Where Love Lives: How Passion Shapes the Spaces We Create

There are places that seem to awaken something in us, spaces that hum with emotion, where every curve, shadow, and texture tells a story. These aren't always just homes or objects. Sometimes, they’re expressions of something deeper: love, longing, devotion. I've experienced this sometimes in the simplest, most mundane, human moments. Often in nature. 

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the power of creation. Whether it’s a home, a garden, or a simple meal, we infuse a piece of our inner world into what we make. Passion leaves its mark in the way a doorway catches the light or in the imperfect arrangement of our wardrobe. Creation is never just about filling a need, it’s about communicating something personal.

I often find myself drawn back to the story of Eileen Gray and her iconic Villa E-1027. I admit, it does keep me up at night (in the best possible way). The way it's explored in the essay The House That Love Built - Before It Was Gone always leaves me in awe. Designed with and for her partner, the house wasn’t just a structure or refuge, it was truly a hand written love letter, a double-sided, multi-page one in modernist form. Every detail, from the way light filters in to the way the space flows, reflects a love that was deeply personal. Gray didn’t just design a home, she created a raw human experience, one that breathes purpose and intimacy.

Villa E-1027: A Love Letter in Architecture

In 1926, on the edge of the Mediterranean, Eileen Gray designed a house that boldly redefined what a home could be. It wasn’t about fame or reinventing the wheel. It felt like it was all about love. E-1027, created in collaboration with Jean Badovici, Gray’s partner at the time. The name itself was a secret code: “E” for Eileen, “10” for Jean (J being the 10th letter), “2” for Badovici, and “7” for Gray. It was a space designed with tenderness, fluidity, and empathy. Every piece of furniture, every curve, every corner was made to balance functionality with feeling. This wasn’t a home for necessity or for the ego, it was a home made from love, for love.

What makes Villa E-1027 so captivating is not just its place in architectural history, but the emotional blueprint it carries. The materials feel real, warm, and human. It’s not all cold or sterile like much of modernism, instead it feels very much alive.

At its core, the story of Eileen Gray and Villa E-1027 is a reminder that what we create, whether physical or emotional, carries our energy, our private stories (fine fine, secrets), and our love. When we create with passion, we’re not just filling a space, we are leaving a part of ourselves behind.

In our own lives, we can choose to infuse meaning into everything we make. Whether we’re designing, curating a home, or simply arranging flowers (or snacks), we can create with heart. It’s never about perfection, it’s about the intention and love we pour into our work. A slow, deliberate invitation to feel, connect, and reflect.

So as we create, let’s do it with our hearts, knowing that what we build with care, no matter how small, can touch lives in ways we might never even notice. 

With gratitude,
Ellen 
Luca Oliva Studio