Sarah Richardson Dining Room
I have finally started to find a decorating groove in my home. Although I’ve lived here for three years, only recently have I been able to spend time shaping the house into something that truly feels like mine.
I’m clearer about the atmosphere I want for this house through every season. I understand how we live here, not how we lived elsewhere, and I’m ready for this place to feel like home.
Sarah Richardson
I’m also learning what my house is not going to be. That means letting go of many appealing options that don’t suit this home right now. It can feel a bit like grieving to say goodbye to possibilities, but it helps you refine the path you’re actually going to take.
Once you decide on a direction, decisions become easier and more exciting. At least that’s been my experience — I feel more confident and energized about moving forward.
Sarah Richardson
Moving in a bold direction can be intimidating, especially when it involves mixing colors and strong patterns instead of sticking with simple whites or solids. I’m choosing to embrace risk and have fun with color and pattern rather than play it safe.
I admire Sarah Richardson’s work; she handles pattern and color with skill. Her approach—making each room unique while maintaining an overall cohesion—resonates with me.
Sarah Richardson
I like the idea that every room can have its own personality. I want my home to flow, but not every space needs to look identical. Repeating the same room over and over doesn’t appeal to me; I prefer distinct, fresh spaces tied together by subtle threads of style.
That’s what I’m working toward: rooms that feel individual yet connected. It takes tweaking to get it right, and I enjoy that process.
After creating the inspiration board for my home office, the next step was to be brave and actually buy the curtains. They’re bold, and bold choices always make me nervous. I waited with curiosity until they arrived.
Anthropologie Mantadia Curtains
My mother usually sews my curtains, which saves money and turns out beautifully, but this time I fell for a bold pattern and texture I found at Anthropologie. The curtains felt like the right focal point to set the palette and mood for the rest of the house.
I decided a splurge could be justified if the curtains fit my vision and budget. I ordered them cautiously, ready to return them if they didn’t meet expectations, since photos online don’t always reveal the full effect.
When the package arrived I was thrilled—more than thrilled. I genuinely loved them. An unexpected payment and a birthday discount helped me justify keeping them, and I have no regrets.
No guilt. No regrets.
If you like this print but prefer a budget-friendly DIY option, there are similar fabrics available that capture the same look and feel.
This is the office window before the curtains went up. The walls still need a fresh coat of paint, so the curtains will be hung to the sides, like my dining room drapes, to show off the window and trim rather than covering them.
The curtains will be the jumping-off point that ties color and personality through the house. They’re playful and whimsical and remind me of a vacation my husband and I took years ago to the island of Lanai and the Lodge at Koele Bay.
I like decorating in ways that bring happy memories into our home.
I visited Lanai about twenty years ago. I don’t plan to copy the hotel’s decor exactly; I want to capture the feeling—colorful, striped, and boldly patterned with a refined island or colonial sensibility. It’s the atmosphere I remember, not a literal replica.
The hotel blended vibrant pattern with antiques and beautiful furniture. I remember arriving feeling ill after a rough boat ride, but once I settled in I had the chance to soak up the hotel’s charm, which has stuck with me ever since.
I adore the contrast of seriousness and whimsy in mood and color, and that contrast is what I hope to bring into my home. Notice the bird of paradise motif in the curtain pattern—it’s a playful detail I love.
Next in the home office makeover: new chairs. I’m making steady progress, slowly but surely.
UPDATE: The office is finished (pictured above), and I shared an updated post about the space.
I’m excited to round more corners in making this house feel like home. Thanks for joining me on this somewhat scary but rewarding ride.