6 min read
The Things We Carry Home
In the first installment of The Way We Live, Armadillo co-founders Jodie Fried and Sally Pottharst share the meaningful objects, family memories and everyday rituals that make a house feel like home.
WORDS Lisa Sternfeld
What makes a home feel like our own?
It’s often the things we carry with us. A ceramic cup we reach for every morning, a photograph that has followed us from one home to another, or an object passed down through generations, gathering meaning along the way.
Some of the things we treasure have little material value, while others hold entire histories. And sometimes, it’s the absence of things that teaches us what matters most.
For Jodie Fried and Sally Pottharst, co-founders of Armadillo, the relationship between people, objects and place is deeply personal.
Their shared appreciation for natural materials, craftsmanship and thoughtful design is reflected in the rugs they create. Yet their own homes tell two distinct stories, shaped by family, memory and the experiences that have influenced how they live.
In the first installment of The Way We Live, we revisit our conversation with Jodie and Sally about the things they hold close, the spaces they return to and the everyday details that make a house feel like home.
What is your most coveted item that you use day in and day out?
Jodie Fried: Nothing gives me greater joy than my handmade collection. Whether it’s a ceramic bowl that I’ve thrown on my pottery wheel or a hand-carved wooden spoon acquired on my travels, there’s something about the tactile interaction that feels like such a simple luxury. At the same time, I’m not precious about these pieces if they wear or break. I prefer them to be used and enjoyed every day, rather than put on a shelf or kept in a box.
Sally Pottharst: I don’t really covet material objects, but I get immense joy from the ritual of having my morning coffee in a beautiful handmade, handle-less ceramic cup. It’s the perfect size and I love to cradle it while slowly drinking my coffee and easing into the day.
What has traveled with you from home to home?
JF: I was handed down a beautiful set of British milk jugs in a traditional stripe that has accompanied me from house to house and country to country. The other items I treasure are the pieces of art and photography that I’ve collected along the way or that have been captured by my husband over the years.
SP: Not much, actually! My family has lived in our current home for 20 years, and had to start in this house from scratch as almost all our belongings were lost in a fire just before we moved in. It was devastating at the time, but it did give me perspective that people and relationships are so much more valuable than possessions.
Is there an item that has been passed down from generation to generation?
JF: My uncle recently visited us in the UK bearing the gift of a framed oak leaf. When his mother was a young girl, she traveled with her family by ship from Australia to London. During their stay, she picked a leaf that she took home and tucked into the pages of her diary. That leaf is now 86 years old and has returned three generations later, preserved in a frame handmade by my uncle. That full-circle story is just so beautiful to me.
SP: We have some portraits from my husband’s family of his great-great-great-great grandparents, taken in Germany in the 1800s. It was a generous gift from my mother-in-law after the fire where we lost most of our furnishings.
Can you share a particular space or item in your home that significantly contributes to your wellbeing?
JF: My studio is special as it’s purely my own space. I like to make myself a cup of tea and retreat here, soaking in the lovely light, spring breeze and treetop views through the curtains. It’s the perfect calming environment to take a moment for myself, frame the day without distraction and get creatively in tune with what I need to accomplish.
SP: Our kitchen is absolutely the heart of our home. It’s a welcoming space and there is always something to do in it! I love cooking, and having family and friends over for shared meals, and because it feels big and open, everyone can get involved, which brings me a huge amount of joy.
What is your morning routine, and how does the design of your home support it?
JF: I am up early, with the hustle and bustle of morning activity centering around the kitchen. With three young kids, there’s a buzz of energy as everyone has breakfast and gets ready for their day. Once they’ve all embarked, I might get some fresh air with a stroll through the nearby parkland or head straight into my studio.
SP: On waking, I have a hot lemon drink and take my pair of Jack Russell dogs for a morning walk around our sprawling Adelaide property. Even if I wasn’t compelled to take them outside I’d choose to start my day in the garden rather than being inside. In an ideal world I’d also find a quiet place to practice some yoga, as mindful exercise is a very important part of who I am.
What does a healthy home mean to you?
JF: To me, a healthy home is one with a “less is more” approach, curated to feel considered, meaningful and uncluttered so the space can nurture your physical and mental health. I think it’s also important to tend to the interplay of airflow, scent, natural and ambient light.
SP: I am a complete disciple of having natural materials in the home, which is one of the reasons why we founded Armadillo and brought our handcrafted rugs to life in the first place. As much as possible, I avoid anything with harsh chemicals in the household and opt for simple, clean, honest products.
ABOUT THE WAY WE LIVE
The Way We Live is a WLLW Journal series exploring the personal relationship between people and the places they call home. Through conversations about meaningful objects, everyday rituals, memories and the spaces we inhabit, we explore how our homes shape the way we feel and what makes them uniquely our own.
Adapted from a conversation first published in the WLLW Journal in 2025. Photography courtesy of Armadillo.