Does your home tell your story?
Life is good. It really is! I’m not suggesting it’s perfect…not even close. But it is GOOD! We have all lived a little life. We have experienced some great joys, victories, vacations and fun memories. Maybe you have experienced some setbacks, defeats, heartbreaks or losses. Maybe you are just getting started on your journey and have so many more memories to create. Whether you are just getting started, starting over or turning a page to your next season of life, you have a story to tell.
Oftentimes, our story started long before we were ever born. Our great-grandparents shared stories of their lives through their spoken or written words, through pictures, videos or even furnishings or souvenirs from their adventures. These stories are passed down through generations until they reach you. They are a part of your story, of who you are and who you are yet to become. Your grandparents remember (and possibly still have) that first dining room set or that bedroom suite. They are proud that they saved up to purchase that set. It’s probably made well (because you know “They don’t make them like that anymore”).
You may have some of those lingering mementos in your life and in your home. These are the pieces that make you smile and sometimes make you cry. They remind you to slow down and smell the roses. Sometimes, they ARE the roses! Maybe these pieces remind you to press on through a tough time just like your grandmother did or takes you back to when your mother was a child. I would love to hear about your special pieces in the comments!
Many of my clients are empty nesters and/or retiring. They are oftentimes downsizing, or at the very least, purging a lifetime of items they have held onto. Their design decisions have been based on the needs of their kids. They are excited to be able to finally create a space that truly represents their unique story. They are not worried about fingerprints and muddy shoes anymore. But they do want to hold onto the memories that were created in their home.
So, how do we create a space that both honors the past and also leaves room for who we have yet to become? We have a lot of soul searching to do! We have to decide what still fits, what still makes their heart beat a little faster and makes them smile. What pieces bring up the memories they want to share with their guests. What do we currently have in our homes that encourages or inspires us? Those pieces are keepers! We work with them and make them work in the newly created space. I want the old to meld with the new, and the past to point to the future.
How do you decide what to let go of? This is hard for almost everyone! I recently moved and I struggled with this very thing. I have hung on to plenty of things that I was hanging onto out of guilt. Guilt is no reason to hang onto anything! Some of us have project pieces that have been projects for way too long. Let’s either decide to do the projects or let those pieces find a new home. Sometimes we are holding onto hand-me-downs that we never really liked. Are we ready for those things to find a place where someone else can get good use out of them?
We have to decide whether we are designing for our friends or for ourselves. Are we looking for Facebook likes or our own personal enjoyment? Am I designing for the approval of others and to be published? Never! I am always building a home around the homeowner. I always say “If someone walks in your home and says Stephanie Brown designed this room, then I have failed”. I would much rather your friends, family and neighbors see your personality all throughout your home. I mean, they love you for who you are, so wouldn’t they love your home for the very same reason?
Life transitions can be both difficult and exciting! I truly enjoy hearing all the stories my clients share with me and incorporating their memories into the design of their new home. Your home should tell your story and you should be looking forward to turning the page. Let’s get started editing yours!
