A Space That Holds Us: A Mother’s Day Reflection on Home, Beauty, and Design

Mother’s Day invites us to look beyond the surface of design—past materials, finishes, and trends—and into the feeling of home.

For many designers, that feeling begins with their mothers.

Bernice Edwards

Elizabeth Baron

Nicole Salceda

The Foundations of Beauty

“Home isn’t about perfection — it’s about how a space makes you feel.”

For Bernice, that belief shaped everything. She grew up in a home centered on warmth, intention, and hospitality—“a place to gather, host, and make people feel cared for.”

Nicole of Eye for Pretty echoes a similar sentiment:

“Growing up our home wasn’t about perfection. It was about how it felt… There was an openness to our home where everyone was welcome.”

For Elizabeth Baron, the foundation of design came from two distinct influences—intuition and structure:

“My mother… has an innate, instinctual sense of beauty—she doesn’t follow rules, she follows feeling.”

“My godmother… understood scale, proportion, and structure in a very intentional way.”

Together, they shaped her belief that “a home should feel collected, personal, and alive.”

The Aesthetic We Inherit

Across each story, one idea emerges clearly: design is personal—and it’s meant to last.

Bernice reflects:

“I inherited her appreciation for timelessness over trends… pieces that felt meaningful rather than overly styled.”

Nicole shares a more playful, fearless influence:

“My mom had a great design eye and bought unique pieces that she loved… do what makes you happy.”

And Elizabeth captures a philosophy that defines layered, lived-in spaces:

“If she finds something she connects with, she buys it—without worrying about whether it’s the right scale or where it will go. She trusts that it will find its place.”

Designing for Them, With Love

When imagining a dream space for their mothers, each designer returns to connection, nature, and togetherness.

“A space that invites nature in and is built for connection and relaxation,” Bernice describes—an outdoor setting layered with greenery and ease.

Nicole’s vision is rooted in memory:

“I would love to design a lake home right on the water… a place for our family to enjoy time together.”

For Elizabeth, the dream is deeply tied to heritage:

“It would center around a courtyard… with expansive windows, natural stone, warm woods, and an abundance of plants woven throughout.”

Motherhood & the Evolution of Design

Motherhood doesn’t take away from beauty—it deepens it.

“I think more about how spaces flow, how they’re used day-to-day,” Bernice shares, emphasizing real life over perfection.

Nicole reflects on the shift toward durability and care:

“Your first priority is ensuring your home is safe and supportive… durable fabrics, soft corners, washable rugs.”

While Elizabeth speaks to balance:

“I don’t want to design from a place of fear or restriction… if you love something, it belongs in your home.”

What Home Feels Like

Beyond aesthetics, what stays with us are the sensory details—the quiet, lasting impressions of home.

“Warm woods, soft textiles, and vintage prints,” Bernice recalls.

Nicole remembers a more specific moment in time:

“An ornate brass headboard and a custom peach comforter… maybe I bring it back.”

And for Elizabeth, it’s deeply elemental:

“The coolness of stone floors, the warmth of worn wood… greenery everywhere—plants not as decoration, but as part of the architecture.”

The Legacy of Home

If there’s one thing these designers remind us, it’s this:

The most meaningful spaces aren’t perfect—they’re felt.

They are layered with memory, shaped by the people who came before us, and designed for the lives unfolding within them.

“A well-designed space should be lived in, not tiptoed around,” Bernice says.

And maybe that’s the essence of it all.

This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the women who taught us that home isn’t just how it looks—
it’s how it feels.