número 4: uplifting, grounding, artisanal, and earth-based w/ Koa Mikaelah
in a world of too much, Koa Mikaelah exudes balance. her home is no exception!
hello and welcome to newsletter número four. before we get started, I just wanted to thank y’all for being so supportive with this weekend project of mine! I really hope these photos/words feel like a well-deserved mini break in the middle of *gestures at everything*.
now onto the good stuff! today we are going to North Carolina with Koa Mikaelah… if you’ve ever wanted to feel soothed by a human, she’s it! in a world of too much, Koa exudes balance. every conversation we’ve had, when she used to live in New York, made me want to meditate more, experience true gratitude, and celebrate the heck out of my time on earth. she’s all about intergenerational healing and giving back. while also running a BIPOC led experiential marketing, event curation + production focused on community and sustainability. oh, and she’s renovating her home as we speak!
name: Koa Mikaelah
pronouns: she/her/ella
occupation: Healing Artist + Event Curator
homebase: nestled into the Appalachian Mountains, in western North Carolina
time loved in the space: 2.5 months!
describe your space: For me, spaces are about how they make you feel, I want to feel energetically shifted when I come home; grounded, peaceful, inward. Everything is placed with intention, like a curator curating altars to feast the eyes. I gravitate towards things that feel uplifting, grounding, artisanal, and earth-based.
This is my first time owning a home so the inspiration is endless. It was built in 1927 so I wanted to honor the home's history and preserve the grand details of the 20's while also making it my own. Right now I'm going for a cottage farm home meets a Yucatan beach shack. We'll see what happens...
what's your favorite part? I love the amount of natural light, after living in cities my whole life I've come to really appreciate waking up with the sunlight. My living room is my favorite space in the house, it has a cozy fireplace and wood floors, and it opens up into the sun room which is filled with warmth and plants, this is where my altar lives and where I take 1:1 clients.
one thing you'd recommend everyone should buy or find secondhand? Wood furniture, pottery, frames, denim and tees.
one person you’re obsessed with: Alexis Nikole @blackforager brings me so much joy on the internet! I also love learning from the @for.the.wild team on earth based issues.
one thing you love to do or want to do soon: Taking my adaptogenic mushrooms and getting sunlight are my daily non-negotiables. I'm really looking forward to planning my garden for the spring and getting to know the land more intimately.
one place (or thing) to eat: I loveeee mango and sticky rice!
one thing on your wishlist: I'm saving up for a barrel sauna! I just think it will be such a vibeeee to sauna in the backyard whenever you want.
one piece of advice you'd like to share: The deeper you stand in your authenticity the more you will attract what is meant for you and expand your life for the better. Being unapologetically yourself is your greatest form of expression and creative gift to the world.
thanks for letting us have a peek into your space Koa!
find Koa on the internet: @koa.mikaelah | Helios + Solene | Space + Ceremony
you did it! you’re all the way down here. here’s your bi-weekly gift in list form:
to follow
@clairesnick and her pottery @wonky.ware
I’ve been crushing on @wonky.ware’s vases for a while now. they’re all one of a kind and incredibly whimsical. I’m also obsessed with her videos showing off how things come to life. but, I’ll let Claire describe these creations in her own words:
“I found myself drawn to ceramics in stores, at museums and on the internet and wanted to to understand it as a medium better so I took a handbuilding class - which led to many more classes. Im interested in work that shows signs of it’s maker, that acknowledge the work that went in to the piece. The wonkier the piece, usually the more Ive learned from making it.”
to buy
spoons from Matthias Doherty @mythighass7
spoons are important. I’m sure we all have a favorite spoon that makes meals taste better. but, how about a handmade wooden spoon that transforms a simple stirring of your morning coffee into feeling like you might be in a cottage somewhere about to pick lavender off a field? cut-to Matthias’ spoons! I recently got one, because I am weak. If you want to be weak (but dreamy?) with me, here’s his latest drop!
to eat
one-pot turmeric coconut rice with greens
I have nothing to say except, whenever I make this I freeze about 4 cups worth of leftovers so I can eat it whenever the craving arises… and I crave it a whole lot.
to visit
@prophausnyc
147 W. 25th St, by appointment only
your one-stop shop for any props you might need! this is mostly a recco for my photographer/stylist frenz. but, if you’re not planning a shoot, you’ll still get a ton of interior design inspiration by just browsing all the amazing options they have available. their chair collection is what dreams are made of and a peek into their cutlery had me spiraling on ebay trying to find vintage dupes for weeks!
thanks for reading and see you all in 2 weeks!
in the meantime, give us a follow on instagram: eimyfig | común
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