Can I be honest?

I realized after launching The MMDH Furnishing Method that we in fact have a few rooms over here that could use a bit of love. It turns out that the past five years of MMDH have flown by without a lot of thoughtful design going into my own home. Funny how that works. Shoemaker’s daughter vibes through and through.

So, there I was, setting a goal to replace two lampshades that I have never really liked to begin with, not realizing this task was going to launch me into designing an entire room around them!

This led to me deciding to dive into The MMDH Furnishing Method for my own home. Talk about a revelation! It turns out we all need to focus a bit on our surroundings. It has been a while over here. We’re due, and I am SO EXCITED to share each personal step with you.

My Wild Secret

In order to create a cohesive and purposefully designed space, you have to love what you are investing in. Study it, measure it, keep it open in your tabs for a bit, save it to a design folder, and revisit it a few times if you are at all questioning if it is “worth it”.

I tend to lean into any design elements I know I will not get tired of over time. If I have seen it installed a lot and feel like it is even a touch overplayed, it is not the piece for me. Very similar to a song on the radio that outwears its welcome… it reminds me of working retail for my parents throughout high school and wanting to toss the boombox out the side door. Most anything overplayed is just not for me.

I’d rather a rug wear down to nothing than ever feel like I am replacing it for aesthetic reasons. That does not mean the selection needs to be boring, and it also does not mean that it needs to feel like a perfect match to everything else. Pattern and color play is all in the eye of the beholder. If you love a few textiles together, and they instinctively feel “right” to you, they are perfect! It is key to trust your gut on selections for your home.

For example, this classic Maharam plaid rug has been forever on my wishlist. It is the boldest colorful rug, and yet, so classic feeling to me. I would make it work in ANY room in my home, just because I love it so much and know the vibe will not wear on me over time. 

I would actually invest in this rug before I would have ever invested in a wedding dress. I nabbed a $250 JCrew party dress for my wedding and my bridesmaids wore Isaac Mizrahi from Target. It is all about priorities when it comes to budgeting for an investment, and to me, anything you get to see every day and will bring a smile to your face for forever wins out in the investment category.

My True Feelings About My House

When I think about my current home and what words come to mind, they won’t surprise anyone! Welcoming, colorful, and eclectic. My passion for building thoughtfully curated collections of personality-filled items and utilizing accessories that have a story can be seen throughout my home. 

But, a few spaces have been neglected over the years. I would love to complete a few key projects that have been on my mind for a long time: light kitchen refresh + living room/office overhaul.

After undergoing a massive renovation seven years ago, we haven’t purchased new furnishings for any space. We’ve shifted a lot of it around, but as soon as we start ramping up our surroundings, these well-loved furnishings will be brought right back to life!

Can You Relate?

I find that, when I follow a more strategic process of planning and budgeting for an entire room at once, it is always easiest to get it right the first time. I am not just saying this because I created The MMDH Furnishing Method to guide you through just that, my strategic design process. It is in fact solidifying why I am taking this course myself though!

When furnishing my own home I can easily agonize over small details. I am a planner, and I never want to get it wrong, although that always delays the process. I am always better off going with my initial instincts.

If we’re being really honest here, one thing that holds me back from achieving my own design goals is budgets! I would go wild in here if I had a money tree out front. That does not mean my home is missing personality or furnishings, although it does mean I would LOVE to ramp it up more! I can’t wait to get to the budget module for my own project.

You’re Invited To Come Along On The Journey

I am going to focus my efforts for the next 6 weeks on designing our Living Room/Home Office. I want to ensure this room is ready for our small but mighty MMDH team to get inspired and motivated daily. I want it to feel next level while remaining cohesive with the rest of our home.

Have you ever done the exercise for channeling goals for the New Year where you choose one word to describe how you want to feel for the year? Before I started MMDH, I took a business planning course. One of our lessons was to identify a word for the year. I like this concept to always have one very specific vision to work towards. For my living room/home office I’ve selected three words to capture this vision: Incredible, inspiring, and happy.

I can’t wait to share my journey with you all. If you are feeling inspired to get YOUR home design underway, be sure to check out our design guides. We currently have 3 freebie offers to meet you where you’re at. When you sign up for our freebies you will also be added to our weekly newsletter! I’m dishing all of my home design tips and tricks directly to your inbox to brighten up your week and inspire your home design journey.

xo,

If you‘re looking for more tips for your home design projects, check out these posts:

3 Tips for Designing A Home That You Can Be Proud Of

3 Ways To Maximize Your Room’s Potential

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