Your comment from your book that “If you think of your home as a ‘forever home’, every decision seems too important to mess up…” didn’t just resonate, it triggered a massive clanging bell within me. I have ended up paralysed in my new (as of last summer) home, have ended up with bad decisions as I tracked back to the middle ground (“because I have to live with this for a long time”). I’m retired and funds spent won’t be replenished since there’s no more earning, which ups the ante further. I have time and your writing in this article has reassured me. Thank you. And thanks to Kate Watson Smyth for leading me to your door.
Denise what a beautiful message to wake up to today! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Oh that middle ground you mention! It's the reason people opt for white paint and neutral colour sofas when what they really want is colour and pattern! Another thing I say in one of my books - can't remember which one - is "Decorate like no-one's watching. A bit silly, but I just mean that it's your home so do it your way. In your case it sounds like you have the time if not the never ending funds, so enjoy the slow process :)
All of a sudden I find myself living in our current home for more than two decades. We’ve got a list as long as my arm of improvements and to-do’s and I oftentimes loathe the location; smack dab in the middle of Dutch working class suburbia far away from nature. 20 years ago it was all we could afford. So we’ve always kept on looking for better, but the past 4-5 years the search dwindled and recently I actually caught myself feeling a bit panicked by the thought of moving to another house. Not because of the work and stress it will generate (that too, haha!), but mainly because it means we’ll have to leave this house, our home!! This place started as an IKEA pop-up storage but ever so slowly morphed into the layered, lived in, antique and thrift filled, scandi-academic nest it is today. It’s where people come for food, beers, conversation and cosy comfort (their words not mine). Where we spent Christmasses, worried about health scares, celebrated milestones and mourned quite a few severe losses. It’s the only home our kids remember or know and where they still live, now two of them adults already. Where we know all the neighbours and they know us, probably even better acquainted with our daily routines than our closest family, our little community. It’s the place where we close the velvety red and yellow curtains at the end of busy days, light a candle and feel warm and safe. Your piece made it ‘click’ I my head: this might in fact be our forever home and I might be 100% okay with it! Despite the location, despite dreaming of quaint cottages in the middle of nature. So this is quite an extensive way of thanking you for sharing your emotional journey! Sorry for taking up all this space in your comment section, but know that your words, so much more about life than just interior related, touched my heart! ❤️✨
Dear Naomi - this was so lovely to read! It sounds like you have created in many ways an enviable home and life for your family, despite still dreaming of quaint cottages in nature :) There is so much to be said for wanting to be where you are and wanting what you have rather than always craving more or different. It's something I'm still working on. Your home sounds really beautiful and full of love and life. Also worth mentioning that some of my favourite trips for my books have been to The Netherlands! Thank you x
Emily
Your comment from your book that “If you think of your home as a ‘forever home’, every decision seems too important to mess up…” didn’t just resonate, it triggered a massive clanging bell within me. I have ended up paralysed in my new (as of last summer) home, have ended up with bad decisions as I tracked back to the middle ground (“because I have to live with this for a long time”). I’m retired and funds spent won’t be replenished since there’s no more earning, which ups the ante further. I have time and your writing in this article has reassured me. Thank you. And thanks to Kate Watson Smyth for leading me to your door.
Denise what a beautiful message to wake up to today! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Oh that middle ground you mention! It's the reason people opt for white paint and neutral colour sofas when what they really want is colour and pattern! Another thing I say in one of my books - can't remember which one - is "Decorate like no-one's watching. A bit silly, but I just mean that it's your home so do it your way. In your case it sounds like you have the time if not the never ending funds, so enjoy the slow process :)
All of a sudden I find myself living in our current home for more than two decades. We’ve got a list as long as my arm of improvements and to-do’s and I oftentimes loathe the location; smack dab in the middle of Dutch working class suburbia far away from nature. 20 years ago it was all we could afford. So we’ve always kept on looking for better, but the past 4-5 years the search dwindled and recently I actually caught myself feeling a bit panicked by the thought of moving to another house. Not because of the work and stress it will generate (that too, haha!), but mainly because it means we’ll have to leave this house, our home!! This place started as an IKEA pop-up storage but ever so slowly morphed into the layered, lived in, antique and thrift filled, scandi-academic nest it is today. It’s where people come for food, beers, conversation and cosy comfort (their words not mine). Where we spent Christmasses, worried about health scares, celebrated milestones and mourned quite a few severe losses. It’s the only home our kids remember or know and where they still live, now two of them adults already. Where we know all the neighbours and they know us, probably even better acquainted with our daily routines than our closest family, our little community. It’s the place where we close the velvety red and yellow curtains at the end of busy days, light a candle and feel warm and safe. Your piece made it ‘click’ I my head: this might in fact be our forever home and I might be 100% okay with it! Despite the location, despite dreaming of quaint cottages in the middle of nature. So this is quite an extensive way of thanking you for sharing your emotional journey! Sorry for taking up all this space in your comment section, but know that your words, so much more about life than just interior related, touched my heart! ❤️✨
Dear Naomi - this was so lovely to read! It sounds like you have created in many ways an enviable home and life for your family, despite still dreaming of quaint cottages in nature :) There is so much to be said for wanting to be where you are and wanting what you have rather than always craving more or different. It's something I'm still working on. Your home sounds really beautiful and full of love and life. Also worth mentioning that some of my favourite trips for my books have been to The Netherlands! Thank you x