Jodiwarrendesigns

One of the decorating rules I believe in most?

Only buy what you love.

Years ago, I bought this David Shrigley tea towel featuring a hot pink ice cream cone and the phrase “Life is Fantastic.” It’s supposed to be a kitchen item. It’s a little weird. And I absolutely love it.

Over the last five years, furniture has moved, walls have changed, and rooms have evolved. Yet somehow, this little piece keeps finding a place in my home—always in this small corner that’s visible from the street and one of the first things I see when I pull into the driveway.

That’s the thing about buying what you truly love: it sticks around!

Swipe through five years of one very persistent hot pink ice cream cone.

Still here. Still fantastic.

57 degrees and cloudy=East Coast Memorial Day Weekend.

bar cart styling | east coast summer | coastal decorating | vintage finds

This room had great light, sat right at the front entrance of the home…and barely got used. Unacceptable!

When my client and I first tackled this space a few years ago, it felt crowded, hectic and lacked a real sense of purpose. She had collected several large furniture pieces over time, but the room wasn’t functioning in a way that supported how their family actually lived.

Since a renovation is not on the table for a while, we started with one simple question: What do you want this room to do?

The answer: extra gathering space, cocktails with friends, holiday overflow and a quiet place to unwind.

With this goal in mind, we edited the room strategically—keeping the best pieces, relocating others and creating a layout that finally gave the space direction. One major shift was moving a beautiful china cabinet out of a dark corner into another room where it could truly shine. This made room for a cozy little bar area that instantly helped define the room’s purpose.

We also spent a fun morning creating gallery walls using art she already owned, an instant personality punch with zero dollars spent.

Fast forward to a recent visit and seeing this room stopped me in my tracks—not because it was perfectly finished, but because my client told me they actually use it now. Guys, this is why I do this job-I literally can’t think of a better thing to hear.

While bigger renovation plans may eventually happen, this thoughtful shuffle gave the family a version of the room they could enjoy *right now.* And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of transformation a home needs.

Interior decorating, use what you have decor, sustainable design, functional spaces, real life design