If I ask you what your childhood holidays were like are you transported back to Christmas morning, walking into the family room with stacks of presents under the tree? Maybe you find yourself around a dinner table with your parent’s china, your grand parent’s silver, and a centerpiece you created with leaves and pinecones from the backyard. Or perhaps you thought of halloween when the neighborhood kids got together in your basement and traded candy while you watched bad movies on the Disney channel.
The space you thought of didn’t make the memory, that memory could have happened anywhere, but it builds a foundation for that memory. Its takes you back to a place where you felt loved and safe and makes it feel like home.
While I love a good Magnolia Network show and am always getting inspired by interior design books, when it comes to design that will leave a mark, it doesn’t have to be fancy or done “right”, it simply has to create a space of love and safety. So, instead of looking for pieces that will make your home look like it was just featured on Fixer Upper, find pieces that make your heart happy, that light your soul on fire, and the bring you back to a place of love and safety.
I have a photograph of my Dad’s nursery that I’ve never seen in person but every time I look at that image and the incredible farm wallpaper on the wall I get nostalgic. I feel at home.
In my home, I was the one who kept the most pieces from my grandparents home. A hundred year old rocking chair that belonged to my great grandmother that I can’t part with and am saving up to have reupholstered with a fabric from my upcoming home decor line, a sewing table I’ve turned into my painting desk, a mid modern chair, and lots of artwork. They say that grandma chic is coming back in style but I like these pieces because they remind me of visits to my grandparents, to a time when things were made to last, and they add a unique spin on our design that no one else will ever be able to replicate.
But our home is more than just antique furniture, it’s also focused on pattern and color. To feel like we just got back from traveling the world with pieces that will make our company stop and ask questions and allow us the chance to tell stories. Oh, how I love a good story.
When I create patterns to use in home decor, I don’t want to create something that’s already been done. I want to add to the conversation of design, to give permission to do something a little bold and daring, to step away from white and grey everything, and to help you build a space that’s warm, safe, inspiring, restful, and filled with love.
Whether you’re planning a redesign for your own space or just want to add a few extra touches to a finished room, you can always find creative pieces that add to your story and make a space your own. Think back to the rooms of your childhood, how did they make you feel, what pieces stood out, and how can you recreate that same feeling in your own home. My guess is pattern, color, and quality materials were all used. It might have even be that handmade elements made it all the more special.
Start collecting inspiration and saving it in a folder or digitally on Pinterest. Follow local artists on Instagram or sign up for their newsletters so you can purchase unique pieces while helping support a small business. Go to thrift stores, flea markets and farmers markets and notice anything that catches your eye. And remember–this is the most important part–a room isn’t designed in a day. It takes a lifetime to build a space exactly how you want it. Collect, change out, invest, and build a room that feels like you, not like whatever design trends are popular on TV.
