Get ready to hate me. I'm a preachin' again.
Look, here's my sister playing the piano and my dad is singing and eating cake simultaneously. I love how they are enjoying our fancy front room. Use it all up!
The past few weeks have been such fun with all the talk of moving furniture, making holes in the walls and even behind the scenes emailing a few friends who are considering painting a brick fireplace or painting over paneling or cabinets or even choosing a color to paint a wall for the first time ever.
I got an email from Julie a while back. She couldn't figure out why nothing looked right on her fireplace/mantle. After seeing photos, it was clear that she didn't need new accessories, she needed painted brick. She had a huge wall of multihued brick that sucked up all the light in the room. I pulled up my big girl panties and decided to break the news to her. She took it swell. Then she informed me of why she couldn't paint it. Here's the email--she said I could use it because she's real nice like that.
Ooooh, the temptation...My dad does brickwork and I asked him if he'd be mad if I painted it and he threw up his hands in sheer frustration at the stupidity of the only daughter he's ever had-"that would be stupid" was all he said. I don't think I'll be painting my brick anytime soon.
How many times have we let our dad, our mother in law, or our painter make these decisions for us? Painters wear white coveralls and have a moustache. Don't ever take paint color advice from your painter--if he knows that much he'd be a designer not a painter.
Julie and I chit chatted some more and I think she has decided to paint after all. I told her that as long as she's not gonna ask her dad to paint the brick himself or have him pay for the paint or unless he's paying her mortgage then why is she taking decorating advice from him. That is, if she and her husband are on the same page about that brick needing an update.
It's can be thrilling and scary for some of us! Change can be a big deal. When I think about my home I think of the place that me and my family spend most of our waking hours. Not everyone does this I know, but we do. One time I got a notebook out and wrote down all the adjectives that I wanted to describe my home. Here are some of them:
Personal
Welcoming and Inviting
Casual
Uncluttered
Loved and maybe even a little worn
Real reflection of us and how we live
A Place to be safe and be real
Open
Friendly
Approachable
Mostly, I want to love my home and I want to use it to it's fullest.
My sister even had a tag line for her old house, Sophie Marie, "a place to be" you know, like just be--you be you and me be me and that's just fine. Really. If you are still reading this blog you probably can relate to your home on this level. If you are not one of us weirdos who is all about home then you probably dropped me months ago! What is the purpose of your home? What do you want to accomplish at your home and do you need to change your mindset to do that? Your home is there to work for you. It can serve your purposes by the furnishings, wall art, and how you live in it!
Is your home a place to be or a place to "be careful". If you can't make a mistake at home then where can you try out something new?
Remember those awful plastic sofa covers and lamp shade covers that you would see in peoples' homes? What were those moms thinking? Who were they saving that sofa for? Was Jesus gonna show up and then they would take off the plastic real quick and allow Him to sit on that perfect sofa? No. That sofa is for your family! Now, you might rethink buying a silk sofa if you have a family of three boys but LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE! You don't have to keep that brick pristine for the next buyers--they might not even buy your house because of that dated brick! Do it for you! You enjoy it! My sister will kill me for this picture. But, look at us enjoying this kitchen!
Don't be afraid to make holes in your walls. They are just drywall and paint. Don't be afraid to paint brick. It's not the biggest decision you will ever make it's brick, not diamond. Paint that wall--if you don't love it, paint it again, it's $25 and 3 hours tops! Let the kids do their artwork on the table, pack your home full of people even if you don't have comfy chairs for each person. Your home is yours use it, maybe even abuse it a little. It's there for your pleasure. Allow it to serve its purpose, let it reflect you and your family!
I guess the real question is, do you want your home to be perfect or do you want your home to be beautiful? Go forth, ladies, dig out that paint brush, use your high heel shoe as your hammer, take that risk and make your house your home! The secret is out: It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful!
139 comments:
Oh how I have been in the position where I have let someone make the decision for me. A while ago I decided NO MORE! What a great post, Nester!
I love it! Thanks for the reminder that everything doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful! When you have small children, trying to achieve "perfect" will only lead to a life of frustration. I love your blog and all of your decorating inspiration. Thanks!
Amen Sister!!!! One of your best posts!!! Love the pictures of your sweet family!
Amen and amen.
I think I am gonna cry! This is such a wonderful post. I love the all the pictures, especially the one of yall praying, thats awesome. I am a big hold hands prayer.
Ok my house needs to be my sanctuary. We are gone so much going from one ballfield to another, that I want to come home and feel well at home. Unfortunately working full time and going to ballfields all the time, can make my house a bit chaotic. So organization is something I am trying to work on.
I think I am gonna go nail something up now, because you know thats a fear of mine. :)
Oh one more thing. this could be another option for brick. Instead of painting and if you are willing to spend a bit more you could rock it. My husband had picked out some awful grey looking brick and I have always hated it. So when we redid the house about two years ago, we put a rock face on the fireplace. I love it now!
***Traci stands and CHEERS!!! I could not have said it any better! I LOVE every single picture but tears came up with your family standing in a circle holding hands...my family does that at big gatherings and to SEE it was different than actually doing it your whole life...whole new perspective!
We LIVE in our home...my home was chosen yrs before I came along by my husband and when we got married we lived here. Not my dream house BUT I take pride in the furniture, mistreatments, pictures, candles, wreaths, everything that is in my home. I know women who either dont really care that much about their homes or hubby has to have a say in all they do. I personally could not live that way.'
This is MY FAVORITE post of yours to date!!!! LOVE IT!!!
Thank you for this excellent post. Sometimes in blog land we don't see any messy houses, but really, living is what our houses are all about. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Ditto to not letting others make decisions for you that have nothing to do with them. When I was pregnant people had suggestions for what to name my baby and I would tell them, "How bout YOU have a baby and YOU name them that?" Same thing for the brick. "How bout you just go home and enjoy your own brick and not worry about mine."
Kudos to the nester.
AMEN! I Peter 4:9 says "Practice hospitality to one another without grudging" the Lord really convicted me about this. I was always worried about what my house looked like and what people thought about it. For one it is not my house but the Lords, and I want to use it for His glory. The other night we had Home Team (Home Team is part of our church, where families meet at each others home for Bible Study) at our house, we had 4 couples, 9 boy's, 1 girl and our dog. It was a wonderful night that we got to share, pray and become closer as a Christian group.
Thanks for the wonderful insight! Have you picked out your homeschool curr. for this coming fall?
kara-Texas Jer, 29:11-13
karamy3sons.blogspot.com
Awwwwwwwwwwww! I love this post. One of my absolute favorites. You are so right. I love all the photos of your family. It just shows how much you love them. Even though this is not a family blog, I still love seeing the real you and not just the decorating you every once in a while. I want my home to be as loved and as beautiful as yours. Most importantly I want the people within my home to be the same: loved and beautiful inside and out.
Blessings,
M
You are singin' to the choir! You're tellin' Noah about the flood! Amen to that.
I've often said that I'm going to cross stitch on a pillow: This is our home. It is not a museum. Live accordingly.
Thanks for the words.
Yes! yes!! yes!!!
We've moved often so it's tempting to always have "resale" in the back of our minds as we decorate. I've finally gotten over that in our current home.
I love to decorate my home but feel so sad if someone says, "But I don't want to ______." ("mess it up," "get it dirty" - you fill in the blank.) No, ENJOY it - I do! I love the "stuff" God has blessed us with and I love even more to USE it.
Fabulous post! I think my favorite so far!!!
Blessing! Dawn
I discovered your right by accident!
We longed for 2 bio kids and one (3rd) from China.
There was a gap before that 3rd came along.
During that gap, our older kids were big so we finally got nice stuff.
I was a tad worried with a new baby in the house but discovered a secret!
Did you know that painted (from the store I mean) kitchen tables, look better after abuse?
I keep scrubbing off crayon, marker, and paint, and it looks better not worse.
Who knew????
She destroyed all my designer pillows, but really they didnt cost THAT much anyways.
Plus now I know how to sew nicer ones for less $ :D
Right again Nester!
The only thing I AM very careful about is GA red clay. It's not removable and can destroy your home in a single day. Then your stuck with it forever..
So we dont do shoes in the house, never did.
Did you see "The Last Lecture" anywhere? TV or online? I HIGHLY reccomend it to every single person on this planet.
It has so many lessons I cant list them.
But one cute one was when the guy got a convertible and he wanted to take the nieces and nephews for a ride. Antie was worrie so the guy literally poured his ENTIRE soda inside the NEW convertible to make a point.
Point taken. :)
Exactly.....Exactly!! You go ahead and preach!!!
Well said! Homes should be a place where folks can come in, kick off their shoes, and BE.
I would add to use the fancy dishes from time to time, too. If not for the ones that are special to you, then why even keep them?
I had to laugh at the plastic sofa cover...because those things were protecting some of the UGLIEST sofas ever when I was growing up. Not only that, but guests shouldn't be made to feel like they might 'mess up' your belongings.
Awesome post! You totally rock, or rawk, or whatever! Our home is soooo far from perfect. It's normally far from uncluttered too. And we have band aid colored kitchen tile. And we have rips in an armchair that's strategically covered by a throw (remember my story?). Whenever we entertain anybody other than family I always worry about all that imperfection. And I try to remind myself that's it's okay. And you know what? It is! On the other hand, I do want to make the improvements to the house (like getting rid of that tile) that will allow US to enjoy it fully.
And a note on the brick, I once saw on someone's blog where the husband didn't want to paint it, so they covered it with kind of a faux wood surround mantel type thingy.
Preach it sister! I tell these same things to clients- begging them to make selections for their family to have a haven, NOT to impress the neighbors.
Love your spunk and telling it like it is:-)
Very encouraging post. I"m afraid if I ever came for a visit, I'd never leave. It's so homey and comfy...love it.
Excellent post and very timely! What better time of year to bring this up than spring. With all the kiddos running in and out and school letting out for summer, we need to remember that out home isn't a pristine work of art, it's a place to live.
Nester, what a great post!!!! Love all the family photos. Janie
I absolutely love this post. You are so right. Why save the good stuff? We need to realize that our family deserves the good stuff. Use it now. We may not be around for "later." Thanks for your blog. It is WONDERFUL!
Well said. I often get asked by people "What are you doing to your house now?" I hate that, I know not everyone likes to decorate their home but I love doing it. I wish they could see all the potential around them. That is why I started blogging. To be around people who understand it. My mom and sister love it too. What I strive for is for my home to be inviting, cozy, and filled with love of family and friends.
Thanks for the great post.
Blanca
Great post! I think this is so true and try to live like this. This is why I RARELY pay full price for anything. :) I want guests to feel comfortable and feel like they can kick their feet up on the coffee table because that is what we do.
You sing it sister!! This was just what I needed to hear today. Thank you.
Thank you! I ran across your blog the other day, what a blessing your words have been. Thank You, sums it up best!
Lynn
I definitely agree. A home is not a museum. My Grandparents house was always the most welcoming home. Not perfect but so nice to go to. The good smells, the love, and the memories. Thats what they decorated with. And that never goes out of style. I want my home to be like that with my own touch added. I want our home to be beautiful but definitely lived in. It's fun to go to model homes to get ideas. Those houses are beautiful, but very cold and too perfect and lack being lived in. They are a beautiful house, but not a home.
Awesome post!!! I totally agree! I do love my home to look model perfect when people come over but I do have an I dont care attitude when it comes to living in it. Well, except I do have everyone take thier shoes off before coming in. In regards to the furniture, the more nix and dings the better. With two young ones that is the way to go. I think my friends feel welcomed when they visit. I know I love it! Keep it coming! Julie
That is exactly true! One thing that I have been working on is hospitality. Many people don't understand the difference between entertaining and hospitality...and what a shame! Our house is not ever going to be featured in Southern Living or on HGTV, but honestly, if people think back to good times of fellowship they've had here, then our goal has been accomplished. I like pretty as defined by us, and we have casual potlucks on chinette plates around our dining room table. We have groups whenever possible over and we sit on every thing we can, including the floor, big floor pillows, chairs dragged in from other rooms. Don't leave your coffee and dessert in the kitchen, bring it on in the living room (yep we even hang out in our not so formal living room...everyday!).
By the way, Nester, drop by my blog and check out my first ever mistreatments!!
Thanks for your encouraging words!
I so needed to hear that. Thank you. Can you call me every morning and read that entire piece to me?
Bless you!
Rebekah
When I was about 10 my dad and step-mom built an underground house...except for one wall that was all windows. It was beautiful. She decorated it in very modern '80's fashion. Lots of glass. Oh, and very pale, pale, almost white carpet. I felt like I was in prison when I went over there because every time I put a glass down on a table she would come behind me and wipe the ring off with a huff, and heaven forbid I had any dirt on my shoes! Fast forward about 5 years...she had grandchildren that practically lived at her house. Suddenly having a perfect house is impossible, and she learned that to have a welcoming home was much more important than perfection. Even now, in their new home, it's very beautiful, but also very warm and welcoming. Lesson learned!
I just wanted to thank you for your post. I DO have three boys. And I DO worry about them destroying stuff. I DO stress out about making a mistake in decorating my home. Sometimes, I'm soooo worried about making things perfect, that I talk myself out of doing them at all.
My husband reminded me that mistakes can be fixed, but if you are too afraid to make them, we'll never learn.
Thanks for your reminder. It's easy to slip back into fear of failure mode.
All I have to say to that is "Amen sister!"
Nester- I just love your BLOG! I can't say that enough, I used to tell my mom you have to DARE TO DECORATE! It is just paint and my walls are much like yours, holes and all.
But mom lived with Dad who was colot blind and VERY pratical! (this is a nice word for cheap and not daring) Although Dad always seemed to be the first one to appricate when I took a leap. Like the curtain I found on a steal that had bees on them, my mom hated the bugs, he liked them, now they would never be in his house but he liked them!
Sadly my dad passed away last mothers day and left my mom alone at 56. We new we wanted her to live with us but our house was busting at the seams with no where to add on, so we all moved into my mom and dads house, after a year of renovations and additions we are close to having the bones in place. My mom says often Dad would have hated the colors, I have painted every wall, and all the "fuff" but I like to think even though HE would have never painted the walls in is old office a crazy red, he would have done it for his grandson...who now calls the room home...
Some time you just have to dare to do , most things can be changed and you have to live in the today, because no one knows what tomorrow will bring!
I loved all the family pictures we have worked very hard when adding on to the house with the ideas of how many people can fit around the table at Christmas and where the Thanksgiving buffet can be and how many kids can really fit around the picnic table for a birthday party! It is a nice feeling to have a gathering place!
preach it sister!
All I have to say about that.... Amen! I love my house. I love when people come to visit and feel at home. I just wish I could get over that panic feeling when I have company drop in and my house is out of sort. UGH.. great post, Susie H.
I have a question for you...I think most women who really put alot of effort into their home have some pet peeves about how their family treats their home OR company when you open your home up. Maybe pet peeves is the wrong 2 words and maybe I should ask it this way....
Are there any MUST follow rules in your house with your family or company? For example...my husband and I have tried to have at least the kiddos take shoes off at the door and put them in the basket. Have I said today that I just LOVE YOUR BLOG??? lol
Well said! I always say to guest, "Make yourself at home and I really mean it! There is nothing in this house that is more valuable then the time we spend in it!"
Oh, I made a ragamuffin thingy this morning. I am waiting for one of my "models" to return form school, then I'll send you a picture! Your gonna love it!
Well said! I always say to guest, "Make yourself at home and I really mean it! There is nothing in this house that is more valuable then the time we spend in it!"
Oh, I made a ragamuffin thingy this morning. I am waiting for one of my "models" to return form school, then I'll send you a picture! Your gonna love it!
Well said! So many times my mother in law has lectured me about not letting the cat sit on the couch or not letting Eva color at the kitchen table... BLAH! I keep telling her we live in our home, things are meant to be used not looked at! Excellent post as always! Love the pics of the family scattered in for good measure!! :) Thanks for chatting with me yesterday and the beautiful tassel and candlesticks! You are the bestest!
traci, yes, we have rules too. I agree with my boys and me and my hubbs taking off our shoes, the floors just seem cleaner that way. I don't ask guests to do it though...
also, I don't want them to play with the cushions from the back of my sofa and cannot stand it when people use that part of my sofa as a pillow--like move it down and squish it. See, I have my crazy ways!
Other than that, I have been known to take a platter right off the wall to serve from {rinsing it first}. My boys have chores some they get paid for.
I don't like balls getting thrown inside or golf clubs swinging but my honey lets them put inside and he throws balls so it's hard to enforce!
also, I'm the only one allowed to swing from the chandeliers.
What a great post! I will send my husband to read it later so that maybe he'll finally 'get it' since he doesn't appear to right now. We have 2 girls 3 and under and a boy due in August and he thinks our house isn't a home because things are mismatched, the couch has marks on it and our hardwood needs to be washed every day. It's home to me, and it's comfy. It's not perfect by far, but sometimes it does look beautiful!
Love your sentiments. We use and enjoy our home and it certainly shows! Right now the dining room table is covered with sewing supplies and the sewing machine because we are making a costume for Teen2. And yes, I have used my shoe for a hammer to hang just one of many pictures, photos, etc that clutter our walls. I don't understand having nice things if you don't use them. Use it, enjoy it, love it, cherish it.
Hugs, Laura
I love that motto! "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful". I guess that's what I've been striving for all along!
Glory Hallelujah, Nester! We live in our house! We homeschool and have 6 kids - this home gets used, big time!
You know what? We love it! It is a simple rancher that we have made our own - lots of color, furniture that is not too "precious" that my 2 year old can't be near it!
We have made the house work for us - we gave our 4 daughters the HUGE master bedroom with the great walk in closet and cool bathroom - but that works for us - they have lots of room and we have a "girls dorm!" hee hee
Thanks for being you - sharing from your heart - you should see the holes I have left in every room - well, actually you wouldn't even notice them unless I showed them to you!
Oh, and I even got my overly cautious mom to gather all her barn stars and put them on the wall over her piano and she loves it!!!!
Great post! I am going to link to it from my blog!
Ahh Nester!! I love this post!! It was like looking through a favorite magazine... all the pictures..just the right words!!! You are so right!!.. i LOVE our home!! It is so small but has so MUCH!! It has the memories.. and the tiny fingerprints..and the laughter..and the scratches on the walls...and the noise.. and just enough room to always have someone sit next to you...always enough room for one more!! Always....and i am forever moving our furniture around.. you can't imagine..i always have.. it is like a NEW place everytime.. new and the same.. using what we have..what we've been given so graciously!! I am a "cancer crab"..
so truely i would take my home with me to the grocery store if i could.. so glad to hear Living in our homes is what we're S'POSED to do!! Thanks Nester!!
Well said. I had a new neighbor stop by and I was so embarrassed because my house was a mess. Then I stopped and thought... I have three small kids at home and we had a really fun day togehter. Who cars what the outside thinks. I enjoy my house and what we do inside!! Thanks for the reminder.
Nester~I just found your blog recently and I have loved digging through your old posts. What a beautiful post today! Great reminder.
I love your taste, we just moved into our new "old" home a few months ago and I have been stuck in the area of how and where to begin decorating...but you have given me a much needed push to go for it! I wish I could bring you to Texas so you could keep pushing me! :)
But most importantly, you have inspired me today to remember that my house is a home and that is what is most important for our family!
I love this post. And just as I was finished reading it, I found a post that you might really appreciate and love - http://kariandkijsa.blogspot.com/2008/03/quotes-have-it.html. Basically, they recommend framing memories, favorite family quotes, etc - in making your house a "home"--fashionable memory-keeping, I guess you'd call it. Your house is amazing - warm and cozy. Thanks for this important reminder that things are just things unless you enjoy them and love them and make them useful.
I know you already have a MILLION comments, but I just have to say that I love the pictures of you and your family enjoying your beautiful home. I agree that a home needs to be lived in or what is the point of having one? Someday soon I'm going to do a post about all the things I love about my house. This is the first place I have ever lived that is not a rental, and I love that it is MINE! I need roots, and this little townhouse gives them to me.
I really like the look of painted brick, by the way. Much better than multi-coloured or bright orange ;-)
Do you (or any of your lovely commenters) have any ideas how I can convince my husband that we should get rid of the carpet in the living room and put in laminate?
A recent guest told me that my home reminded her of "Mr. and Mrs. Beaver's" from the Chronicles of Narnia. (Yep--you read right).
After the long moment of silence, I said "I'm taking that as a compliment!" She smiled and said that our home is "cozy, comfortable, warm, and inviting...but bigger than Mrs. Beaver's home."
Nester--your post today brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for the reminder. And you can call me Mrs. Beaver...can I get you a cup of tea?
Sweet post! However, it confirms that I AM certifiable. I hyperventilate (just a little) when couch pillows are on the floor. I won't even tell you my other issues. ;o)
Amen sister! You said it....and you said it beautifully. I love the pictures of your family too! My hubby has a big family and we always circle up and hold hands and pray before our meals too.
PS. I loved your line about Jesus and the plastic slip covered couches.....you are a funny girl.
Thanks I needed this, and I am going to finally make some decisions about my home that I've been putting off for weeks.
so true, so true. you know i used a nalgene water bottle for a hammer once? (not a high heel shoe, but still...) Thanks for keeping us in check :)
Ohhh, I've let myself be paralyzed in home decorating by letting other's opinions or finances stand in my way. My mother seldom comes to visit, but when she does she likes to arrange my things and complain about everything else. She thinks she is helping but it just makes me seethe! I am officially adopting your stance on my home starting today!
Thanks for the encouragement.
I have tears in my eyes and I don't know if it is because of the song or what you wrote,,,You are so right, you home should be a home and it does not have to be perfect. I'm gonna get out my high heels and hammer away...My house will be my home...
AMEN!!!!
I used to be a really scared-of-color type of person and I only decorated like my friends did because it was "safe". NO MORE! One day I whipped out some black spray paint and painted something on a whim- I think it was an endtable. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Who cares if someone else doesn't like it...YOU LIVE THERE! Show that house some love and LIVE in it! I no longer allow fear to paralyze me when it comes to my house, and I love our nest more than ever.
March on, mistreaters, march on! ;o)
Preach it sistah! We build houses where people are NOT supposed to take off their shoes (unless they are a muddy or poopy pit) and we LIVE here. Microfiber, paint and hardwood floors and the drug of choice. =)
P.S. And we eat off the "good" dishes every day and use the "good" towels all the time.
Do I get a ribbon or a pin or anything special for livin in my house? LOL
Preach it, Nester!! I love it!!!! I SO AGREE!!!
And in the photo of your friends & family in the prayer circle I was struck by inspiration that made my heart go all a-flutter--I've got french doors like that (the left opens, the right is stationery) and I've got a panel on the right (are we long lost sisters?) but I had NEVER THOUGHT OF THE VALANCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my brother-in-law's girlfriend and I were at the fabric store today. Of course I found some more that I loved. I have *GOT* to do this. How did you hang those, and is that a real mistreatment or is it something some fancy person made? I am going to go back to the fabric store forthwith.
Love it! We have very similar philosophies on decorating and what a home should be.
You preach it, sister! Our homes aren't something to look at. They're something to live in!
AMEN!!!!!!
Well said - Love it!
Hey girl- what a great post and can I say how much I LOVED the pictures. Especially one of the last ones where everyone was holding hands across the room...such a perfect pic for the post!
Now granted, I'm pretty simplistic with my decor, but I like perfection in it's cleanliness and it's nice to be reminded that I have boys who love to be messy and enjoy their home too!
That's it... you've talked me into it. The plastic is finally coming off the couch. I was sticking to it in the heat anyway.
angel
p.s. you have 63 comments, but girlfriend- that's nothing compared to my six, so you'd better just back off or I'm gonna take all your blog friends.
AMEN!!!
Preach it sista! I love the way you think...we are a total casual family from the white slipcovers that are ripped off and thrown in the wash to the crayon and marker stains on the table (which come out great with the Magic Eraser)! I say "Paint that Brick"!
I'm sure within all these comments someone has said this, so if they have, I'm sorry to repeat, but just in case no one has....Staci chanting, "NESTER FOR PRESIDENT! NESTER FOR PRESIDENT!!!" I just love you girl! I'm just gonna say...you got it all goin' on! One lucky and blessed family! LOVE all your pics of your family truly "living" in your house! Way to go!
BRAVO!
You got all the right stuff and then some:)Here's a verse I would like to share:
Wear and tear a home to share*Love and hugs under the rugs* Walls of pictures share our yester-years* A home is not a home without all above*
It's not copyrighted as I made it up. It might sound funny but hey!
Ok I need to go to Walmart now.
Renee
P.S.> I did zoom in on the picture of the food. Was that salad, baked potato and a meat source I am seeing? Yummy! Where there is food I am there just remember in thought.
I loved your post. I just painted my kitchen cabinets black this weekend (because I loved how your sister looked). I was beginning to think maybee it was a mistake till I read your blog. I was also starting so want a new couch cause mine is starting to look worn, but then I thought that's how it should be. It's supposed to look comfy and get used lots. There arn't any holes or anything, it's just fine. I LOVE your blog!!!
That was beautiful. Well said, girl!
Wow, what wonderful thoughts about a home. Definately inspired...and to go along with it is the number one song on my playlist also (How You Live). How warm and perfect. Thank you.
I love your blog because it gives me hope. I don't love my home. We moved here because it was cheap and at the time cheap was what we needed. It was the eye sore of the neighborhood and has a ridiculous floor plan that I don't like. Granted, it has a few perks, but I call my neighborhood Redneck Woods if that tells you anything.
I look at your pictures and long for a beautiful home, one that I actually feel reflects me. We've never had beaucoup de money to spend on anything home-wise and it's challenging especially since I'm domestically-challenged to begin with! It never seems like home and frankly I just want to move to a home that I actually want to invest time and energy into fixing up. Maybe I'm reaching for perfection in an odd sort of way, but I guess what I want most is a home that I actually like and one that I feel like is "me".
We've worked on this house for so many years just to make it presentable and we still have a ways to go. I feel judged when people walk into my home and that's probably because "I" don't even like it here so why should they?
Okay, I've spilled my guts enough.
P.S. How did you get that last picture with the fisheye effect?
P.S. How did you get that last picture with the fisheye effect?
I have read your blog for a while and am continuously inspired. We have been renting a home that I not only can't change but wouldn't want to. However, we close on our new house next week. Guess what.... the fireplace is multi colored brick. What color would you paint it and what brand of paint is your tobacco road? Thank you for all that you do. You are making the world more homey one home at a time.
Blessings,
Trixi
This is just what I needed to read today after watching my boys drive their hot wheels all over my coffee table. Someday they will be gone and I'll have a perfect home, and be sad that there are no more little boys to do these things. It's a home, not just a house. I gave you an award on my blog - you are one of my favorite accidental blog finds EVER!
Will you even read this far down? Ha ha. Just wanted to say thanks for the brick/paint advice. We have a fireplace that is just in the wrong place and is so the wrong color, and I think paint would really help it.
Ps. Do you make housecalls?
My favorite post so far..loved it. Thanks for the reminder and inspiration. I love seeing your house *lived* in~beautiful!!
I wish you could come to my house and make my house beautiful!! I have a fireplace that above it is an empty hole because my husband's flat screen goes on the opposite wall. I tried to fill it and it still looks empty. Here is a picture of it. http://autryfamily.blogspot.com/2008/04/our-house-is-very-very-fine-house.html
Its the fourth picture. You helped me so much on the window thing, I haven't done it yet but you gave me great ideas. Thanks!
By the way that was really selfish of me I love your blog and I read it every day for great advice, I just wrote that above comment with out this disclaimer it was very rude. Love your pictures!
Inspiring and beautiful post. I have the same goals for my home--a place that is clean, but not so clean that people feel they can't put their feet up. Homey, but not dumpy. An open home--where people feel welcome and where my family wants to be.
Tell it sister!!!!
Excellent advice, Nest-ah!
Can I come to your house for Christmas?
Hey Nester!
This is sort of off topic here. I'm opening my etsy store and doing a couple craft shoes this summer and I need a name for my store!! I'm going to sell girlie hair clips, burp clothes, baby blankets, and some shabby pillow case dresses, etc... I want it to sort of have a vintage/shabby princess feel with a boutique twist. I can't name anything to save my lift and you always have such cute names for everything, I thought maybe you could come up with something neat!
Thanks!
Jenn
Nester, Thank you!
I have struggled with this for the longest time. Just the perfectionism in me coming out, but I'm always afraid I'll mess things up or it won't look right so I just do nothing. NO MORE!!
Thanks for the permission to try and make a mistake and try again and to just do it!
Love your post with the music and the pictures in between your lovely thoughts. It's always nice to be reminded about how I want to use my house and my belongings here on earth. Just the other day my 2 year old stabbed my dinning table with a fork about 10 times. NICE... My home is becoming less perfect as each day passes, but more beautiful with memories and "keepsake" scratches.
Love your posts about the mistreatments...I laughed my head off at your definition and methods.
Awesome post! My mom is always *saving* things to use *someday*--I use it and enjoy it!
WOW what a great post! I have always stressed over our house and yard being just so. But you are so right. I should just live in the house. It's not a window display it's a home!
After a day of changing diapers, cleaning thrown food off the floor, stuffing toys into baskets so that I don't trip over them, and unloading a dishwasher full of bottles and sippy cups- well, I get a bit discouraged about ever having a beautiful or even a cute home. But your right- this is what I need my home to be right now. I don't know what that exact word is right now, but some day, I will be able to decorate and maintain cleanliness. And it is beautiful in a way- drawings on the fridge, stuffed animals and library books on the sofa. Little people villages on the woods floors. colorful laundry in the corner, Rubber duckie in the jacuzzi tub. Perfect now that I think about it...
You are so inspiring! Makes me look at my home in a different way.
You are just precious
Now i don't have time to read through 93 comments, but in case no one else said it--I bet all those adjectives you wrote down to describe your house actually describe YOU as well! Our homes really are such a reflection of us--and if we're unfussy and approachable, that should be our home as well. I guess that means I'm a quirky minimalist :)!
Such a neat post--I love all the adjectives you used to describe your home. I also love the next-to-last photo of your family gathered around, holding hands...that says so much!
Your best post EVER, Nester. Thank you. Nancy
What a fabulous post! Thank You!
Wow. Between the music, the images and your words I am tearing up...I think that is the magic of your site.. all of us who relish in making our houses into homes appreciating all that you offer.
Many of us have given up other dreams to have family be our first priority... having a comfortable, warm home is our way of keeping a dream... a safe place for people to just be.
Great post.
greeeeaaaaaat post! :D
I love it!
I agree with you.. I remember a certain nutwood closet in our house that was.. well.. nutwood.. dark brown/red. And I wanted to paint it white.. while my mum kept yelling 'you'll ruin a perfectly good closet'.
Finally I thought.. what the heck.. I payed 40 dollars for that thing, and now I'm goint to paint it white! .. eventually it looked so good it was moved from the bedroom to the living room....
by the way.. plastic sofa covers.. I thought only ghetto people used those? *lol* I've seen them 'though, in the caribbean they're a big thing, too. But that's what I said.. ghetto people.. ;)
(Don't worry, I'm not a racist.. I married one of those people.. now I can freely talk this way.. ha ha!)
greetings from the netherlands!
Wow! What a great post!
I just have to keep reminding myself that our house and things are for living in and using!
I've gotten much better at that now that I have two boys. Yes, I do regret that cream colored sofa, but I still love it and at least it has washable slipcovers!
You are so precious to me Nester. I had tears reading this and seeing your sweet family enjoy being together in an inviting home.
We have only recently been enjoying our home in this way...boy is it worth it! We are experiencing fellowship with friends in a new way just because we are willing to open our door and let them in.
I no longer worry about my house being perfectly clean, visitors are here to see us, not a spotless house.
I loved the picture of your Dad eating cake and singing.
You really struck a cord with a lot of people on this one! Well said, Nester and great post. I totally agree not to rely on lots of other's opinions about OUR homes. We are the ones who live there and make the decisions about how we want to live. Men are the last ones you should ask about painting anything like that....brick or wood for sure, they'll always say NO!
Thank you for this reminder! I surely needed it :o)
Love it, love it, love it! I have read your blog everyday for a while now, but have never felt more compelled to comment till today. I can feel the little tears forming as I read your post and look at the great family pics. The one of all you holding hands for prayer just gets me!
Thanks for the encouragement today - I think women need to hear this truth more often. Our homes are the sanctuaries for our most precious commodity - family.
You. GO. Girl!!!!
Triple LOVED it!
Roxanne
Amen, Hallelujah, and Amen...again! Great post!!! And you made me feel better about my loved, but often less than perfect home of 5...and gathering place for larger crowds each holiday! Great post!!! ~Rhonda :)
Yippeee - another like-minded sista! Love it! Well said & very encouraging!
Oh boy! You've got me all charged up and ready to slap paint on something! LOL
I just have to say again how much I love your blog. Sorry, I've been lurking and not commenting much but you're always so much fun to read and inspiring too! :)
Amen!!
You're awesome! Preach on - preach on!
I'm not going to read all 100+ of your comments... so sorry if this has already been asked.
That brick fireplace you described- I swear is the exact one in my master bedroom and I have no idea what color to paint it... canvas tan(SW) walls, 2 shades lighter ceilings and white trim.... simple, I'm sure. What color would you suggest? I'm at a loss, and frankly, I don't want to mess up and have to do it again!
Amen! Your best post ever! (Still tearing up...) I'm on board with you completly!
I have been loving your blog for months now and it's about time I comment. Love this post. Love the pictures, love the idea of "living in your home". I'm gonna do it!!
I love the idea of having a theme for your home.
Mine is best said by the plaque on top of my frig:
"Relax, it doesn't get much better than this." And it's not sarcastic.
Wow, it took me so long to get to the "post a comment" section I almost forgot what the post was about. Don't you laugh, it will happen to you one dAy too. I remember when I was one of the few commenting, but you have "come a long way Baby". OK, I remember...Amen to your preaching. Use your home, live and love in it, make it a place family and friends can enjoy.
Janet @ Housepeepers
Loving seeing a beautiful home that is well lived in by loving beautiful people.
Keep preaching it Sister!
Okay, I need to know if the window treatments on the french doors (2nd pic from bottom) are mistreatments? I want to make those for my breakfast nook, but have no idea how to sew. If you have a chance, leave me a comment to let me know if they are, and if they are, then how do you do them? Thanks!!
Okay, I need to know if the window treatments on the french doors (2nd pic from bottom) are mistreatments? I want to make those for my breakfast nook, but have no idea how to sew. If you have a chance, leave me a comment to let me know if they are, and if they are, then how do you do them? Thanks!!
Hey bird!
yes, and no. the neutral panel i did line and sew when i was bored one day. apparently that was before i had a blog. the little toile ones over the window are the same ones from my breakfast area in my old house. they are lined too but dont' have to be. I just hot glued them to the top of the thing that holds the blinds up. then, i got sick of all the light they were soaking up so i peeled them off a month or so ago!
Thank you! Your thoughts and pictures warm my heart.
Oh wow! I truly needed that sermon tonight. Thank you for sharing!
Hiya Nester friend! I love the pic of the living room after gift opening. Sometimes one wonders if anyone else ever has their house looking this way... And then I think to myself, why did I just say that? "this way" - like it's a bad thing, when in fact it's the most beautiful way a room can look, used, lived in, better yet, it envelopes all the joy that day held for your family, all your memories, and smiles that Christmas had for you and yours that year. What great, no brillant documentation of your family's happiness that day. No, not because of all the stuff, but because Mommy let them be kids and didn't worry about perfection that day.
Ok. Wow. I really am more hormonal than I thought. But considering I'm only 7 days post baby #7, you didn't get too teary like me did you? When I have time I'll have to send some pictures of Miss Sophia Claire. (Not the house... our new baby)She came at 36 weeks, but is completely and totally healthy. Thank-you God for steroid shots. Well, I must feed the rest of the herd before my kindergartner goes to school hungry. Jess
Hi,
This is the first time I stop by. I enjoyed reading this post. I have added you to my favorite reads.Thank you!
I let my painter paint 1/2 my house before I discovered that he was colorblind.
I really agree with you that most of the time we don't use/enjoy our homes to their fullest! However, I know that sometimes in the name of "enjoyment", we forget to teach our children respect for items used in the home. We always used and enjoyed every square inch of our home, but everyone knew that floors were for feet, and furniture was not a floor..... All 4 kids grew up to be responsible enjoyable adults with great kids of their own, so I guess I didn't traumatize them too much ;^)
I love your encouragement about holes - I had to be won over to the "holey" side when first married, I was just horrified by the wild abandon with which Ben would put holes in our wals. I had always been in the camp of practically laying hands on and praying over a picture frame before hanging it - a misguided hole was something involving fear and trembling! I have come a long, long way since then and recently painted a wall in my apartment courtyard green and through a long process that included lots of contact paper, projectors, and exacto knives, it has a beautiful white tree just slightly to the right of the middle of it (!! - we have a forgiving/uninvolved landlord- yea!) Its not perfect but its beautiful and I LOVE it. SO far I have heard no complaints about the slight fuzziness of the lines - just lots of oohhs and aahhhs. Thanks for your encouragement to decorate with abandon.
I love it! I know you are probably crazy busy even THINKING about moving, but I have been analyzing your valance behind your sons and husband all evening. When you get a chance can you pretty pretty please let us in on the secret to that one?
such fantastic advice!! thanks! i think i let others make the decisions for me way too often. i hope julie did paint the brick.
love it, love it, love it. so dead on! you have exactly nailed how i want my home to feel and how i want to use it. i have never understood having fancy rooms only for guests....silliness.
i love home as a place to be - and i love the thought that it doesnt have to be perfect to be beautiful!thank you for a well written and lovely post!
I don't know if you will even see this. I would like to paint our fireplace; but, I am not sure if I need special paint or if I need to prep it or what. Maybe you have covered this in a previous post...
Amen, love the post. You have a beautiful family.
Blessings, BJ
We bought our house five and a half years ago from my parents. They had had it built 18 years before that. I swear -- every single time we made a change for the first four years, my Mom griped about it. Finally, she came around to the fact that when we bought it, it became our house.
You seriously just made me cry....I've been searching for perfection...trying to make my house just as good as the next guys but I was missing the point!! This is our home...it's where my 5 children laugh, love, live, learn, play, fight. I don't need to make it good for others who might happen to drop by...I just need to make it OUR place...a place to be US...thank you for this gift you've given me.
Thanks so much for this post. I love decorating but it scares me to death. It's nice to have permission from someone who is so good at it to let things be imperfect--and to be reminded that a house is for living in so it's okay for it to feel that way.
Blessings to you!
quite inspiring. i love it.
I love the CHRISTmas pic. of you looking over taking the pic.!! I love houses that look "lived" in!!
What a wonderful post! great advice and so true. It's the photos you posted through the whole thing that really hammered things home.
You have a gorgeous family and clearly have made a beautiful, comfortable nest for them.
Bravo.
LOVE it! Such a great tag line and JUST how I want to build my home - glad I 'fell' upon your blog, will be following for updates as I beautify my home!! Thanks for the inspiration :)
I just found your blog a few days ago and I could literally spend all of my internet time here just going through everything. I just want to tell you how thankful I am that you are sharing yourself and your home with us out here in the world. Thank you so much for giving me the courage to not care what anyone else thinks (aside from the hubs who has to live here but is pretty understanding about stuff I do in the house) and for me to do my house how I want to do it so that I can be happy and comfortable. to make it the home that I want to make for my family, not someone else's version.
Thank you so much!
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