Growing up holidays were my favorite time of year, it was when my entire family got together, my parents, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins….so many cousins and it was so much fun! We loved spending that time together catching up and reminiscing about memories. There was so much food in the kitchen and dining room, and I can still smell the apple pie baking in the oven. It was a lot of people, so many stories and so much laughter. As a kid, it was like being at Disney World with all of the fun and excitement that I had been looking forward to for weeks.
When we all came together, family was the focus. As I became older and we continued to have family gatherings and celebrations, I realized it wasn’t just about the family, it was about the functionality of the space we gathered in, we weren’t separated into a bunch of closed off rooms, it was like we were in a large reception hall. The open space was plenty of room to allow for all of us to be together and be present with one another. We were able to eat together, hear each other’s stories, and play games together. I love the memories I created in my childhood, and I can still feel myself being in that home during the holidays.
When I became an adult and I moved hours from home, I wasn’t able to attend as many gatherings with my oversized family, though there was one thing I found myself doing from the time I moved into my first home, I always made sure the space felt comfortable and inviting, and the space had an open feel where people could gather. It didn’t matter if I was gathering with a group of neighbors, my family, my son’s baseball team, or if it was just my daughter and I.
Our homes shape our lives, and I believe the space we live in is what creates the best memories no matter who is present. I absolutely love working with our clients to create amazing spaces in their homes that function perfectly for how they live.
The frustrations I normally hear when I first meet with clients is that their home is too closed off and feels too small, and the spaces are too dark with no natural light. The experience of collaborating with clients to improve the flow of their home and how it functions is always so much fun. Sometimes this means adding some space or just renovating their kitchen, though sometimes it’s renovating the majority of the living spaces on their first floor to create that dream home they have always wished for. I hope this holiday season you find those perfect spaces in your home for your family and friends to create wonderful memories that will last you a lifetime.
