Cape Cod, Campfires & Color Palettes: What Summer Taught Me About Design

At Resonance Interiors, inspiration doesn’t just come from trade shows and swatch books — it comes from living. And this summer has been a gentle reminder of how rest, reflection, and even a little salt air can shift perspective and renew creativity.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself in a mix of meaningful places:

A lakeside camp in the Adirondacks where I dropped off my son and caught glimpses of who he’s becoming.

The creative corners of Woodstock, Vermont, where pottery studios and antique shops sparked unexpected ideas.

And Provincetown — our longtime summer escape — with its sun-worn shingles, painterly skies, and unshakable sense of self-expression.

Each place had a rhythm, a palette, a feeling. And each reminded me why I do this work the way I do.

Nature Refines the Eye

Designers talk a lot about balance and contrast. But nature shows us how to do it — effortlessly.

The sun-drenched whites of Provincetown cottages paired with vibrant doors.

The moody greens of Vermont forests softened by hand-thrown ceramics in muted glazes.

The watery blues and warm woods of dock houses, Adirondack chairs, and fire pits at dusk.

These are the combinations that feel alive. They don’t chase trends — they invite you to slow down, to notice.

The Power of the Pause

There’s a reason we return to certain places again and again: they feel like us.

Design should be that way too.

As I sat around a campfire with family or wandered a local gallery, I found myself thinking about how homes — like vacations — should reflect the people inside them. Not just their style, but their story. Their needs. Their rituals. Their next chapter.

Which is why I believe in listening first, designing second.

Designing from a Full Well

After a season of soaking it all in, I’m back in the studio feeling recharged and ready.The textures I touched, the colors I noticed, the quiet I made space for — they all come with me into my next projects.

Because the best spaces don’t just look good. They resonate.

They hold memory. They support your rhythms. They welcome you back to yourself.

Looking Ahead

If summer brought a shift for you — a desire to finally tackle that room, reimagine how you live, or begin planning for what’s next — I’d love to help.

From one-room refreshes to full-home transformations, fall is a beautiful time to start something new.

START YOUR DESIGN JOURNEY HERE

Until then, I hope you find your own moments of resonance — in the places, people, and textures that surround you.

With warmth,

 Michael