How We Created A Home in 2016

Happy New Years Eve! As appropriate, when one year closes and another begins, I’m taking a few moments to reflect on how we created a home in 2016.

Custom Trim-Work

Both our Guest Bath and Mudroom/Laundry Room are surrounded with classic Board and Batten with wall hooks. The trim-work transformed the space from builder-basic to custom-made… and we did it ourselves. It’s incredibly functional for everything from bath towels and wet bathing suits to drying laundry. It’s an understated detail that makes an impactful difference in how we use our home daily.

Treat the Outdoors as a Living Space

The kids and I spent a ton of time outdoors this year, primarily due to a few simple updates on our deck. Cushions and pillows added comfort to the space; while creating play areas, such as the portable sandbox, gave it function and appeal to the kids. It’s no secret that there are numerous health benefits to time spent outdoors… in our next home, we must make the outdoor living space a top priority when we move into the home. If you aren’t utilizing your home’s outdoor spaces, make that a goal for 2017 — it will add value to your home, and encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Custom Wardrobes

I love dressers for so many functions, but I’m sold on wardrobes in a Master Bedroom, especially if you are short on closet space. The wardrobes aren’t fully custom {they are from Ikea}, but we chose the components to use inside the wardrobe, customizing a design that fit our needs. Adding two wardrobes, gave us more storage and required less floor space, than traditional dressers.

Soften Hard Finishes with Textiles

Our Sunroom is the “room that sells the house” — as many have said about our home. It’s huge, has vaulted ceilings, and is filled with natural sunlight. This year we hung soft, white, curtains on DIY Pipe Rods to give the room a cozier feel. The curtains soften the hard surfaces in the room, filter the light beautifully, and blow in the wind when windows are open during spring and fall. It was already a beautiful room — and didn’t need patterned or colorful curtains — it just needed an accent to highlight it’s natural appeal.

Embrace the Story of a Home

As I share in Creating a Home, a home is created by the people who live and visit within it. It’s a daily occurrence that I smile at, or ponder over, the family photos, scripture, and mementos that line our stairwell and hall. Don’t get too caught up in design… we live in our homes and it should tell our stories.  

How did you create your home in 2016?