"A GOOD HOME MUST BE MADE, NOT BOUGHT"
~ Joyce Maynard: Domestic Affairs, 1987
Leaving the investment aspect out of the equation, we all buy houses for one reason = to have a HOME! One could argue that even investors and bankers do so, unless they all sleep at their desks and in their portfolios!
Once we've signed on the dotted lines, we receive a little piece of
cold metal that has the amazing ability to warm our hearts instantly, the KEYS to our new home. But wait.. is it really our home or just a house at this point in time? When does the house truly turn into our home? Surely, moving boxes do not exactly scream comfort, there's the garage painted in purple and black (I'm in Raven's country..) and the smell is .. well .. not us.
A house has to take on the new owner's identity to become a HOME. You have truly arrived once you added your personal touches: the wedding picture on the fireplace mantel, grandma's table in the living room, the rug you've had to keep in a storage unit for so long since there never was the perfect spot in your old place..
You know you've truly arrived home when you cannot wait to pull into your driveway, the pure sight of your home gives you the warm and fuzzies and the feeling of comfort that lulls you in as soon as you open the front door is just priceless. No luxury in the world can make us feel the same way.
Our space becomes more comfortable as we live our lives in it. We display cute and original things that reflect our identity and only have meaning to us. We begin to look at designs for comfort - what speaks to us and what makes us happy. We surround ourselves with things that have sentimental value because they have the unique ability to boost our happiness. They turn a house into a home and a sanctuary.
A home allows us to be truly us. There's no judging our taste and style, it's about us and whatever makes us feel comfortable. The more we explore "us", the more comfortable our home feels. It's a process for sure, one that will never truly be finished as long as we own our home. It's okay to procrastinate a little while. Find some inspiration in magazines, stores and even your friends' and neighbors' homes. Take note of what draws your interest, what makes you smile and what makes you feel comfortable and then enjoy making your new house a home!
"A house that does not have one worn, comfy chair in it, is soulless."
~ May Sarton
During a recent road trip to New Hampshire, I found my newest
piece of comfort, a perfect addition to my home. I've always wanted some old trunk but it never just felt quite right until I stumbled upon this one. I purchased it at a flea market and love the mystery that surrounds it. Where did it come from? Whom did it belong to? What was it used for? I'm not a fan of the green, but that's ok.. I'll take my time to figure out how this piece of furniture can reflect me. I'm not in a hurry, it is worn, comfortable and it has soul.
It's making my house feel more like my home.
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Buying a home in a designated historic district in Maryland
Oh to be the Queen of that Castle
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