16 Comments
User's avatar
Aja's avatar

Incredible essay. I love this line: "What I’ve learned is this: creating a home isn’t about how it looks. It’s about how it holds you."

Expand full comment
Daniela Araya's avatar

❤️

Expand full comment
Marquita's avatar

I love this so much Daniela!! I feel like we are all somehow entering this phase of wanting to slow down and in turn becoming more authentic. So happy to bear witness to your work!

Expand full comment
Daniela Araya's avatar

Yessss welcoming the slow down with big open arms! This is similarly why so much of your last piece resonated with me too. Thanks for reading 💛

Expand full comment
Veronica Calvage's avatar

This was such an incredible essay, Daniela! Thank you so much for sharing your vulnerability and your beautiful grandparents with us. 🥹

Shoutout to fake fruit grandmas (mine was a lady of similar distinction) and creating our homes with intention and care. You are a gifted storyteller, both textually and visually.

Expand full comment
Daniela Araya's avatar

Veronica! Thank YOU so much for your kind words and support (always) 😭

Expand full comment
Michael Bonadies's avatar

Amazing piece!

Expand full comment
Daniela Araya's avatar

Thank you so much! 💛

Expand full comment
Katie Brennan's avatar

I’m so glad you shared this! It’s wonderful - great work and I’m glad we were in class together!

Expand full comment
Daniela Araya's avatar

Katie! Thank you so much! So grateful we could share space in class together

Expand full comment
Tracy Ziemer's avatar

This is beautiful, Daniela. This part especially resonated and left a lump in my throat: "My grandma didn’t dust the fake grapes because she thought they were stylish. She did it because she believed the care itself mattered. My grandpa didn’t organize his collection of tchotchkes to impress anyone. He just liked knowing they were there. A record of what interested him."

Expand full comment
Daniela Araya's avatar

Thank you so much, friend! Grateful for your support 🥲💛

Expand full comment
MM's avatar

👏👏 this essay is a whole quiet and intentional world we get to step inside — thank you for sharing it with us! - Madeleine (from class 🤓)

Expand full comment
Daniela Araya's avatar

Thank you so much for your encouragement and kind words 🥹

Expand full comment
Autumn's avatar

Color is emotional work 🥹

Creating a home isn’t about how it looks, it’s about how it holds you 😭😭

Sometimes I think my work is just helping people come home to themselves, with better lighting and more confidence. 😩😩😩

NOT ME ACTUALLY TEARING UP AT THE LAST LINE. This was so well written and so touching to read. We need more!!! More of grandmas fake fruit!! 🍇

Expand full comment
Daniela Araya's avatar

I love you!!!! My biggest supporter

Expand full comment