“LET’S FINISH THAT” WEEKENDS

I recently read a story inspiring readers to set aside a “let’s finish that” weekend (a concept so grabby that it’s become known as simply “LFT”), for wrapping up those projects we’ve all been meaning to get to. Even if that Netflix series is asking to be marathoned, the story advised, take 48 hours and focus on those around-the-home tasks that have been piling up, waiting for that elusive moment when you finally have time to finish them. (For me, the piece brought to mind all of the abandoned knitting projects sitting in a disorderly pile in my linen closet, left there when another more urgent project—a baby’s early arrival, a friend needing some comfort—took its place.)

So I picked up this challenge, and got even more ambitious: laser-focusing on one room (my bedroom, too long neglected) to finally update the artwork, install shelving, replace a dresser I’d been meaning to get to—really getting into the small details of this one, defined space. Sometimes the commitment of an LFT weekend is just what you need to make your surroundings really sing again.

The New Year is often when we feel most inspired to lock down some LFT time, so we’ve brought you a bit of extra motivation in this issue to help you tackle that one room in your home you’ve been meaning to update. We’ve chosen a dozen “Great Spaces” ( page 27) that each shine a spotlight on one inspiring room in a great project: a personal office that’s designed to help clients feel right at home, too; a powder room that’s an ode to the matte finish; a feature wall that’s more than just wallpaper. They’re all great jumping-off points for your own LFT weekend.

Whether your LFT goal is small or perhaps, like our travel editor Neal McLennan, Palm Springs-sized (see page 36), we’d love to see how it ends up. Send us a pic of your 2019 “let’s finish that” project when you wrap it up—and, meanwhile, here’s wishing a very Happy New Year to you all.