For as long as I can remember, my father has had a designated perch in his house — one seat on the sofa, slightly more depressed than the others, that has always been his home base. My dad permanently keeps his iPad and glasses on the table adjacent because that’s where he’s most likely to rest himself.
Do you have a favorite seat in the house? The spot that feels best to fall into after a long day? The nook that tells your body “everything’s OK”?
The first that came to mind for me was the top step from our back porch down through the tiered garden beds to our patio. It’s an odd choice, because we have an outdoor sofa, rocker, and arm chair — not to mention full dining table — steps away, but that flagstone step is my preferred aerie. It’s often warm with the memory of sun. But I like it best robed in full-sun at high noon, almost too bright to see. I love the blessing of the rays on my shoulders, the feeling of being surrounded by branches and birds, and the solidity of the stone beneath me. It immediately sets me right. Sometimes I even read out there until my bones protest and I find myself in search of a softer landing. But for most days, and most stretches of time I have for just sitting, it’s my beloved.
What about yours? Please share your safehaven, and how it cossets. I love to honor the spaces that make us feel our best.
Post-Scripts.
+Semi-related: places I don’t need to perform.
+In case you need to hear it today: take things as they come. Go easy, friend.
Shopping Break.
+OK, Gap, how fab is this eyelet dress? Very Farm Rio but under $100!
+Gorgeous way to update your entryway: these Portuguese tile house numbers. We have this jute doormat from the same brand.
+Two chic tops to pair with a full white skirt (like the Doen Sebastiane): this Fanm Mon and this SEA.
+Speaking of the Doen Sebastiane, reminder that this look for less was recently re-stocked but is selling fast, and I just found a look for less for…even less! $59 at Quince!
+Speaking of white eyelet: loveee these pants and this under-$100 top!
+For my fellow petite friends: a great pair of jeans.
+Back to Doen, though. Over the MDW, I treated myself to this gorgeous red gingham version of our favorite June top after seeing it on the glowing Ruby Campbell. I just love her summer glow and easy breezy vibe.
+I found a top similar to the Doen June for a little less at Marea: here in chic taupe gingham and here in a summery red stripe.
+BTW, Marea has such great pieces. I really love their Lake Sweater because it has more of a fitted/cropped silhouette that cinches in around the waist. And one of you wrote to say you think their pointelle pieces are better than Leset, and I got this tee, and I have to say, I got this tee and I might agree?! It’s a bit stretchier and more fitted. I’m also loving their white eyelet, like these shorts and this top!
+Casa Clara has some great of-the-moment, on-trend jewelry and accessories at reasonable prices: consider this $52 seashell necklace, this beaded layering piece, these fun hair claws, and this seashell!
+Vuori just released a new summer cropped fitness tank in great colors.
+Bought my son these New Balance sneakers in the green/red combo while 42% off! He’s been wearing them around the clock — that new sneaker energy! The other thing he won’t stop wearing: these “cardio” shorts from Cadets. He’s obsessed!
+Great-quality, inexpensive vintage-inspired tube socks for boys. My son lives in them.
+My daughter is currently obsessed with this series of graphic novels.
+A pretty version of Jenga. Would be a cute family gift!
+Cutest Gap finds for toddlers: these sandals and this top.
+These Prada espadrilles!
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Question about the Doen Sebastiane skirt… is this transparent-ish? it seems so on the website. I love it and almost bought the Pixie look for less. but now sold out in my size…
Hi! Yes, it is light fabric – you need to wear nude underwear. I feel like it’s full enough that it doesn’t really show anything unless you’re standing in direct sun maybe? I have not felt weird in it. I think the Quince one might be a little more opaque though!
You know you are getting old when you have a CHAIR. My husband and I both have a CHAIR in the living room, It’s where I park myself FINALLY after work and when dinner is cleaned up and I can finally sit down!
LOL!! Agree. A rite of age!
A relative once told me that I always seem to seek out the most comfortable chair in any space, so I guess that tells you all you need to know!
Love this detail about you!!
I totally relate to Kelly about not sitting! I sit in the car? While eating meals? My favorite spot, though, is the “L” of the sectional, so I can have my feet up and sit against the pillows. This is where I park myself around 8pm whenever possible! While trying to observe the one screen at a time rule! But where I sit most often is my spot at the dining table. I eat here, obviously, but also meal plan, make to do lists and work on my planner, do my Bible study, chat with my kids while they eat breakfast and I do the wordle (my husband and FIL and I have a daily wordle competition chat thread). I might try moving my nightly sitting time outside periodically once the weather finally improves here…
Love your perch for meal planning, Bible study, chat! A great and practical view of the days happenings!
xx
Is that a sailboat patterned dress, Jen? Details? 🙂
Hi! It is, but it’s very old Hill House :(. You might be able to score on ebay/poshmark??
xx
Prompt for fellow Magpies via Alex Steele: make a pinboard as your childhood self! How darling.
Love this! How cute!
My children have usurped my favorite spot on the sofa! We all like to be next to the arm. If I’m looking for some peace, I go to my kids’ reading nook. There’s a soft boucle play couch and lots of pillows, and their room gets the best sun. I like to hide out and read solo for ten minutes, or even stream something on my phone!
With my coffee in the morning lately I favor our outdoor dining table on the terrace, facing the mountains and sea. My spot used to the couch/“nutcracker lounge” but now my kids jump all over it! Or we have their old glider sitting outside and I recovered it in neutral linen, it’s nice to rock and watch the city at night. Otherwise I don’t sit down at all! Young children.
This is so cute – and it made me think about where our kids are drawn to sit in the family room. If we’re altogether, there is an unspoken settling-in to the same places: my kids will sit between Landon and I in the middle of the sofa whenever we’re altogether; they never ask for the arm section! Or they sit in the other occasional chairs in there — my daughter has one she LOVES to sit and read in, and my son likes the swivel chairs (and treating them like his personal merry-go-round…)
Sweet to imagine the places we’re drawn to in our own homes, how we accommodate others in it, etc.
xx