Crafting a Home Filled with Meaning
When it comes to curating the perfect design for your home, navigating your personal style can feel like a daunting task. Over the past eight years, as I've shaped our home, I’ve also struggled with the challenge of resisting fleeting design trends prevalent in the industry. The key revelation for me has been to infuse our home with enduring significance, making it a timeless reflection of our journey.
where it all started…
Over the last couple of years we have been lucky to to inherit somewhat “heirloom” pieces of furniture from our family. This experience prompted a profound realization – every item in a person's home narrates a story, contributing to its profound meaning. Consequently, we began viewing our home as an love letter, chronicling the life we are building together.
HOW TO Embark on Your Design Journey:
To embark on this method, start by decluttering your home of decor or items that don't resonate with you. Adopt a mindset similar to Marie Kondo's method, letting go of trendy but unloved possessions. It's easy to become ensnared in trend-chasing, losing sight of your genuine preferences. Redefining our home in this manner has not only made us more selective but also deepened our sentimental connection to the objects surrounding us.
Designing with meaning doesn't necessitate inheriting items; it's about integrating what holds personal value to you. Whether it's a concert ticket, a cherished vacation snapshot, or a special memento, framing and displaying these pieces can bring a unique and sentimental touch to your home.
Believe me, the most effective way to create a home that is uniquely yours is by turning it into a love letter to yourself. Designing your space with items that carry sentimental value transforms your perception of it. No longer chasing trends, I now approach design with intention, celebrating the beauty of memories interwoven into every corner of our home.
how i design with meaning
When contemplating the design of any room, my focus centers on weaving in as much "meaning" as possible. Whether it's selecting artwork that evokes cherished memories, showcasing furniture acquired together, or finding unique ways to display sentimental items, the goal is to create a narrative woven into every corner of our living space.
Here’s how I designed with meaning in our living room:
The art collection above our TV is a blend of black and white photos from our early Hilton Head trips together and a pair of abstract pieces acquired during my first visit to LA in my early 20’s.
The cane chair, my favorite piece inherited from Matt's grandfather paired with our new area rug.
An artwork piece gifted by Matt on our first Valentine's Day, depicting the constellations of the night we first met.
A decorative candy dish passed down from my mother that holds all the matchboxes from our favorite restaurants in Atlanta
Our wedding photo album, displayed on a console we inherited from Matt’s grandfather.
Our wedding invitations framed in the gallery wall on our stair.
Here’s how I designed with meaning in our dining room:
A piece I painted for our first apartment - the DIY of how to recreate it is here
These wall sconces we inherited from my grandparents
My granparents’ china cabinet that displays Matt’s grandparents’ crystal (that we are trying to add to with our own collection)
These forever roses that Matt gets me every year for Valentine’s Day - check our my instagram for the full story behind this!
the timelessness of memories
Discovering your genuine personal style becomes a natural progression as you embark on the journey of designing with meaning. In my case, I embraced the eclectic aesthetic of our home, infusing it with antique discoveries, plush textures, and a curated selection of artwork—much of which I personally created or framed as memorabilia from our life. This intentional blending with inherited furniture resulted in a home that feels warm and layered, creating a space that is undeniably and uniquely ours.
What truly sets this approach apart is the undeniable sense of timelessness it imparts to our home. Now, every corner resonates with a profound connection to my favorite things, evoking a feeling of authenticity that transcends the standard "cookie-cutter" designs prevalent elsewhere.
I can’t wait to hear how you adapt designing with meaning within your own home! I’ve found it’s the most beautiful of design concepts because it is uniquely you.
