One of the most influential ways I reflect on everything that has happened in my life is to look back at the things I wrote, the music I listened to, and the way I lived in my home. Looking back on these experiences brings up emotions and memories that I would otherwise have forgotten. (Which reminds me… I need to write something down more often!)
Since this month at Wit & Delight is all about personal style, it seems fitting to look back at how my own interior style has evolved over the years.
Today, I’m reflecting on my design ideas for the last four homes I’ve lived in and assigned three words to each one.
My first Solo apartment
My three words for the design of this house: eclectic, beautiful, playful
My first house was all about learning to have—and enjoy—my own place. Here, I learned what it means to take care of a house and bring it alive. I learned that the act of creating a home is not a vanity, but a way to take care of oneself.
In this room, I started to stretch my design muscles. I bought new bedding for the living room and everything from Facebook Marketplace, thrift stores, or hand-me-downs from friends and family. Even with my limited budget, here I learned that creating a space just for you can be fulfilling.
My first house was all about learning to have—and enjoy—my own place. . . . Here, I learned that creating a space just for you can be fulfilling.
Our modern country house
My three words for the design of this house: fun and beautiful colors
When Joe and I moved into this house, I thought to myself, it’s new—When what I really want is an old school loft with history and character. To be different from today’s architecture, I have brought other fruits and furniture.
In this room, I experimented with these designs and tried to figure out what my “grown up” style of living room was. I tried to balance my growth with Joe’s design ambitions, which I learned was mostly about functionality. Even now, I can look back at this house and see similarities to my current design skills, even though this modern house is a world away from our current traditional home.
The first house we bought
My three words for the design of this house: classic, airy, modern
This is the first house that Joe and I bought. We stayed many of money and home improvements while living here. We invested $200K in various renovations, which we got when we sold it in 2020.
The square footage was small at 1,700 square feet (2,200 square feet once we remodeled the basement) and we completely redesigned the layout. What I learned in this house is the value of small spaces that are well planned. Here, I tried to find a connection between what the heart wants and what is right for the house itself.
When I look back at this house, I see how I started using color, especially in small rooms. I chose bright wallpaper for both bathrooms and painted the office cobalt blue. The undercurrent of longing for more color has already begun to show itself in my design desires.
Our house is now
My three words for this home design: beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
We always want to live in the area where we live now. When the opportunity came to buy this house, it felt like kismet. When we actually moved into the house in May 2020, I was questioning who I was. I have a passion for social media and trying to do something about the disease.
This has been a house where I have taken more risks than I have before. It’s a building where I borrow and build on the many inspirations that are already here. In this house, I have tested the limits of what my dream world could look like. It was a great gift to try out more colors and patterns and helped build my confidence in the process. My style and approach to pregnancy is love clear to me now—that is what this house has given me.
My style and approach to pregnancy is love clear to me now—that is what this house has given me.
Of all the things I’ve learned about my own interior design since living here, I love space. is hot. It’s one of the things that people come to our house and say—that it’s nice and warm. That, I’m learning, varies from line to line in terms of what I’ve drawn from the design world.
Kate is now learning to play the Ukulele, much to the dismay of her husband, children, and dog. Follow him on Instagram at @witanddelight_.