A story about Jenn,
Jenn reached out looking to update her home that she has lived in for many years. A home which was originally purchased with her former husband to raise their two children in. Years have passed, and it had now been 9 years since they divorced and her children were now teens. Her home had remained largely the same as when her ex had lived in the home. Jenn felt it was time to make changes to reclaim the home as her own. There were many mementos collecting from over the years, childhood photos, school projects, handmade crafts, and even wedding photos! Ever where she looked reminded her of her past, and the feelings of failure from a ‘failed’ relationship would keep arising as she kept being triggered by the physical reminders. She desired a change. She needed break free from this stuck feeling.
She was ready to invest in herself through investing in her home. Creating a space for the life she wanted to live. She wasn’t sure who to contact, at first she reached out to an interior design company; though she learnt that this was too small of a project for their typical scope.
From a referral from Referbish, she was connected to myself, Veronica at Happy Place Spaces. The first step she wanted to do was to replace the flooring and to paint her main level. As a professional decorator, I helped her narrow down the choices for flooring, paint colors and new fireplace tile, keeping in mind the emotional impacts that can be influenced by these colors. We ensured to have some warmth in the light vinyl planking floors, and to go with a light shades greens and warm neutrals to create a calming and inviting space. After the choices were made, and the tradesmen were booked, to real work began! She needed to clear out her whole main level, floors AND walls. This was an amazing opportunity to do an ‘edit’ and let go of any items that didn’t resonate with the life she wanted. Let go of items that didn’t ‘spark joy’. Removing all these items, one by one was an opportunity for assessment and reflection. She completed this process on her own with her children and had brought back the items once the renovations were complete.
Here is the mood board created for the project:
Step by step, she desired to continue to reclaim her home and re-create the look and feel of her home. Next step: the home office! This room housed craft items, paperwork, books, school projects, mementos, old crafts, and had became a ‘dump station’ for her home. For this room, she called in the ‘back up’ and booked an organizing session with Happy Place Spaces. Having this appointment in her books provided extra motivation and accountability to begin purging un-needed items in her office. She shared the before photo with me, and by the day of our appointment there was already more space created in this room. We spent 4 hours working in her office on the weekend. Discussing her vision for the room, what activities she imagined happening in here, who was going to use the space & for what. This serves as the compass when making decisions as to what to keep, what to store in this room and how to arrange the room to support her vision.
Jenn was assigned homework, as we stayed in touch through sending messages of support, encouragement, answering questions, sending progress photos– and celebrating! Every bag that went that left her home would spark joy, the feelings of letting go are so uplifting!
This process is under way, as our home consistently require adjustments to create an environment that support the life she desires. One filled with joy, confidence, breathing room and self love. It’s exciting to see how these big changes in her home with create a ripple effect in her personal life. It is all truly connected.
*Real name was replaced
