Madelynn Furlong Hudson

I’m originally from Minnesota but I currently live in Hudson, New York. I suppose the term for it is slow living in Upstate, New York—only it’s the exact opposite because we’re in the process of renovating a house while we maintain two homes up here. Luckily we’re at the tail end of the big renovation work, so now we get to do the fun stuff which is designing.

I love designing homes. I’m very much home-oriented and it’s important in my life to have a home that is organized, clean and sanctuary-esque. I do interiors for other people too—I did a restaurant in Minnesota for a friends of mine but I mostly do residential work. It’s a really rewarding experience, but difficult too.

Sometimes I joke that interior design for residential clients is part design and part therapy. When you think about it, when people are designing a home it’s because they’re going through a transition in their life. Whether it’s moving into a new home or out of an old one; joining homes with a partner, adding a baby, or breaking up. When you design a space for someone, you’re really creating a foundation for them to face whatever new life experience they are heading into.

My husband, Nick, captured these photos of me in one of our homes Upstate. He has such a gentle, subtle approach and eye that he brings to the world. He’s a beautiful observer.

I find inspiration and beauty in the simple things—enjoying a meal with friends or the breeze on a summer evening. It’s the everyday moments that make life beautiful. When I was younger, I would have thought of beauty more in terms of physical attributes, someone’s appearance. But now, in my 30s, it’s more and more about those life moments and finding joy and beauty in everyday experience.

In terms of my beauty routine, it’s very minimal. Most of the time I do pretty much nothing, especially in summer. I find that, for me, the less I do in terms of skin care and make up, the better my skin is—less is more, right? And in terms of holistic beauty, I believe it’s just about having some daily rituals to ground you. Whether it’s taking a cleansing bath or having a cup of tea at a certain time. 

I really love the Ritual Serum. The ritual of applying it, the fact it has a bit more of a moisturizing feel. It’s the one product I could put on my face every day and I wouldn’t have to do anything else. The all-in-one. I’m hesitant to bring new products into my routine because I do have sensitive skin with a lot of allergies, especially fragrance. It wasn’t until I started dating Nick and he used all the LESSE products, and I would be at his house without any of my things. I was like, well I’ll just use some of this and see how it goes. Now I’m a believer.

I’m currently working on letting go of a bit of control. Sometimes you have to learn how to go with the flow, accept life or a moment for what it is and move forward. I’m always calling in a bit more abundance. Something we’re focusing on right now is long-term financial abundance and, you know, just being recently married, just setting up for a successful future together.

A decade from now, I hope to be in a place very similar to where I am now. I hope to have a few career things further along, and my husband and I are working on a home line and brand that we’re hopefully going to be launching soon. I really just hope we’ll be living in a house that we love in a place that we love, and spending more time in Australia, where Nick is from. Maybe another dog.

I’m only 33 years old, I still barely know anything about life. But I think the greatest lesson I have learned so far is that having some sort of spiritual practice is essential and finding the time to nurture and grow your inner self is really important. I’m currently working on letting go of control. Sometimes you have to learn to go with the flow, learn to accept a moment for what it is and move forward.

I always view life as a river that just continues to flow forward. Take opportunities as they come to you and don’t sweat when they don’t, don’t force anything that shouldn’t be.

Madelynn Hudson photographed by Nick Hudson.