Tag: creating a meaningful home

Creating a Meaningful Home: Just a Girl and Her Blog

Written by Jenna on July 27, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Abby of Just a Girl and Her Blog. Welcome Abbyâ€¦

Hi there, friends! I’m Abby from Just a Girl and Her Blog, and I am so excited that Jenna has asked me to participate in her “Creating a Meaningful Home” series this year! This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart, particularly because my journey to creating a meaningful home hasn’t always been a smooth one. You see, when it comes to creating a home we love, I tend to be the queen of excuses…

This is just our starter house; when we move into our dream home, then I’ll make it meaningful. I have little kids, so there’s no use wasting time or money on decorating right now. Our house is functional; it doesn’t need to be beautiful. I’m not a professional decorator, so I don’t know how to create a home that’s meaningful.

But, after telling myself excuse after excuse, what I realized– and what I still have to remind myself of often– is that creating a meaningful home isn’t the same as creating a picture perfect home.

Now as a type-A perfectionist, it took me a while to come to grips with that distinction. I would see all of these gorgeous home pictures all over Pinterest and get frustrated, thinking, “My house will never look like that!” And you know what I finally figured out? That’s a good thing. Because the people who own those Pinterest houses aren’t me. They don’t have my family. They don’t have my exact style. And they aren’t in the exact phase of life that I’m in right now. So while that home may be meaningful for them, I could copy the look exactly, but it wouldn’t be meaningful for me or for my family.

That realization hit me like a ton of bricks. It also brought a lot of freedom. I was no longer on a mission to create this Pinterest perfect house. I was on a mission to create the perfect home for my family where we are at this moment– with two wild little boys running around, in a house that’s not our “forever” home, which has fixtures and finishes that may not have been my first choice, with my less-than-professional-level decorating skills. A meaningful home is so much more than the furniture or fabrics or finishes. It’s the people who you create that home with that matter. And I love that.

And all of those excuses, those reasons I was seeing as negatives? It turns out that there’s a lot of good that comes out of them too.

Since our house is on the smaller side, our boys share a room, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Not only are they brothers, they’re best friends.

Since we don’t have an unlimited budget, we make things ourselves, which not only makes things more meaningful but is incredibly satisfying as well!

{our DIY headboard, board and batten wall treatment, and lampshades, all part of our master bedroom}

We also give new life to old, worn out pieces, like this $40 Craigslist dresser-turned-TV stand…

…or this dresser that was part of my childhood bedroom set…

Those builder-grade finishes that aren’t our favorite? Paint can go a long way with those, too.

And my little home office/craft room may never appear in a magazine, but it is the perfect getaway for this girly girl in my house full of boys!

So what makes a meaningful home? We do. It’s far from perfect, but it’s perfect for us. {Although don’t tell my husband that I said that. I still have a long list of DIY projects I need his help with… 😉 } Someday my boys will grow up and I won’t be stepping on toys every time I turn around. Someday we’ll move into our forever home and I might even get to pick all of the fixtures and finishes I want. Someday I might be satisfied with my decorating skills. But that won’t make me any happier. What truly brings me joy is sharing home with the people I love most, and there is nothing more meaningful than that!

Thank you so much to Jenna for having me, and thank YOU for reading! I’d love to catch up with you over at Just a Girl and Her Blog or on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter! Have a wonderful day!

“It’s far from perfect, but it’s perfect for us.” What truly makes a home meaningful is what is meaningful to you! Thank you so much to Abby for sharing such a beautiful home story. Abby has such a fresh, clean, and crisp style. It’s effortlessly chic and reflects what she loves most + is important to her and her family!

One of Abby’s recent favorite projects are the beautiful coastal shelves she designed for the Summer season. Filled with beachy pieces + natural elements, these shelves are the perfect warm-weather vignette.

Head on over to Just a Girl and Her Blog, and give Abby a BIG HELLO!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Jenna Sue Design

Written by Jenna on July 22, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Jenna Sue of Jenna Sue Design. Welcome Jenna Sueâ€¦

Hello, friends! I’m Jenna (you can call me Jenna Sue) of Jenna Sue Design and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share a bit of my home and how I create meaning in it with you today.

It has been such a learning experience since we purchased our first home in 2008 (we’re now on our third) and through this journey I’ve learned a few key principles that always keep me on track when making design & decorating decisions.

1. It’s all about the atmosphere

How do you want to feel when you walk into a space? Relaxed, energized, calm, uplifted, motivated, cozy, safe Close your eyes and visualize the ideal scene that plays out when you walk into the bedroom/kitchen/living room/bathroom etc of your dreams. Is it curled up by the fire in a snowed in cabin sipping wine and reading? Is it a large kitchen with family and friends cooking and chatting? Is it a quiet, organized workspace to help you stay focused and inspired? Maybe a relaxed beach house with natural woods and soft colors to reflect simpler living. No matter what your dream scene is, you can recreate that feeling in your own home.

Determine your key descriptive words to achieve this atmosphere. They don’t necessarily have to belong together. For our latest guest bathroom renovation, my words were “natural romantic vintage boho”â€”terms that aren’t always grouped together, but they nicely blended to create the environment I had envisioned.

Always keep that vision in your mind when making plans or purchases for the spaceâ€”ask yourself if you could see the item existing in that scene, and if it doesn’t fit, move on.

The mood that a space creates when we enter is always the most important factor, I believe, and one that is often overlooked when people get caught up in small details like what “matches” or “looks like the magazine”. Let the environment be your guide. Remember the Maya Angelou quote about how people will forget what you did and said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel. You want people to remember the experiences and how they felt when they’re inside your home.

2. Get Inspired & Creative

Before starting any new home project, I load up on inspiration to get a clear sense of what I want. My favorite way to do this is Pinterest (I’m constantly pinning for the future!) where I take mental notes of the mood that is evoked from each photo and decide what I want my environment to be. It helps me piece together those details and gets the wheels in motion for the many different ways I can make the space work.

I dreamed of a laundry room overlooking a lavender field in the french countryside, but only had a dark, awkward storage room to work with. After gathering up enough inspiration and a little creativity, we ripped out the walls, floor and ceiling and made our own vision come to life:

And on a DIY budget. That’s where the creativity comes in. Even if I had unlimited funds, I’d always find a way to sneak in some DIY or handmade elements because there’s so much satisfaction knowing you physically had a hand in building this home you love. Even if it’s small and looks funny or didn’t turn out how you planned (see our DIY barn door above? it’s crooked. But it has character and a story and we love it).

I love finding ways to add elements to our home that reflect our personalities and tell a story (as inexpensively as possible!). Like these Roman Numerals. I found someone on Ebay selling thin wood cutouts, asked him to customize them to our wedding anniversary, painted them the same color as our wall and nailed them up. Instant (yet subtle) impact for little cost and effort.

Inexpensive creativity can come in any form… handmade art, repurposing objects in new ways, even simple floral arrangements with native plants in your yard. I always try to find a way to work with what I have.

3. Do it for the people

Whether it’s just you, your family, or anyone who enters your homeâ€”you want it to feel welcoming. We love to entertain so we modified our home to fulfill this by knocking out our dining room wall, reconfiguring our kitchen and building a huge table for friends and family to gather.

It has become the heart of our home and allows us to continue to host important gatherings and celebrationsâ€”and we love knowing that our guests enjoy themselves and feel welcome.

Even if you’re not entertaining a crowd, this is the place where your family will create lifetime memories so you want to facilitate that as much as possible. Create a safe environment where your family feels comfortable and loved. Designate fun areas so children can express themselves and explore their creativity. Make other spaces a retreat so you can unwind at the end of the day, feel calm in the present moment and regroup for tomorrow.

By designing your home to work for you, life becomes easier you’re able to focus on what matters most. Home looks different for everyoneâ€”for some it’s a deeply rooted place that’s been around for generations, for others it’s a constantly changing place filled with new faces and experiencesâ€”but deep down, it should always be that safe, familiar feeling within us that can’t be replaced.

So many beautiful thoughts + words that Jenna Sue shares… “Create a safe environment where your family feels comfortable and loved.” Her home is beyond gorgeous + so inviting. A favorite project of hers that she recently shared is this $30 sofa console table. I’ve shared this narrow table idea with many clients (I still want to make one for myself) and LOVE how Jenna Sue’s came out!

Head on over to Jenna Sue Design, and give Jenna Sue a BIG HELLO!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Just Destiny Mag

Written by Jenna on July 20, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Destiny of Just Destiny Mag. Welcome Destinyâ€¦

Hello!

My name is Destiny and I blog over at Just Destiny Mag! I believe that whether it’s through a smile, laugh, fresh flowers, bike rides, hiking in search for the sun rise, chocolate chip cookies, a made bed, or a painted wall, being authentic, genuine and loving are all ingredients to a meaningful life and home!

I’m so happy + honored to be guest posting here today and that Jenna asked me to be apart of this yearly series with some other amazing bloggers.

Here are a few things that I intentionally do make my home meaningful.

COMFORTABLE

Comfort is the number one thing I think about when designing any room in our home. It can look as pretty as a magazine but if it’s not comfortable then it’s not live able. Comfort just doesn’t come in the form of pillow and blankets. It’s familiar pictures of vacations past, it’s having a place that says “come sit down” instead of ” do not touch” it’s having a place for everyone to sit and read, watch tv, or have hard conversations.

Our family room is definitely the heat of our home. It’s were we invite friends over, have movie nights, laugh, cry, relax and play games. I used a big sectional for tons of seating with the extra luxury of down filled cushions so we can really sink in on those hard days:0) Plus pillows, carpets floors and drapes add to the overall coziness to the room. I also love using neutrals because it keeps things in our home quiet. If you know us personally we have enough personality to fill these walls with all types of colors! SO I think the neutrals balance out life out very well.

BUT, I could never not have any color in my home so I always add a pop of color to each room. In our family room it’s green…

In our guest room it’s blue…

COLLECTIONS

I don’t have many collections in my home right now but I feel like in the future we will have plenty. We are still a pretty young family but that doesn’t stop me from collecting some of my favorite things.

Below is a small collection of green glass from Goodwill. It goes so well with the green in our family room!

In my kitchen I have this fun collection of cake plates. I just can’t resist a pretty cake plate as you can see! Displayed on these open shelves in my kitchen helps me show them off instead of hiding them in a closet!

Collections are so wonderful because it’s something that you can pass down from generation to generation! I hope one day my little girl will want to have some of my collection in her home!

INSPIRATION

I love using inspiration in my home by using gallery walls! It’s the perfect way to let your family’s memories and personality shine in the home. Plus you can incorporate gentle reminders, including bible verses and family mission statements so everyone can be inspired daily.

FUN AND FUNCTIONAL

You can have all of the things above but if your home isn’t fun and functional then you’re missing out on one of the best part of designing! Like I said before my home is pretty neutral. That’s they way I like it. But when it came to my office I wanted it to be FUN but FUNCTIONAL! So I experimented a little and came up with a space I LOVE to be in. Boxes and painted dressers house all of my crafts that I do on my blog plus it’s a place where I feel motivated and inspired to create, which lead to a meaningful life for my entire family!

Thanks so much for having me Jenna! Fall and Winter seasons are big for us over at Just Destiny Mag! SO, I would love for you to hang out with us for some inspirational crafts and home decor >>> www.justdestinymag.com

“A smile, laugh, fresh flowers, bike rides, hiking in search for the sun rise, chocolate chip cookies, a made bed, or a painted wall, being authentic, genuine and loving are all ingredients to a meaningful life and home!” How true is that?! Destiny always has me in awe with the creations + rooms she creates. Her style is so fresh + crisp, yet comfortable + inviting.

Along with the gorgeous spaces she creates, she also has a great sense + style for making beautiful printables for the home. She recently made this fun pineapple printable (that can be printed free) for Summer…

Head on over to Just Destiny Mag, and give Destiny a BIG HELLO!

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!

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!

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!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Ten June Blog

Written by Jenna on June 24, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Todayâ€™s guest post for Creating a Meaningful Home blog series: Year 3 is Michelle of Ten June Blog. Welcome Michelle…

Creating a meaningful home is a really important topic to me. No matter how many design magazines we browse through or DIY blogs we read, nothing matters more in your home than meaningful moments. It’s your home, right? So it needs to look like you and your family. What inspires you? What makes you smile? What reminds you of those special moments in your life? In my opinion, decorating with those types of things is what makes your home meaningful.

For years, my husband and I lived in our “dream home” that we renovated and put a lot of love, blood, sweat and tears into. We moved from that dream home a couple of years ago due to my husband’s job relocation and we’re actually in a rental house right now. It’s pretty crazy to go from a home that we painted every square inch of (like our son’s baby nursery room makeover, still my favorite room I’ve ever designed!), renovated portions of to the studs (like our amazing master bathroom renovation!) and really felt like we made “ours” to a home that we can’t even paint the walls or do anything permanent to without permission! Needless to say, making this rental home a “meaningful home” in small ways has become very important to us. Here are a few small things we’ve done around our little rental house to make this temporary space feel more like our special home.

Pull out your sentimental pieces to display.

The vintage fire truck and blue station wagon that sit on top of my son’s storage shelf in his bedroom were passed down to my husband from his grandfather. It’s such a fun reminder to have a piece of Pop in our little guy’s room and truly makes for a special reminder of our family every time we see the little cars. More on my son’s nursery/bedroom space here

Choose art that is special to your family.

Matt Redman’s “10,000 Reasons” song is really special to our family- in fact, it’s become our family anthem! I had this sign custom made to hang in our dining room. It’s so great that it sits as a backdrop to our family dinners, parties and other events. This sign truly makes this space more meaningful. For more on our dining room, head here.

If you want bold, go bold.

Don’t be afraid to stand out or make a bold design choice just because it’s not necessarily in style or a big trend. If it’s something that you and your family like, then go for it! That choice will make your space more personal, for sure. Take this patio makeover I did. While my neighbors might not have chosen a wild patterned red outdoor rug and bright turquoise chairs, they were the perfect fun additions to make our outdoor space more homey. More on this outdoor space here.

Add decor pieces that are important and functional to you.

While it’s a lot of fun to have pretty things on your nightstand, the typical magazine nightstand with it’s flowers and frilly decor pieces just won’t cut it for me. I’ve got to have my Bible and whatever book I’m reading within arm’s reach. So you make it work and take functional items like that, whether they’re pretty or not, and integrate them into your decor as I’ve done here with my nightstand. That trick might not work quite as well with your baby monitor, ha. Let’s be honest, mine is being hidden in that top drawer.

The ideas I shared are certainly not mind-blowing new ideas for decorating your home, but they are really great small touches that have truly made my home meaningful for me. I’m sure the concept of a “meaningful home” means something different to everyone- what do you bring into your home to truly personalize your space?

What a great story, thanks Michelle for sharing! I can’t imagine getting uprooted from a dream home to a rental, but if it’s what has to happen, then you make the most of it – and Michelle has. No matter the style or size of your home (whether you own it or rent it), there is always a way to introduce meaning & purpose. Little ways make a big impact.

One favorite project that Michelle created is this bamboo stick mirror. Sunburst mirrors have been all-the-rage for a while and this do it yourself creation is so beautiful + bold AND looks great on the black wall of her dining room (in her previous house)…

Head on over to Ten June Blog, and give Michelle a BIG HELLO!

Creating a Meaningful Home: Year 3

Written by Jenna on June 22, 2015. Posted in Creating a Meaningful Home.

Ever since the beginning of time with cavemen writing on the walls of caves depicting their adventures and stories, we’ve communicated how we live by the things we surround ourselves with. Yes, ‘home is where the heart is’, but creating a home with meaning that reflects YOU and YOUR STORY is just as important to honor where you’ve been, what you love, and what’s most valuable to you.

â€œWe love that our belongings honor where we are from and where we have been. Our home houses our story.â€

Photo Credit: home of Hanni Liliedahl and Jesse Silacci, featured on Design Sponge

I am over-the-moon happy to announce the start of Year 3 for the CREATING A MEANINGFUL HOME blog series which will feature fellow bloggers over the coming 2-3 months who will open their homes and share the story they’ve created on the walls + in the spaces of their homes.

I am thrilled to have created a platform to inspire and share my thoughts on design and decorating a home. With this blog series, even more great ideas + personal stories are shared about how a meaningful home can be created. Whether a thrift store treasure, a garage sale find, or hand-me-down ‘something’, anything that catches the eye and reflects YOU is something that should be incorporated in your space.

The talented Blogger and now Author (of the fantastic book Love the Home You Have), Melissa of The Inspired Room, kicked off last years blog series with her beautiful story.

This year, the equally incredible Blogger + Designer Mandi Gubler of Vintage Revivials is kicking off the series. I am so thankful to her for taking the time to share her homes story with us. Mandi has impeccable style and was voted one of Better Homes and Gardens Top 10 DIY Bloggers this year. She’s been on Nate Berkus, has had countless magazine features, has a huge blog following of DIY enthusiasts, and is just fun + fearless.

Here is a picture of her and I when we met at a blogging conference a few years back…

Without further ado, here’s Mandi’s story…

Oh my gosh you guys, I am so excited to be here today! I am Mandi from Vintage Revivals and I am thrilled to chat with you about something that is so near and dear to my heart! Creating a meaningful home.

| Buttoned Up Boho Bedroom Makeover

I have a story for you about a girl. For some reason this girl had this preconceived notion that creating a meaningful beautiful space required 2 things, money and an interior designer. One random day 5 years ago she stumbled upon the world of DIY blogging and was BLOWN AWAY. It shattered every idea that she had about decorating. And even though she had literally no idea how to do any of it, she jumped in with both feet. That is how Vintage Revivals was born. The undaunted motivation of a spray paint virgin.

Along the way Iâ€™ve found that while there are a million different ways execute making your space feel like home, that feeling that we are all trying to capture is the same. Safety, comfort, a place that we can feel like ourselves.

| Loft Living Room Makeover

For me this means that I can be creative, wherever the mood strikes.

It means that my kids have bedrooms that feel like childhood.

| Dylanâ€™s Dream Room

And the biggest thing is that it is always changing and feeling different.

I feel like there is this gaping chasm between the beautiful images that we see on the internet and the boring beige, boob light infested places we deal with in real life because they are good enough.

| S-W Color of the Year 2015

Get inspired and do something exciting to your house, I know you wont regret it!

And have you checked out Mandi’s latest love… The Nugget. A complete trailor renovation filled with DIY inspiration + creations! Goodness, my wheels are spinning with love & ideas.

“Safety, comfort, a place that we can feel like ourselves.” … That’s it, that captures what WE ALL WANT. No matter our style or size, we are all trying to capture the same essence of home. It’s truly about the feeling that is conveyed on the walls of our home + the things in our home. Iâ€™m always in awe of what Mandi creates and I am overjoyed that she is kicking off this annual series of Creating a Meaningful Home.

Later this week and continuing over the next few months, I have an amazing lineup of inspirational friends / Bloggers who will be opening up their homes to share ideas and show you how theyâ€™ve created a meaningful home.

Same as in 2013 + 2014, once a Blogger has shared their story, a snippet to the post will be added below. I encourage you to check back often to find new Bloggers and to learn about their storyâ€¦

Letâ€™s get started!

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Publication Features + Happenings on the Homestead

Written by Jenna on June 17, 2015. Posted in Happenings on the Homestead, Publication Features.

As the Summer approaches, my plan was to *try* to slow down since the kids will be out of school in less than a week, but once the warm weather hit this year, everyone & their moms seemed to come out of the woodwork wanting to revamp their homes. To say the last weeks have been busy, is an understatement. Certainly no complaints though – busy is good in my book.

Before I share more news on what’s been happening on the homestead, I am excited to tell you that there a few publications currently on newsstands that I am featured in…

NATIONAL PUBLICATION FEATURE

First up, the June issue of This Old House magazine has an article on E-design and since I offer virtual design services to anyone in the US of A, they reached out to me a few months back gathering some insight on how it works and it’s success.

My “feature” is small (3 lines on page 28), but a quote or 2 in a national publication is pretty rad! The whole article is about a homeowner in California who worked with an E-Designer to create a new kitchen space, which in my opinion came out gorgeous.

I loved this thought by the homeowner…

YES! That’s it. I’ve worked with many folks around the country through email, skype, and phone that share the same thoughts on working with me. I love pointing homeowners in the right direction to get them on track to revamp their space.

[Learn more about my E-Design services here]

LOCAL PUBLICATION FEATURES

Onto the next 2 features, which are in local (to me) publications… Saratoga Mama + Simply Saratoga

Both of these magazine features are articles I wrote.

In Saratoga Mama, I shared my DIY Kids Tent tutorial that I made for my kiddos a few Summers back. The entire issue is based on Summer Unplugged, so these fun & simple-to-make tents seemed like the perfect addition. And they really are easy to make!

If you’re local, definitely snag a copy of this Summer staple.

[click to check out the full tutorial on making these DIY Kids Tents]

For Simply Saratoga magazine, I wrote a feature on Creating an Outdoor Oasis, which is similar to the post I shared a few weeks back here on the blog.

About a month ago, I was full-steam ahead with getting the outdoors spruced up for the Summer and creating an outdoor living space on the patio, porch, and deck. I’ve calmed a bit since…

[Check out more ideas on Creating an Outdoor Living Space]

It’s always amazing to me and such a blessing to be featured in a magazine!

onto other things…

HAPPENINGS ON THE HOMESTEAD

What’s on the boards? I am working on a slew of exciting projects – more for clients than myself.

I just finished up 3 teen rooms (all siblings), which was a first for me. Their parents wanted to give them the opportunity to create a space that truly reflects them & their unique style. Before our initial meeting, I took pictures + measurements of the 3 rooms, and each teen wrote a list of wants / needs. I met with each of them to discuss their vision and then created these mood boards…

Teen Room 1

Teen Room 2

Teen Room 3

They’re going to do most of the “shopping” so I am excited to see how it’ll come together!

Along with those 3 rooms, I am also working on 2 kitchens, one of which is almost done – countertop is being installed tomorrow!

So crisp + fresh with new white and gray. It’s a whole lot different than the dated look of the wood in the “before” space.

Here was the vision board I created for the kitchen…

Plus I have an exciting restaurant project I am working on – pinch me – with a rustic industrial aesthetic… It’s going to be awesome. More on that in the near future

As you can see, a lot is happening! All good things which is wonderful.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

One more bit of “what’s happening”, Year 3 of the Creating a Meaningful Home Series starts next Monday the 22nd! I’m screaming from the rooftops with excitement. Can you believe this is the 3rd year of the series?!

Photo Credit: home of Hanni Liliedahl and Jesse Silacci, featured on Design Sponge

â€œWe love that our belongings honor where we are from and where we have been. Our home houses our story.â€

If you haven’t been following along with the blog for that long (shame, shame, lol), the CAMH blog series is a 2-3 month long series that I host where other Home + Design Bloggers share a guest post on my blog featuring their homes and how they’ve created meaning in their space! It’s a wonderful series on a subject near & dear to my heart. This years lineup of guest bloggers is pretty awesome.

[Click here to see & read all the Blogger stories from Year 1]

[Click here to see & read all the Blogger stories from Year 2]

Last year, the incredibly talented Melissa of The Inspired Room (not only a fellow Blogger, but Author of the beautiful book, Love The Home You Have ) kicked off the series and this year I have a very different, but equally talented friend who will be starting the series.

SO DON’T MISS IT! The series kickoff will be next Monday, the 22nd!

Well that’s just a bit of what’s happening on the ole’s homestead, along with a million other things…

What’s happening in your neck of the woods?