House Renovation

I Believe That Our Physical Surroundings Matter. 

​

When I bought my house almost four years ago, I wanted to make it a haven for the healing and growth I craved. I wanted walls that made me feel safe. I wanted a home base for my kids, where walking in the door felt like a hug. But I didn't know what that would look like.

Eva helping to prep the wall for primer

What color should I paint my living room to help me feel welcomed when I come home, regardless of whether I'm coming home to my kids or coming home to quiet on the days they are gone?

What flooring should I choose to weather spills and messes, armloads of firewood being dropped, and impromptu teenage dance parties?

As I began tackling one thing at a time, I realized that I didn't have experience making these kinds of decisions for myself. As a 40-year-old newly divorced mom of four, I realized that the concept of choosing something based on my preference was completely foreign.

I realized that there was a problem with the questions themselves: "What should I _______."

Feeling like a badass as I put up drywall in Jude's new room

The Shoulds.

I was so used to making decisions based on what I knew someone else would like, or what would feel comfortable to them. The Shoulds.

With no one else to tell me what to do (or tell me not to do), I jumped in. Item one: get rid of gross old carpet. Item two: paint the living room wall black. I don't know why, but that felt amazing. Did I need a deep reason for it? No, I just liked it.

And so I did the next thing. Picked what I liked. Did it.

Stairs in progress

Did not consult Pinterest for trends, did not have a coordinated look I was going for. Did not consult The Shoulds.

I painted my bedroom dark grey. I painted my secondhand bed frame garden green. After the first round of projects was done, a few months in, I rewarded myself with a brand new couch that defied all of The Shoulds. A green velvet couch, because I love the way it looks and feels. 

Being a dork, as usual

Here I am, almost four years in, and I'm still not done with my remodel. I keep chipping away at it, one thing at a time. But if I have learned anything, it is this:

1. Our physical surroundings matter. 

2. Choosing something simply because I like it is perfectly valid. 

My goal is to help you discover art that feels like a hug when you come home, a bright light on dark days, or a calm reminder of all the good in this world.​

Find the perfect piece to make your home feel like home - flip through my originals, or choose a print that fills that perfect spot!