The beauty of right now

Trader Joe’s and I have a particularly close relationship this time of year. If there’s a pumpkin version of something, there’s a pretty good chance it’s coming home with me. I fully embrace it.

Fall makes me pay attention

I was out walking the other day when I stopped in my tracks. The sunlight was coming through the leaves just perfectly, with the brightest blue sky behind them. I stood there for a moment, taking it in.

I’ve lived in the Columbia River Gorge my entire life, and somehow it still surprises me every year. A hillside I’ve seen a thousand times suddenly looks completely different, and I can’t help but stop and study it.

At first, it’s usually the color that gets me. The deep reds, golden yellows and burnt oranges against all those evergreens. Then I start noticing the other things. The rough bark, the delicate leaves, the way the light changes how everything looks.

Why not everything has to match

And, inevitably, my designer brain kicks in.

I spend plenty of time admiring other designers’ work, looking through beautiful interiors and discovering new materials. But being outside reminds me that some of my favorite combinations are right here, without anyone having selected a single paint swatch.

Nothing matches exactly. There’s variation, contrast and a little unpredictability. Yet it all feels at home together.

That’s something I bring into my work. I love the movement in a piece of stone, the grain of real wood, the subtle differences from one handmade tile to the next. Those are often the details that make me want to use a material in the first place.

Of course, I care about how everything works together. That’s a big part of my job. But there’s a point where making every color and finish match too closely can take some of the character out of a room. Sometimes it needs a different texture or an unexpected material to make it feel interesting and personal.

Nature is pretty good at reminding me of that.

Leaving room to enjoy it

But I wouldn’t have noticed much of anything on that walk if I’d hurried through it. And lately, I’ve been thinking about how often I do exactly that.

Between running businesses, raising young children and everything else that fills our days, there’s always something waiting for my attention. Even when I’m somewhere beautiful, it’s easy to be mentally working through the next three things on my list.

Fall makes that harder to do. One week, the trees are bursting with color. The next, a good windstorm has taken half the leaves with it. You don’t get to put it off until things settle down.

I think that’s part of why I love this season so much. It nudges me to make room for things I could otherwise keep postponing: a walk, an afternoon outside with my family, a little time with nowhere in particular to be.

I’m learning that just because there’s room on the calendar doesn’t mean I need to fill it. Sometimes leaving an afternoon open is what gives me the chance to notice something beautiful, or simply enjoy being here.

And we’re pretty lucky to be here.

So if you see me stopped on the side of a trail staring at a tree, you’ll know why. Fall doesn’t stick around for long, and I’d rather enjoy it than wonder where it went.

Preferably in a great pair of boots, with something pumpkin flavored in hand.

-        Ashley

Curious how we bring nature’s colors, textures and materials into the homes we design? Explore our portfolio at www.neff-designs.com.