Tag: camh2015

Creating a Meaningful Home: Duke Manor Farm

Written by Jenna on September 10, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home. 2 Comments on Creating a Meaningful Home: Duke Manor Farm

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Laura of Duke Manor Farm. Welcome Lauraâ€¦

I am so happy that Jenna asked me to be apart of her Meaningful Home Series. I am Laura Janning and here at Duke Manor Farm, I am all about creating a home that makes sense for everybody…not just me.

If it means swapping rooms and furniture out that will provide more practical use for the family, re-purposing old to make new again or creating special spots in your home that will gift you memories…. I say just do it.

15 years ago my husband and I decided to take a leap of faith and put our perfectly amazing home on the market and buy some property in North East Georgia and build a farm. Overnight, I traded in my corporate suits for some jeans and tee’s and the fancy sports car for a a big ole tractor….which we now call Bubba. Yes, everything has a name around here. My friends and family thought we were nuts giving up our quaint little subdivision, our offices were basically down the road and a grocery store that we could walk to. But we had a dream, and more importantly we had a vision of creating a space and a lifestyle that had meaning and would create life long memories for us, our family and our friends.

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Fast forward 15 years later and Duke Manor Farm is now surrounded by 3 very active kids, dogs, cats, chickens, donkeys, fish and a slew of wildlife. Our lifestyle on the farm is now the catalysis for my decorating decisions in our home and around the property. Gone are the days where I want perfection in every room, perfectly fluffed pillows and walls that have no imperfections.

a view from the back of the house

These days, it’s more like a scuff on the floor adds character, a hole in a pillow isn’t the end of the world, a scratch on the table top doesn’t mean we won’t enjoy a good meal together and a chicken greeting you on our front porch isn’t totally out of the question.

We are a very active family and spend a lot of time outside and when we designed and built our home a lot of emphasis was placed on our outdoor spaces. It’s not to say that we don’t love hanging together in our family room . Which by the way use to be a screened in porch but made more sense to be the family room after a few years of living here.

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or in the den….which use to be a playroom which has evolved over the years to know what finally feels right for the space…and the occupants who take it over with books, devices and the tv.

den

or sitting around our breakfast table that use to be the family room because we didn’t want to give up the big farmhouse table and it was close to the kitchen.

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But our favorite spot as a family and with friends, is probably sitting right here on our front porch laughing, talking and creating memories.

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Besides, it’s where everyone, including the chickens are welcomed!<

If you would like to see more of my real life funny farm, I would love for you to stop by Duke Manor Farm anytime and to see more of my home tour click here.

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How fabulous is Laura’s story? I adore that Laura & her husband followed their dream, turned their lives upside down, and are now LIVING the way THEY want + how they desire! Hands down, Laura has a great sense of style, but her home is comfortable and filled with what is most meaningful to her family.

With Fall just around the corner, I thought I would share a favorite seasonal setting and that has to be Laura’s Southern Fall Porch. I love the warm hues & charming seasonal touches.

Head on over to Duke Manor Farm, and give Laura a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Cleverly Inspired

Written by Jenna on August 19, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Tracie of Cleverly Inspired.

Welcome Tracieâ€¦

I was so honored to be asked to be a part of Jenna’s creating a meaningful home series this summer. Since I started my blog 5 years ago that has been one of the main missions in my life and on Cleverly Inspired, to not only place objects in my home that fill the space but those objects should bring joy and bring meaning to our life. I think that when you create a space that has meaning and is purposeful, any guest or friend that visits can feel that energy and they will know how you and your family feel about the space. It is a challenge because there are so many things out there to buy! All the pretties catch our eyesâ€¦and we want to just bring home the baskets, tins and the pictures and the artwork and put them all in your space. It becomes a clustered mess! One of my mantras that I live by when it comes to decorating isâ€¦

If everything is special than really nothing is special.

If you put everything on a shelf that you love or every piece of art on a wall â€¦then very quickly those special things become not very special at all. Your eyes should rest on an object or part of your space and be able to take it in without having to look past a lot of other things. What I tell folks is the things that you love should rotate in and out, maybe with the seasons or maybe just every couple times a year so that you can really rest your eye on the things that you love and really appreciate those items.

For me those things are items from my our past. Things from my childhood that I remember in my Grammieâ€™s house. Things that my dad has refinished for meâ€¦.pictures of our kids when they were younger. These things I want my eye to rest on every day so that I’m constantly connected and comfortable in those spaces.

We recently moved last summer into a brand new home. I think that is one of the challenges with a new home is to find your nook and crannies again. It’s kind of like buying new shoes that quickly become your favorite boots because they get old and worn ,tattered and comfortable and you sink into them when you put them on.When you buy a new home, even though the space is completely you and you designed it and you love it….it takes a little bit of time for you to sink into it. After we have been here a year I noticed where my favorite spots are to sink into and where I find peace. My husband and my kids feel the same way. We all have found our little spot that we like to crawl into and that is what a home should do for you at the end of the day. Allow you to drop your keys , take your coat offâ€¦ put your purse where it goes and then you just breathe a sigh because you know you’re in your space.

When I help people design for their spaces that is my one question that I want the real answer -, what will make you love being in this space. Sometimes it’s a piano…. sometimes itâ€™s a particular favorite chair, sometimes it’s books, a it’s a bar stool, finding what that thing is and using it to inspire your space will immediately calm you when you enter it. What is current might not make you comfortableâ€¦ so finding what makes you and your family at ease and comfortable might be a look from the 1970â€™s it might not be a current style. That doesn’t mean it has to look dated but to replicate what you see in a catalog or a magazine might not necessarily be your design style.Finding out what will make you and your family let out an â€œahhhhhhhâ€ at the end of your dayâ€¦.that is your goal. It really it really can be a very simple task.

Thank you so much Jenna!

Tracie has many wonderful thoughts that she shared. I like her perspective of, “if everything is special than really nothing is special” and the idea of rotating things you love seasonally or yearly to give your walls & space a break. It’s okay to love alot (I certainly do), but sometimes it doesn’t all mesh together at the same time in the same space.

One project of Tracie’s that I love and is perfect as the back to school time approaches is this repurposed ladder office organizer. So creative, cute, AND functional!

Head on over to Cleverly Inspired, and give Tracie a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Dwellings By Devore

Written by Jenna on July 9, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home. 1 Comment on Creating a Meaningful Home: Dwellings By Devore

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Bethany of Dwellings by Devore. Welcome Bethanyâ€¦

First, a huge thank you to Jenna for having me! I’ve long admired her blog and style and feel so honored to be a part of this series. Creating a meaningful home is so important. I think too often we get stuck on the “trends” or what everyone else will like and we forget to do what we love! I definitely love incorporating new trends in my home, but I also try to stick with things that are meaningful to me.

My style has evolved so much over the last few years and I’m sure it will continue to grow and change over the years to come. We moved into our current home last fall and have slowly started to transform it into a space that feels more like us. It was a new construction home, so the walls were white and it was lacking character.

I’m not one to shy away from dark walls and seized the opportunity to do something bold in our master bedroom. Paint is one of the fastest and easiest ways to customize a space and make it feel more like you! And if you don’t love it or your style changes down the road it’s an easy fix.

Black Bedroom Makeover

I love neutrals and textures, but I also love a good bold furniture makeover. I was stumped on what to paint this bamboo hutch for a while and then I just went with my gut and chose a bold green. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

Green Bamboo Hutch Makeover

My family means so much to me and I love displaying photos throughout our home. I tend to lean towards black and white pictures for a more streamlined look. Picture ledges are great for displaying photos because they allow you to easily switch them out or change the look over time.

Picture Ledge Gallery Wall

I’m also a huge fan of gallery walls. There are so many ways to display meaningful things from family photos to shadowboxes full of sentimental objects.

Girly Gallery Wall

This wall is a mix of thrift store finds, artwork from a babymoon we took to Beaufort, SC when I was expecting my daughter, and quotes that are special to us. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, it can just be a collection of things that make you smile.

Playroom Mini Makeover

We don’t have many family heirlooms, but I’ve tried to incorporate the ones that we do have. My family inherited an antique highboy from my Granny and it was passed down to me. I love that it has history and meaning behind it. I gave it fresh and modern look with some new pulls and paint and hope to keep it in the family for years to come.

Antique Highboy Makeover

These are just a few simple ways that I’ve tried to create meaning in our home. I think the biggest thing is just to start somewhere. If you love something then don’t let fear hold you back, just go for it!

“Start somewhere” and “Incorporate new trends, but what is meaningful to you”. Nailed it Bethany! That’s exactly what creating a HOME is all about. Bethany’s home is so beautiful. Working with a new construction / builder-home, can be a challenge with all white + lack of character. Bethany has truly made it unique + personal for her family!

One favorite project that I want to share that Bethany created is her DIY Sputnik Chandelier. Such a beauty inspired by a classic.

Head on over to Dwellings by Devore, and give Bethany a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: A Girl and A Glue Gun

Written by Jenna on July 1, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Kimbo of a girl and a glue gun. Welcome Kimboâ€¦

Hi! I’m Kimbo from a girl and a glue gun

My house has been an uphill battle. I have really struggled because I know it’s a permanent home and I really want to make it MINE. I’m not going to spout off on interior design rules and guidelines…cause I don’t think there are any. You can do matchy matchy. you can do random colors everywhere. You can have white clean walls with no color. You can do hot pink walls! But I do want to share some things that I do that make my home a meaningful home that screams KIMBO.

1. Put your own spin on things

Pinterest is awesome. I love the wealth of inspiration that comes from it. I have way to many pinterest boards full of the coolest things. But I always try to put my own twist on the ideas that I see and love. I like things to be my own. Here are some pictures of the inspiration pictures I have found that spurred me making my own!

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The basics are there…but I truly feel like they are unique to me.

2. LOVE your crap—-

Let me tell you about steve. I love him.

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I think he’s totally awesome I want about 45 of steve’s cousins (the unicorn and the shark are my fav) And when people come in my house I either get, “oh. love him.” or “oh. that’s….interesting.”

Steve is not everyone’s cup of tea. My husband thinks I should paint him to look real (even though if I found one that was painted real I would spray paint him white) But I love him even though not everyone does. So don’t try to decorate for everyone’s style….Just buy or make things that YOU love…cause you have to see it every day!!!

I try to fill my house with everything that makes me happy..down to the smallest tchotchke . I know where and when and how much each little thing costs or how long it took to make.

3. FUNCTION

Function is HUGE for me. mostly cause I’m a hoarder and have tons of stuff! So it needs to be organized well so Husband doesn’t throw it away! But just because it’s functional…doesn’t mean it can’t be like the cutest thing ever! Like this wall that holds my accessories…

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or a fun place to hang all my kids artwork

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this entry way was a big blank wall! I knew it needed hooks–I was sick of coats all over the floor! function and cute. and it has a story with it (like me trying to find hooks I want and 3 trips to home depot and all the frames used to be brown.)

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4. Take your time.

It’s a slow process. I don’t want to settle. and I don’t want to spend a fortune. So I know it will take time to get exactly what I want for the price I want…

I have been on a hunt for a perfect buffet/dresser/ credenza thing for underneath this big frame for about 2 years. I’ve yet to stumble on exactly what I want that is the right size. and that’s okay. When I do find it, it will be make this wall complete! and me sooo giddy!

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5. Paint

Paint is a cheap and an awesome way to freshen up and redo any room. Even if it’s painting it a nice bright white. I love color…so I find it the easiest way to add fun pops!

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I can redo a whole room for pretty cheap by repainting frames, figurines, headboards, dressers.source

and paint is pretty cheap so if you don’t love something, you can easily try again!

So that’s it! my top 5 ways to make your house yours.

I love that I can look around my house and see the things that I have carefully found and scoured thrift stores for —

or old hand me downs from family, or hand made stuff from my kiddos. Even though I have a long ways to go before I will have it “finished” (if there is such a thing in home decor.)

I can sit down and look and around and it feels like home.

What wonderful words Kimbo shared and I love her mindset about the home she’s created, “Don’t try to decorate for everyone’s style….Just buy or make things that YOU love…cause you have to see it every day!!!” That’s what makes a home meaningful.

Kimbo has a slew of do it yourself projects, crafts, printables, and recipes on her blog (check out all her tutorials here). One of my favorites is the “What’s For Dinner” Menu Board she created to take the guesswork out of what she’s making for dinner. This will be a project you’ll definitely want to tackle!

Head on over to a girl and a glue gun and give Kimbo a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Rooms For Rent

Written by Jenna on June 29, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home. 2 Comments on Creating a Meaningful Home: Rooms For Rent

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Bre of Rooms For Rent. Welcome Breâ€¦

I am so thrilled to be here with all of you today! I was honored Jenna asked me to join her series, it is one that I could totally relate with, and close to my heart. If you haven’t popped by my corner of the blog sphere yet, I’m Bre and I blog over at Rooms FOR Rent! Sharing my passion for interior decor, and most importantly inspiring others to Love the space they Live in!

Long before I blogged, or even knew about blogs, creating a meaningful home was always on the forefront of my mind. As a child I dreamed about being an interior decorator, but it wasn’t until I had my very own place, as a young, newly married bride, that I was able to really put into practice putting thought behind the items I decorated with. It was so much more than just filling a room with pretty things. I wanted our home to be inviting and welcoming, not only to guests, but to my husband as well. Establishing a retreat from the rest of the world that was personable to just us. Once we had kids, and I was home full time, it was time to shake off the dust of that dormant dream of being an interior decorator.

Our home is layered with items of great meaning to us. I love covering our walls with family photos, it’s like a warm hug with happy memories of the family we’ve started. Our kids love to see pictures of themselves as chubby babies, and wobbly toddlers, and pictures of our wedding. To them it’s like looking through a photo album everyday around the house.

As newlyweds starting off we had very little furniture of our own. We inherited furniture pieces from our families that have become staples for us, and remind us of where we’ve come from. The cedar chest you see in the photo above, has played many roles in each place we’ve lived. Last year I sanded it down and re-stained it to give it new life, my husbands grandfather made it back in the 50’s, and my husband has fond memories of it as a boy, and always wished that one day he could be the rightful owner. When we see it, we think fondly of his grandfather and his fine craftsmanship.

Another hand-me-down that adds meaning for us, is this dresser I use as a buffet in our dining room. It was a hand me down from my mother, her first furniture set when she married my dad, and I used in my bedroom as a teenager. It was the first DIY the hubby and I did together 10 years ago, and recently, last year, I sanded it down again and re-stained it, but it’s one of my most asked about pieces, and whenever I look at it, I think of my mom, and when she first acquired the dresser decorating her new home as a young bride.

I want our home to tell a story, Our story. While I love finding great buys at HomeGoods and Marshalls, my favorite things to decorate with are those that have a story. It’s a heritage that I get to pass onto my children. Repurposing items and giving them new life, shows that we care for the things around us, and take pride in where we came from. You can never go wrong when you decorate with items you truly love, and mean something to you. It’s the personal touches that create meaning in our lives, and touch those around us.

Stay in touch!

Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook

Have a design question? Visit Doucette Design Co. for all your design needs!

Thank you Bre for sharing your beautiful thoughts on how you’ve created a home that tells Your Story!

I love these words that Bre shared, “Our home is layered with items of great meaning to us. I love covering our walls with family photos, itâ€™s like a warm hug with happy memories of the family weâ€™ve started.” and “To them itâ€™s like looking through a photo album everyday around the house.” Absolutely!

Every project Bre creates is “her”. Bre’s style of relaxed with a farmhouse flair is spot on in what the rooms of her home evoke. One of my favorite parts of Bre’s home is her gray chalkboard wall in the kitchen. In this post, Bre shares a great tutorial on how to make chalkboard wall paint in any color.

Head on over to Rooms For Rent, and give Bre a BIG HELLO!

Check out all the Bloggers that have contributed to this series on
Creating a Meaningful Home

Plus donâ€™t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!