May: Home.

I thought a lot about what I wanted to share with you all this month. We threw several topics around that we had been working on but there was one idea I couldn’t get off my mind. Something I’ve been thinking about a lot and especially after celebrating Memorial Day this past week.

What makes a home? Is it the people in it? Is it the landscape that surrounds it? Is it the material objects? Is it a feeling?

Home is defined as “the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.” When I think of home, I think of green forests, the smell of the ocean and family. I think of deep-frying prawns and beach walks at Netarts Bay. I think of my parents who worked hard to build several homes during my childhood and I think of the last home we all lived in together on the hill - before I left for college.

Years ago I heard a famous quote by Winston Churchill that said,

“We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.”

This excerpt came from a speech he gave about rebuilding the House of Commons which had been a regular target of WWII bombing raids. Churchill understood the power of the British peoples’ “house.” He knew that the space represented more than just the building materials that had been turned to rubble.

In the interior design industry, and society as a whole, we often see nothing but perfectionism promoted. A push to keep up with the latest trends in order to have the “perfect” home. A rush to grab the latest decor release for the season. Don’t get me wrong - I, myself, have frequently fallen victim to this suggestion. (Just ask my husband.)

But, feeling like you have to constantly buy all new things or start from scratch every few years when something “goes out of style” in order to have a wonderful home is simply a lie.

I know what you are all thinking… “But Aleen, your business is to sell the latest and greatest home designs.” This is true. There is little I love more than a beautifully designed space. BUT, I think that rather than focusing on the parts of our home we dislike, or what we don’t have, it is more important to appreciate the great blessing it is to have a place to call home.

When we started Juniper & Sage two years ago, it was a big goal of ours to get to know our clients and what they represent. We believe in the power of home. We have experienced this “power” ourselves. As our own designs are a reflection of who we are and where we’ve been, we constantly strive to unite our clients’ vision with their story.

Home is more than materials. It is more than the perfect pillow, the perfect tile or the perfect paint color. Whether it is brand new or 50+ years old, home is the place that shapes us and our story. So, instead of focusing on creating the “perfect” home, I hope what our brand represents is working on improving, loving and appreciating ‘home.’