MOVE IN READY (ISH)
In an inevitable sequel to my other post… we bought a new house! It’s long overdue but I blame pregnancy for turning me into a literal slug. If you read my You Never Forget Your First blog post, you’ll know that moving was an incredibly emotional process for me. I wasn’t quite ready to leave my little casa, but a house came up that was just too good to let slip, and here we are! For a lot of reasons this house was the perfect next step. First, being the fact that it is literally steps from my parents house and around the corner from so many family members. It’s in the neighbourhood I grew up in, Lou will go to the same elementary school that I did… etc. etc. storybook level sweetness. Other reasons were the more obvious ones, like the fact that it will function better for us and our family, now and in the future. It has the right amount of bedrooms, it has an extra living space, it has more bathrooms, and it has a big tree lined backyard. Not just for Joey, we love an outdoor space. For as much of the Canadian calendar year as we can, we really do use it as an extension of our living space, and in this crazy real estate market a big yard was a big win.
As we quickly learned with Lou, DIY is wayyyy harder with a baby. One person is always subbing off the other and the only time we can both work on something is when she’s sleeping, so it has to be a relatively quiet job (unlike 90% of DIYs). Thankfully the new house was recently updated with a lot of the big stuff that would have been hard to do while parenting a toddler (i.e. new floors) and the big ticket items were fairly in line with our taste (kitchen, bathrooms, etc.). That meant it was move in ready… riiiiiight? (Well at least Chris thought so). Nope! Even before the deal was done my mind was swirling with all the potential this house had and all the ways we could put our own stamp on it. The fact that the floors were done and the walls were opened up definitely meant we could move in right away, but as far as design it’s a clean slate and that immediately got my creative juices flowing.
I’m not a professional designer, but putting time and intention into spaces is a bit of a side passion of mine. As far as function and aesthetic, I believe good design flows throughout a space. Consistency and intent go a long way to giving a home a cohesive vibe. I read a quote someone shared online about something they heard Jillian Harris say, and it stuck with me. I don’t know the actual quote, but it was along the lines of “Pick your colours and don’t fuck with them”. So if you are into whites and neutrals, commit to whites and neutrals. If you like cooler tones, buy that blue velvet accent chair. And if you’re unsure, a quick scroll through your own Pinterest is usually pretty telling! Whatever design style and colour scheme you spend hours scrolling through and saving, are most likely the colours that speak to you. If it’s white walls, don’t chicken out and do a soft grey… go WHITE.
On the topic of everyone’s favourite Canadian, I remember binging Jillian and Justin and watching the episode where they sold their first house. In it, Jillian talks about how they sold the house furnished and at first I was shocked by it. She had so many beautiful pieces I couldn’t fathom someone leaving behind, and sort of chalked it up to the fact that she’s a professional and this is what she does for a living soooo maybe she just wasn’t that attached? Since moving, I understand the reason she chose to do that is because good design is done with intention for that particular space. Picking up all your belongings from a place they were chosen for, and dropping them in a new space doesn’t always translate well.
I also believe in making a home personal. Strange concept right? While keeping things in line with your style and theme, integrating personal stories helps to make that transformation from house to home. Going to someone’s home should still feel like an experience of their world, and a glimpse into their life. Weaving personal elements into design is really what makes that successful.
Finally, I have a hint (as in a slightly crippling level) of OCD. What works for me in my mind in my space, is absolutely not what works for everyone. I often find myself FaceTiming family and friends to tell them my ideas fully anticipating that they’ll confirm my creative process, and often the consensus is to do the opposite of what I was planning. However, it rarely changes my mind (also cripplingly stubborn). This can end up creating a unique space that’s a reflection of my personal vision and style. I’ll get a lot of the “I never would have thought to do that” comments, and I like it that way. I’m also a minimalist at heart, and after a short time in our new space have noticed that it doesn’t always translate as seamlessly into a new-er home. Our old house was over a hundred years old and minimalism highlighted the character.
For me personally, the creative challenge is about bringing those elements together. Cohesion, intention, and a dash of my brand of OCD. Our goal is to bring this 80s house up to date, while adding in touches of character that don’t cause it to lean traditional, warm up the minimalism with with our own personal style, and ultimately make it home. Did I mention doing it on a budget? After a covid-creativity drought, I’m so excited to take you along with me throughout the process. This is a whole other layer of myself that I can’t wait to share with you, so welcome to my humble little abode page.
