On a recent walk with Bleu, we peeked in at the gelato counter at Vecchia Gelato & Café. As we continued on our way, I recalled a conversation with a friend about paint color. She had ventured into a bolder choice that felt somewhat unsettling. I, of course, immediately embraced the change because it introduced a dynamic that brought excitement and interest to her space. As I thought about that conversation and the gelato flavors, it occurred to me that we are a lot like that creamy, smooth frozen treat.

Why do we gravitate toward certain colors?

Team Vanilla isn't boring in the least. They appreciate comfort, reliability, and timeless homes rooted in classic architecture and natural materials. They are restrained and calm. A "vanilla" home is a masterclass in textured creams and serene whites. Vanilla is vanilla because it is good.

The next group responds to a more complex palette. They tend to choose flavors like espresso, chocolate praline pecan, cold brew, or even mint chocolate chip. They crave moodiness. Their interiors are sophisticated, collected, and filled with meaning. Think dark walls, rich wood tones, antiques, and worn leather chairs. They want their homes—and perhaps their personalities—to be discovered like that delicious piece of Butterfinger hidden at the bottom of the bowl.

And then you have the Blue Monster Cookie people. The ones who immediately walk in and say, "I want that, and add the sprinkles, too."

This is where the fun happens.

They are bold, colorful, slightly unexpected, and joyful, just like their homes. You'll find them wearing color, decorating with pattern, and mixing things fearlessly. They love their collections and are proud to welcome you into both their homes and their lives. They are expressive and should be celebrated.

It's not to say that you can't be vanilla and a little Blue Monster Cookie, too. Hopefully, we are a little bit of all three flavors and appreciate the differences that make us individuals.

Summer has a way of reinforcing these same principles outdoors. We see it in the neighbor whose garden is filled with white hydrangeas and gardenias. Others prefer vibrant red roses and bright yellow marigolds. Some layer evergreens in varying shades, inviting you to explore texture rather than color. We also see it in the colors of our front doors, the flags we fly, and the patriotic touches we display this time of year. It's what makes a neighborhood interesting and tells the stories of the people who live there.

The same is true inside our homes. The goal isn't to create a space that everyone loves; it's to create one that is unmistakably yours. What excites one person may never appeal to another, and that is exactly the point.

So, whether you're vanilla, espresso, or Blue Monster Cookie with extra sprinkles, trust your instinct to decorate with the colors and textures that make you feel good when you walk through the door. Instead of decorating with what social media tells you is in vogue, decorate for what genuinely delights you.

The homes we remember most aren't the ones that perfectly followed a trend. They're the ones that reflected the people who lived there.

That is The Gelato Principle.