A Great Book & Story Behind the Address Design

Home address design. Chalkboard style. It's amazing how simple black and white, numbers and names can mean so much. In this case, it's a reminder of many memories, each at such a loved location. These are the places I've lived. I've changed them around just a bit from my true addresses {so crazy internet people won't try to find me!}, but really, these conjure up so many images in my mind of places I've loved. 

So what inspired it?

This book. My new fave design book. By the way, if you're reading this, Lydia, thanks for lending me the book via your sister-in-law Emily who lent me the book that you lent her ;). I still have it! Still loving it! Will get it to you soon, once I've finished it and soaked in every image!!

A dear friend lent me the book of another dear friend {incase you didn't catch that already}, called "The Nesting Place" by Myquillyin Smith. I fell in love with the cover. They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but in this case, go right ahead. 

The typography alone grabbed and gripped my attention from hello. Seriously beautiful cover layout!

I had no clue what this book was when I was first handed it, other than my friend telling me how the writer of it is so frugal, rents (like us), and has such fun and inspiring ideas. So I took the book home, curled up by a cozy fire, hot spiced cider in hand, and began reading it. Kidding. Not really. But that scene seemed warmer and cozier and as if I paid attention to the unknown gem in my hands. Ok, so really I threw it in my Thirty-One bag for a few weeks before finally cracking it open on a road trip back to the hospital. I needed some light reading. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to touch it again until just recently. But the pages screamed to be opened and aired out again, with sunlight hitting their pages and my eyes taking in the beauty on each one, just begging me to find inspiration. And I did. Above the couch, you'll see the writer's version of her addresses on canvas that a friend made for her. I fell in love with this idea, and thus the design was born. 

Flipping through the pages, I found even more ideas, all based on using what you already have, without breaking {if even touching} the bank to do so. It was inspiring me to make some changes around my house to liven things up, but ways to do so without spending a dime. I needed this book!!! 

Then I stumbled across the page below {I say stumbled because I'm 3/4 through with the book, and yet I keep jumping ahead looking at the pics!}. I think the world knew I needed this book for the simple fact that the writer even gives ideas and tips on NO SEW projects!!! It was written for me!!

But as I began to actually read the book, not just stare at the images for ideas and inspiration, I realized how much this book really meant to me. It's about so much more than the design that meets the eye. Smith's style is simple: make your home your own. Even if you rent. Even if your budget is zero. As the back cover states, "Perfection is overrated." She stresses to give up on perfect and only strive for focusing on the things you already love about your home. She believes and shares that what's important are the people inside the home, not the home itself. That this is the space you live in, breathe in, create in, design in, sing in, dance in, sleep in, relax in-make it feel like your home. She gives tips on decorating, decorating on a budget, home selling tips, and so on. Here's a few of my favorite moments from this book...

"As women, we ache to believe that real beauty can be found in the midst of imperfection. We are crying out for permission to lower our standards. Let yourself know: permission granted."

"...What if you were less hard on yourself for the ways you and your home fail, and you looked instead at what's already there? What if creating a beautiful home was less about stuff and more about attitude? What if you already have everything you need to have the home 

you've always wanted?"

Love that part. We used to own a home once, and I absolutely LOVED decorating it, painting whenever I wanted in whatever room I wanted, taking risks in design, doing room makeovers. We're in a season now where, for as much as I love and am giddy about interior home design, we simply do not have the budget for spare pretties. For luxuries like painting a room, buying new fancy frames, buying new throw pillows, new furniture, etc. For some, a refreshing room makeover invites the pleasures of new furniture, new fixtures, new textures, new colors. For me, it's much more low scale, and by low I mean DIY and use what I've already got. This book was great inspiration for new ideas on this way of doing things. She reminded me to love the things I have, not yearn for the things I don't have in my grasp or within my reach, and to surround this home with those things that fit our family best. 

The writer also devotes a whole section to The Gift of Messes, Mistakes, and Other Beautiful Imperfections. I loved this section. I love how she frugally took her old couch, bought one white slipcover, and now does not worry about messes, stains, spills, but yet it's bright and fun and warm and cozy all in one. She's not afraid to let her home be messy either. Not afraid to live life and let the house go for a bit, knowing it'll be ok in due time. To not apologize for the messes or imperfections because that only shows lack of gratitude. For example, going to someone's home where they constantly apologize for the mess/unhung curtains/chipped paint/etc., on the things you probably wouldn't even notice instead can make a guest feel awkward, that the person doesn't truly love their home, the one they just invited you into and said, "Make yourself at home." Instead, she sees accepting and not promoting the negatives in order to show gratitude for each corner, nook, and cranny of that house. 

"Instead of seeing imperfections as thorns in my flesh, I want to open my eyes

 and see them as signs of life." 

Love that. So true. 

So there you go. One amazing book that touches on more than mere outward appearance, but reflects the truth in living in seasons of want and need {as she explains and describes the thirteen different homes since she said, "I do."}, being frugal yet trendy, being designer yet imperfectionist. 

And it drew more out of me than just that one inspiration for the address print {Customizable! Just ask!}. It reminded me that my home doesn't have to be perfect to be loved. It doesn't have to be styled just so or every room clean and tidy, that it's encouraged to take joy in designing our surroundings, yet the focus being on the time truly spent within the walls surrounded by loved ones, and not so much by loved objects alone. That, while some homes have showroom-worthy asthetics, I'd rather have a loved and warm home and couch with a couple of stains to remind me of the littles we're raising in this beloved home. 

I encourage you, if you love home design, BUY this book. Or borrow {ok, steal} it from a friend. If you borrow it, at least return it within a year {that goes for library books too, right?}. 

And I'll leave you with my most favorite new home design element that was just hung up on my bedroom wall...my five year old's picture of things Mommy loves, complete with images of Google chromecast, coffee, my fruit juicer, even a Star Wars ship and pan with mac-n-cheese {...so more of a design of things both he and I love}. It's the perfect picture to hang in our bedroom. And it's going to stay there, crooked and unframed. Right where he put it. {However the Star Wars ship he colored and freakishly over-taped right above my pillow might have to be moved}. 

I would love to know, what are some of your favorite home design books/authors/blogs? And the name of the most favorite street you ever lived on? Comment below!!