Current Inspiration #24

It’s hard to believe that 2026 is already here. Splitting our time between two places over the past couple of years has made life feel as though it’s moving at supersonic speed. Finding ways to feel grounded and fully present can be a challenge, and maybe that is just part of choosing this unconventional entrepreneurial path. No glamorizing anything, just sharing thoughts.

Yet, within that unpredictability lies so much beauty. The experiences, projects, and people we encounter through this work continue to inspire us deeply. Even when the world feels uncertain and particularly heavy, these fleeting moments of inspiration and connection remind us why we do what we do.

This edition of Current Inspiration is our way of pausing to reflect and share what’s been fueling our creativity lately from designs, ideas, and small joys that have sparked something meaningful. We hope this roundup brings you a little light, fresh energy, and maybe a few new sources of inspiration for your own creative journey.

Paris Is Always A Good Idea

We had the pleasure (and excuse) of a Parisian adventure during Paris Design Week earlier in January, with all its beautifully orchestrated events celebrating creativity and craftsmanship.

Our visit to Maison et Objet was, as always, a highlight. We discovered new collections, reconnected with familiar brands, and walked until our feet could protest no more. Beyond the main fair, we wandered through intimate showrooms tucked around the city and found ourselves inside private residences (sometimes even a hidden hôtel particulier) transformed for the week into design showcases.

Some favorites from this year included Baccaris, the French lighting brand designing true jewels of illumination, and Le Jacquard Français, whose storied heritage and fresh playfulness continue to inspire. We were also drawn to House of Hackney’s new collection. Their mastery of color, pattern, and texture remains unmatched. Their cork wallpaper, something we continue to come back to, might just make its way into a future project. And a special highlight: discovering the newest collection from Nordic Knots, the Swedish rug brand that defines quiet sophistication, shown in a private residence designed by the iconic French architecte, Andrée Putman. The harmony between architecture, texture, and light was unforgettable.

We’re still swooning over our camera roll after Design Week, feeling endlessly inspired by the beauty this city never fails to deliver.

Chicago's Architectural Fabric

One of our current projects unfolds within a historic Chicago Bungalow. If you know Chicago, you understand these homes form a defining pillar of the city’s architectural identity. This particular home feels especially beautiful and special. The project continues to remind us of what we love most: preserving existing structures and respecting wisdom they hold. These homes serve as windows into the past. They reveal a city’s cultural history and evolution.

The timing could not have been more perfect. We recently had the opportunity to meet and interview Carla Bruni for our podcast, The Green Route with MAREDI Design. As an architectural preservationist, resiliency specialist, and author of the new book Chicago Homes: A Portrait of the City’s Everyday Architecture, she brings deep expertise to Chicago’s architectural landscape. Her book stands as a beautiful love letter to the city. Among many styles, it celebrates the Bungalow in particular.

We won’t reveal too much here since the book deserves your full attention. Follow along with our bungalow project, and you’ll see exactly why this architectural style weaves itself so deeply into Chicago’s fabric.

The Power of Choice

A motto we strive to live by both personally and professionally feels especially timely to share: voting with your dollars. Every purchase carries power. You decide where your money flows, from everyday essentials to meaningful investments. Consider the laundry detergent on your shelf, the bedsheets that touch your skin each night, or the financial institution holding your savings. Even the restaurant you frequent or the grocery store where you shop shapes the world around you. This concept aims to empower rather than overwhelm. Your choices determine what you support, who benefits, and what values thrive. We embrace this responsibility daily, especially when selecting vendors, sourcing materials, and curating products for client projects. Conscious consumerism becomes a creative act when approached with intention. Every dollar casts a vote for the future you want to see. What will yours support?

Choosing Your Footprint

You have likely heard us speak about small living before, yet the subject merits revisiting. Life across two continents and their contrasting real estate markets continues to sharpen our perspective on intentional space. If you have followed along, you may remember our podcast conversation with small living expert Laura Fenton, who so eloquently unpacked its philosophy. The concept remains relative to context. Four hundred square feet feels modest in Paris, while twelve hundred square feet might qualify as small in Los Angeles.

The core principles endure regardless: embracing a controlled footprint, consuming thoughtfully, and stewarding resources with care. We work within an industry that celebrates expansiveness, yet we believe masterful design thrives in any scale (our thoughts here in GB&H Magazine). When a smaller footprint receives thoughtful optimization, sufficiency becomes profoundly comforting. Well-designed intimacy often proves more enduring than excess. How do you define enough in your own spaces?