SOMA Living October 2025

INTERIOR DESIGN On August 8th, I just got a brand new immune system. Like… literally. My son was my bone marrow donor, and now his beautiful, selfless cells are inside me… building me back, bit by bit. Coincidentally (or is it..?) I spent 33 days in the hospital, and on September 3rd at exactly 3:33PM, I rang the bell. Three times. A moment I’ll never forget. And while I could write about hospital curtains again (don’t worry, I zhuzhed that room with super cool decals and mood lighting, obvi), what’s really hitting me now is this: sometimes we need to redesign from the INSIDE out. In decor, we chase the sexy stuff: paint swatches, pillow piles, and candles that smell like the coast… but real transformation? It starts with the bones. The flow. The foundation. REBUILDING FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Rethink the room that stresses you out. Is the furniture working with the space or against it? Could your layout feel lighter with one less piece? Does your entryway welcome you home—or just hold your unopened Amazon boxes (NO JUDGEMENT!)? Sometimes the clutter isn’t just visual—it’s emotional. And letting go of a lamp, a layout, or a leftover vibe might be exactly what frees you. So whether you’re renovating a room or rebuilding your life, ask: what needs to shift beneath the surface? Because sometimes, you don’t just need a new rug. You need a new you. And that kind of makeover… is the most divine of all.

For more pics and tips… check out my IG: @KateTheDecorWhore

Kate@decorwhore.com • www.decorwhore.com

GREG’S CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWERS ON PAGE 19

Greg Snitkin is a dad with 3 small kids and a resident of South Orange. His puzzles have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Andrews McMeel Universal, and various indie outlets.

OCTOBER 2025 | SOMA LIVING 17

@somalivingmagazine