Having nearly finished navigating the chaotic waters of 2020 along with everyone else, I felt compelled to rest a bit easier for this final week of the year from hell. For these, our last stories, we decided not to bombard you with new news or fresh ideas or additional information. We've all been presented with quite enough this year. Instead, let's just walk through a few lovely homes and revel in some of our warmer sentiments. From a COLLECTIVE perspective, we did what we could to have some fun, relax where possible, and (from time to time) take your minds off of the world at large. Whether it's good music, modern design, or a kindly call to help however you can, below are a few of my favorite CHC stories from 2020 that I'm certain are worth a read (or even a re-read)...

Onward and upward!

1. "Why Support Local is Crucial for SLC" This story feels so very important, and if you didn't catch it the first time around, I highly suggest you give it a read. To be brief, our little economy is a big deal. We've already lost too many local restaurants and shops, and this story illustrates why we should all actively participate in the preservation of those that remain. Read it here.

2. "Home Movies | Watch List" This isn't simply a compilation of movies we thought you should watch during quarantine--it's more deliberate than that. Every flick we've chosen here features a home or space that makes us swoon. Bonus: most of these are actually fantastic films (good for the houses...great for the soul). If you haven't watched, now's the time. See the list here.

3. "COLLECTIVE Casas | Kerri's Storefront" We've been meaning to kick off this series for years. This is where we invite you into our homes, and we decided to start with our photographer's rad, modern storefront. As I used to live here too, it's no surprise that I love this space...but have a look for yourself. Kerri runs a tight ship, and you'll likely love it too. Story and photos here.

4. "QuaranTUNES" We started creating Spotify playlists for you this year, and we're going to stick with it. A lot of thought goes into these babies, and we'll be getting songs/input from everyone here at the COLLECTIVE, so as to cover all musical tastes. Plus, we'll throw in the occasional guest contributor. You can head straight to our Spotify account here, but I highly recommend you read the full story...that's where we provide cute little synopses to give you the vibe of each playlist. Click here to see.

5. "March MODness" In the very first month of quarantine, we cooked up a super fun "game" to pass the time on our insta account. March MODness was our way of pitting all the most architecturally noteworthy homes against one another and letting you all vote for the top dog. Those who want to relive the tourney start to finish can find it all in our instagram hightlights...but you can also click here to read our wrap-up of the winners, losers, and upsets.

6. "Where We Stand" We didn't say much, but we had to say something. We stand firmly behind these words as a company, but we're still trying to be better. Hopefully, everyone is. Systemic racism wasn't just a 2020 issue, and it will require a LOT of ongoing effort on all our parts if we hope to address it. If you've forgotten, please reaquaint yourself. Click here to read.

7. "Welcome to SLC | Note to the Newbies" Given our line of business, we're well acquainted with the incoming folks. There are so many reasons to move to SLC (and stay), but we also realized that we had a few hopes for the newcomers--some tips and thoughts that might help us all to expand, preserve, and perservere as a city and state. Read the story here.

8. "Place of Worship | Silver Slice" I love a good Place of Worship, and we had a few this year. But I'm pretty drawn to small spaces, and this geometric goodie by DesignBuildBLUFF is one of my favorites. Best part: DBB operates within native and rural communities, and the spaces they build are for families and people in need. Story and photos here.

9. "Gardening Tips | If you Say Sow" First, I'd like to say I love puns, and this title pleases me. Moreover, I feel like we're all finally paying attention to the many benefits that nature has in our lives, be it indoors or out. So we asked our junior editor's mom (@ardentgardener) for some tips, and she came through. In her words, "Nature rules and gardening keeps you humble." Hear, hear! Dig into the story.

10. "Save Utah Bars" Truly. The privilege of sitting next to someone (a stranger, even) over a cold beer and a tequila shot sounds like a dream. Our bars are struggling and our state's liquor laws have not made this pandemic easy on them. They've gotten as creative as they can, and we all need to do our share of the work. Drink up, donate, do what you can. Story here.