Design Begins Before Décor

Part 1 of the Invisible Thread Series

A well-designed home is not just about beauty. It’s about memory. It holds the layered story of who you are, where you’ve been, and what you love. The textures, the pieces, the quiet corners—they aren’t chosen at random. They’re gathered over time and woven together with care.

That’s where we begin.

Before we talk about color, furniture, or layout, we need to talk about how a home feels. Not just how it looks. How it functions, how it flows, and how it supports your daily life. That’s the heart of design. It’s not about trends or perfection. It’s about creating something that reflects and supports your life.

This is the first post in a series inspired by my upcoming book, The Invisible Thread We Weave. Stay tuned as we unpack what really makes a home feel like yours.

Every home has a foundation. And I don’t just mean the physical one. I mean everything that shapes how your space works: its layout, structure, geography, climate, and context.

Where you live matters. Is your home in a humid or dry climate? Do you experience all four seasons or just one long summer? Climate affects how you use outdoor space, how your home is insulated, the kind of materials you choose, and even how you arrange furniture.

A sun-drenched home in Angola may require solar shades to preserve wood and fabric, while a drafty townhome in New England might benefit from layered rugs and heavy drapes.

Good design doesn’t begin with styling. It begins with observing. A shadow that stretches across the floor in the afternoon. The way your feet instinctively turn toward the light. These subtle cues reveal the natural rhythm of a home long before the first brushstroke or fabric swatch.

Want to design with your climate in mind? Start by noticing how your home reacts to the seasons—and how you move through it.

This is the first post in a series inspired by my upcoming book, The Invisible Thread We Weave. Stay tuned as we unpack what really makes a home feel like yours.

You can read all previous posts in this series in the “Stories” section of my website: https://www.icedtulipsinteriors.com/stories