Featured Friends: Haskell Harris
Garden and Gun style director, owner at HH Creative, and mom, Haskell Harris, is adding a new title to her long list of achievements - author. Here at HB, we have been a fan of Haskell's and wanted to shine a light on the release of her fabulous new coffee table book, The House Romantic: Curating Memorable Interiors for a Meaningful Life. This book inspires delight and doubles as the perfect Mother's Day gift. Purchase The House Romantic here and follow Haskell on IG for daily inspiration.
What inspired you to write your book? Where can we find it?
I guess I’ve just always come at homes a bit differently in that I grew up with parents who are what I’ve always called ‘house romantics’—the kind of people who are always scheming and planning and talking about houses and gardens and telling stories about homes they lived in or visited like they were real people or formative friends in their lives—not just static places. And I’ve carried that influence with me into my career as an editor and into all the houses I’ve lived in. The book was a way for me to talk about all these ideas that I believe in using my old house in Charleston as a backdrop as well as visits with my design heroes around the world who think in a similar way. The book was also a scrapbook of sorts for my little boy because he was so often at my feet when I was working on things at the old house and I wanted him to have a visual document of all our time together in that space. And lastly I wrote it to shine a light on the inherently impermanent nature of houses and the experience of losing a beloved home but also moving on to the next one and what that looks like. I hope my message in the epilogue is empowering.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
To listen very, very, very closely to my intuition. It never lies.
Favorite Pieces from the HB Spring Collection?
The Goldie dress I’m wearing and the Sarah dress (the pockets!)
Describe your personal style...
As a mom I love a uniform and my uniform is usually a dress with many pockets—sometimes colorful and whimsical and sometimes more minimal and restrained. And the way I’ve put all of my houses together is similar. I like the right mix of opposites and comfort is key.
“As a Mom I love a uniform and my uniform is usually a dress with many pockets — sometimes colorful and whimsical and sometimes more minimal and restrained.”
“I’ve just always come at homes a bit differently in that I grew up with parents who are what I’ve always called ‘house romantics’—the kind of people who are always scheming and planning and talking about houses and gardens and telling stories about homes they lived in or visited.”
3 favorite follows right now?
@join1love…this is an amazing foundation teaching high school-aged kids about the signs of unhealthy relationships and what to look for in a healthy one as they go out into the world and become adults. It was founded by the mother of Yeardley Love who was just a few years behind me at the University of Virginia and the education they are providing for young people is invaluable.
@porta_nyc I want allllll the things. The edit is perfect for all things home and table-related.
@weltonstinybakeshop I find their downtown Charleston space and vibe incredibly calming and happy and the food that they make incredibly beautiful!
Where or what is your favorite place or way to escape?
Where or what is your favorite escape? My new house with my little boy and anywhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains