This is a note of thanks. Thank you for trusting me to share design ideas, inspiration images, project progress, and to do what I feel so called to do: bring beauty and function into your home. Because, I know first-hand how much joy and pride and relief having a beautiful, complete home brings.
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You may have seen me share on Instagram some of these old photos I found recently. As a child, I lived in a modest home, but one my Mom took great pride in. She did what she could on a very limited budget to create a lovely space. She stuck vigilantly to that budget, carefully allocating funds for our “needs” and savings, with not much left for our “wants”.
Here I am sewing new shams for my bedroom, excited for a refresh.
Our kitchen was pine paneled with mustard colored laminate counters and backsplash. In the 90s, all we wanted to do was renovate completely. But, that was certainly not in the budget. Instead, mom put a fresh spin on the cottage look and used contact paper to refresh the backsplash. You can see me here painting the switch plate cover to match.
As I grew older and lived in homes of my own, I took a similar approach. I know exactly how it feels to be working with a tight budget, and having to prioritize where to spend in your home.
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I will also say, I think I’ve grown and evolved beyond the scarcity mindset that I was taught. I have taken risks that Mom never would have taken, and seen how taking those leaps can result in incredible outcomes. Oddly (or maybe not?), this has become clearer since she passed away last year. Some leaps I’ve taken/investments I’ve made:
- Packing all my belongings and moving out west with very little in my bank account – with my boyfriend of 3 short months.
- We fell more deeply in love, got jobs that inspired us, paid us well, worked through struggles together, and have gone on to have two kiddos and pretty darn fantastic life.
(A pic through my windshield as I followed Frank driving a uhaul, towing his jeep. I was so nervous! And, us (babies!) in Park City.)
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- Investing thousands in a high tech stationary bike, despite the hundreds (thousands?) I’d already spent in my lifetime chasing a thinner body
- This time I approached it differently (with mental health as the impetus). I and have found movement that I truly love and am excited to do. The bike and the interface make it truly easy, as do the instructors and community. [This joy in movement is also thanks to years of therapy, introspection, and dismantling deeply entrenched diet culture. LMK if you want to hear more about this light topic. 🤗]
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- Putting the time and energy (and more dollars than I’d ever spent before) into fully finishing our living room.
- It was a balance of high (custom sectional, custom built-ins) and low (Ikea curtains, HomeGoods rug, DIY art installation). We happened to finish this in early 2020 as Covid lockdowns set in and we were spending more time than ever before in this space, so thankful to have a cozy place to land.
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I share this with you so you can glimpse a bit more of my background, my story. It’s partially these moments throughout my life that have led me to where I am today, and the perspective that I have now: a respect for the realities of life, and also an appreciation for what’s possible if we step outside of what we’ve done in the past or what we’ve been taught to do.
All of these experiences, paired with the hundred+ projects I’ve done with clients and in my own home, have led me to where I am now, personally and professionally.
I have a big vision for how to share what I’ve learned, how I apply it to client projects, AND how you can apply this framework to your own home projects. A framework that considers your family’s priorities, your aesthetic, the functional needs you have, all while keeping resale value and sustainability front of mind.
The course that I’ve developed approaches renovations and new-builds from this perspective. And I am 1000% certain the course will provide big leap forward for those feeling lost in their own home project, that it is a risk worth taking if you’re feeling the pull to join. I would be honored if you’d join me and the other TF101 students. If you do, you’ll get lifetime access to the course, so as it evolves and grows, you’ll continue to get all of the goods.