”If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

‐ William Morris

A Space that is Beautiful

“Believe to be beautiful.” That’s the heart of William Morris’ famous quote. To design spaces with intention, an awareness of what that means to us — what we believe is beautiful — is important.

Don’t think about beautiful in the way that Architectural Digest might — an expectation that might lead you to question whether your spaces are spotless, on-trend and stylish. Instead, ask yourself the following: Do the things in your home make you feel happy? Do they remind you of things that are important and meaningful to you? Do they represent or showcase what you really love and who you really are?

The most wonderful, beautiful homes are rich with meaning, where every object we can point to has a story and reason for sitting where it sits. They’re spaces that are thoughtful and reflect our own character. They’re unquestionably unique. They’re designed with intention.

Think about it this way: when you welcome someone in your space like this, it should make you feel just a bit vulnerable. It’s the same wonderful feeling you feel when you first let down your guard with a new friend, and letting that quirky, imperfect side of you out. That’s the mark of a beautiful space.