I’m sure you hear the voices and see the “things” in your house just like I see them in mine… Before you think I’ve gone crazy, let me explain…
As you walk through your home, you may hear “voices” calling you to make repairs, replacements, or (especially) remodeling. If you live in an older home, as we do, these voices may be clamoring for your attention. Even if you live in a relatively new home, I’m sure there are still things you need or want to do. Sometimes these voices can drown out other aspects of our home that we love and appreciate.
In 2018, this is what the living room looked like. Things have changed quite a bit compared to now. All the furniture you see here was given to us or gifted to us, and we were so grateful to have it! All I remember from those days is how much we enjoyed the cosy warmth of the fireplace in winter and the glorious light coming through the large window all year round.
Have you heard of the term “house blind”? I heard this term recently and it perfectly captures how we all get used to the way things look in our homes. In my case, it was a sad (rather ugly) brown sofa and a very dated teal loveseat with a faded pink seashell print. It could also be the back door that is badly chipped and in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint, or the broken blind in the hall bathroom… you get the idea.
But I also think there’s another version of house blindness. We can all easily focus on what’s “wrong” with our home or what we’d like to change and forget why we fell in love with it and chose it in the first place. Do you remember the first time you walked through your future home?
Matt and I reminisce about that first visit… We walked around the empty house imagining where our furniture would go and talked about how much we loved the fireplace, the beautiful picture window overlooking the backyard, and the special features like the round stained glass window in the hall bathroom. This would become our first home and it seemed like a pipe dream coming from a 660 square foot apartment. This house seemed huge and quite grand to us! We rented it from the owners for the first four years and then were able to purchase the house.
This was the day we bought our first home! How exciting it was! As we signed the mountain of paperwork, we held our breath; it seemed too good to be true. In October of this year, we will have owned our home for six years and how much has changed! It is a good reminder for me to focus on the things we loved most in the beginning and the things we have grown to love over time.
This is what the living room looked like earlier this year. Since this photo was taken, we have acquired a beautiful English rolled arm sofa and a new bamboo table and lamp. I have come to love the slow evolution that occurs when creating a home and look forward to the wonderful changes that lie ahead! What things did you love about your home when you first moved in? What things have you come to love over time? I would love to hear parts of your experience.
Until next time,
Take care,
Raquel
