The rooms in my apartment have been shifting. Rather than just adding to things, I’ve been in the stage of moving and adding, taking away, organizing, re-organizing etc. The living room is no exception. With the addition of a new couch, by my friends at Article, the room became comfier. It looks larger. It feels larger. There is very little fighting about who’s spot is what spot. I’ve pulled myself out of a few almost-sleeps there. It is quiet and a little noisy, too. A home in the crazy of the city. It is invaluable.
A few weeks ago, I also added a few photographs to the fireplace mantle, hung another across the wall under the kids’ desk. It took a neighbor, a drill, and several holes (that shall not be seen) but it’s hung. There’s a new plant that now calls this space home. We’re all acclimating, adjusting, finding our light. So it goes. It is not perfect, but the act of thriving within the imperfection has been really special to me lately.
Last weekend, I removed the dresser that has called the dining room home for the past year. The books are on the floor, the dresser is in the kids’ room, still unpacked. Again, things are in an imperfect in-between. That’s what home means and often feels like. It is a constant adjustment, and being okay in that.
This week, as the kids have thrown their bags next to the door, undressed in the evening and dressed in the morning, right in front of that sofa, I am reminded that this is life. I have been slow on this space this week. But I’ve been here. And the place within these photos, it feels like the most necessary place to be.
How are you? How’s home these days?
Thanks for sharing! My home has been in the exact same state these days. Have completely shifting rooms, to suit my needs that I’ve learned with more time in my new space. Love to hear about that process with others too.
Thank you for sharing, Elizabeth!
Love to know I’m not the only one.
xo
L
Home these days is soccer bags on the ground, bags of school supplies on the ground, lunch bags on the counter, blue cards, photo release forms, stuff….everywhere but it’s happy stuff.
Sounds exactly the same. The blue cards! Thats on my list tonight.
xo
L
That couch looks lovely!
I have a dining nook in my living room that is kind of driving me crazy at the moment. I have a heavy, square table placed next to a long seating bench with pillows. I want to do something new there, but not sure exactly how to go about it. Since we’re thinking about moving to a bigger flat within the next couple of years, we do not want to spend too much money on furniture we might not end up needing anyway. Haha, the struggle is real…
Hey Anita!
Totally, I know this struggle well. I do think its important to arrange stuff and enjoy living there while you are there. IDK how long we will be in out space, its easy to think temporarily here in NY or not think about it all. So my re-arranging what I like or don’t like is very present. Don’t invest in anything too much, but if you can make it so you fully dob’t dislike it, I think its really good to do.
Thank you for sharing!
L
Learning to love the in-between, the imperfect — and even opening my home to guests during this time, has been a BIG theme for me. I find that the more I truly honour the WHOLE of me (it sounds corny but it’s so damn basic!) the more I can open myself and my home to others even when things are messy and not “perfect”.
Yes!
I was raised to believe our apartments are also a reflection of us. So when I hesitate to have others come or entertain or enjoy the space and those who I share with it, I realize that its about ME. And not the space. So accepting myself has a lot to do with accepting my space.
Thanks, Katherine for sharing! And it isn’t as basic as it seems.
XO
This is an absolutely beautiful reflection. Designer spaces, in their strictly artful sense, cannot keep up with the astounding gravity of life (and family) happening – and I mean that in the best of ways. Sometimes I will clean or re-arrange my apartment and while it feels good for a time, it only feels like home once I’ve let it be messy and existed in the “in-between.”