This post may include affiliate links in which we earn a commission, as we are supported by our users. All opinions expressed are always our own and any commissions earned are of no cost to you. Thanks for your support! When I worked as a student admissions ambassador for the school of interior design at…
This post may include affiliate links in which we earn a commission, as we are supported by our users. All opinions expressed are always our own and any commissions earned are of no cost to you. Thanks for your support! During one of Charlie and my recent runs to a nearby flea market, we stumbled…
This post may include affiliate links in which we earn a commission, as we are supported by our users. All opinions expressed are always our own and any commissions earned are of no cost to you. Thanks for your support! It is hard to believe that in just under a month, I will have been…
I love candles. There is something about having a candle lit in the background that instantly makes a space more cozy, scented and overall, pleasant. In a season that beckons us to nestle in and cozy up, fall seems to just scream for them. In recent years though, it feels like candles went from being the sweet little, $5 shopping treat to a full $15 or $20 gift. So, it got me thinking, why not make my own where I can determine exactly the scent and style while being less of an investment? After a bit of research and antique thrift store scavenging, I found the perfect pieces to repurpose into, not one but TWO, fall candles perfect for our home for less than $10. If you are up for a little DIY-ing this fall, try this thrift store transformation and…
Experiences, challenges and hardships build character, both inside and out. While I typically have thought of these scenarios as building personal character, I have come to see how they also can drive the character of one’s home. The places you have been, the memories you have made and the hardships you have faced frequently leave traces of evidence throughout your home, making your dwelling like no one else’s. In fact, it seems that regardless of the time period, location or project budget, this has rung true. Height measurements are scratched into doorways; initials are carved into trees; stone carvers etch symbols into walls to be paid; monograms are placed at entry points and woven in furnishings. I think that is the beauty of creating a home and learning about design through the ages. Experiencing in person the historical character and craftsmanship of the dwellings and public spaces I have studied and taught through design school has been such a sweet joy these past few weeks. I have been so inspired by the quality and character of these homes and buildings that I wanted to write a post describing six wonderful ways…
After living here in Munich for two weeks, I have an ever increasing desire to learn the German language. As I previously started Duolingo and Babbel before ever arriving and now have begun taking German classes, I can see small steps of progress, but flowing conversation still feels miles away. Thankfully (and most impressively!), many people in the city speak English and have been able to understand my flustered mix of broken German and English phrases. But even with some flustering, isn’t that part of the joy of traveling? Exposure to another culture and language and seeing the beauty that the Lord has established in people groups all over the world? I certainly think so. And in general, even for all of my mistakes, the German people have been very kind and encouraging about the effort to…
While there are many exciting things about life moving abroad, there are arguably just as many experiences (I prefer to call them adventures!) that would make most people say “this is not for me”. Through any move (whether abroad or in town), before you can reach the sightseeing, embracing culture and settling in stage, you first must go through the get lost, sleep on an air mattress and figure it out stage. Thankfully, with each step you take, you can see the vision on the other side of a settled home, family and friend visits and sweet daily moments. Currently, Charlie and I are taking baby steps moving from craziness to settled in, with some of the first steps being to find light fixtures. As I mentioned in my post a couple of weeks ago, Top Tips For Finding An Apartment As An Expat In Germany, most apartments (unless furnished) do not come with many light fixtures installed. This flexibility allows each tenant to install the lighting that he or she prefers, but coming from the US is still quite humorous to me. Thankfully, our apartment only needed 3 main light fixtures (some cans were already installed), as a few apartments that we toured needed over 15 (talk about an investment!)! Needing lights early on, we didn’t have time (or want the hassle) of scouring online or running all throughout the city. Seeing this, we paired thrifting finds with Ikea parts for a super simple DIY light hack for our dining room light fixture. Regardless of whether you are moving abroad, buying a house or simply wanting to mix up what you currently have, I hope that this DIY will inspire you to transform …