Issue #111: A 'Before' Home Tour and My Plans for Every Room

Photos galore of my very own space.

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It’s only been a month since I moved into my house, but I felt at home the moment I stepped in. Walking among the staged furniture with my real estate agent, it just felt right, like it had been waiting for me. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s entirely my own, or the process of losing a home that helped me recognize the joy of having one, but I’ve never loved anywhere I’ve lived quite like this. There are so many elements of this house that feel uncannily reflective of my style and priorities, that most of the improvements I’ve made so far have been for safety or practicality.

Since adding in my furniture (mostly rugs, but they make a huge difference!) from my ex’s last week, my home has started to really take shape, as has my vision for the minimal design decisions I am so excited, but in no big rush, to implement. Looking back at photos of places I’ve lived, I can see the ways in which my style has evolved from trendy (see my Echo Park kitchen and living room, circa 2018, and my West Hollywood apartment) to minimalist. I enjoyed those homes, but I was often prioritizing how things looked instead of how they felt.

This time around, I want to make sure my home feels like 1) a personal sanctuary for rest, where I can ground and recharge between adventures and, 2) a welcoming space that brims with warmth, where my friends and family feel at home too. In short, I want this house to embody the name my mom gave it the first time she saw it, “It’s your Happy Landing.” That being said, I want to do so while buying as few things as possible—if you’ve followed my writing for a long time, you’ll likely recognize pieces that have traveled with me from every home I’ve ever lived in. Below is a current tour of my house, room by room, and the plans I have for it.

P.S. This is a long one, so you may need to read it in a browser to see the entire thing!