Isabella and Stephanie of Space of Time
The SEEN series highlights various guests, diving into the ways they have discovered themselves through reading. What stories shaped them? Helped them define their own? These intimate interviews seek to celebrate their discoveries, hear what they’ve learned from their favorite works, and uncover a glimpse of their interior world through the books that have changed them.
Isabella Marengo and Stephanie Tam believe in the power of the present. So much so, they left their prominent fashion jobs behind to pursue a new frontier. Born out of their friendship and their desire to find a more meaningful way to work, they created Space of Time, a studio founded by the principle of finding "the beauty of everyday things and routines” to create a richer, fuller life.
Given books are a natural tool for reflection and connection, Isabella and Stephanie reached out to Seen Library with this in mind. Thus, prompting Seen Library’s first ever public book exchange featuring a selection of titles curated in tandem with Space of Time. Featuring a selection of predominantly WOC/POC authors, the books chosen focused on a central theme: how we experience and engage with the world around us.
Here, the duo tells us more behind their collaboration with Seen Library, what books make them feel seen, and how after a good meal is the best time for deep conversations.
What are your names?
IM: Isabella Marengo. Named after my Italian great-great-grandmother who apparently was quite the character.
ST: Stephanie Tam. Not a romantic story: Stephanie was a popular name in the 80s and my parents liked the sound of it because it sounded strong to them. Apparently there was a soap opera actor named Stephanie who was popular at the time.
Where are you from?
IM: Mexico City.
ST: New York City.
What is Space of Time? How did you land on this specific phrase?
“Space of time” refers to a moment in time, which we are always referencing - the moment in time as an experience noticing, doing, being - whether with ourselves, a space, an object, or with each other. We also liked the play of words that uses a physical idea to reference time - that gives it an almost visual notion of structure to time.
What are on your nightstands?
IM: My alarm clock which keeps me from sleeping next to my phone (it’s a game changer!), my Byredo hand lotion which I religiously use every time before bed (the smell is a perfect way to cue my brain to start winding down), a stack of books that I’m reading on rotation (currently re-reading The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis because I love a good laugh) and lastly, a glass of water (cannot go to bed without one).
ST: Braiding Sweetgrass, which I like to read snippets of before going to bed if I remember - the writings of nature are such an antidote to the day and bring immediate calm. A small Noguchi lamp, and a little porcelain plate gifted to me from London by a friend, which I use to put my rings on at night.
How is your time spent offline?
IM: 99.9% of my time offline is honestly spent with my dog Ramona, who I’m deeply obsessed with. Her endless energy pushes me (well more like forces me, ha!) to actually be offline and spend more time outside. I started doing this thing where I note one new thing on our morning walks that I haven’t noticed before, even if it’s always the same route. It’s extremely satisfying and makes me smile every time.
ST: Probably thinking about all the things I want to be doing “offline” that I end up not knowing which thing to do! But it’s actually really simple things I think - tending to my plants; taking a walk; browsing books at a local shop, at the end of an errand; having a Sunday morning at home, with music on, just resetting my mind through resetting the space. These small routines that help me be offline feel like such a pleasure, and make my time feel full.
What helps you stay present?
IM: I’ve noticed with time that the simpler rituals I’ve incorporated into my life, are the ones that have impacted me the most and truly help me stay more present. It can be anything like seeing the sun right after waking up, taking a tea break during the day, and simply looking out the window more often.
ST: I try to spend at least 15 minutes journaling every morning during my coffee to start my day. I find it makes space for “me” before jumping into anything else, which always sets my day up in a more grounded mental space. At the end of every day I also try to take a walk, either on my own, while on the phone with my mom or sister, or at the reservoir with a friend - the movement and small things I notice on the way always helps me reset, to think things through, to feel balanced.
What’s your favorite way to connect with others?
IM: Over what we call in Mexico, ‘sobremesa’, which is the time spent after a good meal, hanging out with friends and family. I’ve noticed that that is when deeper and more meaningful topics start coming up––by that time we can dig deeper and start getting to the meat of things. Some of the most fulfilling conversations I’ve had have been during this time.
ST: Spending time however makes space for inspiration or conversation, usually over a meal at home, maybe on an impromptu trip to a gallery, or while looking out at the views on a hike or a walk in nature. In these moments of absorbing the experience around us there is always space to connect in a new way, even with lifelong friends.
Both of you spent years working together for a large fashion company — what inspired you both to pivot towards something deeper and create something new?
We have always connected over things and experiences that have been memorable for us. Space of Time was born out of our connection as friends, so it felt natural to create this extension for others. Having spent time building a brand at a larger and fast-paced company, we wanted to use what we’ve learned and apply them at a thoughtful pace, and at a more intimate scale — always checking in with ourselves to what feels intuitive in what and ‘why’ we are creating, together and as individuals. This practice of working from our values has helped us connect to each other and ourselves through this idea of work in a different way.
Are there certain qualities you look for in the objects you curate?
Aspect of tactility, whether it’s in an object’s texture or weight
Something unexpected in a detail, the delight of discovering how the detail makes using it more memorable or special
Visual interest, something we find beautiful
How did your idea to collaborate with Seen Library come about?
We have loved seeing the thoughtful community Jordan is building with Seen Library and our shared belief around books as tools for real-life connection. We are always looking to books as tools to ground ourselves and to connect with each other, so Jordan’s approach to curating and hosting exchanges around these books felt like it truly dovetailed into what we do at Space of Time. As POC women ourselves, we also felt very connected to the focus on amplifying WOC and historically excluded voices.
What are you hoping to convey with the Space of Time x Seen Library collaboration?
We hope people will feel seen by the stories being shared through the list of books, but also by the experience of shopping through Seen Library’s clues. Rather than picking a book by its title or cover, books can be explored through clues that Jordan has written about how the book may feel, or what moment the book may be perfect for - like a good cry, or a good scream. We hope that people feel connected to this sensory approach exploring and finding connection to a feeling—or the ‘soul’—of a book.
What themes were centered when curating this collection of books?
Books that shape the way you look at, notice, or experience the world around you, or ones that help ground you and connect to yourself and others in a deeper way. The collection spans categories across fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. There is also a focus on WOC/POC authors.
This collaboration blends the practice of connecting with self and connecting with others —how does community enrich your practice of reflection?
While we think it’s always important to find routine moments of presence and pause for oneself, we think being able to find this through connection with others makes the experience even more fulfilling and rich. Finding those moments of routine and practice with a friend or within a community can help us notice everyday life in ways we didn’t before, whether it’s sharing a story, or being asked a question you hadn’t thought of before.
What books have made you feel the most seen? Why?
IM: A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson, Calm by The School of Life and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. They all came my way at the right time – when I was low and needed a laugh, David's book lifted me up, when I was fearful and in my own head, Marianne’s book gave me hope and when I felt alone The School of Life’s made me feel seen.
Which quotes from books do you find yourselves returning to?
IM: “Something amazing happens when we surrender and just love. We melt into another world, a realm of power already within us. The world changes when we change. The world softens when we soften. The world loves us when we choose to love the world.” ––A Return to Love by Marianne Williamso
ST: “In this there is no measuring with time, a year doesn’t matter, and ten years are nothing. Being an artist means: not numbering and counting, but ripening like a tree, which doesn’t force its sap, and stands confidently in the storms of spring, not afraid that afterward summer may not come. It does come. But it comes only to those who are patient, who are there as if eternity lay before them, so unconcernedly silent and vast.” —Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
Are there topics you’d like to explore deeper through reading?
ST: Always looking for books on typologies and histories of design and architecture.
What causes or organizations do you wish others would read up on?
ST: This is very close to my heart in a personal way, but Welcome to Chinatown is a New York-based non profit organization amplifying and advocating for the needs of the Chinatown community. They exist to support the longtime businesses, which were hit hard during the pandemic, in a neighborhood that is getting smaller over time. This organization exists to give these small businesses and entrepreneurs resources and a voice, so that they—and the community at large—might hopefully continue to exist for years to come.
Share your top 3 favorite books.
ST: This is ever changing!
Ordinary Women: An Anthology of Poetry by New York City Women published in 1978. I came across this book a couple of years ago when in a deep rabbit hole, researching a family friend who was a Chinese American writer and activist in New York in the 70s. It was at a time when I was looking for connection with my Asian American culture, while I was processing a lot for the AAPI community - finding out that this book exists, and then finding a random copy on Ebay, felt like a gift from someone past, or from the universe. I will keep it forever.
Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard. A classic on the philosophy of space and home as architecture of self - in honesty, I have not actually read all the way through. But there are so many snippets that make me feel seen, thinking about how space affects our perception of self in this way.
Poetry Is Growing in our Garden by Anders Frederick Steen. I keep this book out because I just love it as an object, and as a concept - to read about this way of working with wine is so different than my life, and is so escapist. I also love the size and thickness of the book, a little brick that feels so intimate and personal in its scale.
Qualities you value in a main character?
IM: Curiosity, kindness and willingness to be vulnerable.
ST: Humor, self-awareness, curiosity.
Qualities you value in yourselves?
IM: I’m enthusiastic, giving and curious.
ST: Empathy, curiosity and showing up for others - literally and emotionally.
What were the last books you gifted? To whom?
IM: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris to my aunt and Masterworks by Karl Blossfeldt to my sister.
ST: Poetry Is Growing in Our Garden to my friend Gheanna, with whom I bond over our love of wine all the time. Beauty of Everyday Things by Soetsu Yanagi to Isabella. :)
What were the last books you were given? By whom?
IM: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi by my dad. He got a copy for himself and one for me for our own mini book club.
ST: California Design Eleven, a book on a furniture exhibition at the Pasadena Art Museum from 1971. Jon picked this out while we were at a gallery gift shop with a selection of used books; he surprised me with the find, and it felt like a gift and souvenir of the moment, even though we bought it together.
Favorite independent bookstores?
IM: Skylight in LA, City Lights in SF – both have become a haven for me when I first moved to those cities.
ST: Mast Books in the East Village in NY, Alias East in Atwater Village in LA - I love the scale of these shops, they always feel like hidden treasures.
Where can people find you?
IM: @isabellamarengo
ST: @stephanie_tam
Photos by Jordan Santos / Intro by Halleta Alemu