Transformation of Home (and Heart)

It occurred to me—what if our homes mirror ourselves? What if each room represents a different part of us? The office might symbolize your headspace, the kitchen your stomach, and each corner could carry its own unique energy, much like our physical bodies. This idea occurred to me as I undertook a transformation of both my home and, in many ways, myself.

Living room new layout and décor

Living room before (after replacing carpet)

In 2020, we began to slowly renovate our space, but actually, it started even earlier—in 2016. We replaced the downstairs carpet with wood flooring, replaced the siding thanks to a storm, and took the opportunity to update the exterior with a fresh new color.

Slowly but surely, I went room by room, decluttering, swapping out the upstairs carpet and bathroom floors, and giving the bathrooms, guest rooms, bedroom and dinning room new life with fresh paint and décor—even the kitchen got some much-needed attention. It was a labor of love, and much elbow grease—and I did it myself for the most part, with help from my husband. 

Kitchen before

Kitchen during transformation

Last winter, I turned my attention to a space that had become a catch-all room for my before-and-after art shows, instead of being my gallery room—and transformed it into my design office. It’s now a place for me to think, create, and coach my clients on Zoom. Slowly but surely, our entire home, and myself, transformed.

My new design office

But one room remained untouched: my art studio. The horrendous yellow paint had bothered me for years, but the heavy texture on the walls made repainting it incredibly challenging. I tried shortcuts, hoping they’d make a difference, but nothing worked. Every time I stepped into that room, I felt its resistance. It was the project I kept avoiding, yet I knew I couldn't ignore it forever. I had planned to tackle it in the winter, but, as often happens, other things took priority.

By the time July came, I was eager to return to painting. After spending the last four years focused on design, personal growth, and renovating our home, I longed to get back to creating on canvas. Standing in my art studio, I couldn’t help but wonder, “How did I manage to create such beautiful pieces here before?” The room that once inspired me now drained my energy.

​Even though the summer sun was calling me outdoors, I knew I wouldn’t be content until I tackled the studio and banished most of the mustard yellow that had been there long before me. So, I made the decision to face it head-on and just do it—not postponing it as another winter project for who knows how long.

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Studio before

Painting studio

The minute I decided I was going to make my studio beautiful—and truly my own—something inside me shifted. A pattern I was previously unconscious of was revealed—and I finally understood.
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Inside me was a little girl, patiently waiting for her turn to come. For years, she watched everything and everyone around her get prioritized, and being the good girl that she was, she adapted and dealt with it, never saying a word, never expressing her needs—hoping that one day someone would notice that she wanted things too. And even I didn't notice her.
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And on that sunny July day, she was finally happy. I couldn’t help but cry, realizing how long she had been patiently waiting for it to be her turn. With the decision to paint my studio (=my heart), everything changed. Forever.

My heart. My Studio.

I invite you to follow along as I continue this journey, transforming not just my home but my life.

​Have you ever noticed how your environment reflects your inner world? What spaces—both in your home and your heart—are you ready to transform?