Happy September, and good morning, good people! More white decor? What a shocker! Hahahaha. Since I never tire of beholding beautiful interior design, you might think I walk around snap happy and eager to share pictures of my own home like most good bloggers. But I’m easily bored with my own place and would rather place YOUR home in the spotlight. Let’s revisit Hello Lovely White Decor At Home & Living Beautifully which welcomes you inside.
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Hello Lovely White Decor At Home & Living Beautifully
I would quickly go nuts if day after day it was more and more of “refreshed” and seasonal decor in my home on this inspiration blog. Yet I have learned to listen to readers’ needs…which is more personal glimpses of home.
BTW, make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you can simply hit “reply” to the email and ask questions or make suggestions!
I’m also aware new followers arrive daily, so my home may be new to you. I’d love to get better acquainted.
I live with my husband, a Chicago attorney, in a home we have completely renovated DIY style.
Passion for White Decor
You can’t miss my fondness for white paint and white decor! We live on a woodsy lot in Northern Illinois, and when the snow piles up, I enjoy my favorite color outdoors as well!
(Above) Here’s the path to the front door.
As you can see, ours is a contemporary custom cottage built in the 90s.
Transforming a Fixer Upper
When we bought the home, it wasn’t visible from the street since it had long been vacant so mature woods and the weeds completely swallowed it up!
We saw the potential, and the front courtyard was one of our favorite features. To freshen it, we simply extracted the weeds, demo’d the eroded top of its stone walls, brought in wheelbarrows of pea gravel, and planted a few boxwood.
The interiors were another matter!
A forlorn kitchen and poorly functioning bathrooms were gutted, all sorts of faulty wiring and plumbing were remedied, a few windows and the roof were replaced, and we required new heating and cooling. In our hands, it essentially became a brand new house.
What is living beautifully anyway?
While I have a passion for design and decor, what fuels my creativity is a love for home and ideas that inspire more beautiful living at home.
Oh, how I love home! The sights, the smells, and the comfort of a lovely nest.
Living beautifully at home is a topic near and dear to my heart.
A tour around our place reveals plenty of: white walls, Belgian linen, and unfussy European inspired modern country style. I was totally inspired by a design book before we got started at this home. Can you guess which one? I made this video with the answer:
When Home is Sanctuary
Living beautifully at home is more profound for me than ever these days. Maybe you feel it too. Decades ago, before increased globalization and the internet and advanced satellites, home felt more like a private sanctuary.
I am aware the sense of “lost security” I describe is a highly complex matter and frequently politicized. I’m not sure we are less safe within our four walls than we were in pre-internet days.
But before the world began to shrink and appear within our phones, life at home harbored a different sense of privacy, protection, and distance from threats near and far.
Our shelters felt more like…well, shelter.
The Shelter of Home
Modern culture, innovation, technology and “advances” continue to alter the shape of our shelters. With cameras outside and inside our homes, boundaries between the personal and the public indeed have blurred.
My own Millennial sons were relentless pediatric paparazzi as teens, whether they were capturing video of my Christmas Eve (private) dancing or their father’s snoring!
Shop my Home!
Internet Life is Strange
As a blogger, I welcome thousands of visitors, whose eyes I will never meet, into my home online daily. If I’m honest, it’s still strange. Social media means we’re often peering into strangers’ lives.
The thing is…it has all happened rather quickly.
The shelter of home is different now as our four walls continue to grow more permeable.
Cultural shifts change our regard for HOME at conscious and subconscious levels. Perhaps, the changing shape of shelter explains my growing desire at 50-something to become even more intentional about living beautifully at home.
Timeless and Tranquil
As these images reveal, my personal style embraces what I have always termed the timeless and the tranquil.
My spirit awakens with wonder in the presence of faded quiet hues, monochromatic color schemes, European inspired furniture, timeworn finishes, and elegant simplicity.
Living beautifully at home: creates warmth for connections with those we love most while it nourishes the body and spirit.
It may even transform a structure into a sacred pocket of interior quietude.
Beyond Pretty Decor
Living beautifully at home transcends decorating interiors with objects or art. For me, it involves gestures to create harmony, serenity, and balance so daily living is infused with more wonder and depth.
Modern life can quickly grow complicated, and when dark days come knocking with chaos, heartache, or illness, home can feel like a balm. Yet nature can claim that balm with fire and flood…which is why cultivating an inner landscape of home goodness matters so much.
Imperfection & Wabi Sabi Are Welcome
Living beautifully at home is not dependent upon a perfectly curated suite of rooms or keenly organized cupboards and closets. Beautiful living is the fruit of a soul set free. It’s the comforting calm flowering when your personal space reflects the joys of your heart.
Ultimately, a lovely nest provides: a safe landing for relationships to thrive, a place to rest and recover, and a shelter to grow in wisdom and compassion.
If you have a minute to share your own thoughts about beautiful living, please do add to the beauty…
Video of Me at Home
Shop my Home!
Wishes for You
My heart is often tender and overflowing, and I occasionally get brave enough to allow the wonder and wishes to overflow a little bit right here.
I wish you the blessing of beautiful living in the shelter you call home.
I wish you sweetness, this very moment, to counter any bitterness within your being.
I wish you heartfulness to soften the beautiful edges of your soul.
I wish you loving kindness, lavishly overflowing from hidden wholeness within and…
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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All that sunshine streaming in is marvelous, and just makes the white interiors all the more luminous. You have a lovely home. There’s a fine balance between uncluttered and austere, and you land on the right side of it. Cozy yet airy and uncluttered is not an easy thing to pull off.
Author
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I find it’s often challenging to capture the airy vibe with pictures…which keeps me shy about posting too often. Off to catch up on your fantastic site. 🙂
Such a beautiful way to start the day with this post. A constant and true reminder of all things “home” that make each of us a viable piece of goodness in the universe. Your home befits your heart and gives pause to take in all we have around us everyday. Big or small, heavily decorated or minimally styled, home is the haven for family, friends, and life.
Author
So happy and grateful you are in the world, Joan. What a light you are. xox
Found your beautiful site.
Was thinking of getting stikwood for my dining room. Are you happy with yours and would you recommend it?
Thank you for bringing me joy as I do get that when I read your blog
Suzanne
Author
Hi Suzanne. I love the Stikwood (Hamptons) in our bedroom. It was the perfect solution for our ugly wall since it is so subtle and was so easy for us to install. As for your dining room, feel free to email a photo if you like if you care to have an opinion. It is a very rustic look — much more rustic than a traditional shiplap or wainscot. Hope this helps.
Sweet! I don’t live in a white home, rather I love soft color. Green, yellow, pink and blue. I love mood lighting, a fire in the fireplace, clean smells and a clean home. I love getting up early, 5 a m and awaking the house. Sometime I will bake filling the house with smells of cinnamon and cloves. The quite of the hour gives me time to hear what Gid has to say to me. Sometimes He wakes me with music and it will continue with song most of the day, and I love that. My husband is retired now and so am I, but when he worked, he was gone much of the time. He would call from which ever country he was in and his first words were “What are you doing, playing in your house?” Exactly! I don’t work in our home, I play to make it a special place to land for us. Love that you share your heart with us.
Author
What a gift your words are, Alice. You have painted a lovely picture of living beautifully at home where any house ‘work’ can become ‘play.’ I will be marinading in these thoughts today since that is a powerful, gamechanging idea. I can also sense harmony the layers of your home bring to the melody God provides. I too come alive in quiet and stillness where God’s voice comes forward with beauty. Is there anything else like it? I don’t think so. Thank you for adding so much beauty to this space with your reflections and heartful sentiments. What a blessing you are. xox
Thank you for sharing your beautiful home! It’s lovely,and I feel just as you regarding the place that home has in our life. I always wake early and this morning, I just felt so fortunate to look outside and inside and cherish our home. We all know as we grow older that we may not be in our home as we have over so many years and I am becoming so aware of living in the moment, right here, right now and feeling very the precious gift of life.
Peace to you Michele! I open your page every morning and look forward to reading your honest and open feelings on life and decorating!!!
Author
Thank you for being here as a companion with me on the journey, Suzanne. Your words of gratitude have added beauty to this space and lifted my heart this afternoon. Being fully present is where all the fruit is! xox
Make that “What God has to say to me”
Author
🙂
Good morning Michele,
Beautifully said, and I couldn’t agree more. I am from Canada and we also moved a year ago to a new town for my husband’s work. We embarked on a major overall renovation project similar to yours…. Everything was changed and it was a stressful time, coupled with living in a town where I knew no one… This past fall, when the renovations were coming to an end, my husband fell sick and within a week, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at age 50. This news shattered my world and I was broken deep down to my soul. What I managed to do, under stressful circumstances was to make this house our home as quickly as possible so that my husband could find peace and comfort during his treatments. This house, it didn’t feel like home because we were too busy with renovations to bring out its soul. Therefore, I focused on bringing mementos, art, texture quickly and it made such a difference in providing a sanctuary for my family. I focused on all our senses, sight, sound, smell and touch… Now, even though we are faced with a difficult challenge and we don’t know what the future holds for us, I rejoice that I could at least provide a beautiful, comfortable and safe home where he can rest and heal. Thank you for sharing what home means to you…
Author
What an inspiring glimpse of your personal life, Chantal. I honor you and your husband and hope his journey will be full of light. To respond to heartaches and setbacks with beauty and hidden reserves of strength as you have done is encouraging and uplifting. Thank you for sharing this very poignant portrait of what living beautifully at home looks like. It truly looks beautiful to my eyes, and I’m grateful you are here in this peaceful space. xox
Oh Michelle I love all your posts and creative writing. Your blog is one of my simplest pleasures to each morning. Peace from Houston.
Author
Music to my ears, Tracy. So happy you’re here and so grateful for the peace you send. xox
It is very beautiful
I wish the best for you.
In my opinion, white is the best color for decoration.
Author
Thank you for the wishes and for reading. 🙂
Thank you for glimpse of the serene beauty of your home! I’m one of those who readers who truly appreciates the blogger who will share her own world with us. Hope you have a lovley Valentine week?
Author
I appreciate your feedback, Pat. I’ll try to share more of my world even when the work feels less than blogworthy. Happy Valentine’s, friend. 🙂
I share your passion for home, a comforting, beautiful surround where you really live. Happy to come upon your blog. I like seeing a mix of things writers find inspiring (from magazines, outside sources) and how they really live or incorporate these ideas. I don’t like it when people just re-post other homes all of the time. It looks like you have a nice balance.
Author
Thanks for the kind words, Emily. I am an avid reader of all the shelter magazines and can’t help but be richly inspired. Peace to you. 🙂
So beautifully written Michele! And your home is simply lovely!
Author
I’m so happy to share it with you, Sandy. Thanks for reading and brightening my afternoon. xox
Hello Michele:
Thank you for another beautiful post :). You took me back in time, to Illinois. (Rockford, and Wayne Illinois).
There is a calm and peaceful feeling when you are surrounded by beauty, in whatever form that may take. I live on a farm, so part of that beauty is being able to see the land and the animals too!
I enjoy your blog because of the strong current of peacefulness that flows from it ;). Really. You are inspiring because you live with purpose. I have always admired “purpose” and believe it to be a good thing to strive for.
Thanks for the work you share for us. TEW
Author
Oh, thank you so much for this encouragement and for sensing the current I truly want to emit. I’m grateful you’re here and appreciate all this light you send. xox
You so often speak to my heart and that brings me beauty. I try to look for beauty every day because that brings peacefulness. Thank you Michelle for adding loveliness to my life.
Author
Oh, Karen, you honor me, friend. It’s beauty that can save the world. xox
Perfection!
Author
Merci, Karol. xox
Thank you for my daily does of sweetness and beauty. I especially love the quote about patience with ourselves – nothing blooms all year. We too live in the Chicago area and someone told me the recent snow storm was the 9th worst in Chicago recorded history! Just think how nice all that moisture will be on the bulbs and buds very soon.
Author
Hi Linda! You are so welcome. That is a very positive attitude about the moisture, and I am soaking it right up. Happy Love Day, friend. 🙂
Hello,
My name is Denise. I would like to know where you got that white egg chair, please?
Author
Hi Denise. It’s a Copenhagen chair from RH. 🙂
Your home is lovely! Thank you for the tour and all your wonderful tips and insights. I stumbled upon your blog on the hunt for the perfect white paint and have enjoyed so many of your other posts. I love your lantern above your breakfast/dining table, would you mind sharing where you purchased it?
Thanks!
Author
So glad you found me. I found the lantern at Lowe’s years ago, and I don’t think it is offered anymore. It is an outdoor light similar to this one: http://shrsl.com/12yqc. Hope this helps, and thanks for reading. 🙂
What a lovely post. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. How our culture has change. The acceptance and almost welcoming the lack of privacy. The world where crass statements on social media have become ok. I look at homes for a living. I am seeing an enormous change. More nurturing spaces. They are more calming in the designs. I know that’s popular but they seem to be hanging on this idea like there is no tomorrow! I have started to grasp the magic where ever I find it. Yesterday I pulled into a gas station. Was filling the car when I heard this amazing song. It was a traditional spiritual. I couldn’t believe that Walmart would play an Christian radio. I turned around. It was a young woman changing the liners in the garbage cans! Singing What a voice. The irony was not lost on me. I spoke to her and thanked her for that gift. Your blog was my gift for today. Thank you !
Author
Oh what beauty and blessing you experienced! I can sense the magic in your lovely words. Thank you for adding to the beauty here. My heart is full. Thank you.
This post reminds me why I love your blog & am so thankful I discovered it! You have so much wisdom to share …both about decor and life, and I always enjoy soaking it all in. Any day I’m able to read it, I glean so much that adds both joy & beauty to my day. Thanks, Michele!
Author
Amy, thank you. Today has been…well, it has been a day. Thank you for the ongoing friendship and your heart. It’s time for me to write more about life lately because who knows? Maybe sharing some of my story while in the throes will somehow bring blessing. Peace to you. xox
It brings me peace just looking at your home through your beautiful pictures. I am truly a homebody and I appreciate your thoughts on making our homes a sanctuary, no matter what type of home we may have. I live in San Diego in a typical little cookie cutter stucco house that most Southern Californians have. It is a challenge to create a rustic European feel without renovations.
What fun it would be to have you walk through my home and make suggestions! 😊 But since I can’t clone you, I will settle for your wonderful blog!🤣I love your home and I am so inspired by it, and your lovely thoughts that you post. Thank you!!!!
Author
I’m so thankful to have you here! Oh, I love San Diego, and part of the reason I want to retire in Arizona is to be in driving distance…so let’s do that walk thru someday! Can you believe we had no competition at all for this home when it was for sale? It was sooooo forlorn and neglected by so many renters. It simply needed someone to listen to it and take an understated approach to reveal hidden potential. It is still very humble yet at this very moment, it is helping us as we heal. xox
BEAUTIFUL post as always….
Author
Thank you for taking time here – so grateful to have the company.
Your beautiful home and spirit is a welcome respite in this crazy world. Thank you for
sharing. I would love to transform my home with lots of soft white shades and no clutter.
I have learned that excess stuff steals a soul and Jesus saves a soul. Praying that you and your
son are still on the mend.
Author
Thank you for lifting me with those loving words. Things are still hard here. I want to write about the experience, yet it’s tricky since we’re in the throes. Each day comes with its own surprises and trials. On the one hand, I think nothing could have ever prepared us but when I adjust my lens, I think maybe every trial actually has. Because when we can glance back and see the presence of the divine touching us, dwelling with us, waiting with us in the pain, then we can remember how we are being refined. How we can keep growing in love as His higher purposes enfold. Please keep praying. xox
Absolutely GORGEOUS! Do you have a post where you mention your wall paint colors and kitchen cabinet colors? Did you use the Sand color?
Author
Thanks so much. Go here to see more of our home: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/?s=my+home The white paint color throughout is Benjamin Moore White. It is the white base they use to mix other whites so it has minimal undertones and is very bright and cool. We needed this cool white with intense yellow sunlight streaming though mostly unadorned windows. Flat for walls and ceilings, semigloss for trim. One color makes life easier! The kitchen cabinets are White Icing finish from Schuler and closest in color to BM White Dove – they are an off-white but not yellowy. Benjamin Moore White Sand is what I painted most of the walls in our prior French country large house – just calm, warm, and beautiful with BM Dove White painted woodwork and doors.
Thank You, Michele. Do you think B.M.’s Swiss Coffee or SW Alabaster at 50% have a place in French Country style? I got a sample of White Sand and placed in the West facing rooms, it looked quite beige/tan and in South it looked too yellow for my liking. White dove in the East on cabinet (kitchen) looked a little too gray…are there any whites that are slightly warm- not cold, but without the greige, tan, yellow undertones that all work nicely together? ..my goodness, never really knew that light plays a big factor in all of this. Confused more than ever now.
Author
I do like both Swiss Coffee and SW Alabaster. To see Alabaster throughout a French inspired home, go here: https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2020/06/romantic-pastel-interiors-french-country.html I’m also wondering if BM Linen White might work with your light – a friend who lives nearby has used this color in her gorgeous French country home which has a very traditional feel. I hear you about those yellow undertones though – they can definitely be an issue when the light is strong. I wonder if a drop of pink in the White Dove could warm it from going grey?
Thanks, Michelle! I actually had Linen White in my previous house – in a room with high ceilings which had 3 walls full of windows -lots of light – the color looked like a dirty yellow ( like a smoker had lived in that room for years). What do you think of BM’s Acadia White OC38 (aka Ivory white) – have you worked with that paint color before? I love your idea of adding a drop of pink to Dove white – you are Brilliant!
OH DEAR! Sorry, added one too many L’s in your name! So SORRY, Michele!
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hahahaha – never bothers me! 🙂
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You are an experienced color expert, and I should be asking you questions about whites!!! Hahaha – experience with different whites certainly narrows down the players! I haven’t used Acadia White but since it resembles a muted version of White Sand, I think it is a worthy contender.
Thank you from Ontario, Canada. Beautiful and inspiring… your home and perspective. God bless you, your gifts and your ministry.
Author
You’ve added to the beauty, friend. Just like that the air is charged with more love and hope Thank you. xox
Lovely reflections about making a home today, Michele. We are just finishing up a year-long major addition and renovation of our home on a woodsy lot in Northern Michigan. It has been a stressful time, and we also suffered an unexpected personal tragedy with the death of our son right in the midst of it all. There have been days when it all felt just too overwhelming, but now that we are at the point where it is all coming together, I often feel gratitude and a renewed motivation to make our space the healing, comforting home that you talk about so eloquently. Thank you for helping me to focus my thoughts in this direction. Best regards, Cheryl
Author
Cheryl, my heart is with yours today. Thank you for sharing so vulnerably and adding beauty to this place. Thinking about the power of restoration, renovation, and even resurrection of interiors figurative and literal. Surely the purity of the energy we allow to move through us is healing, yes? Because your gratitude and lovely energy right here is changing something within me this moment. Blessings be on you and yours. May love and grace be lavished upon you. May the shelter supporting you feed your spirit and mind. xox
Lovely home! Can you share your exterior paint color
Author
Hi there! It’s a custom color that is very similar to a 50/50 mix of Farrow & Ball Cornforth White and Hardwick White. I hope this helps. 🙂