Early on, I knew home wasn’t a place – it was a feeling. There was a reason I took back the feathers and seashells I found playing outside, mid-”Lone Ranger” game with my cousins, only to be put in a jar next to my bed. There was also a reason my Noni’s painting in the corner of our living room hung like a North Star. Home was a collection of the people and places that I love. And, of course, the little things I found along the way.

WHY WE TAKE THE BACKROADS

I grew up traveling with my parents across the country, a bit like gypsies. We’d drive from horse show to horse show – never without finding a hole-in-the-wall restaurant or discovering a new trading post. We’d discover new places, good food, and great friends. My best memories were off the beaten path, where the best treasures were found.

THE BACKROADS OF LIFE ALWAYS HAD THE BEST ADVENTURES.

I never felt the need to move far from my family’s Avocado Ranch, bouncing between Carpinteria, Montecito, and Ojai. Rincon Road now serves as a base between those places, representing all the back roads I took to where I am now. My upbringing in these places easily contributed to the values I hold within my business today: genuine relationships, hard work, and respect for others.

HONORING FAMILY TRADITION

Do you remember when you were 7 or 8 years old, and the few times you stayed up past your bedtime when family was visiting? It was a little off the books. You weren’t technically allowed. But because you were either 1.) tall enough to blend in, or 2.) quiet enough to be forgotten, you managed to get away with it.

So, you had a seat at the table with your favorite grown-ups, marveling at Aunts and Uncles recounting animated (and, in hindsight, over-exaggerated) stories from their past adventures. Belly laughs, the occasional curse word that went right over your head, and huge smiles all-around.

I’M INSPIRED BY THE STRONG TIES WE HAVE TO THE THINGS THAT HOLD HISTORY, AND KEEPING THE STORIES OF LOVED ONES ALIVE.

I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and her two sisters, specifically. We would drink iced tea on the back patio and share stories I fell so in love with that I can recount word-for-word today. How “Mamma’s” pan was the best to use for polenta, or how they found a chandelier on an evening walk through Montecito – the same chandelier that hangs in my own dining room today. Each year that goes by gives their stories and traditions more meaning. We carry these memories, values, and good luck both in heart and design.

CELEBRATING THE SLOWER SIDE OF LIFE

It’s easy to get caught up in everything that needs to get done. There are a million things to do, and not enough time to do it (that’s the nature of the beast, after all.). We’ve all worried a little too much about work on our day off, finding ourselves zoning out in deep thought… Sometimes in the middle of conversation over dinner, or in the car with the kids after soccer practice. Is it supposed to be like this? No way, chief.

MY MISSION IS TO CREATE SPACES THAT FOSTER A SLOWER-PACED LIFESTYLE, AND FOR PEOPLE TO RECONNECT TO THEIR ROOTS.

Time is fleeting, and the little in-between moments with our loved ones at home are the moments we’ll one day miss the most. If you move too fast, you’ll miss the view. My designs are created with the intention of celebrating life.

TO HONOR THOSE AROUND US, AND APPRECIATE OUR SURROUNDINGS IN A NEW LIGHT.

When you return home, you have the opportunity to embrace where you are and what you have right now. To sit down and be present in your life, exactly where it is. To read that book, write that letter to a loved one, decompress from that hard day. The best moments of our lives are not behind us or ahead of us, they’re where we are now.

WE BELIEVE IN YOUR STORY, BECAUSE WE VALUE OUR OWN

I started Rincon Rd. on $100 worth of art supplies, some good ideas, and a lot of heart. I had just become a new mom and created a block print business. What started from notes to friends, evolved into partnering with local boutiques and working through nap time to fill orders. I reached for big goals led by my passion for interior design, all the while balancing family.

I’m so happy to be able to pass these stories and traditions onto the next generation, and to continue doing what I love to do.

We enjoy a simple life on our ranch close to family, and our growing animal menagerie. I share a deep respect for my community, and the special opportunity I have to connect with my clients. I’m a sucker for a good story, and look forward to hearing yours.