"We are all wanderers on this earth...our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams." ~ Gypsy proverb

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

from scratch

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So imagine being able to start from scratch inside your home, what would you do? We are considering having an estate sale company come and sell most of what we own, mostly things we aren't attached to, and things we don't want to take across country. It's funny how we look at what we have now. We scratch our heads and wonder, why did we buy that again? It's true, we have changed, and our ideas of what makes a home hum with a heartbeat has also changed.  We want to live with less, and we want everything we put in a space to be a part of our everyday doings. We chuckle now at the superfluity of things such as our formal living room and all the furniture that was only used twice a year.

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Yet, I have no regrets about how we did things here in this house, because without these mistakes we would not know better how we want a space to make us feel.  I know it's us who make a house a home, but what we place in it reflects in every way what we hold dear.

What we want most is to live with the intention of creating an environment as modest and grounded as we feel--minimal but warm, honest, earthy, and alive. We want every space to live and breathe, and envelop us like an impenetrable hug. We want walls that talk, as well as walls that know how to just be quiet and listen. We want furniture that have their own strong and resilient stories, ones that have been around and wear their wisdom well. I intend to find second hand and handmade as often as conceivable, with an aesthetic that screams "welcome home, now come sit and relax." With awareness and with purpose, I hope everything that fills our spaces will be a reflection of what keeps us firmly planted, authentic and true. :).

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Much love to you on this Wednesday and wishing you warmth between the walls in your own home!!
xo

p.s. all photos can be found via Pinterest here

24 comments:

  1. i lie kthe way you describe a home. ( and of course the hpotos you have chosen) we moved here, in the country side about a year ago. when we did that we were amazed of all the things we owned! most of them we did not even like anymore. we try to live as simple as possible. but i do like thrift stores and charity shops and such so it comes regularly something more to add, in the interior. still i look for hommy things that express who we are. not what we have : )

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  2. I agree and learned years ago to only have things in my home that I love and use! Life is too short to be surrounded by things with no meaning! My favorite pieces are ones with a story, the tea cart from my grandmother, the desk [like yours] that my mother used as a child, the heart pine table my husband made for me. I believe a homes content paints a story of the people who live inside.

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  3. you have a beautiful voice my friend. i've been thinking about this a lot as well. really have been doing a clutter bust here lately, trying not to hold on to things with no use/love anymore.

    i just read something the other day in this book The Minimalist Woman about projects that we start and leave behind, how not to hold on to them and see them as failure or something best not started, recognize you and your interests change and let them go.

    i hope your new home is as dreamy and warm as you wish. have fun with it.

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  4. We have many items that we picked up from garage sales when we were first married. We still have them! I get very attached to pieces of furniture that have a history. Either my history or a family heirloom. Your move sounds like a great adventure with so many possibilities!

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  5. Oh, I so look forward to seeing any corners of your new home that you end up wanting to share. How exciting to start from scratch!

    Can I confess here that our walls are completely and totally bare? Seriously, not a single thing on them except for the wall art in Annabelle's room. I have never had a knack for designing spaces, but like you, I'm learning more about how I want my home to make me feel and I can't wait to start fresh! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  6. that first wall is amazing!

    we got that chance with our current home. right down to the design of the building even! and we had sold almost all our furniture with our previous house.
    it really is great starting with a blank slate. although i do also appreciate a renovation.

    i'm already imagining our next home lol

    (4th image source http://www.neathome.net/beautiful-loft-interior-in-patagonia)

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    1. Thanks so much Mon, I updated the source link!!!

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  7. I'm so in love with these photos - the last photo features my dream dining table!

    Isn't it fun to think of starting over and to liquidate as much stuff (a.k.a.junk) as possible? It makes me feel so good like a mental cleanse.

    My husband and I feel the same way - like when we just recently re-painted our kitchen a wonderful warm and modern grey we wondered what were we thinking when we painted the kitchen light pale mint. It's interesting to see how your tastes can evolve right along with you.

    xo
    cortnie

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  8. Oh all of these photos are too gorgeous! I feel the same way mama, it's funny how you look at certain things and wonder...why again? Can't wait to see what's in store for you in your new home!

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  9. I think how we create our space is so important to our well-being. We have lived in our house for five years and it still has yet to have one room finished :) I change my mind to much to have things be finished, so my husband says. How fun to be able to start all over, with new experiences and lessons learned in your pocket!

    I would love to have a wood burning stove and the pic of the living room with one makes my heart skip a beat! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  10. I gave up long ago trying to have everything match, or come close, and to be a "set". Many pieces of furniture in our home are family pieces, a particular desk I have upstairs has been passed through my stepmom's family for years. Everything has a story, and I want to know that story!

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  11. I think you're absolutely right and I go with William Morris on this: Don't own anything that you don't absolutely love or that isn't of practical use" (probably not his exact words, but close enough). Anything else can go... Good luck :-) xo

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  12. What a great opportunity to start afresh! Our interiors should be allowed to grow and change as we do. When I was a "young married", we had lots of STUFF (and the superfluous formal spaces to as you do) that I would never want in my home now. I'm 45 and living alone currently, and while my home reflects who I am right now, who knows where I'll be ten years from now? Embracing change is all part of the fun of living. :) Enjoy creating your new sanctuary!

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  13. make it bigger than it needs to be and we’ll come visit all the time! all so lovely and such true words! what fun to start fresh!

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  14. i love moving for the potential it brings. so much possiblitly for you in this new journey your on. and that room with the wood burning stove. ummm.

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  15. ooohhhhh. I have to admit I'm envious.
    It's a huge dream of ours too. In fact, I already have the house plans drawn to actually build the house ourselves.
    For now, I'll have to live vicariously.
    XO
    C

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  16. by the way...try this for inspiration.
    http://www.thelonearrangers.tumblr.com/
    I have to say, though I would love to start all again in a new house for the fun of it, my furniture and style I'm pretty happy with and I got a lot of inspiration at the above friend/designers link.
    XO
    C

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    1. thanks C., I am drooling right now over those images :).

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  17. Ooooh, lovely. I especially love the image with the purple chairs. That wall color! But I am mostly taken with your descriptions, your vision.

    How wonderful for you guys!!

    I've been thinking of you and your upcoming change, just appreciating the fact you all are following your dreams.

    xo,
    Stacy

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  18. These images are amazing!!

    I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be able to start all over. I know exactly how I would do it. Even if we move, I would have to bring everything with me, though. About 90% of my furniture once resided on my great-grandparents farm. I'm too sentimental to let it all go. :)

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  19. Oh goodness, I wish I could live in each and every space you posted. I've never had a reason to start all over- like moving across the nation- but every summer it seems like I throw everything we have into a garage sale. Sometimes motivated money, but mostly I'm ready to move on.

    "We want walls that talk, as well as walls that know how to just be quiet and listen."....yes, yes, yes. I love the space you're envisioning.

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  20. Beautiful post MJ - you have given so much thought to what home is and how environment can echo the heart beat of the family. It is important isn't it - to have an emotional aesthetic surrounding at home - it can lift and inspire and warm the place that we all go back to, to retreat from the world.
    I have been thinking on clutter recently. With two small children cleaning is not something that always gets prioritised around here but I have an emotional response to clutter - something to do with western guilt & consumerism. Piles of stuff that aren't used or thought about or cared for seems indulgent somehow....
    I hope you're new home is - just that! home xo

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  21. I was just discussing this with a friend. How wonderful it would be to be able to start from scratch and incorporate all the rustic elements that I love. Blessing on your new journey!

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  22. To some extent we got to do that in this home we are in- although it has been 7 years now and it is time for some changes- I found pieces here and there, estate sales, antique stores, thrift stores - pieces I could paint, cover, enjoy. Here at the beach - it's a mixture of dark wicker and antiques - true old Florida with an updated spin ;) Enjoy your project- pinterest is a wonderful tool for the process - I had only magazines and folders :) Great fun!

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“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
~ George Bernard Shaw