DENISE JAWOR FRANKFORT, ILLINOIS
The quilt on my bed. It’s actually a duvet cover made out of saris. It’s just the right weight, and it’s so bright and colorful. It makes me smile every day!
KELLIE WILSON LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
The chartreuse cushions on my vintage-inspired dining chairs.
THETAROTPROFESSOR
The walls in my living room, staircase, and hallway. They’re sunshine yellow, and I love them year-round, but especially when it’s cold and gray outside!
JEANNE DICKEY FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
My tiny turquoise bathroom. I painted it to match my favorite picture from a trip to Turks and Caicos. I’m instantly transported back as soon as I step into the room. I just need to figure out a way to have warm sand between my toes!
KAREN TAUBNER CLINTON, CONNECTICUT
A clementine upholstered bed frame. I purchased it from a Restoration Hardware Outlet after the original buyer didn’t like the shade. It’s gorgeous.
TCMOODIE
My midcentury orange Eames shell chairs. My interior walls and floors are white. The chairs are a pop of color and cheer up the whole house.
SUZANNE OLTMANN WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA
My bookshelves! So many books, so many colors!
LISA ASHTON ASTON, PENNSYLVANIA
My beautiful red walls that were inspired by a picture I found at World Market years ago of women dancing in a circle wearing brightly colored dresses.
NICOLELHANEY
My mug collection! I’ve been bringing mugs home from trips for two decades now.
My husband fashioned a shelf that divides the kitchen and living room in our tiny Queens apartment. I always put the best and brightest ones on display.
GINNA HOBEN ASTORIA, NEW YORK
My retro-looking mini fridge! It’s in this cozy cabinet we built on our property.
Whenever we have guests, they enjoy watching the sunset while they sip their favorite drinks and an electric fire - place warms them. I find so much solace in this tiny dwelling.
REBECCA MCGUIRE JEFFERSON, WISCONSON
My Tiffany blue bedroom walls. Totally unconventional, but the color makes me happy and relaxed, and that’s what matters!
1DRWMN31
My veggie drawer!
CINDY LAMOUREUX SOUTHWICK, MASSACHUSETTS
The white-and-rainbow wool rug in my living room. It replaced a cream-and-gray one that was so boring. This new one is unexpected and playful, and it makes me happy to be in the space.
EMILYBUSYBEEE
I make resin art and furniture, so it changes often, but currently my favorite is a rainbow tray that sits on my ottoman. I love it!
SEIZETHEDESIGN
My sock drawer! My fashion sense in general is pretty subdued, but I go all out with fun socks. And, not to brag, but I use Marie Kondo’s method to fold them, so I can always see them all at once.
MARY GULINO LOS ANGELES
The vintage Fiestaware I’ve collected since I was a teen, and a multicolor spatter painting made for me by an artist friend. I can put any color rug or pillow in my space, and these things tie it all together.
LESLI.JONES
TV HOST & PRODUCER OF THIS IS UTAH
SALT LAKE CITY
The simplest part of your life:
My cooking. I have food allergies, so I like to keep it simple!
What’s on your bucket list?
To go back and explore more of the Azores in Portugal. We honeymooned in São Miguel, but our flight to Flores was canceled due to bad weather!
Who makes you laugh the most?
My mom—she’s hilarious, even when she’s not trying to be funny
Favorite family recipe:
My dad is from Nigeria and makes the best pounded yam and stew.
Go-to karaoke song:
Chantay Savage’s cover of “I Will Survive.”
What’s your favorite tradition?
Driving along the Alpine Loop to see the beauty of nature in Utah as the seasons change.
Where is your happy place?
Snow Canyon. All my favorite people gathered in this beautiful space surrounded by red rocks to celebrate our wedding in 2022. It was the first time we saw all our family and friends since the start of the pandemic. We were so grateful that they were willing to go the extra mile (traveling and testing!) for us.
What’s your best Halloween costume of all time?
Send an email (and a photo, if you want!) to yourwords@realsimple.com and let us know your answer. Your response could appear on these pages.
COURTESY OF LIZ ADEOLA