How Memories Shape Home: The Story Behind Our Fall 2025 Collection

There’s a unique magic in those moments when summer fades into fall, when the carefree days of travel and adventure give way to the comforting rhythm of home. For Katie Elliot, our Vice President of Product, this seasonal shift is more than just a calendar change. It’s a deeply personal experience, steeped in memories of childhood summers spent on Cape Cod, the timeless charm of New England, and the treasures collected along the way.

It was during a recent trip back East, reconnecting with family and old haunts, that Katie found herself reflecting on the stories objects carry, the mementos we bring home from journeys, each with its own history and meaning. These reflections became the spark for our Fall/Winter 2025 assortment, Future Comforts, a collection that explores home as a living archive, where every piece holds a story.

In this season’s collection, you’ll find a delicate balance of nostalgia and modernity, tradition reinterpreted with fresh eyes, and a deep invitation to surround yourself with things that matter. Katie shares how these ideas took shape, how Future Comforts builds on last season’s themes, and why this collection feels like a natural next chapter in the story of home.

What initially inspired this collection? Were there particular spaces, eras, or design movements that shaped its mood?

I was inspired by a summer trip back East to visit family and friends. My mom’s side of the family is from the Boston area, and I was lucky enough to spend summers on Cape Cod growing up. I also went to college in Massachusetts and lived in New England for about 20 years, so I have strong ties to the region. That visit made me think about the experience of traveling, returning home after adventures, and settling into a more predictable rhythm of life in the fall.

From those trips, I always bring back some kind of memento: maybe a rock from a Cape Cod beach or a vintage treasure I found at Brimfield. These objects carry their own stories, layered with the memories I attach to them. That idea of collecting and storytelling really sparked the concept behind Future Comforts. We drew inspiration from histories, studies, academic institutions, and their collections—the idea of home as a living archive.

How does Future Comforts build on last season’s ‘Mix Beats Match’ theme? What makes it feel like a natural next chapter?

At Schoolhouse, we’ve always embraced that mix beats match idea, that building a home piece by piece, over time, results in something more textured and meaningful. Last season was about layering collections, creating a dynamic home full of memories.

This season, we’re focused even more on placemaking through those memories. Future Comforts explores the emotional connections we have with objects—the nostalgia, the moodiness, and the way those pieces help build a home that tells your story.

There’s a strong nod to traditional design here, but it doesn’t feel old-fashioned. How do you strike that balance?

Traditional inspiration doesn’t always mean a traditional outcome. We use a modern lens to interpret historic styles. Our designs have ornament and detail but with restraint. It’s more about intention, not replication. For example, in a quilt, we might use a traditional floral motif and classic pieced structure but introduce a bold vertical stripe to give it a modern edge. Furniture pieces include subtle curves and small brass details that add sophistication without being overly ornate. Proportions and materials help ground these references in the present, creating pieces that feel both timeless and fresh.

The collection is described as exploring home as a ‘living archive.’ What does that mean in the context of product design?

Our mission to create modern heirlooms is rooted not just in quality, but in emotion. For something to become an heirloom, you need that emotional connection, the storytelling woven into the object.

Materiality, form, color, and pattern can connect us to past experiences or places. A plaid chair might remind you of a grandfather’s shirt. A walnut cabinet might evoke childhood museum visits. We want to pull on those strings of memory and association, helping people build their own layered histories through the pieces in their home.

How do you envision people living with these pieces over time? What kind of emotional connection do you hope they spark?

I hope these pieces become treasured everyday objects, the kind that absorb memories and moments shared with loved ones. I want people to feel an instant connection to them through their nods to the past, acting as a bridge between their history and their home today.

Is there one piece in the collection that really embodies the spirit of the season?

The Peggy Curio Cabinet is a perfect embodiment of Future Comforts. The rich walnut, brass detailing on the knobs, and the delicate turned legs all nod to designs from the past, but with a modern restraint that keeps it feeling fresh. It’s both a collectible on its own and a vessel for other treasures, a true storyteller in your home.