We’re approaching our two-year anniversary in this house. In some ways it already feels like home; in other ways it still feels new, like we’re gradually learning one another. The property and I are still getting acquainted, and that process has been a quiet, rewarding one.
Last summer—our first full season here—I discovered a huge, old lacecap hydrangea in the backyard. Finding it felt like receiving a gift. I’ve loved hydrangeas for years; we had a large blue one in a former garden, and I missed it. Seeing this one felt like reconnecting with a familiar friend.
The bush is in full bloom and beautiful now, though it’s tucked behind a tall hedge so it’s not visible from the house or patio. Ideally it would have been planted within view of the windows, but instead it’s like a secret garden—something I walk over to visit. That hidden discovery makes its blossoms feel all the more special.
Every home I’ve lived in has taught me something about life and design. Does your home do the same for you? This house encourages me to embrace simplicity and to notice the small pleasures it brings. Over time it has shifted how I think about decorating and living well.
One of the easiest ways to make a home beautiful each season is to slow down and appreciate what you already have. Your house might not match someone else’s checklist of must-haves, but it will have things you love or can learn to love. Slowing down often means simplifying so you can actually see and enjoy the beauty around you.
Simplicity’s beauty isn’t always dramatic or obvious to others. Simple joys don’t shout for attention; they quietly delight you. Delight comes when something small and lovely surprises you—when you notice it because you are paying attention.
Simplicity is subtle, so its rewards can sneak up on you. It’s the feeling you get when you slow down enough to notice how your surroundings make you feel. To me, simplicity isn’t limited to a style or color palette. It’s more about removing what distracts you—clutter, competing accessories, or loud colors—so the things that truly delight you can be seen and enjoyed.
What feels distracting in one home might be different in another. Photographs can’t always capture what simplicity feels like; it’s a personal experience shaped by your senses and memories.
Simple joys often come from everyday moments: warm sunlight pouring into a room on a cool morning, a gentle breeze making curtains sway, clear countertops that invite calm, or the relief of an uncluttered closet. Even the sound of laughter on a lazy summer afternoon reminds us that the most meaningful things in a home aren’t material—they are the feelings and memories that grow there.
Maybe, like me, you find joy in something as simple as a freshly cut bouquet from the garden placed in a favorite vase. To reach that quiet joy you might need to pare down, slow down, or make a small effort to remove the unnecessary. It’s a worthwhile trade-off—simplified surroundings let small beauties, like bright blue hydrangeas, take center stage and bring warmth to a room all season long.
Simple joys, friends. Simple joys.
PS. I’m working on a new decorating book that will include questions and answers from readers. If you have decorating or style questions you’d like me to answer in the book, please submit them through the form mentioned in my recent post. Thank you for your help and encouragement!
Dining room sources:
Scroll the arrows below to shop:
Sources and details:
Gray ceramic table lamps and linen lampshades
Vase – HomeGoods
Watercolor floral pillow
Sisal rug
Rattan chairs (similar styles available)
Ombre beaded chandelier (or a similar chandelier)
Woven window shades
Curtains
Parsons chairs
Peacock art print
Crane art print
Blue honeycomb pillows
Round white rattan mirror
Copper planter
Polish pottery
Striped banquette bench
Wall color: Simply White Benjamin Moore
Shiplap Wall Details
Kitchen Reveal & Sources