The first of my new monthly series. A song, a fringe lampshade, and a tray I regret not buying.

This week started to feel like the first taste of fall, and I can’t say I’m not excited. It’s been an incredibly busy summer, and while I’m grateful to be so busy, I am ready for a new season and looking towards a shift of back to school, back to routine and two very exciting projects starting.

So much of what I do is looking forward, looking for inspiration, and somehow organizing it all to fill my head with ideas for work, styling, current projects, and personal style.

This is a new series I’ll be doing once a month. What I’m listening to. The colors and fabrics I’m gravitating toward. What I bought, what I passed on and what’s bringing me joy. And of course, what I’m shopping for.

Here’s where I’m putting it all.

The song

Let Love Flow On, Sonya Spence. On repeat in the studio, daily.

It gets me in the mood to create, every time.

The color

Umber and olive.

Umber glass sconce to make a statement in any room.

So much of what I sourced this month was in this color palette. I especially love it in unexpected materials- glass and marble. This sconce is perfect.

The fabric

Suede. My favorite Summer to Fall transition.

I am reaching for it in the studio and in my closet, which is how I know I’m leaning in hard. It absorbs light instead of reflecting it, so it brings depth to a room. This suede skirt is a great transitional piece. Wear it with a crisp cotton shirt. I'll be in this straight through December.

What I bought for myself

These Dorsey Cecilia earrings. I love the vintage Georgian-inspired shape of these. An earring that goes with everything in my closet. I bought the 2.5 carat and love it stacked next to the 1.7.

This Abadía draped dress. I was hunting for a dress for a photoshoot we have coming up and this one stopped me in my tracks. The fabric is bamboo jersey, which makes the whole thing more casual, and I can think of a million ways to wear it.

I had never heard of the brand. Now I want everything they make.

Recent camera roll photos..

A piece I passed on and still think about

An antique burl marquetry tray.

I found this while sourcing for a photoshoot and we went a different direction in the end. The piece was right, the room just didn’t need it, and knowing when to stop is honestly half the job.

I'm always looking for trays, there are endless uses to style them on an ottoman, an entry, a console. This has details you could never find in a new piece. Someone please buy it before it's scooped up!

What’s bringing me quiet joy

Watching my girls play together. My youngest is almost two and my older one is five. We’re finally getting to an age where they’re starting to build a friendship. No one prepared me for how sweet it is to watch from the sidelines.

What the rest of my day looks like

Play with my girls, bedtime, then trying on outfits for tomorrow’s shoot at our Grand Army Residence.

A photo I keep going back to

Image by Matthew Williams

I love the use of subtle texture and pattern mix. The colors feel calm and serene, but not boring. Really loving the use of drapes as architecture and wall treatments for a bedroom at the moment. And antique iron lighting is the perfect complement to all the softness.

What I’m shopping for

This lampshade. The 1920s is back, and I’m putting tassels and fringe on everything right now. Read more about that here.

Toteme sculpted cuff . A sculptural resin bracelet that feels classic and architectural.

Suede sandals. One of my favorite shoe brands at the moment, and pairing a sandal with fall is a great way to transition your footwear this time of the year.

That’s everything that was in my head this month. So much of it is already making its way into the two new projects starting this fall, and I can’t wait to share more soon.

xx

Hallie