Jenni Kayne’s New Book Lets the Outdoors Do the Decorating — Here’s How

Since starting her eponymous brand in 2003, Jenni Kayne has built a true lifestyle movement out of her laid-back but luxurious California ethos (think: quality materials, heirloom pieces, and an emphasis on simple but intentional design across fashion and home furnishings). Today she’s released her third book, a gorgeous interiors tome called Pacific Natural Everywhere. In many ways, it feels like the culmination of the lifestyle that Kayne has created in book form — a recipe for warm, easy spaces that feel like Kayne’s version of her native California no matter where they’re located. 

Kayne’s livable, layered look is inherently intertwined with nature, and that’s why the homes showcased in Pacific Natural Everywhere feel like a literal breath of fresh air. “The book is all about looking out to nature,” says Kayne. “And so every view in the book was either looking around, looking in, or looking through to nature. It’s the through line that runs through every house consistently and kind of grounds the entire book.” 

The architecture and furnishings in the homes showcased are visually stunning and pure eye candy for a modern-meets-rustic sensibility. But you can tell that each of the spaces Kayne selected really puts nature on display. The book is even organized into sections around four natural materials: aspen, pine, oak, and ryegrass.

One thing I noticed when flipping through, though, was that so many of the spaces didn’t have any window treatments. So I wanted to get Kayne’s take on that as a decorating tip, particularly for a living room where you maybe don’t need privacy 24/7. 

“Sometimes window treatments really can finish a room, and sometimes they’re just absolutely not necessary,” Kayne told me when I interviewed her in Manhattan at her SoHo store last week. “I have them in my bedroom, but my living room has none, and it’s intentional. So, I think, if you don’t need them, and the architecture supports that, let yourself look out to nature with an uninterrupted view.”

For Kayne, what’s outside your window — even if it’s not the most spectacular view — still has an inherent softness, and that’s why it’s worth putting on display (and why you don’t always need the extra sumptuousness of textiles to provide a physical “soft” layer). “Nature feels really effortless, and it’s been there forever,” she says. “What’s outside your window can be almost like hanging a picture or piece of art.”

Of course, window treatments will always provide privacy. So if you want that benefit but also want to try this tip, you could get a clear privacy film of some sort for a little bit of occlusion. 

And if it’s impossible for you to forgo curtains or drapes, that’s okay too. Kayne has other ideas for you.

“You could always gather some branches in a vase, or bring in beautiful foliage and plants,” says Kayne.   

“Or light a scented candle,” she adds. “I feel like scent really evokes the feeling of being outside.”