WELCOME
Hello and welcome to my first blog post! My name is Amanda and I am thrilled to embark on this blogging journey with all of you. I am a daughter, friend, wife, and mother to three children - Hayden, Harlow and Eloise. Most days when not organizing or designing homes you can find me at one of the many recreation facilities across Ontario watching a hockey game or at our local dance studio watching my daughters dance.
FAMILY LIFE
GRATITUDE
As I sit down to pen the inaugural lines of this blog, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and excitement. In a world bustling with information, opinions and experiences, why start a blog? Well, in the grand tapestry of life, I truly believe each of us holds a unique thread, a story waiting to be told, perspectives waiting to be shared. This blog is my gracious attempt to weave my thread into the vast fabric of human experience. I hope it resonates with you in some way - a realm where creativity meets functionality, and bespoke interiors are crafted with refined personality. My biggest hope is that by sharing my passion and expertise I can guide others to make authentic and systemic changes by embracing the true beauty in simplified living,
LABOUR OF LOVE
My journey began as a labour of love really, and a passion for all things design and organized lifestyle. Taking the leap of faith of turning my dreams into reality while knowing that the journey ahead may be challenging but also filled with the promise of doing what I love every day fills my heart with joy. But let's start from the beginning!
In 2014, after many months of searching for a house in my dream neighbourhood my real estate agent said she knew a couple who had been thinking of listing their home for quite some time. After viewing the property, while incredibly endearing, I quickly realized the house was much too small for our family. As I was leaving I noticed the neighbouring home looked vacant. My real estate agent made some phone calls and found out that the home was an upcoming estate sale.
FIXER UPPER
It was a true fixer-upper in every sense of the word. Just about every inch of the house demanded attention. I was completely charmed by its strong bones and original character while happily challenged by its complete lack of style and dated aesthetic. The home with a history most likely dating back to the late 1800's (determined by the handmade rectangular cast nails found while renovating) was purchased from a family that have lived in the home for 50 years raising nine children.
While the structural bones of the house stood resilient, the patina of neglect painted a poignant picture of a home that had weathered the passage of time. The crumbling plaster walls seemed to echo the whispers of the past, desperately urging for restoration and a chance to reclaim its former glory while blending modern lifestyle. Little did I realize that embarking on a full-scale renovation of a century home would come with so many life lessons - mainly patience, resilience and embracing the imperfections. Embarking on a restoration of an old home is embarking on a relationship where there is always work to be done and quite often a gut-wrenching surprise just around the corner (and I can ensure you there were many)!
BEFORE AND PROGRESS PHOTOS | CENTURY HOME KAWARTHA LAKES, ONTARIO
FAREWELL
Life changes, and with it, the definition of home transforms. The decision to leave was not an easy one. The decision to move wasn't a betrayal of the concept of my forever home; rather, it was an acknowledgment that life is a dynamic force, and so too must be our homes. Dreams evolve, families grow, and priorities shift. The walls had witnessed the laughter of my children, the warmth of friend and family gatherings, bringing my youngest daughter home from the hospital and countless memories made.
After seven years of living in my century home and pouring my heart into the renovation, my family made the tough decision to bid farwell to our beloved abode. The idea of calling a property "home" - knowing it will have a life far beyond me will always tug at my sentimental heart. I willl always cherish my role as a proud steward of the property and its history. I hope that I played a small part in preserving the atmosphere and integrity of the home.
AFTER PHOTOS | CENTURY HOME KAWARTHA LAKES, ONTARIO
RURAL LIVING
Having spent most of my childhood years living in the country, I think when covid lockdowns began my family really began to re-evaluate our living situation and priorities. Craving peace and calm is a natural human reaction to stress and I guess that was exactly how we were feeling. As a family we decided to ditch the city (and by city I mean small town) life for rural living.
My family had a house built just outside of town on an acre lot with our property overlooking Sturgeon Lake and The Trans Canada Trail. While the house is not necessarily my dream home, the breathtaking views captured my heart. Living in the country with a beautiful view is truly an idyllic experience. Waking up to the tranquility of the countryside, surrounded by nature's beauty holds a transformative power to enhance every aspect of your life.
LESSONS LEARNED | REFLECTION
Looking back over the past 20 years, I have purchased and sold 7 different homes (with a 4 month stay in a 600 square foot apartment while building our current home). I have packed and unpacked too many times to count! I have diyed, redecorated and renovated countless spaces (hello student rental with a bed bug and rat infestation - gross) which has allowed me to hone my organizational and design skill set.
The journey and lessons learned along the way has impelled me to understand what "home" means and how important intentional living truly is. Finding beauty and calm in my homes has created a great sense of gratitude and appreciation for simplified lifestyle. Consciously creating authentic and functional interiors has truly been life changing. By clearing out the excess I wholeheartedly believe you are able to focus on what matters most.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP REALITY
Entrepreneurs are at the forefront of innovation, giving birth to ideas and doing whatever it takes to see their vision come to life. From my humble beginnings of renovating a century home to designing a new build home in the country, my journey is marked by passion, hard work and most importantly an unwavering support of those who believed in my abilities. Friends and family began to notice the meticulous work I put into my homes.
Encouraged by the praise and realizing the demand for my expertise, I began to contemplate the idea of turning my passion into a profession. With all of my children now in school full-time, I found myself on the cusp of a new adventure. I applied and was accepted to a local Starter Company Grant Program which seemed like the perfect catalyst to turn my dream into a reality. My story is now officially woven into the fabric of local business landscape - a testament to the power of taking that leap of faith and the support that comes from both community and opportunity.
PASSION | BEAUTIFUL SIMPLIFIED LIFESTYLE
I hope you will join me as I navigate the world of all things organizing and design alongside you, where every detail is intentional and and every space has a purpose. I am passionate about helping others create functional interiors with a timeless allure. I hope to transform houses into homes, rooms into stories waiting to be told and where your space becomes an articulate expression of who you are. I am so happy you are here!
