monday musings 1.15.24
resolutions, savoring time, 2024 design themes, and other idle ramblings + shares.
Welcome to the inaugural issue of monday musings!
How is it that we are already midway through January?
Time has been odd these last several years, and I can never determine if time seems to be going faster or slower. The holidays seem ages ago now, but my newly made resolutions seem so near it could have been yesterday.
I am not usually one for resolutions, but this year felt different. While I wanted to keep myself accountable, I did not want to fall victim to the pitfalls that typically attend New Year resolutions. I needed a more flexible resolution framework, so decided to center my resolution(s) around growth versus achievement.
After articulating my three growth-oriented resolutions, I felt good. It felt doable. I had made space for the future foibles that would inevitably pop up and simple guidelines to help me continue my resolutions despite it.
Less than two weeks in, I find myself nursing a cracked rib courtesy of my first snow-blowing efforts of the season. After the initial pain subsided some, I was immediately annoyed, quickly followed by a senseless feeling of guilt as I had somehow failed. I felt defeated.
I had theoretically planned for this, right?
But it was not supposed to happen like this! Alas, the universe does tend to laugh heartily at our best-laid plans. I had to remind myself to remain flexible.
However, something I had not considered previously was that if I wanted to be flexible, I needed to change my perspective on time. I had not set myself a rigid schedule or hard deadlines, no concrete goalposts - what was I freaking out over? TIME! I was still clocking myself, even though I promised myself not to.
After recalibrating, I have had time to reflect. I am leaning into savoring the time to slow down, rest, and heal. To focus on what I can do in this moment. I have the extra time to clarify my objectives and to realign my efforts and a reprieve to ideate and to create!
We live in a society where time is of the essence, with continuous encouragement to strive towards the next or better. We tend to create inflexible pathways for ourselves, marked with ambiguous checkpoints with narrow destinations - and we are always racing against the clock.
Yes, we are only allotted a certain amount of time on Earth. Yet, there is something to be said about being able to move through the process instead of against it, rather than let you be derailed by inevitable track switches.
In a world where we are routinely told to use time, save time, and make time while often hard-pressed to savor time. We are only mortal inhabitants of Earth, and our ability to savor time while here should be sacred.
But what does savoring time look like? Well, it can look like many things:
watching the sunrise
choosing to do something you love when plans are canceled
experiencing setbacks and using that time for self-exploration and/or self-care
holding on a second longer when you hug your loved ones
wholeheartedly celebrating your wins (both big and small)
eating with the intention, of fully experiencing the sustenance that fuels your body
recognizing how far you’ve come to be where (and who) you are now
Most of all, it requires a perspective switch. Ask yourself: Does time own you, or do you own your own time? If it’s time that owns you, then it’s time to take that power back!
Today, I want to encourage you to find ways to build savor time into your everyday schedule and to develop and hone your ability to do so even when blown off-course or redirected.
Below are a few of my favorite finds that help me savor the time during my morning rituals. Incorporating them has helped create more peaceful, intentional, and energizing AM hours. I hope these ideas inspire you to carve out pockets of time to savor each day!
Top R-to-L:
Bottom R-to-L:
2024 design trends
I spent the last several weeks pouring through the predictions of interior design trends for 2024 against my version of intuiting what may lay ahead. As always, I was pleased with what aligned with my
predictions, excited by others that I had not considered but resonated with, and curious about those that might seem out-of-pocket but are pertinent (and meaningful) to this moment.
I particularly like to look for the underlying stories we are telling through the design aesthetics of our time. I observed several dichotomies alongside a surprising fluidity within the predicted trends. I believe this is indicative of the global mood. Nevertheless, I boiled it down and found three strong themes that speak to the juxtaposition of the desires, needs, and hopes in 2024.
Organically centered
This trend has been riding high since the pandemic (and the worsening climate crisis) when the homes became sanctuaries. The continuation of it speaks to our growing, deep-seated desire to connect, honor, and realign ourselves with the natural world.
The trends within this theme include textured walls, understated luxury, terracotta tile, bringing the outdoors in, peach/apricot, vintage & secondhand pieces, organic curves, and earth color palettes.
Deep traditional
The traditional style takes on a moody modern twist. With yummy saturated tones, these spaces feel refined, cocoon-like, and reflective. This seems on par for a rapidly shifting world. As we slough through this stage of humanity with uncertainty, spaces like these can be a welcome refuge.
Trends for the year that speak to this theme include deep purple, chocolate brown, Victorian detailing, vintage wallpaper, china pantries, stripes, marble accessories, dark panel walls, and collectibles.
Bold revolution
Bring on the look-at-me colors, pattern-on-pattern play, and futuristic (and green) materials - the revolution is here!
With roots in the maximalism movement of the last several years, which like organically designed, emerged in response to the pandemic. Its response to that time was a bombastic declaration of a joie de vive expressed within our living spaces surrounding ourselves with ALL our favorite things. It was a balm to the soul in contrast with the grim realities of global crisis and against the starkness of minimalism.
Since then, other compatriots have emerged from this ethos. For this, think dopamine decor and pastel-core. As we continue to collectively endeavor to move towards a future where we can truly, and unabashedly express (and be) ourselves; the trends this year favor a far more flexible and streamlined take on making a statement.
Related trends include mono-rooms, art gallery-inspired spaces, bold color stories, glass accents and blocks, futuristic and alternative materials, pattern-play, and silver accents.
What seems to be the most resounding trend for this year from every list is that personalized design is IN!
Another unanimous trend prediction (which dovetails beautifully with individualized design) is to prioritize buying from local artisans to score unique and superiorly crafted pieces that speak to you and help to support your local economy.
These last two trends feel like a rallying cry to embrace individuality while cultivating space and community for all. And I am here for all of it.
What design trends are you looking forward to in 2024?
what is inspiring me this week:
corn-based wall tile? yes, please.
read more here.
randomly related stuff I cannot recommend enough for…
savoring sleep: BetterSleep app
goal-planning nerds: HBR - Life Planner
for the vibes: for the healthy hoes
last, but not least…
I wanted to recognize today's holiday, Martin Luther King Day. Please take the time to read one of his works today in full. Particularly, Letters from Birmingham Jail, in honor and memory of his contribution to society. Additionally, please check out one of my favorite educational accounts: The Zinn Education Project, in solidarity for a better tomorrow.
energy entering the week
Wishing you all a happy Monday and hope it is a portal to good things!
<3 Nicole
Corn based wall tile! Interesting!
Isn't it? I love the innovation of the sustainability movement, so many cool materials on the horizon!