Is it okay to say that? 😀 As a result of I do. There are occasions once I stroll via my home and assume to myself, “I can’t consider that I’ve a home that’s so reflective of me!” I didn’t design and adorn this home for everybody, and never everybody loves it. That’s completely wonderful with me. I designed and adorned it for me. (Properly, I did design it with Matt’s wants in thoughts, however I didn’t adorn it with him in thoughts as a result of he actually couldn’t care much less in regards to the décor. 😀 ) However every little thing on this home — the colours, the paintings, every little thing — is so completely reflective of my love of coloration and my character.
In the course of the month of June, I used to be in a ebook membership that met weekly. Our final assembly was final week, and we met at my home. There have been eight of us within the group. Considered one of them is an expensive pal who has been to my home numerous instances, however the different six had by no means been to my home earlier than.
The earlier week, one among them talked about that she was excited to fulfill at my home as a result of she had seen my weblog and appeared ahead to seeing the home in particular person. A few others have been curious and wished to see the weblog as properly, so I informed them easy methods to discover me on-line, and so they instantly commented on the entire coloration in my home.
So final week, we met at 7:00pm, and whereas our regular schedule was to fulfill from 7:00 to eight:30pm, final week we spent about an hour touring the home earlier than even attending to our ebook dialogue. I’ll need to admit that it was a lot enjoyable for me. I all the time love displaying new folks my home and seeing their reactions to the assorted initiatives I’ve accomplished. And each time I get to do this, it provides me a renewed love and appreciation for my residence. It additionally makes me so grateful that I’ve had the the time and alternative to create a house that actually displays me and my character, whereas accommodating Matt and his wants.
Getting up to now the place I’ve a house during which I like to host folks has been an extended journey, and for a few years, I assumed I’d by no means get right here. For therefore a few years, the primary “public” areas of the home have been beneath building, or have been in varied levels of completion (or extra precisely, non-completion) that I’d cringe each time somebody got here to the entrance door. I’d hope it was only a salesperson or a supply particular person, and that I wouldn’t really feel obligated to ask anybody inside.
I feel again to these early days on this home once I simply tried to make do with what we had…
And when what we had didn’t fairly work, I attempted filling in with some thrift retailer objects.
However whatever the stage the home was in, I’ve been grateful for this home every single day for the final ten years — grateful for the truth that we had a roof over our heads, and grateful that we had a mortgage fee that was low and didn’t make us house-poor. However there’s one thing so totally different about being grateful for a roof over our heads whereas additionally cringing when somebody knocks on the entrance door, and eventually having this home the place the entire “public” areas (and even the extra non-public areas, like our bed room, residence health club, and grasp rest room) are all completed, usable, and tour-worthy when new folks come over.
There’s one thing very totally different about having the “simply make it work” front room that we began off with within the photographs above, and having the “this actually looks like me” front room that we have now now.
It’s simply such an incredible feeling to listen to a knock on the door or have folks come over and never really feel that panic or dread as a result of they’re going to see this…
However as an alternative, to really feel pleasure that they’re going to see this…
And having a home that’s lastly presentable, and a house that I actually love, has additionally helped me study extra about myself. I’ve by no means considered myself as hospitable. I’ve all the time been satisfied that different folks have that reward of hospitality, however I simply don’t, and I in all probability by no means will.
Nevertheless it seems that I like having folks in my residence! I like to see folks utilizing and having fun with our residence. I by no means knew that I had a love for hospitality earlier than, however because it seems, I used to be simply being held again by the truth that I’ve by no means lived in a house that I felt comfy bringing folks into earlier than.
So what’s my level? I don’t know. 😀 I simply had that have final week, and wished to share. However actually, I need it to be an encouragement. I do know that there are various of you who go to me frequently who’re additionally doing long-term renovations and remodels. A few of you’ve talked about dwelling in your “in progress” houses within the midst of building and renovations for years, and for a few of you it’s been ten years or longer. I simply wish to encourage you to maintain going. I’ve been engaged on this home for nearly ten years now, and it’s simply been inside the final couple of years that I’ve lastly felt like I like my residence, and I like having folks in my residence.
So hold chipping away at these initiatives, regardless of how lengthy you’ve been at it. Maintain working in the direction of having that residence that you just love and that actually displays you — a house that makes you’re feeling excited to swing that entrance door extensive open if you hear an surprising knock, or a house that makes you excited to volunteer when your ebook membership wants a spot to fulfill. It felt prefer it took me endlessly to get right here. There have been so many instances that I wished to surrender, and so many seasons when it felt like I’d by no means attain the end line. However now, being on this facet of issues, and ending up with a house that I actually love, I can see that it was all price it. And it will likely be for you, too! So hold going!
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and adorn the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.
