I remember that fateful Friday the 13th in March 2020. I had just moved into my new condo and stayed home from work to get my internet set up. It was an absolute scramble as my team was going to test working from home the next week (made possible by a brilliant IT support team at the office) due to the impending pandemic. We were unknowingly heading toward a completely different way of life, more insular in practice and more expansive in perspective. As you might have guessed, we did indeed work from home that next week, but it wasn’t a test. It was the beginning of the “new normal.” There was no practice, just doing things in a new way, in isolation, and as a designer, surrounded by a lot of sh*t (samples, samples and more samples!)
I often reflect on this time, sometimes with a pit in my stomach (perhaps due to the number of sleeves or Oreos I ate), but also as a time that deeply informed what home means to me. When I began purchasing things for the new place, I had the mindset that I’d be hosting friends all the time. And then, all of a sudden, no one was allowed to come over. My feelings went from excitement to survival mode. (Dreams crushed and thrown away…at least for a time.) So, day by day, I organized my physical environment and my mindset to ensure daily life in my new home would be comfortable, efficient, meaningful, and not wasteful. Was it to create some semblance of control? Probably. However, as things have evolved in the 4+ years in my home, I’m grateful for the habits I developed and the space I created for myself to thrive as much as possible in a very uncertain time.
Also during this time, Flourish & Foundry came to life. Sarah and I met regularly to chip away at our idea that would become a company grounded on awareness of impact on the environment, commitment to people and focus on quality and value. Our experiences and my real-time struggle sourcing for and making my house a home has influenced our ethos and desire to connect with our customers to respond to their needs.
Our upcoming campaign, Back to Beautiful Basics, will feature categories of products, tips & tricks and deeper thoughts on creating a home that has foundation that reflects your values and lifestyle.
Keep an eye on social media and your inbox for…
Evolving Your Habits: Reduce Waste and Make Your Home Healthier
New School Old School: Heritage Craft and Materials in a Modern Home
Our Process: Maker Features and Inspiration
We hope you will enjoy and learn something new. Let us know in the comments one things you love and one thing you’d like to change about your home. And as always, we hope to connect with you as we guide, inspire and furnish for a better life at home.
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