Hey friends! A little over three months ago we moved into our new house in Seattle and we are so happy to be here. Between finishing a new book, preparing to launch my coffee table book, and traveling several times across the country, I haven’t had a lot of time to focus on making this house feel like home. Now that my schedule has slowed a bit, I’m finally turning my attention to arranging furniture, choosing paint colors, and deciding on window treatments and details that will make this home feel complete.
Over Thanksgiving week we painted the hallway and entry and then moved on to tackle the bedroom. I’ll share updates on those rooms soon, but today I wanted to give a quick update on the living room. When we first moved in, we left this room exactly as it was—until recently. In the last week I rearranged the furniture and added an 8×11 rug that made a surprisingly big difference for under $300. The new rug helped define the seating area and instantly made the space feel more cohesive and inviting.
Aside from the rug and a slight reshuffle of pieces—moving our entertaining cabinet to the entry and bringing the gold dresser in from the bedroom—the room is essentially the same. I also added a few simple touches for the holidays. The changes were minimal but made the living room feel more open, light-filled, and comfortable. It’s now a welcoming space where you can enjoy the view out the windows or curl up by the fire on a cozy evening.
There are many projects still ahead for this space, but already it feels so much better. The room is brighter and more cheerful, yet still cozy. That balance makes it easy to relax and enjoy holiday time with family. With so many other house projects on the list, it’s a relief to have at least one room that feels pulled together enough to truly enjoy.
One thing I try to preserve every year is the magic of Christmas, especially for the kids. Even when life gets busy and simplifying is tempting, I want to keep the sparkle and traditions that make the season special. Seeing the holidays through children’s eyes is what makes it magical—the lights, the ornaments, and humble decorations that bring back warm memories. With our son growing up and the thought of an empty nest on the horizon, those moments feel even more precious and worth savoring.
Although I’ve worked to simplify our home and schedule over the years, traditions remain important. Whether it’s cutting down our own tree, setting up a cherished village display, or focusing on experiences we share as a family, these intentional choices keep the season meaningful. In our previous house we stopped using some of our holiday village pieces because of space, but this year I decided to bring a few favorites back out and display them where we can all enjoy them.
Thank you for following along on our move and this new chapter. I’m excited to share our progress as we make this house a home.
Sources:
Find many of the furniture pieces and accessories in my shop or use the list in the original post for reference.
