Creating Spaces That Hold Us: A Reflection on Design and Home
Finding Purpose and Grounding in the Everyday Spaces That Surround Us
The Littles in the Shed Photographed by Michal Rzepecki for Design Hotels
“We spend 87 percent of our lives inside buildings. How they are designed really affects how we feel, how we behave. Design is not just a visual thing, it’s a thought process, a skill. Ultimately, design is a skill to enhance our humanity. It’s a frame for life.”
— Ilse Crawford
Read more from Ilse Crawford:
Sensual Home
Home is Where the Heart is
A Frame for Life
In the past few years, I’ve been deeply contemplating one question: how can I tether and ground myself, and those around me? What does it mean to hold space for myself, my husband and my children? My clients?
This idea may seem to stray from the usual conversations I have about furnishings and paint colors, but I’ve come to realize that they are, in fact, deeply connected.
I felt the weight of this question most acutely during the pandemic. Perhaps you felt something similar, but in a time when so much felt out of control, my home became the one place I could anchor myself and my family. Amid the fear and uncertainty, I could wrap us in an aesthetic that felt safe—a space of rituals and familiarity. I realized that this act of creating a nurturing environment was, in its own way, an act of love and care.
Quote by Ilse Crawford
I began to see this shift in my clients, too. They started wanting to rearrange, update, or add elements to their spaces—things they had overlooked before. We were all starting to feel, in our bones, the importance of feeling at home. What it means to be cared for by the space you inhabit. To have a cocoon that holds you, inspires you, and provides a backdrop for all of life’s moments and possibilities. It became clear to me that this sense of being “home” was one of the few constants in an unpredictable world, and that realization moved me deeply.
Kitchen Photographed by Emily Hart
As I began to unpack these feelings and ideas, I turned to trusted teachers and sources—books, podcasts, and perspectives that could help me make sense of this shift. It was during this time that Ilse Crawford’s work spoke to me more than ever.
I had always admired her philosophy on design, but it was during this period of reflection that I began to see her as more of a guide. Her approach—thoughtful, human, and even spiritual—resonated deeply with me.
For Crawford, design is about more than just creating beauty; it’s about creating a space that enhances our humanity. It’s about making a space that holds us in ways we often take for granted—where every element has meaning and intention.
As I continue to explore this concept of grounding, holding, and creating spaces that support us, I realize that this is exactly what Pastiche has always been about. It’s not just about the look of a room, but the feeling it evokes, the stories it tells, and the ways it nurtures the lives within it.
And as I move into this next season, I’m more committed than ever to sharing this philosophy with you—design that is layered with meaning, that celebrates stories, and that truly holds us.
Sincerely,
Sara Kate
Boy, do you do this well. Thank you for making some of my most loved and tender places to be able to unfold, and teaching me so much about the home and stories I'm collecting for my family.