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Tag: creating a meaningful home

Creating a Meaningful Home: Duke Manor Farm

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Laura Janning of Duke Manor Farm - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Laura of Duke Manor Farm.  Welcome Laura…

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.

IMG_3033a 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.

 

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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.

family room

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.

frontporch

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.

Souther fall porch by Laura of Duke Manor Farm

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 don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Krystine Edwards

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Krystine Edwards of Living Pretty Styled - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Krystine of Living Pretty Styled.  Welcome Krystine…

Hi everyone I’m Krystine Edwards, blogger behind Living Pretty Styled! I love decorating, talking about and started a design business over a year ago to go hand in hand with my real estate career. So, to say I love homes would be an understatement. When Jenna asked me to be a part of her series, I was honored and excited to join and share my home and thoughts.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Krystine Edwards of Living Pretty Styled - a MUST READ story!

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Krystine Edwards of Living Pretty Styled - a MUST READ story!

My husband and I, pre-children had flipped several homes. We would find a fixer upper, renovate it and sell every two years. This is the first time in almost 12 years that we have stayed longer in our current home. And, the main reason are the memories and happiness this home brings us.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Krystine Edwards of Living Pretty Styled - a MUST READ story!

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Krystine Edwards of Living Pretty Styled - a MUST READ story!

Our door is always open, literally. Our friends and neighbors barely knock before coming in and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This home has a feeling of family. There is a lot of love and happiness in our home. Dance parties in our den with our children and afterwards when they’re asleep.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Krystine Edwards of Living Pretty Styled - a MUST READ story!

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Krystine Edwards of Living Pretty Styled - a MUST READ story!

At the end of the day decor isn’t what makes my home meaningful. It’s the people, memories and love that is in your home. It’s the smile it puts on my face when I drive up to it. It’s the way sunlight shine through my kitchen window and warms the space. It’s the way my children laugh running through halls and room to room chasing one another.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Krystine Edwards of Living Pretty Styled - a MUST READ story!

Thanks y’all for joining me and Jenna today and hearing about what a meaningful home means to me.

As a designer + a real estate agent, Krystine is quite the busy gal!  I was drawn to her style upon finding her on Instagram over a year ago.  She’s been a favorite to follow ever since.  Her home evokes color & beauty, but also warmth & welcoming.   Check out this space she recently shared…

Home of Krystine EdwardsFollow along with ME on Instagram too, to see other fabulous designers + creators I feature.

Head on over to Living Pretty Styled, and give Krystine a BIG HELLO!

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

Plus don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Bliss at Home

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Kristin of Bliss @ Home - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Kristin of Bliss at Home.  Welcome Kristin…

I am so thrilled to be here today as part of Jenna’s Creating a Meaningful Home series. This topic is something so near and dear to my heart because it is the essence of why I do what I do. I started my blog, Bliss at Home, when we decided to buy my childhood home and take on the task of remodeling it to suit our style and needs.

Bliss at Home : My picks from Shop Candelabra | The Happy Habitat Adana Throw in Fuchsia and Gold

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…designing for how you live.

Creating a meaningful home is a fundamental idea in design. You are creating spaces that reflect the style of the people who live there and designing for how they use those spaces. Being able to do this for my family has been and continues to be such a labor of love!

In our home, I really focus on this as we tackle each room. Our living room is the hub of the house. I not only wanted it to set the tone for the rest of the house, but I wanted to make the best use of the space. This room is the place we sit and chat in, listen to music, enjoy the fireplace, read books, and watch the occasional movie in. It had to be set up to handle all those needs.

fireplace

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…incorporating thoughtful details in the overall home design.

The fireplace incorporates our unifying material into the home. I selected Carrara marble to set the tone as you transition from room to room. Having it throughout the house is an intentional detail that makes a huge impact. You can see our before & after fireplace makeover here. Thinking through the overall design of our home is all part of creating this meaningful space.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…thinking outside the box.

My husband and I also wanted to create a place to conceal our stereo system and have a place to showcase books and memories so we created our DIY library wall with Ikea bookcases. Working with the space we had we really had to think outside the box to come up with a solution that would also enhance the space. We gave the bookcases a built-in look and added library lights for ambiance at night. It adds a major dose of style and function without taking away from the room. It is one of our favorite things we’ve created in our home and it is meaningful to us because it holds pictures of our kids, memories, meaningful objects, and our favorite books.

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Photo credit: Tara Melissa Photographie

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…making even the utilitarian spaces have charm.

An example of the importance of unifying spaces in your home can be seen here in our bathroom remodel too. The same Carrara marble is used in the design. This space did not function for a family of four before, but now with the addition of double sinks and smart storage in the vanity it suits our needs. Little touches even in this space have meaning like the marble canister that was my Grandma’s and the shoe photography that is my husband and I on our 10th anniversary.

 

black-and-white-bathroom-makeover

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You can see our bathroom before and after remodel here.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…a constant process.

The truth of it is, creating a meaningful home takes TIME. It doesn’t happen overnight. Our home is proof of that, since there are still spaces to work on. Even the somewhat finished spaces, are always evolving and changing as the needs of our family change.

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Photo credit: Tara Melissa Photographie

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME IS…LOVE.

It’s the people who really make the space. Creating a meaningful home really is about sharing it and showing hospitality. It’s not picture perfect…even though it may look that way through the lens! Trust me, my home is far from perfect, but it is intentional.

My love and thanks to Jenna for having me share our home on her inspiring blog today! You can visit me at Bliss at Home and keep up with our renovation and design projects. We just started our kitchen and second level and I can’t wait to share what we’re cooking up!

I love everything Kristin creates.  Her spaces are sophisticated but welcoming and her thoughts on what makes a home meaningful is spot on! Every project is a favorite, but one that truly stands out is the Mid Century modern + bright Ikea Rast hack…  It’s bold.  Its unexpected.  And it’s Kristin.  Amazing transformation!

Mid Century modern + bright Ikea Rast hack... It's bold. Its unexpected. And it's Bliss @ Home.

Head on over to Bliss at Home, and give Kristin a BIG HELLO!

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

Plus don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Beneath My Heart

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Traci of Beneath My Heart - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Traci of Beneath My Heart.  Welcome Traci…

Hey there!  I am so glad to be here to talk about creating a meaningful home today because it’s has been on my heart a LOT lately.

It’s something that has been churning in my heart all summer.  Ya see, I am the mom of four boys (whom I adore!)

family

And for five weeks this past summer, our family had the amazing blessing of hosting an orphan from Eastern Europe.  She is eight years old (the same age as my youngest) and is the sweetest little thing you will ever meet.  (I would love to show you her adorable face, but it is against her country’s hosting guidelines.)

Because I wanted to be fully present while she was here and enjoy our time together as a family, I spent less time on my blog and blog projects.

After 6 years of being a DIY Home blogger, it was a much needed break.  And deep in my heart, I knew this little girl didn’t need a beautiful bedroom (although I did have fun decorating it for her!) or pinterest-worthy tablescapes, or inspiring how-to projects to do……she just needed a family.  

Bedroom Makeover by Beneath My Heart

I wanted her time with us to be meaningful.

As I thought about what makes a meaningful home, the word that kept coming to my mind was MOMENTS. 

Moments make a meaningful home.

My mom loved to decorate our home growing up, and it always looked meticulous…..but that is not what made home so meaningful to me.  It was the moments I spent with my family in our home that I remember most.

Sitting around the dinner table talking about our day.

Waking up in the morning to the smell of fresh biscuits cooking in the oven and eggs and bacon in the frying pan.

Sitting on the couch with my dad watching football.

Being tucked in at night with a prayer and a kiss on the forehead.

It makes my eyes fill up with tears just thinking about it now.  My mom passed away six years ago, and boy do I miss my moments with her!

I remember when she passed, I could hardly walk into her kitchen without it taking my breath away.  I felt so close to her in that space.  You see, my mom LOVED to cook.  It was her way of loving on her family and creating moments to cherish.  Her kitchen wasn’t always spotless, but it was filled with goodness and love.

Kitchen Makeover by Beneath My Heart{kitchen makeover}

As much as I loved renovating our kitchen and how much fun I have decorating it throughout the seasons, that is not what I want my boys to remember about me or our home.  I want them to remember feeling LOVED when they walk into the kitchen.  I want them to remember the moments we shared around the table.

Dining Room Makeover by Beneath My Heart{Dining Area Makeover}

We are in the process of adopting our sweet little girl, and we are praying that she will be back home with us before Christmas.  As we prepare our home for her arrival, my heart is focusing not on how our home looks, but how it feels to her.  I look forward to spending many moments with her, laughing, hugging, crying, dreaming, and just being a family.  Something she has never had but desperately needs.  Truthfully, those moments are what we ALL need to make our homes and lives meaningful.

Thank you, Jenna, for inviting me to be a part of this series.  Thank you for helping me write down in a post what has been written  on my heart by God…

Moments are what make a meaningful home. 

Blessings,

Traci

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That’s it… “Moments make a meaningful home”!  Simple, but true.  I love Traci’s story because she’s so real and speaks from the heart.  I am so happy that she had a life-changing Summer with her beautiful foster child (who hopefully she will be able to adopt)!

One of my favorite projects of Traci’s is the industrial bookcase using plumbing pipes she made for her son’s room…  Plus she added a brick backdrop and it’s so cool – I totally want to do it for an upcoming project!

DIY: Industrial Shelves using plumbing pipes by Beneath My Heart

Head on over to Beneath My Heart, and give Traci a BIG HELLO!

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

Plus don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Cleverly Inspired

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Tracie of Cleverly Inspired - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Tracie of Cleverly Inspired.

Welcome Tracie…

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 eyes…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 is…

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 …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.

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For me those things are items from my our past. Things from my childhood that I remember in my Grammie’s house. Things that my dad has refinished for me….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.

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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 off… put your purse where it goes and then you just breathe a sigh because you know you’re in your space.

DIY shiplap @cleverlyinspired (11)

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 it’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 comfortable… so finding what makes you and your family at ease and comfortable might be a look from the 1970’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 “ahhhhhhh” at the end of your day….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!

Repurposed old ladder office organizer by Cleverly Inspired

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 don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Jennifer Rizzo

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jennifer Rizzo - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Jen of Jenniferrizzo.com.

Welcome Jen…

I want to thank Jenna so much for having me as a part of this amazing series. My name is Jennifer Rizzo and I blog at Jenniferrizzo.com. I am an artist, home decor designer, and author of the book Creatively Christmas.  I’ve been blogging for over 8 years and it has been fascinating to look back and see how my home has been created over time. That’s the thing that I think is the hardest about a home… I am very impatient, want everything done at once, and to look like it comes from a magazine. The truth is, creating a home you truly love takes time, and should evolve for the needs of your family. It’s not a static thing. Your home should be forever changing in a dynamic way and filling it with what you love and what means the most to you.

When my kids were little, our eating area was more of a breakfast nook style, which was perfect in keeping them corralled during meal times. As they grew, we realized that the confines of a bench seat just didn’t work anymore and we ended up pulling the table into the center of the room to make space for growing arms and legs.

Pretty and bright breakfast nook by Jennifer Rizzo

It was liberating and a little sad at the same time. I loved our little nook, and while it was nice to change, it also made me realize how much the kids were changing and how flexible I needed to be with how our home changed.

Dining space with Target tablecloth by Jennifer Rizzo

When we had the opportunity to gut and redo our living room in the sub-level, I wanted to use it as an opportunity to make it feel less like a cave and more like a real living room. Basement rooms and sub-level rooms share their own lighting challenges and it can be hard to make it feel like an above-ground level room. In fact here’s a peek of how it looked in 2009, very cave-like.

I took the opportunity to add layer after layer of family photos. I think there is nothing more meaningful than to be surrounded by family, even if it’s only the memories.

Fun use of old family pictures for decorating

And I keep adding photos as I go. I am grateful I have family photos from when my grandparents were little.

For us, our home has meant changing the kids rooms as their tastes changed.  It was easy when they were little to make the decisions for them, but now, I want them to have their own say in the space they live in and fill it with what they love, so when they have their own homes, they will be able to do the same.

Girls bedroom makeover by Jennifer Rizzo

Thank you so much for having me here today. You can see more before and after images of our home here, and please feel free to stop over and visit my blog here for home decorating and inspiring craft ideas.

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Thank you for sharing your eclectically styled + meaningful home Jen!  “The truth is, creating a home you truly love takes time, and should evolve for the needs of your family. It’s not a static thing.” Perfectly stated.

I adore the many furniture makeovers that Jen tackles.  For a recent entry makeover, she transformed this thrift store vintage dresser with a quick coat of light gray paint and then used a wet paper towel to wipe off the excess for a distressed look.  What a great trash t treasure project…

painted side dresser with gray paint by Jennifer Rizzo

Head on over to Jenniferrizzo.com, and give Jen a BIG HELLO!

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

Plus don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: The Blissful Bee

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Amy of The Blissful Bee - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Amy of The Blissful Bee. Welcome Amy…

Hi guys! I’m Amy of The Blissful Bee and I’m so super excited to be guest blogging today on Jenna’s blog! I am so passionate about home design and I cannot wait to share with you the meaning behind my home.

Chic + Soft living room by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

(Formal Living Room Makeover)

Make Today Awesome quote

Chic + Soft living room by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

(Kitchen Makeover)

So I don’t know about you, but there are so many times where I ask myself one very important question. What in the world makes a home special? Such a complex question, right? As a gal who’s moved around quite a bit over the last 7 years, it’s hard for me to answer this question with walls or floors or furniture or doors. For me, a meaningful home means so much more.

Chic + Soft dining room + kitchen by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

Chic + Soft dining room + kitchen by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

(Formal Living Room Makeover)

A meaningful home isn’t about the furniture or décor you throw into it. Of course those pieces help, but in my opinion, it’s more about the feeling you have when you walk into a room or walk up your front porch. It’s that initial reaction you have to your home when you pull into your driveway. It’s that feeling of happiness when you come home to greet your loved ones; and in my case, my two little fur balls, Bailey and Bella.

Coffee table chic... + a cute cat

garden table with pretty plants

Back porch makeover by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

(Back Porch Makeover)

It’s the smell of your favorite candle burning in your kitchen or the lamps you for some reason always have to keep on. It’s the throw that is strategically placed next to your favorite spot on the couch or your favorite coffee mug waiting for you every morning.

Chic + Soft den makeover by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

(Den Makeover)

Chic + Soft office makeover by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

(Mini Office Makeover)

Chic + Soft office makeover by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

(Kitchen Makeover)

As much as I love designing and decorating a space, the feeling that home provides and whom you fill it with is so much more important to me. What about you?

Thank you Amy!

Goodness, I can not get enough of Amy’s home.  Every nook and cranny is engaging and filled with beautiful, unique layers.  As Amy has moved many, many times over the years, decorating with meaning has been a bit of a challenge, but with her thought of “the feeling of happiness is most important when you come home”, a space that reflects her style shines through!

One of Amy’s incredible makeover projects is the back porch garden center she created with a great potting table, garden necessities, and the most adorable seating to relax, reflect, and enjoy.  Wouldn’t you love to do some potting in this cozy spot?!

Chic + Soft back porch makeover by Amy @ The Blissful Bee

Head on over to The Blissful Bee, and give Amy a BIG HELLO!

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

Plus don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

 

Creating a Meaningful Home: Decor Adventures

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jessica of Decor Adventures - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Jessica from Decor Adventures. Welcome Jessica…

Hello friends! Glad to meet you, I’m Jessica from Decor Adventures. Blogging about the fun I have at home is my creative outlet and opportunity to have fun with my power tools, not to mention paint something new every once in a while. My husband, baby daughter and I live in a 115-year old home in the city.

Bee News Feature

This is our first house and we’ve spend 5 years so far making it our own. We have amazing wood trim and floors, stained glass and 4 floors of old house quirks where nothing is square and I love it that way.

It’s easy to move into a place, set up your things, paint the walls, and get to living. But it’s hard to figure out what meaningful means to you and how to create a home that’s special, organized and function for your family and life.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jessica of Decor Adventures - a MUST READ story!

 

Here are a few simple ways I bring meaning and life into my home.

INVOLVE YOUR FAMILY

Although one of my family members is only 8 months old, she is is a big part of how I now design and decorate my home. And she’s my super cute mini assistant. I made this constellation art work for her room and this fall I’m about to start baby-proofing everything. If you have any tips, I’d love to hear them.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jessica of Decor Adventures - a MUST READ story!

 

My husband Dan and I make joint decisions on our home. It didn’t always used to be that way. I used to tell him an idea of what I wanted to do and he’s offer a counter opinion to try something different and I hated it! It was hard to compromise about things but I have cooled my heels a lot and now we talk about what kinds of things we’ll BOTH do to our house.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jessica of Decor Adventures - a MUST READ story!

Involving your family in designing and decorating your home will make you all feel a part of the process of creating a meaningful place to live and there isn’t anything more important than having your family feel loved, important and valued.

USE WHAT YOU GOT

Using items in your home to redecorate and renovate a new space is not only fun, it’s challenging and exhilirating. These days budget is a major factor in my decor projects and who doesn’t want to save money anyway they can? After turning into a blog-at-home mom from a full-time professional, making items for my home for little or no money is what I dream about at night. I do! See all of the things I’ve made for free here, including this poster I painted over with supplies I had on hand including trendy hot pink.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jessica of Decor Adventures - a MUST READ story!

Other ways to use what you’ve got are by rearranging your furniture, shopping the attic or swapping items with friends. It’s a great time to switch a room around or make something from the leftover supplies from that last craft day. I love recycling, and these are all easy ways to do that and bring a special meaning to your rooms and decor.

HAVE PEOPLE OVER

Even if the living room isn’t as pretty as you’d like it, or the grass needs cutting, schedule that dinner party you’ve been wanting. You’ll wonder why you didn’t spend time with friends or family sooner. The one thing I believe most about creating a meaningful home is that you have to share it with people you love. Dinner parties, Friendsgiving, which we regularly host, and even a casual dinner after the baby goes to bed all count. So who cares if the floors are dusty, open up some drinks and have fun with the ones you love.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jessica of Decor Adventures - a MUST READ story!

I hope these tips help you create a meaningful home in your space. Please visit me at Decor Adventures and find me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram too.

Decor Adventures

“It’s easy to move into a place, set up your things, paint the walls, and get to living. But it’s hard to figure out what meaningful means to you and how to create a home that’s special, organized and function for your family and life.” Absolutely! Incorporating ‘meaning’ takes time; it doesn’t come together overnight.  I am in love with her 115-year old home – goodness, the stories it could tell. And the woodwork… I’m drooling.  I love the updates Jessica has been making to her beautiful, aged homestead!

A favorite project of Jessica’s is the recent master closet makeover she created for the Buffalo Decorators Show House.  Check out this fun + vibrant space… Who wouldn’t love this part of the home?!

Master Closet Makeover

 Head on over to Decor Adventures, and give Jessica a BIG HELLO!

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

Plus don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Emily A. Clark

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Emily A. Clark - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Emily A. Clark. Welcome Emily…

I love this series. Because if your home isn’t meaningful to you, what’s the point? As we’ve moved into different houses and our family has grown over the past ten years, I’ve come to realize that it’s about really living where you are—whether (you think) it’s permanent or if (you know) it’s temporary. There’s something to be said for really making a house a home.

Growth Chart in the home of Emily Clark

For me, that means surrounding myself with reminders of the blessings we’ve been given, Who we believe in, and how faithful He’s been to us. My favorite example of this is a spot in our house I’ve never officially blogged about. No huge DIY project or amazing design. Just a small wall in our hallway and a black Sharpie.

Growth Chart in the home of Emily Clark

Growth Chart in the home of Emily Clark

The “growth chart wall” has become a famous Clark birthday tradition. And, it makes me happy every time I look at it.

Growth Chart in the home of Emily Clark

The kids like to regularly check their progress throughout the year—with the occasional “reenactment” for the blog. Ha! 🙂

So, what if we move? It’s the question people always ask when they catch a peek of this wall on Instagram or somewhere else. I know there are lots of portable growth charts you can buy and take with you. But, I’m a firm believer in not living for your next house or even for the next buyers of your current house. And, I like that this part of our lives in this house is documented on this wall. There’s something that feels special—and meaningful—about that to me.

How true?!  You can’t live for your next house.  Embrace today.  Enjoy what’s most special and meaningful!  Emily’s blog was one of my first to follow 5+ years ago and it’s still one of my favorites.  Her simple, yet sophisticated design approach is so fresh and effortless.  The spaces she creates feel luxurious, yet welcoming.  I just can’t get enough of her style!

One of Emily’s favorite projects (which I am still in awe of today) is the fabric wall installation she created in her daughters room.  She used a gorgeous oriental style fabric and adorned the entire bed wall.  How gorgeous?!

Fabric wall installation by Emily Clark

Fabric wall installation by Emily Clark

Head on over to Emily A. Clark, and give Emily a BIG HELLO!

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

Plus don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

Creating a Meaningful Home: City Farmhouse

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

Today’s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Jen of City Farmhouse. Welcome Jen…

Hi there JBD readers! My name is Jen & I write the blog City Farmhouse. I started my blog a little over 3 years ago as a way of chronicling our new home, with little time and money for decorating we decided to take it one project at a time. What I found was, it was more about the journey in creating a meaningful home and less about the destination.

After 4 years of living in my home I still have spaces I need to tackle but for me that is the fun part, knowing there are still projects ahead. My little guy heads off to kindergarten this September, I am not sure what I will do with all of the time, I suppose tackle some of these projects:). Jack being home with me is a big part of why I chose to take decorating my home slowly. At the end of the day, I will never get that time back & that is way more important than anything I could create.

I have always decorated my home with my family in mind. Of course I want a pretty home, but I want it to feel comfortable as well. By adding cozy pillows, meaningful details, texture and layers my boys {husband included} feel that it is their space as well.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

This is our Summer Front Porch, we spend tons of time out here in the summer, it overlooks the bay and it is quiet & peaceful. It is a place that feels good for everyone. It is functional, comfortable and stylish. Everything is washable and the outdoor carpet is a dream! Our coffee table is actually an old kids table from PB and it is the perfect height. My boys play Legos out here, draw and it is ideal for afternoon picnics and evening snacks.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

Jack comes out here is in the mornings with me with his action figures and cars & I can’t tell you how much I treasure this time, hearing his little voice and listening to him pretend play is what home is all about.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

Our Master Bedroom is a place I have layered vertically lots of moments and memories from our time spent seaside. The mirror above our bed was made from driftwood found with my boys. Everyday it’s the first thing I see when I wake up and it reminds me of our little adventures together and how grateful I am to live coastally.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

This piece of art I made for my husband on our 10th anniversary. It’s a little DIY graffiti art from the words of our wedding song.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

And feathers found at the beach one summer.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

I am one of those people that firmly believes that gratitude goes a long way. Sayings like this {below} are all over our home.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

Numbers that represent the BEST days of my life, the days my boys were born and our wedding day.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

Every year at Thanksgiving I add gratitude notes to our table, so we can hold on to them as keepsakes. In a day where technology has taken the place of most handwritten items, to be able look back on these notes & see all the things we were grateful for that year, what a sweet bit of family history to hold onto.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!

Layering your walls with DIY art is a great way of personalizing your home. There is a sense of pride when someone says, “I love that, how did you make that?”

You can check out my Dining Room Reveal HERE.

CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series featuring Bloggers sharing the story of their home: FEATURED is Jen of City Farmhouse - a MUST READ story!DIY Abstract Art

Thank you so much for spending some time with me today. I would love for you to follow along, I still have tons to do & ideas to share:).

You can fins me here BLOG/FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM

Have a beautiful week,

signature

“I have always decorated my home with my family in mind. Of course I want a pretty home, but I want it to feel comfortable as well.” Balance is key when creating a home with meaning and Jen’s home is not only beautiful, but it is also cozy, warm, and inviting for her family & friends.  Jen is also a sweetheart and I believe her decor style reflects who she is!  We met last year for the first time and will be seeing each other again in the Fall at a conference.  To me, she’s not only a fellow blogger, but a friend!

Jen has some great projects + printables on her blog.  A favorite is this rustic TV cart that she upcycled into a modern white bar cart.  How creative?!

rustic TV cart upcycled into a modern white bar cart

Head on over to City Farmhouse, and give Jen a BIG HELLO!

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

Plus don’t miss out on all the previous Bloggers who contributed to this series in 2013 and 2014!

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