This is such a fun post to begin, because it feels like you are standing at my yellow door. Sincerely, I cannot wait to let you into our HIVEhome. This is especially true in light of our current circumstances as a world-community enduring a pandemic and the precautions thereof, such as social distancing.  Today as we launch this post, what was supposed to be a simple tour of our home + how we live in it (which is already vulnerable), has instead become an invitation in a deeper sense.  This moment feels so significant to me. In essence, I am welcoming you into my home via the only way I know how at this moment.  It is not lost on me that I am not alone in deeply missing the ability to invite others into the community of my home. 

Truly, one of my deepest desires and fears is to invite people in, yet we are made for invitation, connection, and communion.  We are not made to be alone. We must let.each.other.in. It is vital, regardless of our insecurities, misfortunes, differences, mistakes, or even a plaguing pandemic. Many of us, if we are honest, were in isolation in some form way before we faced quarantine. I cannot help but hope and pray during this time that we may all open our doors in a different way (the ones seen and unseen)- purposed, unafraid, and with confidence. May we find a friend on the other side as we strive to close the distance, and be more than social, but connected. Therefore, whether you have been here before, or this is your first visit...

 “Come on in, friend.  Oh, how I miss you or nice to meet you! You are welcome in this space, and there's no rush.  Please stay awhile.”

If only the internet allowed the sense of smell and warmth as I handed you a latte. I'd text and find out your preference on the way over- strongly suggesting a signature blend dirty chai or vanilla coconut matcha latte. Upon entering, you might be met with clean hints of lemongrass and citrus in the spring, mingling with our curated scent of five active sweaty kiddos, a home-cooked aroma of our last healthy meal, never-ending laundry, and trash that should have been taken out yesterday. Therefore, as you view this post and I answer some questions, I simply want to enunciate that while it is appropriate to clean-up, put our best foot forward, and show you our hard work on display, this is not how we live on the day to day. I do hope you enjoy a peak into our lives, but please keep us in perspective. We make messes. We get stinky, and sometimes we are cray-cray. (Maybe I'll get brave and show you a video today.) Now, let's get started, shall we?

How I feel and what I think our HIVEhome should enunciate has been an act of much thought, process, and frankly, physical labor.  Good design (a relative perception, mind you) should always take such things, but what I love about the choices we have made is that they have been decided upon for function + purpose as well as beauty, from the heart of our foundational desires.

Some of the questions we have asked ourselves is: What is our definition of home, specifically our HIVEhome? How do we want to feel in our own space? How do we want others to feel upon entering? Who are we? Who do we want to be? How does it (our home) spur or inspire us in our day to day? 

I also don't bring anything into my home without really thinking about it for many reasons.  I believe our homes are more than a space to fill with trinkets, momentary preferences, or bargains for bargain’s sake.  Our homes help tell our story.  Therefore, before I purchase something I ask, what does this say? These are all important questions, and they and many others have helped shape our design and mindful approach as we learn about ourselves, and discover home along the way.

Ultimately, I want my family and I to feel inspired, peaceful, comforted, and safe to be teachable, creative, and communal. I want a space that my family wants to come back to and invite others into. This starts with the heart.  It doesn't matter where you put the couch or what color you paint the ceiling when it comes to loving hospitality, because that is not simply a color or a thing.  It is an actionable expression of the heart, which can be present in any space, especially the soul, and that’s not a space to waste.

This is why this renovated space feels like home more than any other I have ever lived. It is what I consider our first true HIVEhome living studio, because of the culmination of life experiences, and continued creative expression into our personal style + preferences.  It all seems to settle in this place in a way that feels right and rooted for us. In other words, I know what and why I like it, how it makes me feel, the stories and foundations behind the products, colors, designs, and the choices I have made.  This makes me feel at home in a deeper way.  It makes me want to stay. 

I am often asked how + why I chose this house or any home for that matter. Much like the mid-century minded approach to design, I am always looking for the potential of light and open living with an outside-in appeal. We wanted a house within our personal specified budget with room for renovation funds, but below our loan capability. (Because who is a fan of debt?!)

I needed the remodel to be an 'easy' turn-over (I can feel my husband's eyebrows raising) - meaning I did not want to add rooms, or completely re-frame the structure, nor have an exterior overhaul, other than some cosmetic touches and paint. (I should not stand by Matt when he reads this, as the muscle memory of shoveling and moving hundreds of pounds of rock is still very, well… memorable.)

It should be noted that sometimes staying within budget can put you in an unexpected place, and for us, that would be the case.  We know now this is where we were and are supposed to be, but it was not our first choice when looking to buy.  Well intentioned realtors have often told me (for good reason) I look for unicorns. Little did they know, this is true in every area of my life. Maybe it takes one to find one, and I always know when I do. (Wink, wink.)

When we find a unicorn-home, we set to work to essentially make the space: Comfortable, (Affordably) Custom, and Colorful.

To begin, we let the sunshine in. New windows, widening doorways, and removing or opening a wall or two can truly reinvent a space with the purpose of light alone. My favorite window is the one looking to our backyard where I have spent many hours watching our children play while talking to a good friend sipping lattes. By removing the wall between the living room and kitchen we allowed the spaces to become one in sun, community and comfort - all equally important to us. 

Customization is next. Whether it involves color and art, and/or craftsmanship and organization, customization, even in the smallest of ways, can be a huge part of creating a cohesive comforting space. I have a favorite choice for every room that took mindful consideration: The kitchen (counter to ceiling hexagon backsplash), Living room (removing the monstrous fireplace 'monument'), homeschool area (installing an entire mid-century inspired wall system), our exterior (adding a front privacy fence and DIY back window serving feature), master bathroom (creating room for a bath + shower by condensing the master closets from 2 to 1) all make the list! Choosing to not have upper cabinets and scale the hexagon tile all the way to the ceiling was certainly a huge decision and required much thought. It is a statement and often the spot where someone stops and chooses to start asking questions about our home renovations.  It's one of those choices that most know was probably personal, and it speaks to our inner minimalist.

Our kitchen and bathrooms also show how customization can be very different for each room. Our shared guest bathroom, for example, has a lot of traffic from our family alone, but there is a place for every essential item. We chose to customize an existing vanity, by replacing and widening old drawers and cabinets + adding new hardware, doors, and paint. (Ha, this somehow feels like a metaphor of life.) The master bath, however, needed a brand new custom vanity, made by a dear friend and skilled craftsman, to fit my desire to not only increase storage and depth, but also anchor the space.  In our kitchen, after much deliberation, we chose to install pre-made bamboo cabinets fitting our aesthetics, as you win some and lose some. Sometimes existing features take a hike, if anything, for simplicity’s sake. No matter the purpose, customization allows you to put a unique and purposed fingerprint on your home.

This can also be true with color. My study of color and pattern in this particular space has truly set a foundation for me in projects to come, and I am always thinking about ways to incorporate more without overwhelming, but enhancing our days.  Though I love color extravagantly, I actually tend to paint my walls neutral and add accents as I become accustom to the space. I'm the one that likes to live in my home for a bit and feel my way around certain decisions.  For example, the green accents walls in my entry and master bedroom remind me of potential for growth in its crisp yet calming freshness, but they were also needed to draw the eye up or wide to create openness in each space. Sometimes I want to be more bold with my color and in much of life, but in doing so, there must be room for mistakes. Wanting a statement color to wake me up, I almost painted both of these accent walls a cheerful salmon hue but quickly realized that was not the right choice! Color can be hard, and it can take time to deliberate.  (Always include color swatches and samples into your budget!)  Personally, I still have so much to learn about color and my preferences, but I do know this, I like it well placed.

Now we’ve ended where we began - our front door - my favorite color placement and sharp contrast to deep painted grey.  I can't imagine a HIVEhome without one! It seems symbolic, does it not?  Like sunshine on a cloudy day?  It means so much to me that each friend, visitor, guest, and neighbor is met and prayerfully unburdened as they enter or depart our home, even if for just a moment, with this simple burst of joy. I am also painfully aware that just as we are learning the design of color and customization, we are still learning the design and nature of how to be a good neighbor. But for starters, I hope this yellow door and the spirit of our home gives something to take away…more than a latte, laughter, or even a smile, but encouragement, support, or something significantly more - like belonging.  While we cannot promise perfection, in any form, we can open the door to a sincere invitation to return... and stay awhile. You are welcome- there is room for you here.

Andea Beims

The “Honeys” have put together an uplifting playlist for you to enjoy. We hope it leaves you feeling loved + encouraged during this time. #covid19 #socialdistancing #stayconnected

CREDITS:

Photos by HIVEhome team-member + Honey in the HIVE- Jessica Collins of https://jessicacollins.photography.

Editing + Publishing by team-member + Honey in the HIVE- Andrea Haney.

Honeys Uplifted Playlist by The Honeys In the HIVE- Shavawn Christian, Courtney Cameron, Carlotta Luster, Jessica Collins, Andrea Haney, Andea Beims.

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