Perfectly Imperfect

Embracing and Creating Beauty in Your Home

Fall is upon us, and the change of seasons turns many of our thoughts to a refresh or update for our homes.

Design is aspirational, and many of the beautiful images we see online are inspiring: truly works of art.  For many of us, however, they are not attainable, practical, or affordable, which can make it difficult to move forward with projects at home–the dreaded all or nothing mentality.

As a mom of six, and a busy entrepreneur, you can be sure that my house rarely (read never!) looks like it came out of a magazine.  This is something I’ve struggled with back and forth. I love good design and want my home to reflect my craft. But, I love my family and don’t want anything in my home to be precious or off-limits. I’ve landed in a place where I can live in both worlds: accepting and even loving all that is imperfect, while admiring and aspiring to beauty. 

I believe what makes a house a home are the people in it.  The little fingerprints on the windows, the piles of shoes by the door, dishes in the sink, and yes, even the unwashed laundry are all signs of the lives of those we love most. 

Creating beauty at home begins first with embracing the perfectly imperfect beauty that is already there.  As a designer, one of the things I find especially rewarding is asking clients what they most love about their home before starting a remodel or addition project.  It’s a beautiful window into their lives and insight into what is special and valuable to them.  Start by appreciating the life your home has allowed you to live:  the family dinners, holidays, movie nights, firsts, lasts and everything in between–these are the things that make your home beautiful, regardless of the aesthetic. 

Now, if you’re ready to move forward with spring projects (either big or small), here are my nuggets of advice:

• Start with simple changes and layer in pieces that you love throughout the room.  The best rooms are collected, not contrived.  Antique or thrifted decor items can help create a style completely unique to you.  As an added bonus, these items are usually much more affordable and higher quality than new, creating a custom look at a fraction of the price.  Choose pieces that harmonize and coordinate rather than a matching set.

• When updating finishes or main furniture pieces, choose timeless over trendy.  My design philosophy is not to chase trends, but give people “the best version of their personal style”.  This means the finishes you choose today should stand the test of time.  No need for remodels and updates every 10 years.  The adage “Something you love never goes out of style” rings especially true here. This is not only cost effective, but also good stewardship of our natural resources.

• Select the highest quality items you can afford.  If this means searching high-end brands on Marketplace, go for it!  You’re far better off investing a few hundred dollars in a high quality second-hand sofa than $1,000+ on a new one that appears similar but is cheaply made. On the flip side, if your budget allows high quality new pieces, select them with longevity in mind, not only in style but in quality. 

• Use fabrics and paint to easily update and infuse your personal style.  This is a great area to try out current styles and see what you will love long term.  It is (relatively) easy to change and update as your tastes change.

In all this, remember, none of us lives the picture perfect life, even if it appears that way.  So let’s embrace real life and love our homes (and those in them) for how beautifully imperfect they are.

All the best,

Leah

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.