December Love Letter: Reflecting on Growth, Gratitude, and New Beginnings

Burcu
Nov 30, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Sep 9

atlanta based interior designer — During Viva la Vida Install, Design & Curations, Interior Design Studio

As the year ends, December feels like the perfect time to pause, reflect, appreciate, learn, and dream.

This month, I’m soaking in gratitude for the year’s milestones—both personal and professional—and I want to share this heartfelt reflection with you.

Before diving in, if you missed my recent post on My 2025 Top Timeless Trend Predictions, you can check it out here. It’s a glimpse into what I believe will shape the design world next year.

Birthdays, Reflections on Alper's path in DnC, 1st ever Commercial Project, NEW Candle design, and more!

Now, let’s take a moment to look back at December together.

Celebrating Birthdays and Milestones

December holds a special place in our hearts—Lara and I share this birthday month. Together with the Christmas spirit, it is a time of love, celebration, and reflection for us.

Lara turned 4 this year, and watching her grow into her fierce, kind, and thoughtful self has been so rewarding. Her vibrant personality fills our days with laughter, creativity, and spirited debates. She’s not just growing—she’s teaching us to grow, too.

For my birthday, I cherish calm moments. For the past two years, I’ve taken the day off for a serene spa visit, a mani-pedi, and a casual lunch—beautifully coordinated by Alper. These moments of stillness and joy remind me of life’s simplest pleasures.

Design & Curations: A Journey of Growth

When we opened the Design & Curations studio 2.5 years ago, I never imagined how much it would grow. What began as a petite, passion-driven studio has blossomed into a creative space thanks to our amazing clients, Instagram community, and heartfelt referrals.

This year brought exciting changes to our business. Taking on full-scope design projects led Alper to join the team, complementing my strengths as we navigate this new chapter together. It’s been a journey of triumphs and challenges, but building this dream with my partner is a true joy.

More on working with your spouse maybe on another blog post? What do you think? Lot to unpack there.

Our First Commercial Project and Home Studio Dreams

Atlanta based interior design studio, home renovation, home decor, full service atlanta interiro designer

This year brought a full-circle moment: my first commercial design project was a spa—a space close to my heart. It feels serendipitous, as I’ve always dreamed of creating serene environments.

At the same time, we began transforming our underutilized basement into a home studio. This space will house samples, support our work, and provide a setting for meetings. I’m thrilled to share more details in January as we bring this vision to life. Can’t wait to plan a get-together for a preview to close F&F and the community.

Introducing the Feel-Good Candle

As a thank-you to our clients and supporters, we launched our first-ever Feel-Good Candle—a small-batch, sustainable, natural product that reflects the heart of Design & Curations.

Crafted with Haley, whom we met at High Point Market, this candle captures the essence of Mediterranean summers with notes of honeydew, orange peel, jasmine, and sea salt, finishing with sandalwood and musk. It’s a serene escape and a reminder that summer is a mindset, not just a season.