Of course, if you walked through my house right now, you would see boxes lined up against the walls or stacked on free surfaces. You would see a box half-filled with folded boxes and a smaller box filled with bubble wrap and folded newsprint, ready to pass along to the next person who is moving via Facebook Marketplace. Things are precariously piled and quickly placed to get them out of the way. I see all of this, too. But what I have been noticing more than the mess is the moments. Moments where it looks like my style. Moments where curated items are collected in such a way that they are beautiful. I went around with a camera on Friday and took pictures of some of these moments…
Folded linen napkins and ironstone stacked in a cabinet until they find a more permanent home. Pitchers are lined up on the counter underneath, their spouts looking curiously in the direction they were haphazardly faced.
Stacks of ironstone and transferware are secure but look like they could slide if nudged from the right angle.
A beam of light falls through a hastily-cleaned kitchen window; cleaned just to rid it of the mass of cobwebs caught between the glass and the screen. Things on the counter start to make it feel like home and like the 50-year-old kitchen could have more years left in it if I wasn’t so set on designing my own kitchen.
Nothing is where it will stay, but for now, it’s just right.
A stack of blue and white linens collected over the years has always made me smile and it still does.
The canes and umbrellas I’ve been collecting seem at home behind the mint green front door. They are held in an antique water crock until I can find just the right umbrella stand.
Can you see a theme with the way the light hits things in this house? Our Minnesota house has amazing light. Large windows on each floor faced south, bringing in strong light all day. In this house, the light is more subtle, but it changes, falls, flickers, and creeps. It really is lovely.
Antique blue and white quilts and fluffy pillows are piled on top of a basket like an ice cream cone.
Paintings, European antlers, shells, and leather-bound books line the shelves and mantel in the living room while the beautiful evening light reflects into the fireplace, emulating a fire.
It’s all temporary, all unfinished, all in-flux, and all about to be changed, but for now, these little moments are ones to celebrate.
Not to get overly gushy about it, but I couldn’t help thinking how representative of life it all is. Moments of beauty surround by the messiness we create as imperfect humans.
I look forward to a time in this house where there are more moments and less mess, but I can honestly say that I enjoy the moments all the more because of the mess. The beauty is harder to ignore and take for granted when it’s surrounded by trash bags filled with spent packing tape. Isn’t that the way life is? We pay attention to and enjoy the awesome, the spectacular, the amusing, and the divine, even more, when it’s a reprieve.
No matter what situation you’re in, however messy it is, literally or figuratively, I hope you can find the moments that are hopeful, that make you smile, and that make you remember that there is a season for everything.
59 Responses
Happy Monday Morning!
I appreciate your encouraging words. Thank you for sharing them. Excited to follow your home’s transformation. Blessings!
“… find the moments that are hopeful, that make you smile, and that make you remember that there is a season for everything.”
Marian, this post is full of beautiful thoughts. As I read, I felt as if I was being wrapped in one of those lovely quilts next to that hearth and it’s warmth and character.
Thank you
It is so good to take time to notice the moments of beauty in a new home. Amid the disorder, they give hints of the future beauty to help us keep going when maybe we feel a little overwhelmed. Thanks for sharing this today.
This post is full of beautiful thoughts and pictures. We are reminded from time to time how important it is to live in the moment, and I am glad that is what you are doing—and that you are taking us along.
Just today I experienced some similar moments myself in the midst of an unexpected kitchen remodel. As my son is tearing out cabinets, our things are hastily stacked, enabling me to see them in unfamiliar surroundings. Or—just SEE them! This enables me to dream as I visualize arranging things that have been hidden in the back of cabinets on our new open shelves, something I have never had before! There is indeed beauty in the midst of chaos. Thank you for the reminder that I need to live in the moment! And document the moments by camera also.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…
A woman should ALWAYS design her own kitchen! We’ve lived in many homes…some were previously owned, some we built from the ground up, some we bought under construction, but in all but a few, I designed or re-designed the kitchen! It helps that my hubs is a cabinetmaker, of course! I look forward to your process and the end result. Blessings!
Slow but sure gets the home organized as my mom used to say. Could you tell me the name of the transferware cups I see on the shelf above the napkins? I thought they may be pudding cups but I can’t find anything similar on eBay. I thought since they didn’t have handles they may be pudding cups.
Betsy..very old coffee cups did not have handles.
I believe they are “tea waste bowls.” They were used to empty the dregs from one’s tea cup before refilling it with hot tea.
Lovely! Enjoy your new home!
Love the positivity. It’s refreshing. No drama. No negative vibes. There is always good to be found.
Keep unpacking. You’re getting there one box at a time.
Love the blue and white .
I also love watching you go through the moving process
Taking time to see the beauty .
Looking good already! So true, a season for everything. ❤️?
So beautifully said.
Marian, Marian, Marian. You’re killing us all here – I’ve been expecting to see pics of a walk through of your new place every day. We keep getting little snippets. The suspense is unbearable.
That said, it’s nice to see the little vignettes as you settle in. It’s true that we all need those moments when our eye can land on something nicely arranged and sigh in relief from the rest of the chaos of moving.
A lovely post, about real life and what is important. Thanks
Marian, yes love the light shining in your “new rooms”. I remember many years ago when I was in the workforce and away from my house most days and the rare days I would be home during the day I would appreciate the way the sunlight would shine on my things esp the brass candle sticks and pretty etched glass pieces. It’s the little things we appreciate.Did you notice the way the sun was shining on the inside of your fireplace at first glance looks like a fire is burning in there.
Love the fireplace light enjoying your photos of the house as you settle…thanks for sharing
How spectacular to see the sunbeams fall right into the fireplace! And noticing all the little light differences. These are delights we can look forward to every day.
I can’t wait!
Thanks for the encouraging words. Like you all we sold our house in March and have been living in an Toy Hauler / Camper for the last six months. We are praying and believing for the right place in the near future. Excited that you all found your right place. Blessings…Prayers appreciated! Hugs!
I can so appreciate this post. We just moved into a century home in Northern Ontario, Canada and are just unpacking. It felt like Christmas unpacking all of our treasures that had been in storage for two years. I was very happy to see my vintage quilts made it through storage unscathed.
Thank you for reminding me to look for the good, the beautiful and the sunshine. I needed that today.
The imperfect is sometimes perfect for the moment. Glad you are able to appreciate that.
I love how you are enjoying these moments in your life. One step at a time. Seeing & feeling. And I keep wondering where your kitties are?
They are still with Jeff’s parents. We are having hardwood floors installed next week and we decided to bring them once that upheaval was done. We miss them and can’t wait to have them here!
That’s a wise decision. Cats are such creatures of habit and not good with that kind of wholesale disruption. They will settle much better in a calmer environment – not that there won’t be more disruption coming but hopefully there will be a stretch of relative calm where painting and arranging will be the major events.
Lovely. Sheer loveliness in the middle of the mess. You are wearing your blessings well.
We moved several times in the first half of our marriage. After being in the same home for 15 years, this post almost makes me homesick for that homey feeling unpacking and discovering new places for everything brings. And Fall is the absolute perfect time of year to move as it lends itself to the making of all things home in preparation for a cozy winter. Oh my. Thank you for this blast of delight. It has blessed me. Thank you.
We are packing and about to move from our home of 37 years. I am dreading all the unpacking and rearranging in the new to us home. It is so different from the one we live in now. This post gives me encouragement to just enjoy the moment. I do need to ask if you put the boxes in each room to unpack or leave them all in the garage and do it box by box? I am not sure how to move!
We had movers bring the boxes in so things ended up a little all over the place! So, we ended up organizing the boxes. We put like-things in piles in the room where they belonged (for the most part) and have opened up a bunch each day. We put a lot in the basement to deal with later like art/pictures for the walls, and decor stuff I don’t really need until we get through some bigger projects. I don’t think there is wrong way to do it, though. It’s what works best for you and feels doable.
Ooh, this is going to be good fun to watch what you will do with home in making it your own!
Getting to “know” a new home is so much fun. Yes, that light is beautiful and as the seasons change so will that light. One of the best things about being in a new place is all the discovery in the simple things. Whenever we moved, no matter what time of year, we always decided on where the Christmas tree would be going…..have you thought about that yet????
Just curious, if you are going to be gutting the kitchen right away, why are you unpacking all the fluff stuff? Wouldn’t it be easier to keep it packed up away from all the dust of the gut?
I am loving this home and can’t wait to see the real work begin…with your magic.
Yes! I knew where the tree would go before we even move in! As far as moving into the kitchen, we are not planning a total gut job down the studs if we can avoid it. The footprint of the kitchen will remain the same and I’m hoping to change things out bit by bit so that we can spread out the disruption and the expense, but we’ll see how that goes! First up is wood floors, so I needed to get the boxes out of the way and get things into cabinets, then I can spread out a bit more.
Looking so good, Marian! I love how the sun shines through the windows — so pretty! I loved seeing your blue and white t-towels on your counter. Things are looking more and more like home!
Yes! I have been trying to put a finger on the feeling I’ve had since Saturday when I look at my redecorated mantle. I finally took the time to do it after weeks of just setting things there, figuring out what I wanted to do. Working, taking care of in-laws has had to be a priority, not much time for anything else so nothing feels ‘done’ in my home. But now, I’ll look at my fireplace mantle and feel that moment, relish it as something that is put together, that (for now, anyway) is done and I can have that moment!
Beautiful post, so glad to see you are already falling in love with your new home! I once bought a home that filled all of my “wish list” and knew within weeks after moving in that I would never love it!
This comment is about indoor plants. I bought “mother’s in law tongue” 6 – 8 months ago, and it’s till thriving with low light. I read about “ZZ plant,” for indoors. I found one at Aldi, which I’ve had for a couple weeks. It needs only very low light, and watered once a month, or at least till dried out. You might try these.
Hi,
I would be able to identify the Mustard Seed style already by the vignettes you photographed. It’ll be fun watching you change things up to reflect your new family home.
Shared this with a friend who accepted a new job and moved 1,500 miles. I’ve shared so many with her of the ones you’ve written about your move. Just lovely.
I love to see the beginnings of this home and the transition to your style. It reminds me to find the moments while I wait for things to come together to make it mine.
Your older kitchen made me smile. Reminded me of my mom and my grandmother’s “old” kitchens. Imagine the memories and the food made there! I know your new kitchen will be completely different and amazing but, for now, that old kitchen looks perfect as it is!
I see your new rug peeking through in the photographs….it’s beautiful and so special.
I bought one similar after you posted about it..and I am so in love with it.
You have done it again….you have shown us your beautiful heart! Thanks for sharing your journey of creating a “home”. I love your style and your “kind heart”.
“Moments of beauty surround by the messiness we create as imperfect humans”. Beautifully said:) Your new home is already lovely!
“I hope you can find the moments that are hopeful, that make you smile, and that make you remember that there is a season for everything.” I love this sentiment and it is good to remember no matter where we are in our life’s journey.
I’ll bet you are happy to have sold so many things before moving–much less to unpack. And so much fun looking for new!
I can only imagine how anxious you are to get the house just how you want it but in due time it will become a beautiful “swan.” I’m looking forward to the journey.
“And a gracious Good Evening to you. Is this the party to whom I am speaking? (snort, snort)” Okay, it’s not the phone, it’s email but still that is what came to mind-the Lily Tomlin telephone Operator. Now that I have that out of my system-yes, it is very cool the way the light meanders through the windows and how observant are we women to know to notice that and to work with it inside, too? I am seriously digging those andirons! I think you brought them with you-and I see a turn-key of sorts on the brick FP-is that for natural gas? I imagine you had to have the chimney inspected and cleaned by a verified chimneysweep before the purchase could go through. Am wondering if you have had experience with having to have a chimney re-lined? We have two up’s, 1 in the LR and 1 in the den. The LR was changed from a woodturning to a gas FP-and they said it was self-contained. There is a switch plate on the wall next to it where it gets turned on and has a blower (I hope). The one in the den is supposed to be a gas one also, a recycling, type-but it always gave off an odor that I was not comfortable with and soon we would get a headache and sorta sleepy! HELLO! When we had a contractor do a lot of work on the house, they banged the heck out of the house-I mean, seriously, no electric and battery charged tools? It did a number on a lot of our structure and I realized the “logs” in the FP had been knocked off their respective places and had broken several so that and the fact that when we took the old covering off and put the new siding up, the FP was filled with pine straw! Yikes! So they took a few minutes and got that out while I ran to the store-or maybe just my pretend art room, and got spray cans of high-heat resistant, silver colored(who is ever going to see that?) Rustoleum, because some of whatever that was, had a bit of rust starting and that was my chance! I so much want-and we need- to get them both up and working again. The one in the den is in the corner and just too big. I envision one that is more sleek that has either faux wood or even a version of some clear crystals in it-just for a change. This is a house from the late 70’s also and though my taste runs towards antiques and a bit more formal- I love the house to be a home- not a museum. It is imperative. Also, what am I to make of the blue conch on the left shelf beside the brick FP, next to the two types of coral? Seriously, what? Thanx. And is that a For Real giant specimen on the top shelf there? We had a beach cottage in Florida and it was my Dad’s parent’s weekend and summer place, for Grandmother and all her boys and finally, her girl and Grandad would come out on weekends. It was THE most wonderful place and beach in the entire world! I am so “there” with you regarding the beach and nature-and being the homemaker, wife and Mother and all the things you do inspire so many! You are right-everything is just right-for right now. Even with all the boxes, etc. around, do you find yourself sitting down in the stillness and breathing a sigh of thanks? And gratitude. I remember that feeling-I loved it-can still, after so many years, understand your saying what you did because I literally recall how I actually FELT. Homes. Home and Hearth-to make a house a home- oh the sheer joy of it all, the gratefulness we need to remember, when so many in the world don’t even have what they need to get clean water or medicine or food or shelter. So we pray and we work for them too. There will come a way to do that. And also to support those who do go to these places, stay and make the place so much better for those children of God. Bless you and your family- and all the beasts and the children. Thank you 🙂
I think this post is one of my favorites. I love how you find beauty in the every day mess of moving. I am looking forward to seeing what you do with your new house. But yes you have to do the mundane things first like new windows and roof. Funny thing about your carpet in your bathroom. I just got mine replaced with tile a year ago. And unlike yours, mine was also around the toilet! ?
I see the signature of Miss Mustardseed in the home.
I am enjoying all your “new home” posts, and seeing snippets of the house as you unpack and start to place your beautiful items. It’s already starting to look great! You have the special touch!
I love this post. I’ve pretty much decorated my home with “Moments” for a very long time… Quiet moments. Memory moments. Small moments. It’s how I style each room of my home. Not everything is perfect, as you pointed out, life is lived. But oh, those moments. Capturing special times, memories and favorite things. Filling a new house with moments to create a home is the very best way. It takes time. Lots of moments, but then one day you look around, breathe deeply and think, I’ve come home. Good for you.
Marian, Where do you find your beautiful blue stripe linen towels?
Thank you for the worn cabinet door and the dangling drapery cord. This is life after a move, chaos and overlap with the previous lives lived in your new house. Also the moments of learning how the sun and light moves through the day, seeing how you will make it your own. I will reread these posts after my husband and I move in a few years and thank you again.
Even half unpacked, it still looks beautiful!. I have a tip for your mixer. I have one of those too, and it’s so heavy and bulky. I set mine on a plastic cutting board with the cut-out handle facing out. When I need the mixer I just grab the board and it slides right out.
It’s looking homey already! Glad you are finding moments of beauty and are enjoying the nesting process.
Love your thoughts while in the flux of unpacking and organizing. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful changes you’ll make to your new home!
Marian, I was at Walmart and bought that adorable same Pillow featured in your Last blog, Loved it! and thought of you, it looks perfect in my Home. Its been fun watching, you pack, move and now found your new home! I counted the number of places I moved (No Fun) 8 times, and I told my husband this was our last (hopefully) ? I hate the move! But sometimes it is needed! I know it will take some time to make it your own. You have already made it so much your own already in such a short time. I am praying for your transition. I love this post where you appreciate the seasons and pause to take time to show us the process and your peace with everything. Loving the Journey!
Those paintings on the top of the fireplace are so beautiful! They blend so perfectly with the overall decoration! Congratulations! I shall be applying some of these into my own home ahah
Your perspective is as beautiful as your home will be. How precious for you!