Punchy plywood, swingy brass fringe, and more delightful spring things

Hello!

Welcome to my very first Design School post. The timing feels auspicious: We are this close to having more hours of daylight, which means spring is officially on the horizon. I’m also headed to L.A. later this week on a work trip (for me, that definitely includes a visit to The Future Perfect, along with some new spots I want to check out—more on that soon).

For those who missed my intro last week, you can find a bit more about me here. As we dig into more design finds and favorites each Tuesday, I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. You can reply directly to this post or find me in Notes.

Ok, let’s get to it!

1. No Tech Afternoon

A quick selfie before my no-phone adventures; the perfect cappuccino in the perfect cup. (Photo via Less & More)

I recently found myself in downtown Portland without a phone. Mine was at the Apple store getting a new battery. (I hate throwing things away if they can be fixed or repurposed; I’d rather keep that little machine going than get the latest shiny gadget.) Once I handed the phone over, though, I realized I didn't know where to get a good coffee in the neighborhood. I went to a display device to start looking up recs and was approached by a team member who excitedly told me about a coffee shop around the corner. What a nice reminder to ask people right in front of you rather than always relying on your phone. The cafe—Less & More—was such a delightful discovery: a minimal space with handmade glazed pottery and oak tables that serves up delicious coffee. I couldn’t take any pics (ha!) but that was a good excuse to return and dust off my analogue camera. Cliche as it sounds, not having a tech crutch made me truly slow down and explore a familiar area with fresh eyes. Highly recommend!

2. A Shop That Has It All

Vintage treasures at the Wilma pop-up in Frances May; when I tell you I regret not buying this outfit from last fall… ; another gem spotted at Wilma. (Photos via Frances May)

While on my no-phone walkabout, I headed to one of my favorite boutiques in the city. You might think a high-end clothing store comes with a pretentious air, but there is a welcoming spirit here that embraces creative oddballs (I feel seen!). Frances May offers a dose of fashion inspiration and a masterclass in bold yet simple design ideas, especially for color. Dusty cornflower blue carpet and curtains in the changing room create a calm oasis (and the perfect selfie backdrop). Color-drenched painted stairs—one set in brick red, the other in kelly green—could be a great spring home refresh project for swapping out tired stairway runners. The shop’s pop-up residencies are worth checking out, too. The current one, a lovely vintage home goods curation by Wilma (a.k.a. local creative Annie Brett) is up until April 10, but you can see her work online if you can’t make it in-person. My fave: a 1970s Anna Ehrner pendant light that is all about the tension between crisp polished chrome and patinated taupe leather.

3. Springtime Shimmer

My springtime mood in dress form; our new Rhone pulls offer a similar reflective touch. (Photo via Rachel Comey)

I love all the swingy, light-catching fringe in the new Rachel Comey collection, especially this shimmery number, a modern spin on the little black dress. The movement and texture are so fun (Comey calls it “high-key playful, low-key sensual.”) My mind went straight to how certain pieces can cast light around a room and add extra dimensionality, like our new Rhone brass pulls with a crisp indent.

Stained Plywood: The New Burlwood?

Proof that plywood has a transformative effect: multicolor “Rohsska” chairs by Swedish designer Fredrik Paulsen, and a mesmerizing stairwell in London. (Photos courtesy Blå Station and Foils/French & Tye)

I’ve been seeing a lot of colorful stained plywood pop up on my Instagram lately, and it got me thinking about why it's so appealing. Normally I’m a bit of a purest: I prefer a clear finish to celebrate the wood’s natural tone, rather than staining one species to look like another.

But all bets are off with a plywood that’s unabashedly dipped in pigment, because it’s obviously not trying to pass for anything else. The stain and wood grain mixed together create something dynamic and unique. On larger planes of plywood—like kitchen cabinets or wall panels—the color acts as a form of wallpaper, adding movement and pattern in big swaths. It’s similar to marbling, or even, dare I say, burlwood. Burlwood has been used for centuries in furniture and decorative arts as a status material (the burls are imperfections in trees that are more rare compared to linear lumber, and therefore considered a luxury). It peaked in popularity across many styles and eras, including Baroque, Rococo, Victorian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Mid-century Modern (phew). What I love about plywood is that it combines that richness with a more minimal, modern, and accessible touch—especially when reimagined with playful, saturated color stains. For more inspiration, peep these pine chairs by Swedish designer Fredrik Paulsen in collaboration with Blå Station, this impactful entryway by London architectural studio Foils (who installed the panels themselves to trim costs), and this stylish apartment in Poland. Head to your hardware store this weekend to start scheming up your own cool DIY!

My Go-To Pencil

This Muji pencil looks like a regular #2 for that nostalgic charm and simplicity, but it’s secretly mechanical, so it always stays sharp.

Hope you all have an on-point week! I’ll be in L.A.—any recommendations?

Katie xx