The response to the giveaway has floored me. I love the comments and wish i could help each and every person. Something interesting has struck me about the comments and feeling behind each word. Women want pretty homes, homes that function, homes that are comfortable and appealing.
It is such an innate part of a woman to want to create this for her family or self, whether she is “good at it” or not. (just like i love a beautiful yard though I am a terrible gardener). But just like the pressure in our society to have a perfect appearance, I think we need to be careful about expectations in this area too. I know i do. If we aren’t careful we will say “oh i don’t care about things like that, so superficial” or the opposite..we spend all of our time and energy shopping, blogging, scouring here and there to find the perfect piece to make a room finished and beautiful, at least in our eyes. Such a fine line. The bottom line I think is to realize God created us in his image so we are creative and we enjoy and give beauty just like He does.
So it’s okay. Sometimes I feel materialistic and wonder what this blog or my work really accomplishes. My husband and others I know have such “important” jobs and callings. But after reading your comments you have encouraged me that it does matter. Creating a home and a beautiful space is life-giving and important. And we all need to be easier on ourselves, have some self esteem, just like with our appearance. I was amazed how many people said “my rooms a mess, i haven’t done anything to this space in 5+ years” that is fine but I want to encourage you…baby steps, if it is just one little thing, a pillow or a paperwhite, you can do something to make your space beautiful. I pray you will not be paralyzed. Sorry to be so dramatic, this is just close to my heart. I am usually in such a rush to blog I don’t get to share much more than photos but I really wanted to share my heart on this topic today. December makes me so reflective!
I was really thinking about all of this “beauty and the home” subject last night and then found this devotional in my inbox this morning! I love the writings of John and Stasi Eldredge. Captivating is one of my favorites. They really flesh out the belief that woman are created for beauty, not the distorted and exploited beauty of our society, but the beauty of God. It really explains why we want to be beautiful and create beauty. And of course, different things are beautiful and inspiring to different people. I adore all of the images above for different reasons and the feelings they invoke.
What do you think makes a home beautiful??
{All images from House Beautiful except these last two from Kate & Andy Spade’s home}
Beauty may be the most powerful thing on earth.
Beauty speaks.
Beauty invites.
Beauty nourishes.
Beauty comforts.
Beauty inspires.
Beauty is transcendent.
Beauty draws us to God.
–John & Stasi Eldredge
One of the MILLION reasons I love you, Holly. You are beautiful in all senses of the word, and you bring so much beauty to others and to this world. Love and blessings to you!
Thank you! I have been wrestling through this idea. I like things to look put together, to be a sanctuary for my family from the outside world. We are missionary appointees to Honduras, and I have struggled with the whole idea of being culturally relevant, not flaunting our wealth in our new host country, but making our home our home for real! I have been praying that God would give me the wisdom to do things on the cheap, but not look cheap, to give ideas and creative ways to get around things. That’s how I found your blog! I loved what you did with the wooden crates for legos and your playroom. In fact, I have started putting tear sheets on my blog (here’s the post about your lego solution https://nlkamper.blogspot.com/2010/11/love-this-idea.html) so I can remember these wonderful ideas for when I live in a cinder block house in the jungle! Thank you for being a voice for quality design in the Christian community! So often we settle for the tired and trite in the Church. If we as Christ Followers can’t be creative, who truly can? We know the Author of Creativity!
Again, thank you! This post was a breath of fresh air and affirmation of the importance of making things lovely. “Whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of God”
Thank you for such a lovely post. Such good, encouraging words, especially during this time of year when many of us are decorating for Christmas or preparing to host events in our home. I tend to compare and find my home to be lacking–either too small, or too dated, or too messy. I need to remember to stop with the comparisons, be satisfied with this wonderful home I have for my family, and to make sure that those who come here are welcomed and encouraged. 🙂
Holly – I loved this post – and you know first hand i have been struggling with feeling guilty about doing so much for our home especially at this time of year. But it is important to me – creating a home that is a warm, welcoming place for my children and all family/friends. I find that pacing myself and doing a little at a time is good for me – it makes me appreciate each and every aspect of my home and teaches me patience. I also think the process is just as much fun as the end product. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for this devotional.
Love this post. You have a beautiful heart. Design does make a difference. There is no doubt that when my space is organized and functions properly my life is simpler, leaving room for what’s important. I could go on about what I’ve learned but I will leave it at that. 🙂
What a beautiful post, Holly. Thank you. You really get it. Thanks for helping us to get there, too. Beauty with self and home are struggles. I always think, “IF ONLY (the dreaded words) if only my house weas perfectly decorated and organized, all the clothes were washed and put away, I had a month’s worth of healthy, organic meals planned and I lost some weight, my life would be perfect.” That darn “if only” really robs us of the present, doesn’t it? It’s hard to find the right balance between perfect and attainable/reasonable. Thanks for a beautifully written and thoughtful post. It made my day. I hope you have a lovely one, too!
Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. I’ll be linking this to my own for others to see. (and by others I mean all5 of my followers, who I love!) have a great weekend.
You are the real deal, Holly. I’ve know you for 8 years and have seen your good heart grow in wisdom and beauty. If we would admit it, most of us at any age still struggle with vanity, materialism and the longing to be perfect. The good news is that you, by example, always bring us back to truth – real beauty comes from Jesus giving us HIS heart. That heart wants to shine forth in our thoughts, our countenance, our words, our actions AND in how we look and the home we keep. You show us good ways to do that while never losing the right perspective. Thanks.
If anyone needs to know why I am crazy about you…I shall direct them to this post. To steal Jill’s words…yup, you are the real deal. I have been with you on so many occasions, feeling like I am vain or materialistic for focusing on small, or big, beautiful things. And I have to step back and recognize it as, as you said, “life-giving.” It is so life-giving for me to see beautiful things. It’s an appreciation of gifts and talents! And seriously, the Spades’ place…(gasp)….I thought of you when I first saw it, looking at how genius but how seemingly haphazard the art/photos/etc. were grouped on the walls. And the blue tester bed at the top of this post…whoa.
This verse comes to mind as encouragement for you.
Exodus 26:1
[ The Tabernacle ] “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker.
It strikes me that the Lord created people with the skills to make beauty.
You took the knowledge right out of my heart and put it into words, which I could not. Thank you for your encouragement. All of the comments were uplifting, also. Thank you all! I have Captivating in my nightstand waiting to be read…I think it’s time.
I love this post and your thoughts Holly, I agree! and I put your generous giveaway on my tumblr. 🙂
I LOVE this post. I can’t wait to send it to Anisa. She and I are both Christians and we talk about this A LOT! Sometimes I feel blogging is so narcissistic and then I think about what you said in this post.
When I am in my home and Anisa’s home (both of which I really love), my spirits do feel uplifted and closer to God. It is an art, and God gave us this. Our environments do affect our souls, I believe.
Have a wonderful weekend, Holly!
Thank you for being honest and vulnerable. LOVE it!!
Hi Holly, Thanks for this inspiring post. You are so right about wanting things to be beautiful for our family. You’re also right about not getting stuck and doing nothing to our homes. Because of you and your help with my projects, I am getting “unstuck,” and I appreciate your assistance and friendship from afar!
“God created us in his image so we are creative and we enjoy and give beauty just like He does”
LOVED this….really, just what I needed to read tonight.
Thank you-
Just so perfect for this time of year. I love your words and images.
pve
Oh, this spoke to me. I read and reread with tears streaming down my cheeks. Beauty is in believing. Believing in God, yourself and those around you…
Too often we get caught up in the mainstream pressure of life and forget to acknowledge the beauty already nestled within our lives.
Makes me want to slow it down and savour the moments, people, and treasures already within my grasp.
Thanks for sharing. Loved this.
Good words, Holly, And of course I love your quote at the end!
xo,
Linsey