Hi there! My name is Vanessa and I'm co-author, along with my sister
Heather, of the blog At the Picket Fence. I'm so thrilled to be here
today! My sweet friend Pamela and I go waaaaay back and I was honored
when she asked me to be apart of her "How I Found My Style" series.
Although, I have to admit, I laughed to myself when she asked me
because, frankly, I feel like finding my style has been a long process
which is still ongoing!
You see, I believe that finding your style has everything to do with
finding your confidence. And that hasn't always been an easy thing for
me. I was thinking the other day about how insecure I was about my
body when I was in my early 20's. But, here's the thing....I didn't
need to be! I should have been running around in a tube top and daisy
dukes every day! ;-)
But I lacked confidence (plus
my mama would've hit me over the head if I had worn such a
get-up!) and didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. Fast forward
to today and at ahem...cough...cough...almost 40, I find that the more
secure I am in being myself and embracing my own likes and dislikes,
the more able I am to make choices for my home which reflect my own
personal style.
I would describe my style of decorating
as Traditional with a French Country Twist and I
really believe that while we shouldn't feel bound by it, defining and
embracing your style helps you stay focused as you go about creating a
home you love.
It's funny, you would think that between
Pinterest, magazines, blogs and all of the other options we have for
getting design inspiration it would make it easier to hone our own
style. But, while I feel that all of those things have helped to
inspire me, they have also at times made me lose my way a bit.
For awhile there I had this inner
conflict of knowing what I loved but feeling that what I loved might
not be "in". Kinda like when I was in late elementary and had to hide
the fact that I still wanted to play with my Barbie dolls! I got
sucked into a decorating Bermuda Triangle for a bit and wound up
feeling almost paralyzed when it came to making design choices.
But then, I took a step back. I looked
around and realized that what I really wanted was for my home to
reflect that fact that I was gaining a new sense of security in just
being 'me'.
And you know what? That's really when
everything started falling into place.
I realized that I still loved my dining
room set that we bought when we were newlyweds (15 years ago!) and
that I didn't want to paint it even though I've seen some beautiful
makeovers others have done on similar pieces. But that didn't mean
that I couldn't freshen it up with some drop cloth slipcovers!
//DINING ROOM//
I've also fully embraced my dark cherry
cabinets even though sometimes I feel all alone among the sea of white
kitchens. I don't ever want to forget how I felt the first time I saw
this kitchen and was overwhelmed with gratitude that I would have the
privilege of spending so much time here. The cabinets might not be
white, the granite might not be the latest look, but this is the heart
of our home and I love it.
Finding my style has definitely been a
journey and one that has been just as much about being a good steward
of my resources as it has about choosing the right accessories. When a
new bathroom vanity isn't in the financial cards, a burlap skirt can do wonders towards freshening
things up. And mixing in something that might be considered more
"trendy" with a foundation that is classic is the perfect blend for
me!
We can't help what we gravitate towards,
can we? Some of us will always be drawn to pieces that are soft and
light and chippy. Others of us will always want a touch of "bling" in
every room. Still others will want pieces that have a sense of history
and connection to the past. And sometimes we find that we like to have
just a little bit of everything!
And at the end of the day, it's about
creating an environment where we are surrounded by the things and,
more importantly, the people that put a smile on our face.
Now, this doesn't meant that every once
in awhile we shouldn't perhaps look at rooms with a fresh eye. Maybe
you'll be like me and decide that the master bedroom needs a little
lightening. You're getting a sneak peek here at some changes I've
recently made to ours but have yet to fully reveal on the blog!
And maybe you will have to be ok with the
fact that the vanity you were so thrilled to purchase for your
daughter's vintage inspired bedroom is now barely visible
under all of her own "accessories".
My prayer is that I will be a person who
is always willing to extend myself towards others. And I think that
finding my design style is completely enmeshed in discovering how I've
been uniquely equipped to be a blessing to those around me.
I guess we could call that my "heart" style!
I want my home to be a reflection of my
heart and I hope that others feel that from the moment they walk
through my front door. Like my heart, it might be messy at times. It's
never going to be finished and "perfect".
But if it is warm and welcoming despite
it's imperfections then that is all that really matters, isn't it?
And, don't worry, just because I've got
more confidence now then I had in my 20's doesn't mean I'm going to
start running around in a tube top and daisy dukes! ;-)
Thank you so much for taking the time to
join me here today and thank you to Pamela for being such a gracious
hostess and allowing me the honor of visiting From My Front Porch to
Yours!
 |
| Thank you Vanessa for welcoming us into your home today! It has been fun watching your style evolve thru out the years. |
You see, I believe that finding your style has everything to do with
finding your confidence. And that hasn't always been an easy thing for
me. I was thinking the other day about how insecure I was about my
body when I was in my early 20's. But, here's the thing....I didn't
need to be! I should have been running around in a tube top and daisy
dukes every day! ;-)
