In Santa Ana, California, Taylr Anne Castro has built a home around one rule: if it doesn't slow her family down, it doesn't stick around. She and her husband both work from home, they're raising their son here, and by her own estimate, at least half of every day happens outside — barefoot in the yard, elbow-deep in the garden, or gathered around the fire table long after dinner's over.
The backyard is where that philosophy shows up most clearly: a sauna, a wood-burning hot tub, an outdoor shower, matching teak Low Chairs (with a Low Chair Jr. for her son) scattered across the patio, and a Rook Fire Table that's become the family's nightly gathering spot. Every addition was made not to photograph well, but to pull the family outside a little more often. We talked to Taylr about slow mornings, unplanned evenings, and what she's learned about the difference between a home that looks finished and one that actually gets lived in.
“Every addition was about making us want to spend more time outside rather than just making it look nice.”
What role does your home play in your life today?
Our home is really the backdrop to everything. My husband and I both work from home, we're raising our son here, we host family and friends here—it's where our entire life happens. More than anything, I wanted our home to feel like a place that slows us down.
Is there a corner of your home that feels the most like “you”?
I love our garden and wellness space in our backyard. It's where I get sunlight on my face first thing in the morning, where I enjoy my matcha, where our son plays, where we have friends over, and where I end most evenings. It feels peaceful, and I think that's always been the feeling I've wanted our home to have.
When you're thinking about your home, what feels most important to you?
I want our home to feel like a true reflection of us. Warm tones, small trinkets we've collected from our time back and forth to Hawaii. A backyard that feels peaceful and lush. I want our home to always feel inviting and lived in. I want people to feel like they can stay longer than they planned, and feel comfortable the second they walk in.
“The best pieces are the ones that quietly become part of your routine.”
What does spending time outside look like for you and your family on a typical day?
We're outside constantly. At least half of our day is spent outside. We try to go to the beach a few days a week and my son will usually end up in the backyard multiple times a day, whether it's eating lunch outside, watering plants, or just running around barefoot. In the evenings after dinner we'll sit outside together around our fire table because it naturally pulls us together and away from screens.
Can you tell me the story of how your outdoor space came together?
It happened slowly. We started from a blank slate and my husband did the majority of the work from designing and planting all of our landscaping in our yard. We added pieces over time that actually reflected how we wanted to live—our sauna, wood burning hot tub, outdoor shower, seating and fire table, etc. Every addition was about making us want to spend more time outside rather than just making it look nice.
When you're making decisions about your home, what tends to guide you?
I always ask myself if something will actually change how we use the space. I care about aesthetics, but I care even more about creating places where life naturally happens. The best pieces are the ones that quietly become part of your routine.
Has your relationship with your home changed over the years? If so, how?
Completely. Before becoming parents, home was mostly about how it looked. Now it's much more about how it feels. I appreciate the little everyday moments so much more than having everything perfectly styled.
How does the garden fit into your daily life?
It's become part of our rhythm. Even if we're just watering plants or picking herbs, it's a reason to step outside and slow down for a few minutes. My son loves being involved, so it's become something we share together.
What parts of creating it stand out to you now?
Realizing it didn't need to be finished all at once. Some of my favorite spaces came together gradually, and I think that's what makes them feel personal instead of designed.
What kinds of moments tend to be the most memorable?
The unplanned ones. Friends stopping by unexpectedly, my son laughing while we're outside, long conversations after dinner that last way later than anyone intended. Those are the moments that stay with me.
“Before becoming parents, home was mostly about how it looked. Now it's much more about how it feels.”
“The feeling of a home comes from your habits. The routines, the meals, the conversations — those are what make a space memorable.”
How has the fire table found its place in your routine?
It's funny because it instantly became the place everyone gathers. Even on nights when we're not entertaining, we'll light it after dinner just to sit together for a little while. It makes ordinary evenings feel a little more intentional.
Can you tell me about a recent evening around the fire that stands out?
My family was enjoying our yard, just finished an evening session in the sauna and somehow we ended up sitting around the fire for hours. The sunset was absolutely beautiful behind us lighting up the sky with soft tones of pink and orange. No one wanted to go inside. Those are always my favorite nights because nothing special was planned—it just happened naturally.
How do you balance documenting your life with simply living it?
I try to let life happen first and content come second. There are a lot of moments that never make it online, and I actually love that. Ironically, I've found the more present I am, the better the content ends up feeling.
What's one memory that feels representative of life in your home?
I always think about slow mornings. The doors are open, music is playing, I'm making matcha, my son and husband are playing outside, and no one is in a rush to be anywhere. And in the evenings, watching my son ride his little bike around the backyard while my husband grills dinner and I'm setting the table. Those are the moments that feel the richest.
Is there anything you've learned from creating a home that you didn't expect?
I learned that the feeling of a home comes from your habits. The routines, the meals, the conversations—those are what make a space memorable. I didn't expect how much our environment would shape our behavior. Small choices—like creating places to sit outside or making spaces feel inviting—really do change how we spend our time together.
“No one wanted to go inside.”
