BS&L - What one missing chair taught me about good design

Published about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Hey Reader,

The other night we had seven people over for dinner.

As you might know already, we’ve just moved into our new apartment, so our furniture situation is… aspirational. When I realized we didn’t have enough chairs, I did what any friendly neighbor would do: I went knocking on doors.

Only one neighbor opened.
He had exactly one spare chair — a heavy work chair that would had been a nightmare to move.
Husband ended up sitting on his trumpet case.

It was funny.
But it was also a perfect reminder of why I care so much about space planning.

When people think about interior design, they picture colors, fabrics, and beautiful objects.
I think about where you put your keys when you walk in the door.

Space planning is the quiet work that happens before anything looks good.
It’s the part most people never see, but it’s what makes a home feel calm, generous, and actually livable — not just photogenic.

Before I move a single sofa, I ask different questions.

How do you really live here?

Do you cook every night or mostly order in?
Do you work from home/the dining table?
Do you host often — or almost never?
Do you feel calmer when everything is visible, or when it’s tucked away?

The answers shape the plan more than any style reference.

A family that eats on the sofa three nights a week needs a different layout than someone who loves long dinners around a table.
A person who spreads work across every surface needs a different relationship between seating, surfaces, and lighting than someone who closes the laptop at 5 p.m. sharp.

Space planning is lifestyle planning.

Here some products we are considering for our dining area.

The same thinking guides my floral work.

March preorders are now open for a corporate arrangement from my studio: white hydrangeas with pink anthurium.

It’s designed for public spaces — lobbies, reception desks, meeting rooms, building lounges — but also for home delivery.
Structured, architectural, present without overwhelming.

Because whether it’s chairs or flowers, design should support how a space is actually used.

Order now

If you need guidance, you can book a free consultation here.

Until next time,
Anna

Blue Sky & Lemons

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Blue sky & Lemons
interior & floral design studio, in Brooklyn, NY

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