February Field Notes
Building, traveling, becoming. February always feels like a turning point.
The year is no longer new, but it hasn’t fully found its rhythm. It’s a month of momentum — of progress you can see and the kind that’s happening quietly beneath the surface.
For us, it was both.
The Showroom Build
There’s a shift that happens when a space moves beyond framing.
The bones are still visible, but the personality begins to emerge.
This month, flooring was laid. Cabinetry was installed. Slabs are currently in fabrication. Tile arrived on-site, stacked neatly and waiting. The space is no longer theoretical — it’s tactile.
Next comes paint selection and lighting installation. Those are the moments that transform structure into atmosphere.
We’ve been documenting the process along the way. If you’d like to follow the progress, we’re sharing updates regularly on Instagram.
This showroom represents ten years of learning distilled into one physical space. It feels meaningful to see it taking shape.
A New Digital Home
We also launched the new Design Studio website this month.
Over time, our work has evolved — and it felt important that the platform reflecting it evolved too.
This new site houses our interior design portfolio, press features, inspiration galleries, and Grain of Salt — our blog you're currently reading. It’s cleaner, more intuitive, and more aligned with how we think about design now: intentional, layered, and enduring.
A home for the work that feels true to the work.
Nashville: Creative Energy
We spent time in Nashville this month, and it reminded us how important it is to step outside of routine.
There’s something about that city — the mix of music, craftsmanship, hospitality, and warmth — that feels both grounded and expansive.
We walked neighborhoods. Visited local shops. Collected small moments that will undoubtedly show up in our projects in quiet ways.
Travel always shifts perspective.
Southall: Thoughtful Design in Place
We visited Southall while in TN — a property that deeply understands the relationship between land and architecture.
It’s rare to encounter a space where design feels so rooted in its surroundings.
We’re working on a full recap, but what stayed with us most was the restraint. The clarity. The way materials were allowed to speak for themselves.
There’s so much inspiration in places that don’t try too hard.
Kristin Johns: A Conversation + A Room
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Kristin Johns for her podcast this month.
Conversations about building a business, protecting creativity, and designing with intention always feel like a privilege. There’s something grounding about speaking honestly about the work behind the work.
Sitting Room Reveal
We also revealed her sitting room — layered in soft neutrals, subtle texture, and warm light. It’s a space meant for conversation, reflection, and everyday use.
The best rooms are the ones that quietly support life as it unfolds.
Napa Install: When It Comes Together
Install days are our favorite days. After months of drawings, samples, revisions, and waiting, a project finally becomes real.
This month we completed an install in Napa. The palette was warm and grounded — layered woods, textural upholstery, subtle stone. The kind of space that feels collected rather than decorated.
It’s always a quiet exhale when a home finds its balance.
Looking Ahead
February felt like foundation work. The visible kind — flooring, cabinetry, installs. And the invisible kind — conversations, inspiration, intention.
We’re building something new this year. Not just a showroom, but a next chapter.
Thank you for being here as it unfolds.
— Aly & Leigh, Pure Salt Co-Founders
