How I Fell In Love With All Things Home

I think the first time I started to become interested in interior design was when my high school crush, Russell (shoutout!) came over to my house for the first time and was like “whoa, your house looks like the Real World House”. Back in the early 2000’s, the Real World reality series on MTV was everything. Or at least in my teenage world it was! It was definitely my favorite TV show. It was then that my interest in interior design began. My house was different from my friends houses. It was modern, contemporary and cool.

Russell and me back in the day.

Next came my first trip to Z Gallerie. My Mom and I went to Dallas (a two hour drive from our house) for a girl’s shopping trip. My Mom wanted to stop at a home store. Ugh, boring, my 17 year old self thought. When I walked into the store that day I remember telling my Mom, “this is exactly what I want my home to look like when I’m older” and ironically IT DOES! For the first time, home decor shopping wasn’t so boring to me any more.

Fast forward to college. After my freshman year, I was planning a move to my first apartment. My mom said “lets drive to Houston and go furniture shopping”. I remember that trip was so much fun. We listened to the song, Overnight Celebrity (aka Play Something These Hoes Will Like), the entire drive. My Mom wasn’t a fan of it at first, but after the four hour drive it grew on her and it became her favorite song! During that trip, we bought the most gorgeous blonde bedroom furniture. I’ve always regretted selling it before my move to California. It was so beautiful and it also had such special memories of a great weekend with my Mom.

My Mom dancing to her favorite song at my wedding

While in college, I actually took an interior design class and I LOVED IT. My major at Baylor University (home to Chip and Jo) was Family and Consumer Science. Family and Consumer Science is a just a fancy name for Home Economics. I’ve always regretted not majoring in Interior Design, but my dream was to become a teacher, so that’s what I did. My first job was at Stony Point High School in Round Rock, Texas. I actually ended up teaching an Interior Design class to my high schoolers. It was so much fun and I really loved teaching this class. My last teaching position was in Brentwood, California teaching seventh graders. I have to admit, I snuck in an Interior Design unit because I enjoyed it so much. I used to tell my students that a clean home is a beautiful home and I still strongly believe that. As long as your home is clean, it can never really look bad.

My first apartment in Round Rock, Texas

My real love for interior design happened when I had my son. I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, so I quit teaching and stayed home with him full time. Being in my house all day, everyday, I not only became obsessed with my son; but also became obsessed with my home. I wanted to make sure my family lived in a beautiful home just as I did growing up; so, I began redecorating. I told my husband “this is my workspace and I need to love it” (which I still have to remind him of when he sees me bringing home bags from HomeGoods). Speaking of my husband, he is so amazing at letting me do everything I want to do to our home. He never has opinions and totally trusts me. I am so grateful for that! My husband knew what he was getting into with me though. I was already redecorating his condo five months into dating and I had my parents buy him a new comforter for Christmas. Not what he wanted I’m sure, but exactly what I wanted LOL!

My sons nursery in our condo

Master bedroom in our condo

Since having my son, we have lived in a condo, a two-story home and a ranch style home. I often joke that I want to move every two years because that’s pretty much exactly what we’ve done our entire relationship. However, I really am loving our house now. So, I think we will stay here for a while.

Love,

Abby