Kate Arends

Minnesota

Blogger at Wit and Delight

Writer at House Call!

Founder of Wit & Delight, LLC (she/her)

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Articles

Kate's Five Things #53

1 week ago | housecall.substack.com | Kate Arends

Some ideas arrive like a full sentence dropped into your lap. Clear, sharp, whole. I've been paying attention to those lately. The ones I almost scroll past in my own mind. When I’m in a creation hole (where I currently reside), I am reminded that making is my kind of religion. I used to rush towards the product. Now, I see this process being just for me. Whatever I share becomes the thing I give up.
Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2025: 15 Gift Ideas Every Mom Will Love

1 week ago | witanddelight.com | Kate Arends

I’ve shared my desire to be a better gift giver over the years, and let me tell you, it’s an ongoing process. Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 11, and I’ve found that 90% of being a better gift giver is planning well ahead of time. So today I’m reminding you to get those gifts squared away, and offering my personal favorite Mother’s Day gift ideas (including a few that don’t cost a thing).
The 3 Spaces Where I Feel Most at Peace in Our Home

2 weeks ago | housecall.substack.com | Kate Arends

For me, the most powerful spaces in my home are the ones that help me slip into a sense of flow. They’re intuitive because they’re designed around what I do in them—not just how they look in a photo. A couple of weeks ago, I found myself sitting in the middle of the hallway floor. It’s not exactly a spot I would consider my space, but I had paused there to catch my breath before wrangling two defiant kids into the car for school.
Kate's Five Things #52

3 weeks ago | housecall.substack.com | Kate Arends

I spent last week at Esalen Institute, where the cliffs drop into the ocean and everyone wears the same expression of hopeful skepticism. I went to "work" on self-trust and inner wisdom, which is like saying you're going to schedule spontaneity. I know this because people make a specific facial expression when they're trying to feel something they're not feeling yet. I made this face for three straight days.
What I’m Eyeing from West Elm’s New Pierce & Ward Collection

3 weeks ago | housecall.substack.com | Kate Arends

Today’s bonus House Call post is brought to you by our friends at West Elm and is available to all subscribers. Thank you for supporting me at House Call!When I heard about West Elm’s latest collaboration with interior design studio Pierce & Ward, I immediately perked up. Known for their eclectic, layered, and soulful interiors, Pierce & Ward bring a fresh, collected feel to every space they touch—and this collection is no exception. This collaboration has soul.
7 of the Best Places to Buy Rugs at Every Price Point

3 weeks ago | witanddelight.com | Kate Arends

“Where did you get that rug??” is one of the questions I’m asked most often. Rugs were the first big purchase decor item I started collecting when I moved into my first apartment. Below you’ll find my favorite places to browse and buy rugs (the former of which I am almost always doing). There is a wide variety of brands, price points, and styles represented below, for a number of reasons.
What to Do If You’re Second-Guessing Your Taste

4 weeks ago | housecall.substack.com | Kate Arends

If you’ve ever second-guessed your taste—same. “Who am I?” is the question of a lifetime, so maybe let’s not expect ourselves to answer it perfectly every time we buy a rug. We like to make the small choices feel huge when we’re unsure of ourselves. It’s our way of staying safe. I have a bad habit of shooting down my own ideas the second they smack me between the eyes. Which is inconvenient, because most of my best ideas arrive this way—clear and bright, sometimes uninvited, and impossible to ignore.
My Guide to Mixing Patterns and Colors Like a Pro

4 weeks ago | housecall.substack.com | Kate Arends

Today’s bonus House Call post is brought to you by our friends at The Inside and is available to all subscribers. Thank you for supporting me at House Call! Welcome to a bonus issue of House Call. At the start of this year, I wrote down what I wanted to deliver in my newsletter, a tightening or reframing of sorts. Everything I feel called to write about is about feeling good at home through creativity and play. Designing a Home—and Life—That Feels Like You.
How to Be Brave With Color and Pattern in Your Home

4 weeks ago | witanddelight.com | Kate Arends

Color and pattern add so much life and personality to a home. But for many of us, it’s hard to know where to start. We’re afraid of making mistakes or our homes looking too busy or cluttered. It wasn’t until I moved into a home where color and pattern were embraced that I even felt called to use their full potential. I realized I liked to be surrounded by color and pattern more than I thought I would.
My Current Skincare Routine: 21 Products, Devices, and Treatments I'm Loving

1 month ago | witanddelight.com | Kate Arends

I was recently diagnosed with rosacea, which led me to take a closer look at the skincare products I was using. Through that process, I reassessed my skincare routine, paying special attention to how my skin reacts to different factors—especially my cycle. Right before my period, I tend to get a few pimples, and my rosacea flares up, so I focus on using gentle, soothing products during that time. I figured it was time to share what my routine looks like now.