What Editors Keep Asking Me About Design: Q2 Press Coverage
Updated: 3 days ago
There’s a version of interior design that’s entirely about what looks good right now. The trending paint color, the bathroom feature everyone seems to want, or the wall finish you’re seeing everywhere.
That’s not how I approach this work.
When I design a space, I think about what lasts long after the project is complete and the trends have moved on. In Q2 of this year, I had the opportunity to share that philosophy with several publications, with editors reaching out not just to showcase our work, but to ask what we actually think about design.
Martha Stewart
Living and working in southern Louisiana’s subtropical climate means that window treatments are never just a design decision. They’re a practical one.
When Martha Stewart asked about window treatments that keep homes cool and lower energy use, I didn’t hesitate to share that we use blackout lining on every single treatment. Not only does it help regulate interior temperature, but it also protects the fabric itself, which is a significant investment worth preserving.
We’ve become experts at temperature control through window treatments out of necessity, but the principle applies everywhere: good design solves problems. It doesn’t just look good while creating new ones.
Architectural Digest
If there’s a room that gets the least design attention and deserves far more of it, it’s the laundry room. Architectural Digest included RCL in a roundup of small laundry room ideas, featuring a small space with big impact where we hung a beaded chandelier alongside vibrant wallpaper.
The point wasn’t whimsy for whimsy’s sake. It was a reminder that the rooms you use every day deserve consideration, too. A laundry room that makes you smile when you walk in isn't an indulgence. It’s good design doing its job.
Veranda
Veranda asked a group of designers to weigh in on the bathroom decisions clients tend to regret, and I had plenty of thoughts to share.
For starters, trend-chasing in a space as expensive as a bathroom is a particularly costly mistake. Spending a significant amount of money only to end up with a room that looks dated the moment it’s complete leaves what I can only describe as a bitter aftertaste, and it’s entirely avoidable.
The specific decisions worth reconsidering: using a single tile size throughout the entire bathroom, which can read as flat and uninspired when a hierarchy of scale creates so much more interest; basic cabinetry without organizational inserts, which is a missed opportunity in a space where we store so many small items; and a single light source above the mirror, which does no favors for anyone trying to apply makeup or shave in anything resembling accurate light.
The details matter. And in a bathroom, they matter more than almost anywhere else in the house.
The Scout Guide
Over the summer, the Scout Guide featured one of our projects as an example of how to execute cluttercore (the design approach that celebrates collected, layered, and visually rich spaces) in a way that feels intentional rather than chaotic.
For us, it always comes down to curation. A bookcase that goes beyond books and tells a story about the person who lives there is one of the most personal and impactful things we can design. When it’s done well, it doesn’t look cluttered. It looks lived in, in the best possible way.
Veranda
A couple of months after our first Q2 feature, Veranda came back with another question about which high-end features aren’t actually worth the investment.
Naturally, I had thoughts with steam showers at the top of my list. They cost $10,000 to $25,000 more than a standard shower, and the reality of owning one, with generators, specialized plumbing, and vapor-tight enclosures prone to mold and mechanical issues, rarely matches the fantasy. Putting that same budget toward beautiful tiles, a soaking tub, or elegant vanities delivers daily enjoyment without the maintenance headaches.
Fully integrated smart home systems were the other. These setups can run upward of $50,000, require updates every few years, and often leave homeowners dealing with compatibility issues and the need for specialized technicians for even minor troubleshooting. Consumer-grade alternatives — a Nest thermostat, a Ring doorbell — provide similar convenience at a fraction of the cost and can be updated as technology evolves.
The through line in both cases is the same: the most expensive option is not always the best one. Knowing where to invest and where to redirect is one of the most valuable things a designer brings to a project.
More to Come
We’ve been sharing our 2026 press features as a quarterly series this year. If you missed Q1, you can find it here. Q3 and Q4 are still to come, so stay tuned before the year is out.
It is always fascinating to see how media features capture the real essence of design work over a quarter. I really enjoyed reading through the highlights and seeing how the different spaces came together in print. Sometimes, looking over complex project details or even researching a detailed Biotechnology Assignment Writing Service reminds me of how much preparation goes into presenting professional work cleanly to the public. Seeing these press roundups published makes you appreciate the underlying coordination involved, and I look forward to following what comes next as the year progresses.