When I am stressed and recognize that my mind needs a break, I turn to being creative.

Our little A-frame in the Green Mountains has a back porch that is in need of some attention. We have always dreamt of enlarging it slightly and creating a screened-in porch dining area. The bugs in Vermont can be a nuisance often when dining outdoors, and with a view of the lush back woods, this feels like a great solution along with an opportunity to liven up an otherwise forgotten space.

I’ve made a little mood board for each room in our home and over the weekend began scheming up how I would furnish the porch for the A-frame in Vermont. With a strong affection for The Adirondacks, naturally, I love rustic beauty. Mountain life where patina and texture run rampant. I see a rush rug, Décors Barbares textiles, stick rattan and wicker, and a few pieces that are perhaps Bavarian or Austrian in style. The space would be a place to truly relax (speaking of sanity!), enjoy candlelit dinners, play a mean game of backgammon, and take in the cool evening air.

Here’s to dreaming and scheming!