Laura Fenton

2 weeks ago | laurafenton.substack.com | Laura Fenton

During the last year, I’ve been thinking a lot about what is enough and how to cultivate a feeling of abundance without over-consuming. It’s a balancing act trying to discover where contentment lies. I’m always having to remind myself that even though our apartment is small, it is enough–that a bigger one (probably) wouldn’t make us happier. One thing that has been helpful in my quest for contentment is to identify what makes me feel like my cup is full—like I have “enough” and a little more.

2 weeks ago | gardenista.com | Laura Fenton

When the editor of a literary magazine tapped garden designer Jarema Osofsky to conceive a garden for her SoHo roof terrace, she asked for “a slice of the High Line.” The client imagined her space as a gathering place for friends and a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city, says Osofsky, the author of Moon Garden, a book about creating “evening oases.” As the existing 14- x 42-foot terrace was nothing but glass, metal, and personality-less tile, the project would require both clever...

2 weeks ago | midwestliving.com | Laura Fenton

When a pair of physicians with three young boys decided to build a home in St. Paul, they chose a lot that backed up to a preserve and hired Lucy Penfield, of Lucy Interiors in nearby Wayzata, to design it. “They were looking for spunk,” Penfield says. “Color pops, but not crazy—just enough for an increase in energy level and joy.” Modern farmhouse on the exterior, the house skews more contemporary inside, reflecting the couple’s preference for uncluttered, open spaces.

3 weeks ago | laurafenton.substack.com | Laura Fenton

If you’ve been reading Living Small for a while, you’ve probably heard me sing the praises of maintenance, mending, and repair. I believe in taking care of our belongings so that they can live a long and useful life. I’ll almost always try to fix something before buying a replacement. This ethos is easy to embrace when the stakes are low: Getting shoes resoled and buffed up at the cobbler is a no-brainer. Things get more complicated when the cost of repair increases.

3 weeks ago | gardenista.com | Laura Fenton

Flower-focused books have become enormously popular in recent years—and with good reason: Who doesn’t want to flip through a book filled with beautiful blossoms? The latest addition to the genre, ceramicist Frances Palmer’s new book, Life with Flowers: Inspiration and Lessons from the Garden, might be the most soulful flower book yet.