Recently I started a new series about a few of my friends and how they “feel home”. To recap, I want to show you how different personality traits create different feelings in their homes by choosing design elements that communicate that feeling.

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.

Gwen describes her personality as a colorful introvert, a homebody, unique, passionate, and a traditionalist. I see traces of these traits in the decorating choices she has made for her home. They are characteristics that make up what I call the timeless, strong, and fun feeling.

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 strong 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 fun element to add to her children’s playroom. The fireplace molding is more of a timeless feeling, while the warm yellow makes it feel fun. She also gave the space a strong feeling by using crisp white pieces, and a contrasting black and white rug.

I asked Gwen how she wanted her home to feel and her response was the following. “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 home tour 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. If you want to see more of Gwen’s beautiful home you can see pictures here, or alternatively visit the Makerista on Instagram. I hope you enjoyed the second post in this series about my friends and how they integrate who they are in their homes. I would love to know  if you’d like to meet some more!

Take care,

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