Why you should embrace that scratch on your dining table – designer Jess Cooney on the art of imperfection

Welcome to the first in a new series of columns by Jess Cooney, designer and founder of Jess Cooney Interiors, as she joins Homes & Gardens’ By Design to reveal how she creates rooms that blend eras while remaining completely timeless.

You may have heard of the Japanese practice of Kintsugi – the art of repairing broken pottery with lacquered gold, celebrating its imperfections rather than hiding them. In Japanese culture, it transforms the sadness of breakage into something beautiful, something to be cherished.

I want to take that idea one step further. Instead of filling every crack or scratch with gold, why not leave them be? Let each ding carry the memory and history of a home. Whether from running, playing, dancing, or an overzealous cooking session, I believe wear and tear can endure as a beautiful record of everything a house contains.

I recently completed a major renovation of my own home. After 18 months of living elsewhere, my family was thrilled to move back just before Thanksgiving. Naturally, I thought, why not celebrate Thanksgiving with my entire extended family in our newly renovated home? And while we’re at it, let’s throw a party for 200 people the weekend before Thanksgiving. That’s exactly what we did.

With the paint barely dry and the furniture only just in place, our guests began to arrive. Friends and family filled every corner as we celebrated all night with candles, food, and music. Walking through the house, watching people laugh, lounge, and enjoy themselves, my heart swelled.

The next day, as I wiped down the dining room table, removing half-empty glasses and leftover platters, a long, fresh scratch in the newly refinished walnut revealed itself under one of the cheese boards. It was fairly deep, but nothing a furniture maker couldn’t fix. I ran my finger over it and let it sit.

A few days later, I returned to the dining room and looked at the scratch again. It brought back the night of the party – the warm candlelight, the laughter, the joy. I realized, this scratch can be anything I want it to be. I chose to see it as a reminder of that magical evening – a thank-you gift. I’ve kept it front and center on the dining table ever since, and every time I see it, I smile.

When my team and I design for clients, we often use reclaimed materials as the foundation of a home: wood flooring, limestone pavers, vintage furniture, and rugs that have already lived a life in another home, barn, or church. These pieces carry stories and are now beginning a new chapter with a new family. Their imperfections teach lessons – they are forgiving, soft, and inviting. They call out, 'Don’t be shy. Curl up on me. Jump on me. Spill your drink on me while dancing with joy.'

So the next time you notice a lemon ring on your marble counter, a ding where your daughter tugged a glass from the dishwasher, or a pen mark your five-year-old left on the wall, consider leaving it there. Maybe even take pride in it. Take your pen and mark your children’s height on the doorway, writing the date each year. Give them a wall in their room where friends can leave messages, doodle, or create something that evolves and can be repainted over time. Make holiday cards together at the formal dining room table, and when you spot that stubborn speck of glitter sparkling on the floor, remember the laughter and joy of that day – and let that little fleck shine a while longer.

See more of how Jess Cooney designs here