As a student of “The House 214 Design School” I am going to begin interviewing some of my friends who I believe truly feel home. These are friends who I consider experts in the home decorating field for you to learn from.
I want to share with you how they feel home and show you how the different steps in “The House 214 Design ” program are evident in these homes. In this interview I used exercises #3 and #4 in the program to conduct the interview.
The only criteria for my featured friends is to be a talented, willing to share their home, and willing to open up about who they are and how they feel home. Okay, enough of that, let’s get started!
Please meet my friend Gwen Hefner. Gwen is the creator and blogger behind The Makerista. I first discovered Gwen on Instagram and was immediately drawn to her tagline “I’m making anything and everything…except dinner”. I could truly relate to her passion for creating. So much so, that many evenings I find myself looking at the clock after working for what seems like only minutes, wondering what in the world I am going to feed everybody!
Gwen and her husband Micah live in Missouri with their two daughters and son. They bought a 1988 colonial that they are putting their stamp on. The feeling of this house is a direct reflection of Gwen, distinctive and timeless.
I think the transformation of Gwen’s home can be so inspiring to home owners of “newer” homes. So many times I think the focus of decorating shows, magazines, etc. can be placed on renovating/decorating an older home. The reality is that many people don’t live in an old home. Gwen embraces and respects her new home and shows us how we can do it too.
House 214 Design Question: Describe Your Personality: Use approximately 5 or so words to describe yourself. Descriptive words such as, spontaneous, reserved, cutting edge, energetic, rather than words like happy, friendly, etc.
Gwen’s Answer: A colorful introvert, a homebody, unique, passionate, and a traditionalist.
I see traces of these traits in the decorating choices that Gwen has made for her home. They are characteristics that make up what I call the timeless and distinctive feelings.
The dining table with its curved legs, picture molding, and chandelier are all design elements that communicate a more timeless feeling. While the lines of the crisp white buffet, lamps, and paint color all lend themselves towards the distinctive feeling.
This is the secret to mixing patterns, textures, finishes, etc. You discover how you want your home to feel and choose decorating elements from 2-3 of those feelings. Gwen does it effortlessly!
This brilliant fireplace is what always comes to mind when I think of Gwen’s home. What a distinctive element to add to her children’s playroom. The fireplace molding is more of a timeless feeling, while the warm yellow makes it feel distinctive. You just notice it, don’t you? There is more evidence of the distinctive feeling in the space with the crisp white pieces, and a contrasting black and white rug.
House 214 Design Question: Paint The Picture: A brief paragraph about how you want your home to feel when you are standing outside your front door, walking inside, and moving from room to room.
Gwen’s Answer: “I want people to feel something when they’re in our home. I strive to evoke an emotional response with every renovation. I know that means not everyone will love everything I do, but I truly strive to create spaces that my family enjoys being in. We want our home to be a place where people always feel welcome, and I pray that the work we put into it makes others feel comfortable too”.
I think Gwen has successfully painted this picture in her home, don’t you?
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Gwen. I think not only is the feeling Gwen creates in her home inspiring, but how she accomplishes it in a newer home is something we can learn from as well.
You can do this too! You will see by moving through the steps in the program, learning your major and minor feelings, and making decisions with intention behind them is how you will create a feeling in your home. This is how you will tell YOUR story.
Take care,
