The Process of Making Room for Peace
SOMETHINGS GOTTA GIVE
Do you ever feel that way? You walk into your home and are immediately confronted with piles of mail on the counter, toys scattered across the floor and laundry eyeing you from the basket in the corner. You tell yourself that you'll get a handle on it eventually, that you can do this on your own but the reality is that you feel overwhelmed and that if you had been able to do it on your own, you probably would've by now. Something needs to change.
SURRENDER
We can realize that "somethings gotta give" all day long but until we humble ourselves and lay everything down, we're not going to see a change. Surrender is not a sign of weakness but of strength and clarity. It's saying, "I know what it's like to have tried this on my own. I'm ready to ask for help; to have someone come alongside of me to guide and to cheer me on."
SHED
After realizing that somethings gotta give and that it is time to surrender, we can begin the process of shedding what no longer serves us in order to make room for peace. This is where we can come in via our styling and decluttering services!
SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM
Once you have completed the steps above it's time to create a system that you will be able to sustain over time; one that reflects your style, your values and how you function in your space. After working closely with you through our styling and decluttering process we will be able to help put a system into place.
We know that the process of styling and decluttering can be overwhelming, which is why we encourage you to invite us to come alongside of you to guide and to cheer you on. At the end of the process you will come out feeling like your space is finally a true reflection of your style and of what you value; moving you forward instead of holding you back.
Photography: Luke & Ashley Photography | Styling: Making Room for Peace
We are still jumping up and down over here after learning that our home has been featured on Apartment Therapy!
I am excited and honored to share that Making Room for Peace is featured in the newest issue of ORIGIN Magazine!! A small team of artists working in LA, NY, Dallas, and Paris, it is Origin’s belief that beauty and art can uplift the world.
For a lot of people, selecting storage containers for their home is the “fun” part of the decluttering process. However too many people jump to straight ahead to this step before tackling that not-so-fun parts which then mess up the entire process.
We know that the process of styling and decluttering can be overwhelming, which is why we encourage you to invite us to come alongside of you to guide and to cheer you on.
We recently had the chance to meet up with our Instagram friend Andrea Guzman (@ohndreeuh) in her beautiful home in Hampton, Virginia to tackle the decluttering of her sun-room and master bedroom.
Do you want to know something? A used to be a shopaholic. You know how after you graduate from high school and everyone generously gives you money for your next endeavor be it college or a job? Well I spent most of mine.
I think that most of us could agree that some of the hardest items to sort through and to let go of are old: photographs, cards and letters. Compared to most of the other items in our homes, these are some of the most sentimental. Sorting through we find accounts of our childhood and adult years, words of encouragement, funny stories, and accounts of daily life.
Our home hasn't always looked as styled and decluttered as it does now. In fact, it used to be overflowing with stuff! Stuff that we loved mixed in with things that we no longer used or valued.
Often times when we talk about decluttering we discuss "removing things", "shedding items", or "letting go" but there is so much more to it that than that! When we shed what is no longer serving us we are letting go in one sense but we are also making room for more - more time, energy, space, money…
It was during this time that I began to learn that organizing is more or less shifting items around in a space to: one, make the room more physically attractive; two, make room for more items and three, to properly categorize items. Decluttering on the other hand involves removing items out of a space that are no longer needed, loved, or valued.
Rebeca Howe is one of those people who when you first meet, you immediately feel at home with. Her warm, bubbly personality lights up every room that she walks into; and her words of affirmation leave you feeling loved and valued.
So what do you do when you partner isn't on board with decluttering? You've read up on all the decluttering tips and methods out there, you've seen the beautiful images of what simple living could look like and now you are ready to give it a try.
A girlfriend and I were preparing lunch at my house a few months ago when she opened my fridge and gasped, "look at your fridge?! It's so beautiful and organized?!" Her reaction caught me off guard but at the same time I could see why she was impressed. Having our fridge arranged as we do not only looks beautiful but clearly saves: time, money, energy, and space.
A quick glance at her home address and list of professions, most would be quick to see that Sheena Jeffers is seizing life. It was about a year ago that Sheena and her boyfriend Ryan sold their home and belongings, and moved onto their 43-foot catamaran boat which they appropriately named "Seas Life". Instead of being tied down, they are making room for peace in their lives... traveling and discovering more about themselves, the world, and their life purpose.
Crystal Seay is one of those people that you don’t have to meet in person to feel like you already know. Her encouraging, spirited personality is contagious and can be felt on her and her husband's Instagram page. Wife and mother of 2, Crystal along with her husband Paul just completed the process of downsizing from a 1,300 sq. ft. home to a 400 sq. ft. RV in Jupiter, Florida.
Having an organized closet is an incredibly freeing thing. Not only is it beautiful to the eye but it is efficient and money saving. It takes the stress out of getting dressed because you know exactly what you have. Plus, all of the pieces that you do have are ones that you treasure - they are items that reflect your style, your life. When we are able to see what we have it avoids us purchasing items that we don't need.
We all go through seasons in life when things feel particularly chaotic at home and at work. A change in career, the addition of a new family member, or a big move for example, can leave us feeling as if our whole world has been turned upside down and our routine thrown out the window.
Giving every item in your kitchen a home from your wine stopper to your Kitchen Aid mixer is the key to maintaining an organized kitchen. There is no question about where something goes after your done using.
Y'all have been asking, so today I'm finally sharing with you the resources that I initially used to learn about minimalism and simplifying my life. The concept of "minimalism" had been buzzing around for a year or so before I finally decided to look into it to see what it was all about.
One of the great things about eating seasonally is that it provides us the chance to experience new flavors and to benefit from vitamins and minerals that we might not have received earlier in the year. The flavors of the produce in season are also much more satisfying as they have just been harvested during their natural season.
A friend of mine recently asked a question on her Instagram stories: "Help! What do I do with my kids' artwork?" Not having kids of my own I didn't have an answer for her but was curious as to what the response would be. Like her, a lot of parents find that their kids are bringing home at least one to two pieces of artwork per day.
"I've learned to have the mindset that nothing is too precious", she explained. If a piece isn't working out she'll subsequently go over it or throw it out. She doesn't feel the need to hold on.
We can't force everyone else in the family to feel the same way about these memories as we do; and we don't want to, right? Why would we? A part of what makes memories so special is because they are ours.
Over the past year by doing a little problem solving and prep-work we've been able to minimize some of our kitchen waste by implementing a few practices.
I am a believer that we all have to get to a place where we are broken and realize that "somethings gotta' give" before we ready to make a change. We're all marathon runners at heart but after a while our legs are going to give out. We all get to this point eventually because we are human.
Coffee shops and our phones are just a couple examples of distractions or "noise", that we encounter on a daily basis. This "noise" can disguise itself in many forms, from physical possessions and interior spaces, to the thoughts that we play on repeat.
The high that we get when we gain new followers or receive dozens of likes, is hard not to give in to. In this day and age with the use of social media so interwoven into our lives, it is vital to set up some boundaries in order to maintain a level of wellness.
Not only are natural storage containers a healthier choice for you and your family, they are also less harmful to the environment. Bonus they are way more stylish and are often more durable! For example, items made out of real wood, especially older wood, are quite strong.
Friends, it took me a long time to get to this point. For most of my childhood and early adult years I was a complete pack-rat. I would hold onto clothes, gifts, home décor accents, and family heirlooms that I no longer used, desired, or needed for fear of three things.
We have some sad but exciting news to share with you today… we are moving! After six years in grad-school my husband is finally wrapping up his PhD and is in the throws of securing a job back up home, in Northern Virginia.