While we’re talking home tours, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Lauren’s beautiful bathroom remodel since she shared it last week. I asked her if she would mind if I shared it here and am so happy she agreed. It really stood out to me for its many personal, unique details—while still being so airy and bright. It’s unique to see such ornate touches (that mirror!) mixed in so seamlessly with a kind of minimalism—particularly in a small space like this.
Our living room looks quite different right now—filled with Christmas decorations and the occasional fire. I took these photos of our home a few months back, to share on Design Mom; they just ran, with an interview, last week!
It reminded me of the first time I’d gone through the house with a camera for a similar reason, usually with Skyler strapped to my chest. She was just a few months old! Instead of Sawyer on the floor of the living room, it was a little baby. It feels like yesterday. Look how tiny she was here!
I remember thinking, afterward, I should have asked someone else to take the photos—but then I wouldn’t have this one of her.
Besides the children and their rooms, not much has changed in the house since that first home tour—and I still wasn’t clever enough to ask someone else to come take the pictures so that Aron and I might be in one—but I’d still love to share my favorites…
We’ve been trying to figure out the best way to choose the books in our bookclub. For a while we switched to a Survey Monkey list, where everyone ranked their picks and an algorithm chose the winner. We were surprised to find that no one liked this as much as letting each month’s host choose the next month’s book (with input from everyone, of course). We were trying to understand why this seemed to work better. For one, it seemed to ensure a wider range of book types—from page-turning thrillers and funny memoirs, to serious dramas and provocative nonfiction. Another theory is that by choosing books with online votes, we weren’t discussing the options and sharing the reasons why the book might be the right choice. It like going to a movie without having seen any previews.
Whatever the reason, we’re back to a more subjective method of choosing and first up, in January, is Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth. Have you read it? It takes place over a span of 50 years and the New York Times called it “rich and engrossing.” I really enjoyed her earlier books, Bel Canto and State of Wonder. Patchett is a beautiful writer. Other books floated for the next few months were Colson Whitehead’s National Book Award Winner The Underground Railroad (I loved his John Henry Days and can’t wait to read this), and You’ll Grow Out of Itby Jessi Klein, the head writer on Amy Schumer’s show. I heard her interviewed by Terri Gross and immediately wanted to spend more time with her. I’d also like to read The Association of Small Bombs
