The idea of home feels so different this year. I've always appreciated environment and the importance of space, but this season — with its incredible valleys and peaks — the understanding of home as a shelter amid all the wild and noise of the world feels so important. A place of your own is the truest form of luxury. Over the past two and a half years, we've been on the journey of building our family home in Nashville's Germantown neighborhood. We were lucky enough to find an empty plot on a historic street that was densely packed with charm and possibi ..read more

When it comes to curating the perfect Airbnb, it’s all about anticipating needs. Knowing what a guest must have and, more important, what a guest truly wants, makes all the difference. Here, our cheat sheet for creating an Airbnb that takes hospitality to a whole new level. Happy hosting. 1. A PERSONAL WELCOME The first experience with your home should be a personal one. This isn’t a mass produced experience. Your guests could have stayed anywhere, but they chose your space. So treat them like the valued guest they are. Write a handwritten note. Call them by their first name. Acknowledge if th ..read more

The age old question: can good design and toddlers co-exist? Can watercolors and white sofas live under the same roof?  Most people pause. And then cover everything in plastic. Surely little ones and leather can’t mix and mingle. So instead of designing a home they love, they design a space that’s “kid proof.”  But as I’ve come to find, life is short. And it’s just as likely I’ll spill a glass of wine as my toddler will spill a glass of milk. So instead of waiting 18 years to live in a home I love, I’d prefer to design thoughtfully and with intention. Beauty and family go hand-in-ha ..read more

"Humans are multi-faceted. We have different preferences and characteristics that round us out and give our lives dimension. So it's only natural that we'd want our homes to feel the same way. Layered, cohesive environments that tell complete stories. Want to move out of one-dimensional design and bridge the gap between different design styles you love? Here are 4 tips to create harmony and depth of design in your home. We get it — it's super satisfying. But for most people, it's also super unrealistic. Big reveals take big budgets ..read more

This past summer, in midst of all the 2020 wildness, our family grew a little bigger with the addition of our daughter, Adelaide Emerson Proby. Ada for short. At the same time Ada was born, we were finishing up building our new home. Let me tell you: the nesting instinct is real. We spent the first couple of months after she arrived moving between different apartments waiting for the build to finish.  And what I wanted more than a laundry room or kitchen or the ability to hang clothes in an actual closet, was a room for my daughter. As a new mom, y ..read more

We all have those moments where we want to refresh our space. A change in environment stimulates, stirs things up, creates a novel perspective. And perhaps there's no time we want it more than the new year when a fresh, new slate makes us feel all the possibility.  If you're looking to make a quick change on a low budget, we have one word for you: textiles.  Textiles are the sleeping giant of the interior world. So many people think of them as after thoughts. Garnishes on a big plate of furniture. But pillows, throws, and rugs carry so much weight ..read more

Designing a home from scratch is the dream. So much possibility and opportunity. With spec homes and existing homes, you're fitting your life into someone else's concept. But with a custom home you're tailoring a space specifically to you and your preferences. But lest we drift too far into fairytales, custom builds aren't all rainbows and unicorns. Even if you’re seasoned in the process, it can be a daunting uphill battle.  If you're thinking about breaking ground and building form scratch, here's the Mayker insider scoop on finding great people and getting ahead of some common ..read more

This was the year of more time at home. A microscope over our daily living practices that shed a little more light on what we really need — and what we really don't.  As we head fresh faced—and dare we say hopeful—into the new year, here are 6 tips for decluttering your space for a more clear-minded 2021.   1. Adopt habits that prevent accumulation.  We love a good habit, and there are so many practical and useful ones surrounding home organization. One of the smartest things you can do is create practices that stop the onslaught of accumulation. Here are two ..read more

The start of parenthood is overwhelming. You're embarking into a foreign land with little more than a large belly, back pain, and some "well-meaning" advice from been-there-done-thaters.  I did a lot of research trying to find what baby products I wanted to invest in for my newborn. There is so much noise out there, and it seems like you "need" an unreasonable amount of things. I wanted to simplify these needs as much as possible and find products that would function well, but also fit more seamlessly into our daily living. Surely, I reasoned, not every ..read more

If you're of the more minimalist mindset, all the pieces in your home should be intentional and hand-selected. The fewer pieces you have, the more each has to pull its own weight — from the wine decanter straight down to the dish sponge.  If you're looking to update in the new year with some small changes that make big impressions, we've sorted through the behemoth of Amazon and pulled together 45 items that are perfect additions for the modern, minimalist home. From soft textiles and outdoor planters to sleek and simple glassware, these are ou ..read more