not in any rush to return to Rome, but I’d happily make an exception just to visit this masterpiece.

I loved this recent New York Times article about the dwindling tradition of long-straw thatching in England. On the surface it’s a piece about roofs, but really it’s about craftsmanship, heritage, and the people dedicated to keeping centuries-old techniques alive, even when there’s an easier, faster alternative.

I find stories like this, about craftspeople, tradition, and wonderfully niche techniques, endlessly inspiring. They remind me that design isn’t just about the finished product. It’s also about the knowledge, patience, and human hands behind it.

I wish more people realized these are the kinds of traditions worth preserving.

More threads soon,

Sarah