Learn great tips for organizing and maintaining your home office with resources for filing, photo and art display, electronic device organization, and expressing your personal style.
4 Easy Ways to Organize Your Cell Phone
Easy Ways to Organize your Linen Closet
Closet Refresh : How to Make the Most of Your Closet
3 Things You Can Do Right Now For Your Community, Your Family, and Yourself.
Making the Most of Spring Break
3 Ways to Refresh Your Entry Way for Spring
Entry way by Meegan Buschor of Mia Interiors
When March rolls in, we move out… outside! It’s that time of year to transition our lives from cozy and cuddled to playing and planting. Spring is just around the corner and we want to come alongside you to help transition your home and life for the changing days ahead. Each week this month we will bring you helpful insights, inspirations, and steps for you to get a kickstart on spring organizing.
Let’s begin with the places in our homes we use every single day! Do you think much about your entry ways? We’re talking about any space that welcomes you and your people into your home. This could be your front hallway, garage entry way or mud room. Whatever you call your “drop your things and kick off your shoes” space… we’ve got some tips for you to get you ready for a new season.
Inspiration from @industrieelchique
PURGE
Begin with a fresh start! As you look at your entry way, consider what clothing, jackets, or shoes may be piling up that you may not need anymore. Perhaps kids have outgrown shoes. Start by pulling everything out and organize them in piles with like objects. Sort through each pile determining what to keep and what could be dropped it off at your local KARM store.
Tessa Hop’s natural tones brings simplicity to this clean entry way.
ORGANIZE
Put away your winter coats (when its finally warm enough!) and your heavy boots in their off season home. Pull out that rain jacket and gardening shoes to replace your winter gear! As you enjoy the simplicity that comes as bulky clothes leave, leave only what you need in this area as it can become cluttered easily. Start with assigning a hook, cabinet, or cubby to each person in your home.
Consider decorative bins or a shoe rack or tray for your remaining shoes to stay tidy. Tyne Martinez of Atlanta, in an article on The Scout Guide recommends “choosing a material that adds interest without detracting from the house’s aesthetic, and opting for a style that reflects the formality of the abode.”
Here are a few links for items much like you see in Tessa’s simple and stylish entry.
Juniper Home’s recent mud room reveal has us drooling!
DECORATE
As always, we want to walk into a beautiful home as well as a functional one… but keep it simple! A small antique table for your keys can add some charm to a small entry way. A welcoming bench brings a warm space for taking off muddy spring boots. Save a hook to show off your favorite hat or basket full of spring flowers! Transition a favorite piece of art or collectible to display in this area to bring some life and warmth.
Unsure where to start when considering donating unused items from your home? Read these past HYD blog posts on donations:
Featured
These 5 Things : February 2020
Living with Intention to Create a Lasting Legacy
We recently took a road trip to Nashville for the annual Antique & Garden Show, this year being it’s 30th Anniversary. This spectacular event provides spaces for high quality antiques and a platform for experts in the fields of antiques, landscape gardens, and horticulture. Additionally, it is a charitable event in which proceeds go to Cheekwood Mansion and ECON Chartities in Nashville.
We walked through a sea of gorgeous furniture, art, and decor in thoughtful display and heard educational lectures from the top of each field, including our very own East Tennesseans Kreis & Mary Celeste Beall of Blackberry Farms. This show is top notch to say the least. Above all, we were struck by the beauty of intentionality.
Antiques set before us a reminder that our things tell a story. Each hand crafted piece brings us to imagine the hands that shaped it and the beauty and comfort it brought to the space in which it sat. Gorgeous furniture, like the vintage furnishings from Eneby Home, remind us of how the past, present, and future all intersect before us everyday. Our homes, like our things, mirror the stories of our lives.
Are we living with intention within the spaces we dwell?
Living with Intention to Create a Lasting Legacy
A highlight of the show was attending the lecture in which Kreis Beall & Mary Celeste Beall shared their insights on home, family, and making it all beautiful. Kreis and Sandy are the founders of Blackberry Farms while their daughter-in-law Mary Celeste is the proprietor. The incredible experience that Blackberry Farm has become seems so difficult to wrap ones mind around until you hear these two women speak of their inspiration from their own family history and each other.
“...she wanted the place “to look like Mom’s and smell like Mammy’s” paying homage to the two women who had helped shape her.”
The respect and love that is shared between this mother and daughter-in-law duo speaks to the power of family in creating home. Both spoke with such vulnerability, humor, and wisdom on how their separate journeys have led them to today. Kreis shared that in the early days of Blackberry Farm, she wanted the place "to look like Mom's and smell like Mammy's" paying homage to the two women who had helped shape her. She also encouraged us business owners to dream big and "start at the top" like the time she called Julia Child to ask if she would lead Blackberry Farm's first cooking class.
Mary Celeste spoke on the importance of creating a home that works for one's own personal living style. As she and Sam designed their forever home at Blackberry, they were very intentional to include the parts that were important to them, not what was trending at the time. They planned their home to grow with their growing family (they have 5 children), and the home centers around the table, the most important place for them.
The thread of sadness of Sam's passing almost 4 years ago is palpable and real as one listens to this journey, but his inspiration and commitment to creating a place to gather with the highest quality food, drink, and venue is very much alive.
What a gift it was to hear this story in person! If you'd like to hear more about Kreis's journey, her new book, "The Great Blue Hills of God" is now available and it's wonderful!
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So, as we think about the impact of our stories…. How can you live with intention in your home?
Consider the Past.
Our “stuff” have a story. The floorboards we walk on everyday. The trim around the doors we swing countlessly open. The hearth we face every night after a long day. And that favorite chair we curl up in as we welcome a new day. Every thing has tells the story of the past. We were struck by the knowledge expert antique collectors and sellers brought to us at the Show. Consider seeking out experts on the pieces you already own or before you pursue something new to learn how you can be more intentional with your spaces.
Pay Attention to the Present.
How are you wanting to live? Like Mary Celeste, can your spaces reflect how you want to live, not just what is in style? Consider your current dreams and intentions (maybe whip out those new years resolutions you drew up just over a month ago!) and how your home can be a sanctuary for those dreams. Who are the people most important to you, and how can your home and things provide pathways for those people?
Leave a legacy for the Future.
Lastly, we want to encourage you to consider the things you currently own or the ones you intend to welcome into your home with intentionality toward the future. Of course, there is always a time and place for mass made products that we can pick up on the fly! But as you move through your own home, consider how you fill it. Consider what you are leaving to the ones you love. A thoughtful look at the past and present can inform a beautiful future.
As you can hear, this show renewed our love of antiques and their place within the spaces we dwell! In our work with HYD, we love seeing how YOU intentionally craft your spaces. Comment one way that you are living with intention.
Meet our Crew!
Meet these INCREDIBLE additions to our already powerhouse team!
We’d like to introduce you to SEVEN new, beautiful faces behind the hard work and unique presence of our services here at HYD. What a gift to bring to you the diversity of style, backgrounds and personal touches that each woman offers.
caroline king
HYD ADMIN
Caroline is from right here in East Tennessee. As our newly added administrative wizard, she is the SANITY of Help You Dwell! She is amazing at connecting all the dots, helping clients feel heard and welcome when they call, and is an appointment genie.
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
MY KITCHEN ISLAND
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
HARRY STYLES
SARAH
Sarah is a Knoxville Native. She has a deep love for decluttering and organizing the things that mean most to you. She also uses her art background to help people find the best spot for furniture and/or belongings.
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
MY BEDROOM (BECAUSE I CAN FINALLY RELAX WHEN I GET THERE!)
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
BILLIE EILISH & LAUREN DAIGLE
barb
Barb is originally from Portland, but has called Knoxville home for over 20 years.Barb’s extensive background in education and administration brings an intentional and calming approach to any job.
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
MY COZY OFFICE
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
ERIC BIBB
laurie
Originally from Georgia, Laurie now calls Tennessee home. She has had a lifelong interest in making things look pretty! She loves packing, unpacking and sharing the joy she finds in organization with others.
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
MY PEACEFUL SCREENED PORCH
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
EARTH, WIND, & FIRE
Kayla
Kayla is a Knoxville Native. She enjoys rearranging furniture and organizing drawers. She LOVES helping people feel less bound by the things in their life.
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
MY TINY DESK IN THE CORNER OF MY BEDROOM
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
THE HIGHWOMEN
JANET
Janet is originally from East Tennessee. She brings creative insights into organizing and thoughtful storage and packing ideas along with her peaceful countenance.
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
THE BASEMENT SET UP AS MY SEWING ROOM
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
THE KILLER ANGELS (AUDIOBOOK)
gabby
Gabby is also a Knoxville native. She loves helping others realize that no matter their circumstances, they are not alone. Whatever it they may be experiencing, she wants others to feel comforted by our presence!
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
MY LOFT! IT’S MY BEDROOM AND HAPPY PLACE
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
JESUS IS KING BY KANYE WEST
erin J
Erin has lived in many places, but happily calls Blount County home! She enjoys helping others find simplicity by decluttering and organizing to create calm, functional spaces.
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
MY SEWING ROOM
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
90s HITS STATION
Liz
Liz is originally from Washington State but landed in Knoxville after college. She is excited to bring her love for organization and beautiful spaces to her work.
Current Fave Spot in Her Home:
ANYWHERE I CAN BE CRAFTING!
What She’s Currently Spinning on Repeat:
WE NEED LOVE BY JOHN LEGEND
We’re so happy you’ve had the chance to meet our growing team! You can read more by clicking on their photos. Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for an invitation to MEET OUR TEAM and mingle in our new office at an Open House coming in early March.
*Happy* New Year Refresh!
If you’re anything like me, the holidays were a beautiful blur for a number of reasons. Family and friends gathering (which means that space behind the toilets finally got clean), endless dishes piled up in the kitchen, and a horde of gifts brought home in piles waiting to be put away. It was also a season of emotion; the joy and wildness of children, the fun of giving gifts; but also the grief of those who are no longer with us or the unmet longings that can surface greatly this time of year. And then, it’s all over. January begins, and everyone seems to have moved on to resolutions, dreams of new goals, bodies, projects, and of course…spaces. In some ways, I think we are all ready for a reset by January, a fresh start to help us move into a new season after what can feel like a funny time warp of the last 6 weeks.
And you might be thinking, I’m TIRED. In a good and full kind of way. How can I begin to refresh my home? One of the things I love most about what we do with Help You Dwell is coming into a space and making new what is already there. Sometimes we don’t need fancy new containers (although we do love them!) or a total home makeover. We just need fresh eyes and simple steps to bring some new life!
1. Change Position
A simple change can go a long way, even within the same room. Bring in a beloved piece of art from another room, exchange throw pillows from room to room, or rearrange the furniture to bring a change of perspective.
2. Let Go
With the tree and garland gone, now is a great time to see your living room afresh! Break down those gift boxes from Christmas, put away new gifts and toys in a more permanent place, and get settled back to your usual living space. Take an inventory of your decor, pillows, and blankets and consider how they are serving you - and then let go of them if they’re not!
Photo: @houseofniina
3. Make Space
Clear off all of those counter tops that were the centerpiece for your holiday gatherings and meals. Tidying up your kitchen island, decluttering countertops, and clearing the dining table will help your home feel refreshed and ready for a new season.
Now sit back and enjoy your fresh space and a new year!
HYD 2020 : A Growing Team & A New Office
Image: Texture Photo
It’s been a day over 3 months since we posted a blog. That’s not normal for HYD. For over 5 years, our leadership team never missed a blog each Thursday.
2019…. you were a doozy for HYD!
We won’t spend too much time focusing on what was, but I did want to take just a moment to give a short state of the union for those who are interested…
Our team is now 16 incredible women strong. The Divine intervention involved in bringing all these women together for such a time as this is clearly nothing I or any one of us could have orchestrated on our own. For that I am beyond grateful and very humbled to be at the helm. I can’t wait to introduce them to you over the next few months in your homes and through the blog.
We are fully moved in to our new office at 214 W Magnolia Ave just around the block from Regas Square. The very talented Megan Stair has curated an incredible gallery full of one of a kind art, as well as handmade leather goods, textiles, plants, jewelry and so much more.
214 Magnolia Gallery is also the perfect place for HYD to offer our carefully selected furniture and home goods for sale on consignment for our clients. We miss hosting HYD’s bi-annual flea at The Hive, so this has been an incredible opportunity for us to continue offering this service to our clients and buyers. Come by and see us!!
2020 is here and HYD is too. Our holiday takedown teams are busy as bees assisting in homes all over Knox County and beyond. We are looking forward to walking alongside several families as they relocate, renovate, or prepare their homes for a move this Winter and early Spring. And HYD is looking forward to hosting workshops later this Spring and throughout 2020 to give you tools for organizing in your own homes.
Be on the lookout for more blogs to come! We’ve got home tours lined up, all kinds of tips for organizing and moving, stories of local folks doing great stuff here in K-town, and so much more.
In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out with a call or text to 865.245.9080 or an email to info@helpyoudwell.com if you need any help with an unruly closet, a packed out garage, a frustrating pantry, an upcoming move, or just a consultation on how and where to begin in your home.
No job is too big or too small for HYD and we look forward to helping you get unstuck in 2020!
A Writer’s New Oasis | Home Tour with Celia
White Station Architectural Finds
“The legs are salvaged balusters from a Victorian house in Virginia. The apron is window trim off a farmhouse in Tennessee and the oak boards for the top are barn wood planed from a barn in Tennessee. This is a table with a story!”
It’s been awhile since we’ve highlighted a local maker, but we have a treat for all of you! If you have a love for architectural salvage or re-purposing beautiful old pieces, look no further. White Station Architectural Finds is the brainchild of Blair Wright, a local Knoxvillian who finds, restores, and re-purposes all kinds of pieces, picked from all over the US.
Blair Wright. Window pediment and box of balusters
About 5 years ago, preparing to be a vendor in an antique show in Clinton, Blair’s daughter Natalie suggested his Alma mater as a potential name for his craft. White Station High school in Memphis, where Blair attended, has roots dating back to the late 1800’s.
Baluster lamp
Baluster lamp
Blair loves the hunt and he loves the process of restoration and re-purposing. Blair comes by his love for picking honestly as he spent much of his childhood being drug through old homes all over the deep south by his mother and grandmother. Read more about how his journey with architectural salvage began and evolved, here. (click on the “story” section to expand)
Newel Post, corbel, and stool
In regards to picking, his favorite place is New York as he has access to many kinds of things there that aren’t available in Knoxville. Because Knoxville doesn’t have as many fancy historic houses, it’s harder to find the more intricate and elaborate pieces here or in surrounding areas. With a network of salvage yards in the North East, Blair enjoys digging through barns, shops, back rooms, and estates to find his treasures. He much prefers stumbling upon a barn or shed full of stuff than walking through an organized, barcoded storeroom.
corbel
baluster leg sofa table with reclaimed oak tabletop
corbels and window pediments
spindles repurposed as jewelry stands
window pediment
antique column
plinth block vase/decor
On a recent trip to Virginia to pick up some balusters that he bought through Craigslist, he ended up being invited to look around the rest of the home and barn, resulting in the finding of a large amount of antique shutters and a pair of arched french doors. These jackpot moments are part of the thrill for Blair. With Facebook marketplace becoming so crowded, Blair often finds pieces at Auction as well.
Arched french doors
Shutters repurposed as decor. We love the texture these add to the space.
Aside from selling his pieces in Clinton antique fairs, Blair sells to a few local and regional shops, and through pop ups like Help You Dwell’s Flea markets and Pineapple Consignment. The next opportunity to see and purchase his work will be at The 15th Annual Clinch River Fall Antique Fair
Part of being a good picker is knowing what your buyers are looking for. Blair has a working relationship with local shop The Back Porch Mercantile (take a closer look next time you are there-- the corbels holding up the back counter were finds from White Station), The Painted House in Cookeville, and a few other stores in the area. One shop may cater to a more primitive style while another may have a french provincial style. Blair has a system in place that allows him to do the grunt work of digging and picking to supply local shops with pieces they wouldn’t ordinarily have access to.
Of all the salvage he has seen, this piece still haunts him-- he refers to it as “the one that got away”. While on a trip in New York he found this gable from an old house and after trying to think through transportation and a plan for the piece, he had to pass it up.
If you can’t make it to the Clinton Fair, you can always direct message Blair through Instagram if you are interested in something you have seen of his. Additionally, if you have architectural salvage that you are trying to offload or are hunting for a particular piece, contact him. He’d love to take a look!
5 Tips for the Back to School Routine
One thing I love about a new school year is, it’s new. We begin the year with all As, we get fresh notebooks, new teachers, and get to start again. It’s also a great time to adopt a few new habits surrounding the school routine to help stay on top of the schedule, the clutter, the schoolwork, and to encourage your kids to have their best year yet. We’ve compiled a few tips to get your year off on the right foot!
5 Tips to Streamline the Back to School Routine!
Image: Magnolia
1 . An Established Landing Space
This will look different in every home, entirely dependent on your home’s layout. This is an area that should be relatively close to the entry and exit point used each morning. Landing spaces can be useful to collect bookbags and store to-do baskets. Think of this as the command center of the morning on the way out the door. Check out this blog by Joanna Gaines for tips on how locker baskets can be used in your landing space!
2 . Routine Checklists for the Littles
Printable checklists ( laminated or put behind a glass for use with a dry erase ) can be so helpful to guide littles along their new morning routines, this gives them a sense of ownership of their morning and you can still be directly involved to keep them on track.
*We’ve created these two printable options as a framework to your morning routine!
3. Streamlined Schedules for the Big Kids
For kiddos that aren’t exactly kiddos anymore, a virtual approach could keep the entire family on board the same ship! Google calendar app can be a great option for synchronizing sports schedules, events, and the heavier after school schedule that the teen sports/club years can come with.
Another option is a centralized large chalkboard or dry erase calendar in the home. This is a great addition to the landing space or command center and can be a great reminder when headed in or out the door each day. There are definitely pros and cons to each calendaring options, find what works best for your people.
4 . Art & Schoolwork Management
A great habit to adopt for school work brought home is “touch it once!” If the assignment is a worksheet or test from class that has no emotional connection to your child, and your child is ready to let go, after acknowledgment of their efforts and skill they now have by doing the practice, it goes to the recycle bin immediately.
As for artwork, a great rule of thumb for what to keep is to see if you can see the unique work of your own child in each piece. Once that decision is made, a clear Rubbermaid tote with your child’s name and school year(s) can be used if originals want to be kept.
Another option we love is ARTKIVE. ARTKIVE lets you send in all the originals to be professionally photographed and bound into a hardback book or a framed piece!
Image: Home Stories A to Z
5 . Designated Homework Areas
This can be such a stress reliever in many ways encouraging productivity, organization, and quality of work. Establishing a homework zone can communicate the same thing to a child as “going to the office” can for an adult. You set the tone for their work flow and focus by designating study areas. This can be as simple as a lazy susan with cups of supplies easily moved to the middle of a table, or as established as a study nook in the home. Wherever the investment, the reward will be worth it!
Choose Your Absence
This was the title to chapter 16 of the book that’s been hovering on my nightstand for the last few weeks and it got me. Mrs. Freeman had me at the title.
As some of you know, we’ve been doing some revitalizing over here at Help You Dwell. To be honest, we had some pretty major leadership shifts that rocked my little world. Back in May, our sweet Katie Martin, HYD’s first ever employee, left our team as she and her husband prepare to relocate to London next month. We are beyond thrilled for this incredible opportunity for them but my heart still aches a little in losing one of my favs from our crew.
Soon after, the organizer of the organizers, Kellye, our office admin, had an awesome opportunity to reunite with her family up in Virginia after a long time away and made the move back home. She was such an incredible asset to our team in creating systems and smart, efficient ways to communicate with the team and clients and did it all with such grace and love like few people I know.
Then in mid-July, sweet Ada Jane joined the world and Caroline became a mama of 2 under 2 and clearly has her hands very full. Thankfully everyone is doing so well and Hank is slowly learning that Ada isn’t going away and from now on he’ll have to share his mommy & daddy. : )
And just like that, summer came and my kids were home from school and I was steering the HYD ship by myself. Or trying. It wasn’t going so well.
In the 5+ years that HYD has been serving clients, none of us have ever done it alone. Caroline and I had each other from day one, so I had no practice in making decisions without a partner. I have no doubt that “it takes a village.” But here I was flying solo and our lovely clients still needed us and all my incredible organizers and packers still were eager to get into homes and work their magic.
By the time July rolled around, I knew something had to change. I had some big conversations with God at this point about how to best care for HYD and for myself. With the counsel of dear friends and family, we decided to rest. HYD took a short and sweet break from taking on new clients, from marketing, social media, presenting, blogging, and just reflected.
We chose our absence, as Emily P. Freeman, so eloquently talks about in her book, The Next Right Thing. She articulated exactly what I knew to be true as we pulled back the reins and chose to be absent for a bit.
“Choose your absence so that your presence will have more impact.”
These last few weeks of stepping back from HYD have been a gift. Personally, I’ve been much more present with my own life in lots of ways, but what has been such a wonderful surprise is that I’ve also been able to see how much more HYD has to offer. Help You Dwell is its own entity. Caroline and I have always felt that the company was given to us to steward and share with others. That’s one reason we’ve had over 20 folks work for us over the last 5 years. It’s a service to share, share with employees and share with clients. It was never meant for just us.
I’m not sure I would have come to this realization had we not chosen our “absence.” This season of rest has created a great joy and excitement in me to continue growing HYD in a way that allows more people to find order and peace in their homes, their workspaces, during the moving process, or through a transition of losing a loved one or an estate transition. HYD’s current team of organizers and packers is incredible. The life experience and creativity paired with the work ethic and servant hearts of these ladies still blows me away. There is work to do and HYD is ready to do it.
So here we go, again. It’s a reset for HYD. Thanks to so many of you who have been here all along and to those of you who just discovered HYD. We look forward to helping you dwell.
Much love —
taryn
Creating an ongoing wish list
I often find that when my birthday, Christmas, or Mother’s Day comes around, I have such a hard time thinking of things that I would like to receive as a gift. I’m not alone when it comes to having a hard time thinking of gift ideas on the spot— enter the ongoing wish list. Whether you create a Pinterest board, a registry, or simply a list on your phone, having a specific place to keep track of items that you would like at a variety of price ranges can come in super handy. In the same spirit—- we’ve found that keeping a running list of things to gift to others makes birthdays and holidays much easier. If you hear a loved one mention off hand that they would love to have something or if you have an idea for someone when it’s not close to a gift giving time, jot it down in a note so that you have quick ideas when the time comes. Pay attention when you are out with friends and family and notice what they consider buying or linger over in various stores. Keeping these ongoing lists will reduce the stress and scramble when you remember 3 days before a birthday that you need to get a present for someone you love.
What about you? Do you keep an ongoing wish list? Here are a few things on ours if you want to see…
These Linen and Cotton Bowl covers from Food 52. Double win— they are beautiful and help reduce single use plastic at the same time!
2. These awesome one of a kind wind chimes <3<3<3
3. Personalized address labels
5. These lovely watering cans from Terrain.
A historic home full of friends and family
Spencer and Melody Ratliff live in the Oakwood/Lincoln Park neighborhood and have transformed their wonderful historic home into a space of hospitality and beauty. Spencer is a furniture designer and maker. While he’s recently branched out into commercial work including build outs for restaurants and work at Blackberry Mountain, he really loves helping people make their ideas a reality and does a lot of custom work for individuals. Spencer owns and operates his own business Old North Designs . You may know Melody from her days of running Flips Batter Bar- a pop up gourmet pancake bar where she served a variety of home made pancakes with all kinds of topping options and dozens of creative syrup flavors. While the batter bar is no longer operating, she occasionally caters and has plans for bottling and selling her batters and syrups in the near future. We are so excited to give you a peek into their awesome home and for you to hear about their heart for hospitality.
The front porch— Spencer and Melody recently repainted and rearranged the whole thing.
The columns had layers of paint covering some pretty incredible marble. They stripped the paint to expose the wonderful stone.
How long have you lived in your home? What initially drew you to it?
We’ve lived here for 5 years as renters and just bought it a few months ago! Before we moved in, it was a bachelor pad owned by some friends of ours and when they moved out, we were immediately interested. The home had already served as a community hub with a reputation of being open to whomever. We had been living in a 600 sq ft before, so we were really excited about the space upgrade. We love having rooms for guests and plenty of space for hosting.
What does home mean to you?
It’s a place of peace— a place where you can fully be yourself and don’t have to impress anybody.
Dining room
Dining room- original fireplace.
Looking from the kitchen into the dining room
How would you describe your style of decorating? Do you have any favorite stores or go to spots for furniture/home decor?
I try to focus on what works with the architecture of the house. Because our house is very traditional, my style has become more traditional. I definitely have an eclectic streak but I try to cater to the home that we are in.
Estatesales.net!!! it’s a weekly check for me.
Living room
Looking into the living room from the dining room
Has your style changed over time?
I definitely used to be a bit more cluttered. I’ve gotten a lot pickier about what I keep. If I don’t love it, I don’t keep it. As I get older, I’m more likely to spend money on one piece that I really like vs a lot of little things that I kind of like.
Do you have any collections?
Not officially but we lovingly refer to many items in our home as “The Patty collection”. Spencer’s late mother, Patty, had incredible taste and we inherited many of her pieces.
What is your relationship to your belongings?
Very loose-- so many of our things are hand me downs or bought second hand. We aren’t super attached to material things. If something breaks or gets spilled on a rug, its not a big deal- everything is replaceable.
Kitchen
Spencer created this custom box wine cabinet.
We love the creativity and innovation that this couple has!
When people come into your home, what do you hope they feel?
I hope that people feel peace and a sense of welcome and comfortableness. It’s’ really important to Spencer that our house always feels comfortable. He never wants it to feel so nice that it makes people feel uptight.
Upstairs sitting/yoga room. Art by Cayce Anthony
Do you have a style or home philosophy?
I care about things working well for hospitality. I arrange furniture for conversation. We intentionally choose pieces that play to that function for example- our dining room table fits a TON of people. We are part of a 5 night a week dinner share with our neighbors, so there are constantly people in and out of the house. Hospitality is our number one deciding factor in decorating and we’ve always been adamant about having a guest room.
How is your home an extension of yourself or your family?
Back to the whole hospitality.. we care a lot about making people feel welcome and comfortable. That’s why we care so much about our house and how it functions. We host “friendsgiving” every year and host many out of town guests.
Gallery wall of family photos, friends, and loved ones. Spencer made the live edge console table!
Do you have a favorite room in your home? A favorite piece of furniture or piece of art?
Our master bedroom and bathroom make me really happy. They are the most finished out of all of the rooms.
My favorite piece is the porch swing. Spencer made it and every morning we have our coffee on the porch.
Vanity in master bedroom
Master bedroom
Master bath
What do you love most about your home?
The neighbors. We love the house, but it’s the neighbors that make it so great! The 4 houses surrounding us are literally our best friends. My biggest piece of advice is that if you are looking to move or buy a house, look for a place where your friends are.
Details
Interior part of an old piano that Melody repurposed into decor.
Thank you Spencer and Melody for opening your amazing home to us!
Spencer, Melody, and Butter (the rabbit)
Being Present in the Middle of May
Image: Texture Photo
Spring is in full swing now and all the events of the season are coming at us from every direction! Graduations, travel plans, spring performances, festivals, sports tournaments, and end-of-school year parties and events are filling our calendars and brain-space as we try to survive one of the most beautiful months in East Tennessee.
We’ve gathered a few tips to help you be present, enjoy these last couple of weeks and finish the month with success.
Take a break from social media
For the rest of the month, hit pause on scrolling through your social media feeds. There are lots of fun things to post about on your own page - be it your kids, a fun travel spot, a memorable gathering - so go for it! But create a personal rule about not looking at other’s lives for the rest of the month to help you focus more clearly on your own.
Be willing to say “no”
Do someone a favor, and say “no” to an event, volunteer opportunity, or extra appointment and allow someone else the chance to say “yes.” Many of us are natural-born helpers (Enneagram 2’s, you know who you are ; ) ), but we’ve got to allow others the opportunity to help out in the classroom, take some food to a friend, or offer to help with the neighborhood newsletter.
Schedule (at least) a 30-minute window every day to unplug
Take some time each day to do something without your phone in reach or earshot. I know many of us rely on our phones for our business and to be available for our families, but we also need a break. Just putting it away for short windows to allow yourself to be fully present in some quiet space, especially in such a hectic month, can be very refreshing.
Try to get into bed 30 minutes earlier as often as possible
Sleep is imperative when our brains are in overload, and even if you can’t every night, choose an early bedtime as many times this month as you can. Find a magazine, book of poetry, or an easy read to allow your mind to unwind and lull yourself to a peaceful sleep.
Drink water
Don’t leave home without a full & refillable water bottle. With busy schedules and lots or running from one place to the next, it’s easy to let this simple habit go by the wayside. Plus the weather is moving towards summer, so as our bodies adjust to warmer temps, a little extra hydration is needed.
Lastly, enjoy the moments when you’re in them. This month will be gone before you know it, so hang in there, laugh when you can, hug those you love, and celebrate the milestones of all your people as they graduate, finish a sports season, or start a new adventure this spring.
“Wherever you are - be all there.”
Loving Mom Well this Mother's Day
My mom & my girls 2016
After leaving the home of a client who recently lost his mom, I’ve been a bit more reflective thinking of my own mama and my life as a mother. I am so very fortunate to still have my mom here and healthy. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders and supporters by encouraging me, toting my kids from here to there, attending all kinds of her grandkids’ games and performances, and mostly loving me well in all my ups and downs that motherhood, marriage, and owning a business can bring.
We’re 3 days away from Mother’s Day 2019 and I’ve been contemplating how do I really celebrate my mom, let her know how priceless she is to me, and create a memory that I can enjoy when she’s no longer here. As some of you who know my mom or may have read in previous posts, my mom is quite the collector of things. She’s got some mad skills when it comes to finding deals, personal shopping for family and friends, and creating an amazing storyboard of all her finds and family pieces in the place she and my dad call home. Having lived in the same old farmhouse for over 40 years allows one to create quite the collection. : )
I say all that to explain why giving my mom some of my time, a little muscle, and some serious purging encouragement would (wink, wink), by far, be the best gift I could give my mom this Mother’s Day. Now for you, your mom may be a natural born minimalist and giving your time in her home may not be the best help. My encouragement to anyone reading who has a mom that they’d like to love well this Mother’s Day is to take a minute now and think about her. What’s her season, her newest hobby, a restaurant she’s always wanted to try? There are lots of directions we could go here, but my hope for you is to be able to find one act of sacrifice on your part that would be life-giving to her. Below is a short list of ideas, and I would love to hear your ideas in the comments below!
Whatever you land on, I hope you get a chance to connect with your mom, be it in person, over many miles, or in your memories.
And to all you mamas out there, Happy Mother’s Day!
Big love,
taryn
IDEAS FOR MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS
Technology teaching session // Help her get up to date on the technology she needs to stay connected either with giving her your time, the time of your teenage kiddo, or professional help from a local techie like Neighborhood Nerds or Happy Mac
Take her out to brunch or lunch // Some great spots in Knoxville are: The Plaid Apron, Olibea, Holly’s Gourmets Market, Wild Love Bakehouse, Farmacy, Cazzy’s Corner Grill, Jackie’s Dream Cafe
Make an appointment for the both of you to get a mani/pedi instead of just a gift card for her // Natural Alternatives, Lox Salon, Moda Nail Spa
Offer to assist in getting her photos printed and make a photo book or maybe just get some recent one in frames around her home
Schedule a photo session with your mom and extended family with a professional photographer
And our favorite… give her a Help You Dwell gift card! Our Mother’s Day Special is available until Saturday night at midnight & you get a whole hour for FREE!!
Image Texture Photo
