Aperol Spritz, A Yellow Couch, And The 3 Reasons I Wrote A Book: Behind The Scenes At The Launch Party

In this episode, I’m sharing the full talk I gave at the launch party for Slow Style Home—the one moment from that night we didn’t manage to record. I walk through the long, winding path that led me here, why the cultural noise around “dream homes” pushed me to write this book, and how serendipity, inspiration, and experimentation became the backbone of the Slow Style approach. I also take you behind the scenes of the event itself—yes, including the Little Yellow Couch, the Aperol spritz, and all the small details that tell a bigger story about creating a home that reflects who you are. If you’ve ever wondered what Slow Style really looks like in practice, this talk is the closest thing to standing in the room with me.

Watch this entire episode on YouTube HERE

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Talk That Almost Disappeared

When I started putting this episode together, I realized something: even though the launch party for Slow Style Home was one of the biggest moments of my career, the talk I gave that night almost vanished. We didn’t get a recording—of course we didn’t; these things always slip through the cracks—so only the people sitting in that Boston rug showroom heard it. This episode is my way of bringing it back to life.

Setting the Scene: Rugs, Spritzes, and a September Heatwave

The party took place at J & D Oriental Rug Co., a space filled floor-to-ceiling with hand-woven rugs. We set up rows of chairs, and behind me hung a massive, gorgeous tapestry that became my unofficial backdrop. Off to the right, a tiny makeshift bar poured Aperol spritzes—the drink I chose purely because it matched the orange stripe on the book cover. Color stories matter, even in cocktail form.

Across the room, small cocktail tables were draped in the vintage linens I’ve gathered from flea markets and antique stores over the years. Each was topped with a handful of wildflowers and a vintage bowl filled with nuts or olives. None of it was random—these details quietly highlighted the five Slow Style elements: art, antiques, nature, handmade, and culture.

And yes—the original Little Yellow Couch was there too. The couch that launched a blog, then a podcast, then this entire journey. Seeing it in the corner felt like a full-circle moment.

Why I Started the Talk With Three Words

When I stepped up to the front, I opened with three simple words: serendipity, inspiration, experimentation. They’re not buzzwords—they’re the backbone of the entire Slow Style philosophy and a pretty accurate summary of how I’ve pieced together my own life.

I talked about being a twenty-something who had no idea what she wanted to do, a mom trying to navigate challenges she never expected, and a person who slowly realized that home was the through-line. No matter what was happening, I was always rearranging, reimagining, and remaking my surroundings to reflect who I was becoming.

Pushing Back Against the “Dream Home” Machine

One of the main reasons I wrote Slow Style Home is because I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with the way our culture defines a “dream home.” The endless shoulds. The lists of design rules. The headlines meant to scare us into buying more stuff or apologizing for what we love.

Slow Style is my answer to that. It’s not about rebellion for rebellion’s sake—it’s about choosing meaning over mimicry. It’s about giving ourselves permission to build homes that reflect our personal stories rather than someone else’s approval.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode is the closest thing to actually standing in that rug showroom with me that night: the rugs stacked in quiet piles, the flicker of wildflowers on the tables, the orange spritzes sweating in the heat, the Little Yellow Couch holding court in the corner. All of it was intentional. All of it told a story.

If you’ve ever wondered what Slow Style looks like beyond the photos—this is it. The philosophy, the backstory, the nerves, the joy, the very specific details that make a home (and a moment) feel like yours.

And as always, may your home feed your soul.

Until Next Time

-Zandra