Embracing Change, Inviting Beauty
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance” -Alan Watts
If there’s one thing that life - and design - teaches us, it’s that change can be a beautiful thing. Many of our clients’ projects aren’t about fixing something broken; they’re about honoring who our clients have become. That's exactly what the refresh we’re featuring on the blog this week was about. When our longtime client came to us ready to revisit her porch, sitting room, and husband's office, she still saw the beauty in the spaces we’d designed more than 20 years prior. She'd simply outgrown them. And she wanted her home to reflect that growth.
"We originally did those rooms in 2000," she told us. "We've changed. How we use them has changed. Our style has changed. It was time for an update." Our client was ready for embracing change and inviting beauty.
Embracing Change, Inviting Beauty
The biggest decision of this project turned out to be the most freeing one: letting go of everything that came before. Not just selective editing or reupholstering the existing sofa and calling it done. Our client embraced the freedom that comes with making a major update to a space, and it paid off.
"When I do a project, I don't just want to make minor changes," she explained. "I want to make a dramatic difference."
The original rooms were skewed toward the traditional and formal. They were beautiful, but no longer a reflection of her. She wanted something lighter, more sophisticated, more her. And after years of working with LiLu, she had the confidence to go for it.
"My tastes became stronger. I got to know who I am more, style-wise. I stretch my style more after working with LiLu for so long."
We love working with clients on multiple projects over a span of years, and updating spaces multiple times as life and tastes change. It’s rewarding to witness our clients' tastes sharpen as their vision of their dream home changes and deepens.
The Sitting Room: A Jewel Box Just For Her
Of all the rooms in the project, the sitting room may be the most personal. This was always her space. It had long been the room she gravitated to for reading, needlepoint, and quiet — and she wanted it to feel like it.
"I wanted it to feel like a small jewel box," she said. "A precious space suited just to my tastes."
The room had good bones, but needed changes to fit her vision. Wood paneling, a sliding glass door, and a layout that didn't quite serve her asked for major updates to create that beautiful, tailored feel. We replaced the sliding glass door with French doors, which immediately reframed the view and softened the whole room. The ceiling detailing added the architectural interest the space had been missing. The cabinetry we designed brought both function and beauty. The furniture was chosen with all the parts of her life in the room in mind: swivel chairs that can face each other for conversation, turn toward the TV, or angle toward the fireplace, creating flexibility that mirrored our client's lifestyle. Our design is all about embracing change, inviting beauty.
The details are what really make the space feel special. "The door handles looked like pieces of jewelry," she said. "The painted wood, off-white instead of wood tone, the ceiling details — when it was finished, it just looked beautifully detailed and so inviting."
She's also been using the room to display more significant pieces of art, and it's the perfect backdrop for them.
And her friends love it just as much as she does. "It's hard for them to recognize it as the same room." The versatility of the space makes the beauty easy to share. If she has a girlfriend visiting for an afternoon, they settle right into the sitting room, with a lake view and nowhere they’d rather be.
First impressions matter. The front porch sets the tone before anyone steps inside — and we wanted it to say: this is not a generic luxury home. Sculptural woven rattan chairs in a generous, enveloping silhouette anchor the space alongside teal hourglass side tables that pop with personality. A knitted aqua pouf adds texture and a relaxed welcome. Rust-toned fabric swatches with a woven dash pattern bring warmth. Ceramic planters in slate grey and cream complete the tableau — organic, considered, and quietly confident.
The Porch: Made for Change (and Grandchildren)
The porch had been used for hosting games like cards and bridge for years, but the way she wanted to spend time had shifted. She wanted something that felt open and inviting — a space her grandchildren could enjoy (and she could keep an eye on them), where comfort was the priority. As family and priorities change, spaces that follow can be the backdrop to memories that last a lifetime.
New daybeds amplified the cozy vibe and became a favorite spot for her grandchildren to hang out. So did a refreshed color palette that made the space feel breezy and connected to the outdoors. The goal was to enjoy the outside while staying comfortable inside, and the scope of the project made that possible.
A Peaceful Process
Our clients were out of town for a significant portion of this project — which, for most homeowners, would be a source of anxiety. But at LiLu, we believe that the job doesn't stop when the client isn't there.
"They really played a big part in coordinating with the contractors," she said. "The detailed plan made it easier for contractors to execute the vision. They checked in on things even though I wasn't there."
When questions come up, when adjustments need to be made, when tiny mistakes need to be caught and corrected, we manage projects with care. "They helped with communication, advocacy, handling mistakes and issues. Remodeling can be stressful. They helped take that stress away."
Beauty is often on the other side of change, but having peace of mind makes it so much easier to enjoy the process.
A Word of Advice
When we’ve changed, and a look around our once-favorite spaces doesn’t land the way it used to, it can be intimidating to think about embracing the change the space is asking for. A new rug here, or a reupholstered chair there, might feel like the right way forward.
But as our lives change and grow, our spaces should reflect that. "It's worth it to try new things and branch out, so you actually use the space more. If you're going to spend the money, make major updates. Try something new! Put a game table in, create a little library. Give your spaces more uses."
Small changes have their place. But there's something special about a transformation that makes you fall in love with a room all over again.
In three words, she describes her finished spaces as beautiful, comfortable, and inviting. We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
Contact us today to embrace change and invite beauty!
