Thoughts on the meaning of 'home'…..#lovethehomeyouhave

"You can love your home. Yes, the one with flaws, everyday messes, 

and maybe even a mix of hand-me-down furniture. Sure, it has 

some shortcomings, but it also has a lot going for it -

it's where your life, relationships, and 

dreams are being shaped" 

- Melissa Michaels of the Inspired Room blog and author

of the book LOVE THE HOME YOU HAVE.

*********

Those words above are powerful!  You can't imagine

the number of times I show up for a design consultation

with a new client and I can really feel their 

shame, embarrassment, discontentment and 

unhappiness with their home - the apologies and 

explanations why 'we have never done anything with 

this room' flow fast and furious……it makes me

sad and hopeFULL and grateFULL that I 

have been chosen to help them feel contentment

and happiness in and with their homes.  

I have early memories of noticing surroundings, decor and how

spaces made me feel……I grew up in pretty modest homes.

While my mom liked a tidy and nice home, our homes were

not overly decorated and we had second-hand furniture

long before Craigslist…..But I remember a neighbor 

who customized a basement space with

architectural salvage and period pieces -

'fancy furniture'.  My mom worked at private

school that was located on a former estate property -

the formal gardens and grand architecture were 

not lost on me - I imagined what it had looked

like when the wealthy Chicago meat-packing 

family made it their home…..exquisite, I am certain!

My great-grandma lived on a farm with a cute white

farmhouse with wonky floors and Jenny Lind beds and

cats and gardens galore!  I loved visiting that farm,

while not fancy, being there felt like a big hug.

When I married my husband, our first apartment was a loft in

the city and we saved and bought a LARGE cream-colored

leather {gasp!} sectional….it's what I imagine a young

professional couple, living in the city should furnish their

loft with….of course my tastes have evolved and changed, ebbed

and flowed a million times since then…..but, very early

on I was a collector….Even when I was sitting on that 

leather sectional - my husband and I spent many

weekends at flea markets…those days I collected

colorful Fiestaware and other chippy stuff 

that caught my eye……When I ditched my career

at 31 years young and decided to become a mom,

my desire to create a H-O-M-E for our family

became overwhelming and a necessary part of 

my life, almost like breathing….And I'll admit,

all of my home-making pursuits were not successful or

was I always pleasant like a "Susie-homemaker"….

I blame the hormones and that's my story.

So I guess what I am saying is that fluffing, nesting, decorating,

styling, arranging, painting, baking, burning candles, setting

a table, creating a mood, gardening, entertaining has ALWAYS been

in my blood……even when I didn't really know it was.

Below is a little glimpse at my latest obsession creation,

my design studio/office….it really is filled with things

that make me happy, are meaningful to me and our

family….. Many of the objects included in the space

would not make sense to a fancy-pants 

interior designer, but they make sense to me.

{I can't even explain my cane collection!}

When I work with clients, I try to focus on how I can help enhance

what is already there in my client's spaces….My clients often

are not able to clear a room and start from scratch and truth be told,

that's not the work I want to do.  Ultimately, I want to leave

a project with a happy client, a client who feels 200% better about

their home, a client who is excited to have a dinner party,

host their daughter's graduation party…..a client who ultimately

is happy and content in their home……Sometimes this goal

is reached by extensive renovations and new furniture but often

this goal is reached by a couple trips to Homegoods and arranging

a bookshelf…….It's giving the client permission to LOVE 

having grandma's vase displayed, to paint the wall, to hang

their pictures a tad bit lower {serious people!!!}……

Ultimately, it's honoring the family that lives their, their

lifestyle and priorities.

My blogging pal, Melissa Michaels,  who I quoted above has written a book that 

talks eloquently about creating a home you love.  I have just finished

reading her words and I seriously wish I could show up to

every design consult with her book LOVE THE HOME YOU HAVE

in hand to give to my client!  It is a must read for those who

feel anxious, unsettled and unhappy with their home.

You can go HERE to view the book trailer and 

learn more about this phenomenal, real life applicable book.

Then go HERE and get yourself a copy!!!

{especially if you are or are going to be my client - ha,

just kidding…..maybe not!}

Hey look!  I am blogging…..kinda like riding a bike!

I have missed you….are you still here???