Between the Earth and the Office
Workday 08/04/2025
I started the day by spending a little bit of time on my mural, continuing to bring the landscape to life with each brushstroke. It felt grounding to begin with something personal and creative before diving into my first exterior design project: the Lover’s Garden. This project has been in the making for weeks countless visits to flower shops, back-and-forth conversations with the American office, spatial planning, and careful budgeting. It’s been far from straightforward and has tested my ability to adapt, stay patient, and keep momentum.
Today’s main task was clearing the last of the old plants and laying down geo-textile, a technique I’ve learned to appreciate for its role in moisture retention and root protection. Seeing these steps come together makes the effort deeply rewarding, and I can feel how much I’m learning through each decision made on-site.
Once the garden work was wrapped up, I headed back into the French office and quickly shifted into a completely different mindset. The focus turned to interior needs specifically, selecting and replacing chairs for the kitchen and other parts of the Château. It was a sharp contrast to the tactile, earthy morning I’d just had, but switching between design contexts has become part of the rhythm. It demands mental flexibility, communication and a deep understanding of differing design objectives. Though it’s sometimes tiring, I find it creatively stimulating to be involved in projects that touch every corner of the Château, both inside and out.
I was asked to research and compare three chair options that had been pre-selected by the president, focusing on quality and cost. It felt like a meaningful responsibility being trusted to follow through with practical research and contribute to decisions that affect the visual and functional harmony of the space. These small, focused tasks remind me that design is layered; it’s not just about creating beautiful things, but also about making thoughtful, informed choices that support a shared vision.