It’s early in the pandemic, and everyone in my house is healthy and for that, I'm so grateful. I'm trying to get into some sort of routine, but really, I'm all over the place. Some days I work out, cook, clean, and feel super productive, and other days I lay in bed until noon and then have a drink on the porch because ~it's 5 o'clock somewhere. The reason for writing this though is because most of us are spending a lot more time at home. And I've come to terms with my why (see it here), so I'm more at peace and more patient with my family and myself, but I wonder, how will life be when things get back to normal. This pandemic feels like a worldwide reset and I want to be better at living with intention and focusing on the important things in life. In order to do that, I need to know myself better. 'To know thyself' is sage advice for all walks of life, and there’s no exception when it comes to designing your home.
Bonus Room for the Kids
In my previous post, Building Your Dream Home: Remember Your Why, I posted photos of my dream home or what I thought was my dream home. I've included a few more in this article, so you see what I'm talking about. During the whole process of designing and building this home, I never asked myself, "Does this home reflect who I am?". I thought I knew what I needed... 4 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths, a bonus room for the kids, a two-car garage, a landscaped yard, and multiple porches overlooking a fantastic view. That was me, at least who I thought was me, and that's the house we built. And when it came time to get the home loan sorted out, we realized we had one expensive house that didn't mirror who we were as a family or as individuals. We had a choice, move forward and commit to working to pay for it OR not. That was a year ago, we chose to sell the house and stay in our 2 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath, small porch, no view, barren-landscaped house because it fits who we are. We have a goal to retire early; we love walking to nearby restaurants, parks, and the kids' school; and our neighborhood is established, so there's zero construction noise; whereas none of that would've been possible with the new home.
To avoid making the same mistakes I did, I've put together a little quiz to help you understand yourself a bit better. And if you ever plan on building a new house one day, this might be especially helpful.
Bonus Room with Kitchenette & Study Space
My family is everything to me and I want an open floor plan that allows us to be engaged with one another.
VS
The builder said this is his most popular floor plan, so we should go with it.
My co-worker says to make sure we have a separate family room because we'll regret it if we don't.
VS
I love my active children and I want them to have a space where they can be messy and loud.
Multiple Porches and Manicured Lawn
I saw this bathroom on Instagram and I want mine to look just like it.
VS
My wellbeing is very important to me and I want a large freestanding tub where I can soak and relax in peace and quiet.
Being in nature is food for my soul and I want an outdoor space where I can hear the birds and plant my own garden.
VS
It's not my favorite piece of property for our house, but it's cheap and it's in the kids' school zone.
Porch Overlooking a Fantastic View
My parents house has a home office and they really like it.
VS
Being creative makes me feel alive and I want an area where my family is able to learn, grow and use our imaginations.
Ultimately, the quality of our life is not determined by the car we drive, the clothes we wear, or the house we live in, nor is happiness a list of boxes to be checked off. Yet, it's easy to see how one phrase speaks to the core of who we are, our soul, and how the other phrase addresses a temporary moment in time or a short-lived housing trend.
Finally, be still and notice... Notice your own nuances, notice what makes you tick, and notice your funny quirks and receive it all with love! And remember to look within because that’s where the power and the purpose reside!