September Favorites: Books, TikToks, Design Trends & A Big Real Estate Win
September was one of those months where everything just clicked. Cozy fall vibes rolled in (at times— mostly it was still in the 80s here in Denver), I devoured some great books, I jumped on (maybe too many) TikTok trends, fell in love with a few new design ideas, and—oh yeah—sold a house. Let’s get into it.
Books That Kept Me Up Past Bedtime
Some people call it “reading before bed.” I call it “accidentally staying up until 2 a.m. because I swore I’d stop at the next chapter.” September’s reads were no exception.
Listen for the Lie – Had me gasping, laughing (yes, I found Lucy very funny), and trying not to careen my car off the road as I listened. It truly is amazing as audio.
These Summer Storms– The kind of story that makes you want to escape to the East Coast and watch a family battle it out for a massive inheritance.
She Didn’t See it Coming- An incredibly done murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. I did not guess the ending at all.
Love Song for Ricki Wilde - I wept. An incredible magical realism plot that weaves together Black culture and history through NYC’s Harlem and jazz. It also is really about (you guessed it) love. But like capital L love.
The Briar Club - Fantastic historical fiction combined with a murder mystery (you don’t know who was murdered or who did the murdering). It is set in post- WWII Washington DC during the height of the Red Scare. An era that I think we ignore a lot because it isn’t as splashy as WWII historical fiction. But FASCINATING that the policing for thoughts and beliefs was happening on such a large scale back in the 1950s and is still happening now— on a somewhat larger scale. The core of this book though, are the female friendships. Diverse backgrounds coming together to make it through— imperfectly, but through.
Moral of the story: September was for ignoring my screen time alerts.
🎥 TikTok Trends I May Have Taken Too Seriously
If you didn’t join at least one TikTok trend this month, did September even happen?
The “Should this book be made into a movie?” Series – Translation: I gave my snappy reviews and opinions on whether books through 2025 should or shouldn’t be movies… and people disagreed (a LOT).
“Day in the Life” Clips – Spoiler: we recorded a podcast and the kids went back to school.
Home Glow-Ups – Watching paint dry but make it ✨trending✨— the progress on Quail Street is worth a look!
And if you want to see me embarrass myself trying these in real time, you know what to do: follow us over on TikTok and Instagram @houseofbennetts.
🪞 Design Trends I’m Loving Right Now
Design this month felt like a cozy hug with a side of drama (the good kind).
Warm Minimalism – Because stark white walls deserve a break.
Moody Accent Walls – Rich, dark, dramatic. Think “vampire but make it chic.”
Using Colored Grout- Cannot wait to implement this on our next big design project.
Honestly, it’s about making spaces feel lived-in without losing the cool factor.
🏡 Big Win: Selling 541 Fox Street
The absolute highlight? We sold 541 Fox Street! This home had serious personality and the staging brought out all the right features. Watching buyers fall in love with it was just as satisfying as watching that “SOLD” sign go up.
And in even bigger news: interest rates have officially dropped. That means if you’ve been waiting for a sign to buy or sell—this is it. Real estate just got a little friendlier, and I’m here for it.
✨ Wrapping It Up
September gave me a little bit of everything: late-night page turning, TikTok laughs, fresh design inspo, and a big real estate win. If October wants to top that, it has some big shoes (or boots—because fall) to fill.
And if you haven’t already, come hang with us on TikTok and Instagram @houseofbennetts—we’re way more fun(er) over there.