Secret Sauce To A Room

The magic of any room comes down to these key things

It’s a very wet, rainy week over here ~ and a lot of time spent indoors means my wheels have been spinning about interiors. I’ve been thinking about those rooms you want to sink into the couch in on a rainy day, read or watch a movie in,… enjoy cocktails and host your friends for happy hour in. Specifically, what elements are the secret sauce to creating the most inviting-meets-personalized vibe to any room!

Over the holidays I watched a number of movies and really noticed these elements when taking in the rooms of some of my favorite films. Like those bookcase-filled living rooms that I was instantly daydreaming of lounging in. In almost every movie it was the rooms with the wood burning fire, softer mood lighting, seemingly cloud-like couches and layers of collected antiques and art that intrigued me the most. I think what makes these rooms feel so interesting and inviting are the vintage elements that take time to source and pull together. A well-loved couch that doesn’t feel too precious… perhaps already with a few wine stains in the patterned mix so you feel right at home snuggling up in it with your glass of wine too! Rooms that feel a little quirkier and everything doesn’t necessary “go” but totally works!

My favorite hotels all nail this vibe (i.e.: The Greenwich Hotel in New York)… dark moody lighting in that lounge bar, sunken couches, interesting mix of antiques and art. I’m already dreaming of my next trip!!

Mixing antiques with modern pieces takes time and sourcing to pull together. Yet I think if you simply buy what you love somehow when you don’t think it will all work together in a room… it does?! Enter one of my late-night browsing pleasures of choice: 1st Dibs. I’ve bought a couple of abstract paintings on 1st Dibs over the years and love to browse their lighting, furniture and features for inspiration as well! So many gems!

I think the magic of any room comes down to three key things…