07/06/2026
My design cup is overflowing after Spain.
There is something about Spanish design that reaches far beyond what you see; it settles deep into your soul. Every village, courtyard, hotel, café, and centuries-old stone street felt layered with history, craftsmanship, and an effortless beauty that can’t be manufactured.
The textiles. The art. The ceramic tiles. The terracotta. The aged wood. The imperfect plaster walls. Every detail felt intentional, yet never overdesigned.
What struck me most was how Spanish interiors embrace character over perfection. Spaces are collected, not curated. Materials are allowed to age gracefully. Colour is drawn from the landscape itself—sun-baked earth, olive groves, limestone, sea, and sky.
As I return home, I’m carrying a few lessons with me for North American interiors: Mix old with new. A home feels richer when every piece doesn’t arrive on the same truck.
• Embrace natural materials: terracotta, stone, linen, wood, and handcrafted ceramics instantly add warmth and authenticity.
• Layer, Layer & Layer texture. The most beautiful spaces we visited relied on texture to create depth.
• Don’t be afraid of imperfection. Patina, age, and wear often tell the best stories.
• Create moments, not rooms. A reading corner, a collected shelf, a beautiful breakfast nook, these are the spaces that stay with us.
Spain reminded me that great design isn’t about trends.
It’s about creating spaces that feel lived in, loved, and connected to something deeper than the moment we’re in.
