The House Diaries: Provence & 10 Antiques I'd buy right now
#40: Collected moments, curated tabs: the joy of gathering stories in object form.
My darlings, hello!
Gosh, the past two weeks have been non-stop. I’ve ping-ponged from Stockholm to Scotland, then zipped off to Provence, and now, finally, home. All technically “work”, though it’s been the kind that fills your cup rather than empties it.
When I was younger, I used to glamorise travelling for work, like it was the ultimate business-lady dream. You know: power suit, boarding pass, espresso martini at midnight. These days, anything that starts after 22:00/10pm feels like a personal attack. Still, I’ve been riding such a high. The work’s been fun, challenging, beautiful, and just the kind that reminds you why you do this in the first place.
And yes, I know everyone says this, but big things are coming after summer! The kind of things I’ve been quietly working on behind the scenes. I cannot wait to share them!
In moments like these, I’m reminded of how rare it is to build something that feels truly aligned. I’m so grateful for Natalie, and for Rodi & Cécile Studios - for what we’re building together, but more than that, for how we move together. Side by side. No one racing ahead, no one trailing behind.
It makes you reflect on the other relationships in your life - the ones that don’t meet you with that same reciprocity. The ones that feel like emotional bookkeeping. And once you taste that kind of reciprocity, you start to see the others for what they are: emotional drunks, empty promises. And how freeing it is to let those go.
Brutal, yes. But utterly liberating.
I always find myself reflecting on relationships when I travel for work. Maybe it’s the contrast: in the chaos of deadlines and airports, there are still people you make time for. Always. Those are the ones who matter. The ones who sit, quietly, at the core of everything.
Another thing I always do when I’m away - my little ritual - is to buy a memory. Nothing grand, nothing overthought. Just a small antique or vintage piece that captures the feeling of the place. It may sound silly, but these little objects become the real souvenirs - the kind that don’t sit in drawers but live on shelves, in vignettes, as part of my home.
Lately, I’ve been drawn to art. I picked up two tiny paintings on this last trip - moody little landscapes with soft brushwork and chipped frames. Probably worthless in the traditional sense, but they make me feel something. And really, isn’t that the point?
On the subject of antiques (my not-so-secret obsession), I thought I’d share a few pieces I’ve been eyeing lately. All very much open-tab material - some practical, some purely aspirational, all inspiring. Even if I don’t end up buying them, I find antique browsing to be a design practice in itself. It sharpens your taste, teaches you about proportion, and sometimes leads you to unexpected dupes or alternatives. Inspiration is rarely linear.
So here they are: X antiques I’d buy right now (if I could). Some are perfectly attainable; others are more saving-up-and-sighing territory. Either way, they’re bringing me joy- and maybe they’ll inspire a little scroll for you too.
Lamps! The bigger the better, and if it’s mid-century (from France), I want it. Unfortunately, I’m banned from buying any more floor lamps, so I’m resisting, but you shouldn’t.