Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful design-focused event at Alexandria’s Crème de la Crème store. At the event, I picked up the perfect holiday gift for any design enthusiast: The Living Room, the latest title published by Assouline. For those unfamiliar, Crème de la Crème is a haven for unique home and entertaining finds.

In Alexandria, Kelley Reynolds’ home has become a haven of warmth and joy during the holidays, thanks to a six-year collaboration with Kristin Try Interiors. Room by room, the partnership has created a space where design and function blend seamlessly, offering the perfect backdrop for celebrating family traditions and hosting loved ones.

This holiday season, Rachel of Helen Olivia and Kristin of Kristin Try Interiors teamed up to create a couple of festive tablescape ideas for you at Kristin’s home. Together, they’re sharing their tips and tricks to help you craft a stunning holiday table that’s as warm and inviting as the season itself.

Thanksgiving arrives next week, officially kicking off the holiday season. We all hold dear our traditions and ways of sharing our gratitude. It may be a turkey trot in the morning, Friendsgiving, dinner out at a local restaurant, hosting family from out-of-town or traveling to visit loved ones. We asked our contributors to share their Thanksgiving traditions and a few also shared their favorite dish.

As a local, Traci shares our love for Alexandria and our community so you may already know her bright smile and welcoming personality! In fact our mutual love for Red Barn Mercantile and design helped us meet and now I see Traci at many of my favorite places around town as well! 

As we approach the end of 2024, now is the time to start planning your home transformation for the new year. If you have a large renovation project or decorating project, we would love to hear from you and are dedicated to bringing your vision to life with our bespoke interior design services. From initial consultation to final reveal, we ensure your experience is enjoyable. 

Whether you’re looking to add a touch of autumnal charm to your decor or refresh your living spaces, there are a few items that can instantly bring the season indoors. Think plush throw blankets, rich-hued cushions, or a beautiful centerpiece. We’ve curated a list of our fall must-haves to help inspire your seasonal joy at home. 

Every client comes to us with expectations. Some crave a little more space, while others want to completely transform their homes. Some have Pinterest boards and spend hours browsing Instagram, while others prepare wishlists and budgets. I’m sharing two client case studies so you can see the spark that ignites our work.

Window treatments can do so much more than just provide privacy. In bustling spaces like kitchens or rooms filled with hard surfaces—think cabinetry, tile, and stone—softening the space is key to enhancing comfort. The absence of upholstered items and rugs can make these areas feel stark and noisy. In one of our recent projects in Villamay, we transformed a cozy kitchen nook with a custom flat Roman shade crafted from a stunning artisan textile.

As summer winds down, the season of transitions is in full swing for our family! This week marked some big milestones as we sent our oldest off to Virginia Tech for her first year, while our middle started high school, and our youngest began middle school. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster as we navigate this new chapter, but we’re grateful everyone had a smooth start!

The reality is, summer did fly by, and the kids are already waiting at the bus stop. When you’re on the go 24/7, trying to savor every precious (and humid) moment of summer – August immediately follows July 4th weekend. We asked our contributors to share what they’re squeezing in before fall arrives.

My husband and I both grew up in Michigan and it has some of the most beautiful and inspiring natural beauty, ranking high with several top travel destinations. I am excited to share a glimpse into this magical island and some of our favorite things to do and see. Mackinac Island can only be accessed by ferry and there are no cars on the island, as people get around on bikes and horse carriages.

This spring, we started concept design for the full basement and an upstairs office for the husband. Currently we’re nearing construction with Harry Braswell, Inc. to create some beautiful dark and moody spaces. We thought we would share how the home is evolving and the design process. 

Inspired by the beautiful, warm days and daydreams of vacation life, I've curated a vacation home mood board influenced by the best vacations, with a touch of bohemian design and coastal/lake living. Someday, we'll find just the right place to bring this scheme to life.

We're seeking a local freelance/part-time project manager who is detail-oriented, enjoys job flexibility, has a strong connection to Alexandria, and possesses professional experience to proactively create better processes and project management tools.

I’m sharing my family’s pizza on the patio night along with some of my favorite resources, and hope it inspires you to enjoy an evening at home. Maybe tinker with a creative tablescape or find a new wine or vase for your flowers…anything that will bring you a little dose of joy.

This month is typically crazy for our family, as I know many of us joke about Maycember, but THIS May is next level! I’m lucky to have two kiddos with May birthdays, but this week my oldest, Lilly turns 18 and we are hosting her graduation/birthday party! 

Among the many design elements that shape our living spaces, lighting reigns supreme. It serves to bring all other elements into focus.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a splendid luncheon at the historic Brooke’s Bank Farm in Champlain, Virginia.