Issue #01

Happy Saturday. Welcome to the first edition of the Inside Look (previously the Home Catalog by Living Cozy).

Each week, the Inside Look will bring you:

• Three editor-curated home decor and furniture products and launches from the internet's best home brands.

• Two expert tips on home design and creating perfect spaces from professional interior designers.

• One inspiring interior design project from industry-leading designers. See behind the curtain of some of the world's nicest homes.

Now to today’s issue…

As the weather starts to warm up (finally!) and spring begins to peek around the corner, February is the perfect time to start decluttering and refreshing your living spaces. To help you on your home organizing journey, we've scoured the internet and handpicked three must-have products that will make your spring clean a breeze.

And for those of you still feeling the winter chill, we've got just the thing to chase away those blues - a stunning home tour inspired by far-off destinations. You might not be able to hop on a plane today, but this tour will transport you to new, exciting places, if only for a moment.

— Oliver & Ash, Editors of the Inside Look.

The Edit: Three products to help you declutter in style

With spring just around the corner, it's the perfect time to focus on decluttering and organizing your home. This week's edit is crafted to simplify the process.

Underbed Storage by Open Spaces

Made with natural canvas and a soft lid that fills like a suitcase, these Underbed (or sofa) Storage Bins from Open Spaces are perfect for keeping all your linens, sheets, and clothing safe and cozy — and your home organized and clutter-free.

Shop here at openspaces.com

The Dresser System

Floyd's Dresser System offers near-endless customization options. With a range of colors to choose from and a modular design that enables you to add to your storage at any time. It’s a piece you can truly make your own.

Shop here at floydhome.com 

Blake Media Console

A Crate and Barrel exclusive, The Blake Media Console combines natural materials and vintage design to create chic yet functional living room addition.

Shop here at crateandbarrel.com

Insider Insight: Two creative design ideas for a cozy bedroom

Get that cozy feeling

If you live in a colder climate — or you're just not a morning person, getting out of bed can be one of the day’s toughest challenges. So, think about what will give you that cozy feeling as soon as you get up.

“Most people like the cozy comfort of a rug or carpet to ease the transition from sleeping to waking. If you have hard flooring, consider a soft rug under your bed. Even if you already have carpeting, you may want to add a rug to your room as a design element,” says Robin DeCapua, owner and designer at Madison Modern Home.

“Make sure your rug doesn’t compete with your bedding, so if you have a small-patterned rug, try a larger pattern mixed with a solid color in your bedding. Nothing adds a layer of cozy quite like a rug underfoot,” adds DeCapua.

Read the full article here.

Embrace soft lighting

Comforting, soft lighting is super important in bedrooms, as most people opt to use lamps on nightstands in place of overhead light fixtures. “Consider lamps with a three-way switch so that you can adjust the brightness depending on the need,” recommends DeCapua.

“A traditional look can be achieved with matching gourd or column lamps (try today’s on-trend conical lampshades to update any lamp base). If your style is more casual, many desk and task style lamps look great atop nightstands as well. They have the added convenience of being articulated so you can direct the glow where you want it,” Capua adds.

Read the full article here.

Home Spotlight: Inside a stunning, travel-inspired home

Designer Emily Mackie transformed this stunning 7,000+ sqft Chicago home to reflect the owner's shared experiences. She highlighted the couple's prized possessions and travel experiences throughout each room, resulting in a unique and inspiring home full of memories.

Take a tour of this property here.

Meet & Greet: Three questions with Jiake Liu

When Jiake Liu and Terry Lin founded Outer, their mission was simple: get people outside. With winter on it's way out, and many of us starting to think about updating our outdoor spaces, we caught up with Jiake to learn more about the brand’s mission.

What inspired you to start Outer?

Jiake: We founded Outer on a mission to bring life outside. As Americans, we spend over 90% of each day indoors. After studying existing products, we realized that outdoor furniture was an afterthought. It was clear that we needed to purposely create products designed for better living outside.

Why do you feel it’s important to spend more time in outdoor spaces?

Jiake: Many of us spend over 90% of each day indoors. From our homes to our offices and the commutes in between, it seems like we’ve forgotten what it’s like to spend quality time outside. Yet, we know it’s something we need more of.

Research shows that spending time outdoors can make us healthier and happier – even lowering blood pressure and reducing stress. Spending time outside can be as simple as stepping outside of your own backdoor.

What makes Outer’s furniture unique?

Jiake: In an industry seemingly forgotten, we’ve challenged everything from how outdoor products are designed to how they’re sold. When you look at what’s offered in outdoor furniture at the big box retailers, it’s not durable or comfortable, it’s built to be disposable. We decided to make a change in the outdoor living category and change the way people purchase outdoor furniture.

While our competitors have sacrificed sustainability for durability, we’ve created proprietary materials that are eco-friendly and guaranteed to last season after season. Our Aluminum collection, for example, is guaranteed to stand up to every day use for a decade and is completely recyclable after its long lifespan. Our All-Weather Wicker is not only more durable than traditional wicker, but made from recycled plastic water bottles diverted from landfills and waterways.

Read more from our interview Jiake Liu here.

That's all for this week. Enjoy your weekend and please let us know what you think to today’s email — we’d love your thoughts, so we can make each issue great. Hit reply or choose an option below: