Trial by Fire

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS IN YOUR HOUSE? In the fall of 2020, I was 8 months pregnant with our daughter and a wildfire kindled about 5 miles from our house. California is known for being a tinder box, and we could literally see the orange glow of flames coming up over the nearby hills. So naturally, we started packing. What do you take when you might have to evacuate? Pets, important paperwork, computers and hard drives that have loads of family pictures, and any physical sentimental items. I even had my husband get a box of Christmas ornaments down from storage (he thought I was crazy). But it’s the practical items you can easily replace—that special box of collected family Christmas ornaments? Not so much. The other décor item we lugged into our front hall was the hand carved, three-foot-tall jewelry box my talented grandfather made for me. He originally designed it as a doll armoire (for which he’d won Best of Show in woodworking at the county fair). When I was too old for dolls, he added long legs, drawers and necklace hangers. It’s beautiful, and the most precious, one-of-a-kind piece I have in my home. If you could only take a few décor items from your house, what would you choose? I bet the pieces are special, maybe handmade or vintage or one of a kind. And that’s what we’re celebrating in this Made in America issue—those special and unique items that make your home a haven. The kind of items you would put on your own fire (or tornado, or hurricane) evacuation list. So enjoy this issue (we have some beautiful homes to show off!) as you discover those unique and personal items that define your home and style. And remember that at the end of the day, it’s the people in your life who matter more than your house—even for us home décor enthusiasts.

Cheers,

P.S. The end of the fire story? We never did have to evacuate, and no one died in the fire, though it burned over 12,000 acres in the local hills. Thank you to the fire fighters who keep us safe!