Lisa BB

Each spring begins almost imperceptibly. Branches that appeared bare only weeks ago now hold the faintest haze of green. Buds form quietly before unfolding all at once. The shift from dormancy to colour happens faster than memory expects. This time of year always feels like a return — not only to the garden, but to a particular kind of attentiveness. Subtle tones reappear: the pale wash of apple blossom, the saturated violet of lupine, the softness of peony petals just beginning to open. Even the broad leaves of hostas introduce a …

[Read more...] about On Emergence: Early Season in the Garden

I’ve always been drawn to the quieter corners of a home — the places you naturally gravitate toward when you need a moment to breathe. When we designed this house, we didn’t only think about large rooms. We thought about where light falls in the morning, where a chair might catch the last warmth of the day, and where it would feel natural to sit with a book or a cup of tea in winter. These smaller places — a window seat, a chair near the fireplace, a sunny stretch of wall — have become some of the most used areas in the house. They offer …

[Read more...] about On Quiet Corners: Spaces to Pause

A garden asks for the same qualities as creative work: patience, attention, and care. Even with a late start this season, I decided to plant seeds in the container gardens. There is something grounding about placing small, unseen potential into soil and trusting the process. Not everything will thrive, but the act itself feels hopeful. I have always loved bringing freshly cut flowers indoors — arranging them in simple vases, placing them on the table, or sharing small bouquets with friends and neighbours. The movement between garden and …

[Read more...] about On Cultivation: The Garden as Creative Practice

The Garden Room has become one of the most meaningful spaces in our home. From the beginning, it was designed as a place to hold light — a room with expansive windows, garden views, and a sense of openness even during the darker months of the year. Floor-to-ceiling mullioned windows draw in natural light from multiple angles, allowing the space to shift gently throughout the day. While conceived as a sitting room, it has gradually become an extension of my studio practice, particularly in winter. On colder days, I often work here with the …

[Read more...] about The Garden Room: Light, Greenery, and Winter Work

Every working space needs its counterbalance. While the studio areas of our home were designed for focus and making, the bathrooms became spaces of restoration — quieter rooms shaped around warmth, texture, and pause. Rather than approaching them as purely functional, I began to think about how material and light could create a sense of calm. Vintage-inspired tiles, subtle patterning, and layered white surfaces felt both timeless and grounding. Penny tiles underfoot, subway tile on the walls, and fine border details introduced texture …

[Read more...] about On Ritual and Restoration: Designing the Bathrooms