This past September, I had the pleasure of (virtually) attending Business Of Home’s third annual Future Of Home conference, where home-industry professionals geeked out on topics ranging from the rise of coliving to digital currency’s impacts on the art world (please don’t quiz me on the latter). By the end of the two-day summit, I had a page of quotes from the star-studded lineup of panelists, including Martha Stewart, Jonathan Adler, and Christian Siriano, scribbled in my notebook.

During a discussion about the future of media, Mélanie Berliet, general manager of the Spruce lifestyle website, spoke about how social and digital media platforms have led to the speedy turnover of design trends. “Information spreads so widely and quickly that it’s almost as if [trends] don’t exist,” she said. “I think that’s a beautiful thing because ultimately what will matter is people figuring out what their personal style is.”

5280 Home December 2021/January 2022
5280 Home December 2021/January 2022
More From The Issue

I couldn’t agree more. Sure, fleeting trends are fun to admire and experiment with, but meaningful living spaces that reflect one’s lifestyle and personal history are the backbone of great design. In this issue, you’ll explore residential spaces with plenty of personal panache, including a moody den inspired by its owner’s English upbringing, an interior designer’s modern dwelling furnished with vintage finds she revived herself, and a local fashion stylist’s beloved credenza with a familial backstory.

As you flip through the following pages, I hope you’ll take note of the artworks, furnishings, and space-planning techniques that pique your interest, as well as those that don’t. This inspiration could inch you closer to finding your own personal style—a beautiful thing indeed.