How Slow Design Transforms Your Space: A Journey to Timeless Style and Patience

By Niki Zdanow, Haus of Arden

The Value of Patience in Room Design

With the world moving so fast around us, we’re used to not waiting for things. We don’t wait for TV commercials, we don’t wait for new episodes, and we don’t have to wait for someone to write us a letter. Everything in our life is at the touch of our fingers, and so when we are working on our living spaces, sometimes we forget that it’s ok to take our time.

Pictured: Sara Le Print Linen Drapery Pleated in Vintage Linen SL-J1

To move quickly through design is an expense, and sometimes a large expense; it takes dedication of time, and it also takes a clear vision. Sure, you can accomplish what you want in a short time, but there’s something to be said about a room that was gathered and slowly added to over time. You know the rooms I’m talking about—the kind of room you just want to wander around like a museum, touch this and that, and hear the story of where the pieces came from.

This room is one of those rooms. But since you can’t walk the room with me, I’ll take you through each piece and tell its story about how it came to be.

The mid-century night tables were one of my most prized finds, a Facebook Marketplace find to be specific. I bought them for $250 for the set. That was 10 years ago, and I still love them. They’re old and solid and will be around for another 60 years.

The table side lamps were a big box score about 7 years ago; I can’t bear to part with them because I love them with those nightstands.

When we bought this house, I knew I wanted some kind of art and I wanted a set—one of a man and one of a woman. It took a couple of months, but I found these old British Museum prints.

The light was found about 5 years ago at an outlet. I had seen this same style but for many thousands of dollars, and I was able to score this one for about $300.

Next, the bed was purchased a couple of years ago. It’s one of the big splurges in the room, but it’s exactly what I wanted and needed. I wanted a raised platform with a substantial headboard, and needed wood because of our kids and dogs (it’s hard enough to make the bed, never mind clean a headboard).

The dresser was bought around the same time as the nightstands; it’s a mid-century burl wood piece. It’s nearly 90” long and took four people to get up the stairs.

Discovering the Perfect Rug and the Wait for Window Coverings

One of my favorite pieces is this earthy vintage rug with charcoal pops. There is so much detail and so many colors in this rug, yet it still manages to feel very neutral.

Now I have this perfect room that’s slowly been added to over time, but for the past 7 years, we’ve had no window coverings. I can’t tell you how many samples I’ve brought home and nothing felt right. Patience, patience and more patience until FINALLY!

Finally Finding the Ideal Window Treatments: Mission Accomplished

I stumbled across the TWOPAGES Sara Le collection. LIGHTBULB! Not one but two of the prints coordinate so well with the rug it’s as if they were made for each other. I was torn between the Ivy brown and the Copper, but decided to go with the Ivy brown. And seriously, it was worth the wait. I got them blackout-lined with pinch pleats and have two panels for each window. It looks phenomenal. I already liked my room, but now I love it. It’s such a vibe and such a fun place to spend time in. Worth every minute waited. Mission Accomplished.

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