The mounds of dirt and landscaping unfinished, reminding myself that this feels more like home than any pristine backyard ever could for now.
© Michelle Webb Interior Design

A quiet thought

Before we begin, this post isn’t about tips or trends.
It’s simply a reflection. A quiet thought I’ve had lately, and a reminder I want to share with you that could resonate.

In a world that so often celebrates perfection and speed, I find myself drawn to the pauses lately, the spaces that are still becoming. The unhurried pockets within my days.
Maybe you’ve felt it too. If so, I hope these words feel like a soft exhale. Something familiar.

The pressure to be finished

There’s an unspoken pressure many of us feel at times, the sense that our homes should always be done. Perfectly styled. Effortlessly tidy, organised. Every room and every detail just right.

But real homes, the ones we live and grow in don’t work like that. They unfold slowly, layer by layer. They carry our stories. They evolve with us and our families.

I feel that pressure too. As a designer, it can feel even heavier, the idea that my home should always reflect a certain level of polish. Sometimes I find myself wishing we could have it all finished the landscaping done, the new couch. But through that impatience, I’ve realised that the mounds of dirt are fine for now. The boys ride their bikes down them. And that feels more like home than any pristine backyard or lawn ever could.

An unfinished home is a story still being written.
And good stories take time.

One day there’ll be a beautiful lawn. But today, there’s this: a bike, and my happy boy.
© Michelle Webb Interior Design

What is Slow Design?

Slow design is about more than style, it’s a mindset and lifestyle. It’s choosing to let your home evolve with you, one intentional decision at a time.

It means:

Waiting for pieces that truly speak to you
Living in a space before deciding how it should feel
Prioritising sustainability over speed
Creating a home that reflects your own journey

A slow home is never quite “done,” because you’re never quite done. And that’s what makes it beautiful in my opinion.

Whether you’re in a brand new build, renovating one space at a time, or making do with a collection of mismatched pieces or hand me downs, your home is already something beautiful and growing with you.

My unfinished story

I often find the most touching moments during renovations are not just at the end, but in the waiting. I’ve walked alongside clients as they lived through the messiness, dust and disruption, quietly imagining what could be. I’ve seen the joy in their eyes when a space finally begins to reflect what they’ve planned for, not just a room completed, but a home that is becoming theirs.

There are corners in my own home that still sit quietly unfinished, a bare patch where I’ve imagined and planned for cedar in built shelving filled with meaningful objects: old photos, pottery pieces from a friend, an heirloom from Nana.
I have a hallway still waiting for the right piece of art. A linen cupboard with no shelves yet (I did marry a builder!) just towels stacked on top of one another for now. Our spare room without curtains just yet.

And in the centre of it all: our dining table. It’s older I have had for years, the wood is dark probably too dark for the space in design terms. But it’s our table for now. It’s where we sit, share dinner and connect. And that makes it perfect in its own quiet way.

Home isn’t about impressing others.
It’s about becoming, slowly, naturally, and with heart.

Our spare room, awaiting curtains, some artwork and new bedside tables…one day.
© Michelle Webb Interior Design

Why Slow Design just feels better

When you stop chasing perfection and start embracing the process, something beautiful happens:

You feel less pressure to have it all sorted
You spend more time wisely, making thoughtful, lasting choices
You discover joy in small progress, not just big reveals
You create with meaning, not just momentum or following the next trend
Your home becomes truly yours layered with intention, memories, and your true loves.

How to embrace your unfinished home

If you're navigating an evolving space, either renovation, in your new build or just rearranging a space at home, here are a few grounding reminders:

Prioritise needs over wants: Let function lead as I have found that beauty always finds its way in
Celebrate the small wins: A new vase, a framed photo, a freshly painted wall, they all count
Buy slowly and mindfully: Choose pieces with purpose and patience, wait for those pieces you truly love if you don’t have the money just yet. Saving for something is so empowering
Change your language: Try “in progress” or “evolving” instead of “not done”, shifting your mindset into a more positive one
Enjoy the pause: These in between moments are an invitation to be present, not perfect, something we can all do better in.

Your reminder

Your home doesn’t need to be finished to be beautiful or be all new.
It doesn’t need to be styled perfectly to be meaningful.

Sometimes the quietest corners, the still-empty walls, the pieces yet to be found, these are the parts that hold the most potential. They remind us that good things take time, that slower is often richer, and that home is a journey, not a destination. Something I keep reminding myself of late!

If you're sitting in the in between, longing for a home that feels like you, I’d love to connect. Whether you're renovating, layering slowly, or simply not sure where to begin, I’m here to walk alongside you.

I write this as much for myself as for you, a reminder that slowness is not lack, it’s the care in decisions we make and finding pockets of presence amongst the busy days.

So if your space feels incomplete, please remember ~
You’re not behind.
You’re just becoming.

Michelle x