January 2026 | Issue 1
The Edit
Welcome to 2026! We’re here for you every month along the way to catch up and reconnect, like an old friend. Even with life’s interruptions, it will be like no time has passed at all.
This time of the year it can feel like you only have two choices, reflect on the past year or make plans for the new year. Now that the holiday season has come to a close, it’s time to pull up those boot straps and get to work. I know for me a lot of mixed feelings show up in January. It feels bittersweet that another year has passed and I am getting older. I feel lucky and grateful to have people around me that I care about and that care about me, a roof over my head and food on my plate. I feel disappointed I didn’t achieve all of the milestones I was hoping for last year. The feelings keep on coming.
I try to remind myself how important it is to let yourself feel whatever comes up, without judgement. Navigating life and the passing of time is something we’ve never done before and it is a gift! Give yourself permission to rest, but when you’re ready to move forward, let’s do so with purpose, clarity and ease. Reflection helps connect the past and future so you can move forward with intention and not get lost in the what if’s. Take it slow and let new opportunities unfold without too many expectations of exactly what they will look like. So many of my achievements last year weren’t on my resolution list but they were just as meaningful, if not more.
Design Inspiration
Design Tip 1:
Introducing the 2026 color of the year, cloud dancer. A soft, puffy white pillow to rest your head. A blank canvas to paint your wildest dreams on. An intentional empty space reserved for clarity and peace. “The cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, making it harder to hear the voices of our inner selves. A conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. I really connected with her explanation. The color white offers a sense spaciousness, allowing for room to grow. To invite similar feels into your home, a great go-to white is Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White. There are endless options in this category. Find your perfect white to use as the foundation for any room or as a harmonious addition to the infinite colors of the rainbow.
Design Tip 2:
So many have coined 2026 as the year we go back to analog. “Analog rooms” have also been top of mind. A room without screens that is reserved for creativity, hobbies, games and connecting organically with friends and family. Remove your tech and add in instruments, a record player, bookshelves, board games, a mediation corner, whatever comforts you and puts you at ease. A place you can focus without distraction that feels timeless. Spaces like these offer a retreat from the often overwhelming stimulation of the outside world. Call it whatever you like - a library, den, study or even better, a sanctuary.
Tunes in the Office
Mind
January doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Animals use this time of year to hibernate, so why can’t we? As we venture into the start of what can feel like the longest season of the year, I’m focusing on not letting that feeling bog me down. See this as an opportunity to connect with our inner world on a deeper level. Rest and heal and prioritize all the little things we can do to help us feel restored come spring.
The hopefulness and positivity in the air at the start of a new year is palpable! Lean into this exciting time of newness with a head full of visions and ideas. Brainstorm, journal, plan - all serve as fuel to bring us closer to our dreams!
Currently Reading
This historical-fiction, mystery novel is inspired by the story of real-life healer and midwife, Martha Ballard. In 1789 Maine, Martha is called upon to examine a body found entombed in the frozen Kennebec River. Her detailed diary houses records of every birth, death and crime in the small community of Hallowell and this one is no different. Martha recognizes this body as belonging to one of two men involved in an alleged rape she documented in her notes months prior. Even more noteworthy - these two men are among the most respected gentlemen in town. A local physician declares the death an accident but Martha has her own theories and continues on boldly in her search for truth and justice.
Good Eats
Who knew January was the ideal month for citrus. This recipe stars orange and lemon but feel free to swap out for your favorite citrus - grapefruit or mandarin are welcome. A cozy activity for a winter’s day, this light and zesty treat will leave your tastebuds feeling happy.
“New year, same amazing edit… although, you may have noticed we changed our name to Mill + Co Studio! This means our web address and email has changed as well. Check out our new links below. Looking forward to more growth in the new year to share in with all of you! Thanks for being here.”
-Cass ♡