A historic home tour

Our latest home tour is full of history and heritage. We had the privilege of touring the lovely home of Megan and Caesar Stair in Old North Knoxville last week. The Stair's moved in, in 2010 and have wasted no time making it home and bringing it to life in new ways.

The home design is by famous architect George Barber and was built in 1898. It's original owner; W.T. Lang, was the foreman at Brookside Mills a textile mill that was one of Knoxville's largest employers in the early 1900's.  The home was christened "Pinecrest" when it was built and the name block still remains in the yard. The guest house behind the home was added later and was originally built to house the 100+ cats that belonged to Mrs. Lang who ran a cat orphanage of sorts. The home was at one point split into 4 apartments but has now been lovingly restored back to it's original use--a family home.

In February of 2010 with snow covering the grounds, the Stairs had their first walk through and immediately fell in love. Megan says she was drawn in by the beautiful woodwork, character, and the hallway/landing in the upstairs which she immediately pictured her family making use of. Another thing Megan loves about the home is how the kitchen and tv room are tucked away towards the back of the house. While the front of the home is very open and conducive to large gatherings, it's nice to have the more functional/every day use spaces tucked in their own corners.

One of my favorite things that Megan said during the home tour was that each house has it's own style and when you move into a home, you have to be intentional about "honoring the house". Megan has done a great job of blending both antique and modern pieces throughout her home in a way that feels seamless but eclectic at the same time. When I asked Megan about her style of decorating she shared that a lot of her furniture pieces have been passed down from family members or are items that have been brought back from travels. She has several really neat pieces from Morocco.

That wallpaper!!! all the heart eyes

These beautiful built in's covered the master bathroom and closet.

Megan's favorite kind of decor is art. The house is full of paintings, sculptures, mixed media and sketches. When I asked if she had a favorite piece of art she pointed out a piece by her brother, local artist Ryan Blair . (pictured below) She has several of his paintings and mixed media displayed but this one is her current favorite.

Megan's favorite piece of art. Mixed media by Ryan Blair

The Stair's recently renovated the kitchen and did an incredible job! The kitchen is Megans favorite room and she noted that she spends a lot of her time there. The kitchen is a great example of how Megan has blended modern,updated looks with the age and style of the home itself.

I asked Megan what "home" means to her and her response was simple- "a place where I can be comfortable". Her hope is that others feel the same way when they come into her home. Megan's home is a really great representation of so many people that she loves, from her brothers art to furniture that other family members have made, to projects that Megan has taken on herself, the Stair home is truly a work of love and one that has turned out beautifully!

One of the things that we (at HYD) get asked often is "How do you go about decorating a home?" Megan had some great advice to speak to that. Megan's philosophy is that she has to love an item to purchase it. When it comes to art, she looks for things that move her deeply. She thinks creatively and saves up to invest in pieces of furniture that are quality and will stand the test of time. There are seasons of life where you use what you have, you make things on your own, you gladly accept hand me downs and then over time you figure out what you love and replace the things that were place holders for the time being. Megan is a big proponent for finding your own style and while sometimes you need the help of a designer, at the end of the day she recommends settling with what feels most natural to your own taste.

Thank you Megan for opening up your beautiful home and sharing your style tips with us!

cord control

We all have cords we use every daily. These essential pieces of technology can get lost in the bottom of our bags, tangled together, or lost very easily. Think through the various cords you might need on any given day: headphones, phone charger, computer charger, and many more. If we aren't careful about how we store our cords - they can get the best of us, cause frustration and take unnecessary time to deal with. 

Solution: Cord Tacos. 

These hand made leather "cord tacos" have been the best fix for my cord disorganization. The two sizes are helpful for the different cords we need to keep with us. Not to mention, they are so pretty! 

Joyner Avenue was at the Retropolitan Craft Fair last weekend along with other makers and artists. They have a passion for their goods and make beautiful and functional products in Asheville, NC. 

Check them out! 

View more products by Joyner Avenue. 

mother's day gift guide

Mother's Day is coming up. We've thought through some ideas of how you can treat your mom this year. Our hope is to encourage you to give gifts of meaning and purpose, that really add value to mama's life. We hope an idea below will be perfect for the mother(s) in your life! 

something pretty.

• Ashley Addair's art @ Rala's First Friday event
• Native Map Knoxville neighborhoods map 
• Noonday Collection earrings & bracelet

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something practical.

• iphone charger key chain from anthropolgie 
• tile mate key finder from amazon 
• Handmade stationary from Lisa Clow Studio 

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something personal. 

• Cold Gold leather painting workshop at the Hive with mom
• Floret flower seed collection to plant with mom

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something to pamper and empower her.

• glowing body yoga studio class pass 
• Wild Lavendar Spa facial treatment
• Help You Dwell gift card of 3 hour value, to be used as she desires! We can help rearrange a challenging space, organize a closet, design and hang a gallery wall, bring order to the pantry, set up a new room, and so much more. Possibilities are endless and mom will enjoy our organizing services in a way that is unique to her needs. Give the gift that will free her up, instead of add more clutter to her life! Contact us with any questions regarding this special. 

Treat your mama to something special this Mother's Day! 

*Blog Image from Terrain

donations 101

Once you've purged, it's helpful to know which organizations locally need which specific items. It's empowering to know your donation is going to a purposeful cause and is serving your local community. We've put together this resource of where to donate specific items!

Household Items-
KARM: drop off and pick up available
Ladies of Charity
Angelic Ministries

Antiques, vintage furniture & historic building materials-
Salvage Shop

Clothing & accessories-
bare.Thred: Exciting things ahead... Be on the lookout for information regarding donations on June 1. They repurpose clothes and aim to reduce clothing waste in Knoxville! 

Bikes-
Kickstand
DreamBikes

Medical Equipment- 
East Tennessee Technology Access Center

Books-
Friends of the Knox County Library

Arts & Craft Supplies-
The Basement Community Arts Studio

Eyeglasses-
The Lions Club
Volunteer Ministry Center

Construction & Building Material-
Habitat for Humanity

Please share other specific donation spots in Knoxville that you know of! 

*Blog Image from Native Maps. 

DO'S & DON'TS OF DECORATING

We don't believe in following the rules when it comes to decorating, but there are a few do's & don't that can help transform your home into something you truly love. Below are a few tips & tricks to help you get started!

Grab your favorite art piece and accessories and curate a space that's your own! If you are needing help filling in the pieces don't forget to check out The Spring Flea happening this weekend at The Hive!

Still having trouble taking your space to the next level? Our Interior Designer will be hosting a workshop on April 29th to help you create a beautiful + functional space. 
REGISTER here today!

The Art of Design: creating beautiful + functional spaces

Workshop: Presentation to get to know the designer, plus tricks & trips on how to create beautiful + functional space. This is also the perfect time for any questions you may have for the design services HYD provides & your to-do list.

To-Do: Upon registering you will be given a questionnaire to help the designer with your wants + needs for the space. You will also need to provide photos of your space. (these can be sent via email.)

Take-away: Once the workshop is done, you will provide your questionnaire sheets and photos to the designer. She will then get busy creating a layout + comments and recommendations to help you achieve your goals for the space provided.
 

so you've purged, now what?

One of the biggest questions we get from our clients is what to do with the items they are ready to part with. We separate items into two main categories: donate & sell. Here's some helpful information regarding where & how to sell different items. In two weeks, we'll share resources for where & how to donate your items. We're currently gearing up for our Spring Flea at the Hive next weekend, April 21-22 and wanted to invite you to come shop vintage home decor and furniture! 

WHERE TO SELL & CONSIGN

Consigning Household Items- 
Consign to Design: Furniture and home decor in excellent condition
Backroads Market: Old, new, used and transformed farmhouse style furniture and home decor
Mid-Mod Collective: Mid Century Modern, Danish Modern, Industrial, Vintage Clothing, and Quality Books and Vinyl
The Flea: Pop up consignment held twice a year, selling home decor and furniture

Consigning Clothes & Accessories-
Clothes Mentor: gently used women's clothes size 0-26, petite and maternity
Repeat Boutique: women's designer clothes, shoes and handbags
Statemint Consignment: twice a year pop up clothing consignment for adults 

Selling Books & Music-
McKay's: gently used albums, books, instruments, movies, video games, gaming systems, board games, comics and more

ONLINE MARKETPLACE

Household Items-
Craigslist: convenient to sell without the hassle of shipping
Local Facebook groups: easy to post and expedite communication with buyers
Letgo app: quick and streamline process for selling unwanted items in your area

Clothing & accessories-
Poshmark: online clothing sales made easy
 eBay: world wide marketplace, can sell almost anything here

spring has sprung

The cherry blossoms, dogwoods and azaleas are blooming. The grass is greener and the air is warmer. As our climate has decided to hit the REFRESH button, it's time to do so in our homes as well. 

Our Help You Dwell team has been busy at work these past few months. We wanted to fill you in and invite you to join us for some of the fun!

Image via Emily Jeffords. 

We've worked hard to come up with some exciting tips we've been sharing daily on WVLT First at Four with the lovely Brittany Tarwater, each day this week. Tune in today and tomorrow if you can! We've posted some tips to declutter on our Resources page - check it out. 

Another exciting way we're inviting you to join us as we REFRESH our homes this spring is by entering our giveaway we have going on- this week only! Enter to win our "Spring Refresh" giveaway on our Instagram page. We've collaborated to come up with an incredible value from local businesses. Nest Knoxville, You Own the Look and HYD have curated products and services that will be a great start for your spring refresh at home. 

Enter to win the Spring Refresh giveaway. 

Join us for First Friday at Nest, tomorrow - April 7. Natalie, owner of Nest has invited Help You Dwell into her beautifully decorated and furnished storefront. Location: 108 S. Gay Street. Come & enjoy a glass of wine with us, we'd love to meet you! This fun and relaxed environment is a great time to bring your questions and get to know us. We can't wait.

Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the first workshop in our series called "The Art of Design" with Cassandra, our interior designer. More details here. Registration is open! 

One more exciting thing we wanted to share with you: a new womens resale store, Clothes Mentor Turkey Creek has their Grand Opening today! 

Get connected with Clothes Mentor. 

ease the pain of organizing

No matter how overwhelming or dreadful the organizing project ahead of you might be, there are ways to make it less painful. We've put our ideas and actual experiences together and this is what we came up with. 

Background Music

There is something magical about your favorite playlist pumping that will empower you to do even more than you thought you could. Instrumental music is great for the jobs that take extra brain power, like reading and sorting through files. Jobs that require a little more heavy lifting and rearranging lend themselves well to your favorite sing in the shower songs. As your muscles are firing up and working hard, a power ballad or sing along helps ease the pain - you can just belt it out, as long as your neighbors like your voice. Music really can be the extra fuel to get your organizing project handled. We've experienced it first hand & it's really fun (even if you don't know all the words). Try some of our favorites: Productive Morning playlist, Amos Lee radio, Bishop Briggs playlist. 

Fresh Air

Image from fresh farmhouse blog. 

Whenever possible, open the windows (weather and allergy permitting). There is something soothing about fresh outside air flowing through your space. If you can't open the windows, pulling up blinds and opening curtains does wonders as well. This spring, try it out - while organizing or doing household chores, bust open a window and soak in that vitamin D and breezy air.  Especially in a room that feels dark, dated or overwhelming... a little air can be so life-giving. Hearing the birds chip, leaves rustling or bikers passing by remind you that you are not alone stuck in the space you are working on. 

Enlist a Teammate 

Invite a friend over. Twice the muscle and (wo)man power to get the job done! You and a friend probably both have an organizing project in your home you just don't want to tackle alone, so partner with each other! You need the kind of friend who understands what is important to you but who also isn't afraid to lay down the hammer and help you PURGE. The kind of friend who will notice if you are starting to hold onto excess and useless things, and gently remind you that you are only going to feel lighter if you let go. A friend can also laugh with you at the hilarious and embarrassing memories or items discovered. It does wonders to a friendship, to vulnerably share your mess and work through it together! 

Intermission

Set a timer for 1 hour on your phone when you begin your project. This will be a good pause time to get up, leave the room/project and grab a snack or water. Don't get too stuck in all of the stuff! 5-10 minute break times can be very helpful. Just make sure you commit returning to the project until it's done. 

Treat Yourself! 

Cheers! Image from @Anthropologie. 

Incentivizing a task is a great way to keep you empowered throughout the drag of the job. Instead of rewarding yourself with more "stuff" or material possessions - think of a treat you'd enjoy that is an experience. Here's a few ideas to celebrate a job well done: pedicure,, wine night with friends, fancy date night out, renting that movie you've wanted to see, or planning a family vacation. Invite kids to participate in this too - if they commit and tackle an organizing job in their room, reward them with a sleepover or trip to the trampoline park! 

We would love to hear your suggestions and ideas on how to keep organizing fun. Happy organizing, friends! 

5 reasons you should hire an Interior Designer

Hello friends, it's Cassandra, Help You Dwells Interior Designer.  Do you ever read 'Interior Designer' and instantly think you can't afford one?  Maybe you're not quite sure what an Interior Designer can do for you. I'm here to lay it all out for you + give you the opportunity to know more about my services first hand! 

5 Reasons you should hire an Interior Designer: 

1. Professional Assessment: “A designer can give you a professional assessment of your situation, that will then lead to a solid plan of action. The order of things in a design plan is key in determining what can be re-purposed or should be edited. This will not only effect the budget but help you to spend it more efficiently.” - FreshHome

2. Save you Money: Yes, save you money. A designer may have an upfront fee for their services but their experience & knowledge can save you money along the way. Have you ever purchased a sofa from a warehouse, only to bring it home to find out it doesn't fit? Maybe you've painted your whole house only to realize that you don't love it. A designer will have already done the up front work of making your space just right. They can help you avoid costly mistakes & help you add true value to your home.

3. Budget + Planning: As stated above, Designers already do the up front work, including selecting items in your budget and planning for the right pieces. This is can also save you time, which saves you money! Designers know all the sources that fit any budget and do all the research so you don't have to. 

4. Liaison: If you are working with a contractor and/or an architect, having a designer readily available is key to a successful project. Designers know how to read architectural plans that you may struggle with. They are also great at finding ways to add value to your space that you may have not thought of otherwise.

5. WOW Factor: When you walk into a space that is well done, you can usually find a designer that was behind it. Designers are creative, they think outside the box; it's what they do all day long. They are knowledgeable and have an eye to really make a space special.

"Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals." -NCIDQ

Still not convinced that a trained Interior Designer is worth the money? Now is your time to find out! Help You Dwell is hosting a workshop at The Hive, Saturday April 29th.

REGISTER today for an opportunity to
create a space in need of design services.

Workshop: Presentation to get to know the designer, plus tricks & trips on how to create beautiful + functional space. This is also the perfect time for any questions you may have for the design services HYD provides & your to-do list.

To-Do: Upon registering you will be given a questionnaire to help the designer with your wants + needs for the space. You will also need to provide photos of your space. (these can be sent via email.)

Take-away: Once the workshop is done, you will provide your questionnaire sheets and photos to the designer. She will then get busy creating a layout + comments and recommendations to help you achieve your goals for the space provided.

*Please note only one space in your home per customer (this can include anything from a closet to a living room that needs special attention) Also, the workshop is limited to 12 persons due to the amount of work the designer will give each individual. Your follow-up may take up to 2 months. 

Need a reliable handy man & then some?

Even for those of us that may be handy around the house or have a spouse who is, some jobs we just don't have time for or may only know enough to be dangerous.

For all those jobs, we're so thankful for Anawim Spaces! Our long time friend and go to fixer-upper for many HYD clients, Bobby Whisman has been a reliable resource for us in our own homes as well as many clients through the years. His company takes great pride in offering services in three main categories: Home Renovations, Custom Fine Woodworking, and Handy Man Services.

Custom Treehouse

We wanted to share a bit about his services with you in case you're thinking of remodeling, needing a custom piece of furniture, or maybe your kiddos have been hoping for that treehouse that you've just not gotten around to building. Bobby and his crew can make these things happen! 

Springtime is a great time to tackle some of these projects. 

HYD has used Anawim several times as clients are preparing their homes for the real estate market. Whether it's installing new light fixtures, updating a bathroom, or repairing an outdoor deck, Bobby and the team at Anawim can eliminate many of the obstacles potential homebuyers might see and get your home sold much more quickly.

To see more of Anawim's work, follow him on Instagram at @anawim_spaces or on Facebook.

Bobby's vision to "create spaces for community, family, and purposeful living" mirrors the core values here at Help You Dwell. We hope you'll give him a chance to help you in your space.

Anawim Spaces
anawimspaces@gmail.com
865.566.1426

How To Clean Out Your Closet, Make Money, & Love Your Style

You spend hours scrolling through Pinterest collecting styles you long to wear. You shop online, at the mall, and at thrift stores. You go to your closet and feel like nothing you own truly speaks to who you are, the person you envision yourself as.

You know you want more out of your wardrobe but you already feel like what you have is too much; too overwhelming. If you’re honest, it’s a hot mess.

I get that. I really do. This describes me. And it describes most women of our generation. We have too much and yet never feel like we’re dressing for the real us.

Some scary statistics about our clothing habits.

The average woman:

• Throws away 65 pounds of garments per year.

• Has over $500 of unworn clothing and 300 clothing items in her wardrobe.

• Spends 4 hours a month deciding what to wear.

And although we have increased the number of garments we buy since 2012, we are actually spending the same amount of money overall. Anytime you want to diagnose a problem you look at the symptoms.

What all this tells me is that we’re buying and buying, yet we’re not really fulfilled or satisfied with what we have.

How do you solve this problem?

You have to get serious about your style and clothing and clean out your closet!

Do want to love your style, spend less time worrying about what to wear, minimize your life, and make money at the same time?

It may sound too good to be true, but doing all this is totally possible if you can clean out your closet the right way.

How do I know this? I spent 4 years working in a consignment shop where I helped women hone their style everyday. Overtime, I became an expert at knowing innately what worked and what didn’t for each unique woman. Many of my styling clients would later hire me to come into their homes and closets so that I could help them style what they already owned and get rid of the things that no longer served them.

Cleaning out your closet doesn’t have to be a pain. I promise! Before we talk about how to get started, I wanted to let you know I compiled all my experience cleaning out closets in one helpful place. Want to check out my insights? Download my free PDF guide to “Cleaning Out Your Closet”.

The easiest way to clean out your closet is to hire someone to save you time and do it for you. But if want to spend a little extra time, you and a friend can do this and be closer to the wardrobe of your dreams.

If you’re ready to dig deep and let go of all this crap that’s been holding you back, stressing you out, robbing your joy, and weighing you down then read on.

Step One - Preparation

Grab a friend or family member. Pick a staging area and schedule some time to do this. You’ll need some plastic garbage bags.

Step Two - Purge

Pull everything you own out of your closet and dressers and start to identify which pieces really fit your style, which do not, and which are hidden gems that you’ve been overlooking. It helps to have a stylist or friend present to give feedback and encouragement.

Make 3 piles:

1. Keep

2. Donate

3. Consign

As you go through each item, decide which pile it belongs in. Once you have all your piles, put the Donate and Consignment items into garbage bags.

Step Three - Organize

Now that you’ve gone through each item you’re ready to start organizing. Make sure all your clothing is arranged by category, color, material type, length, and sleeve length and that all the hangers are facing in the same direction. I go into this in extreme detail in my 3 Step Guide which you can grab here for free.

Wrapping it all up! Time to sell and make cash.

That’s it! You’ve done it. Congratulations. The hard part is over! I hope you feel so much better.

At this point you can take the garbage bags to their respective charities and consignment shops. The reason I recommend actual brick and mortar consignment shops at this point is because I want the clothing out of your house.

Now that you have a clean slate to work from you can start to use other methods like Poshmark, ThredUp, and Etsy.

If you’re local to Knoxville then you know that StateMint is coming up. Now would be an ideal time to clean out your closet and make cash. You can still sign up. I know I’ll be there selling my extra items too.

Author bio

Brianna is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Stylist, and author of Simple Is The Cure. She helps stressed out creatives simplify life and health so that they can achieve their dreams and change the world. She and her firefighter husband along with their dog Beau live in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Thanks Brianna for your wonderful guest post this week! The gals at Help You Dwell highly recommend her Ebook Simple Is The Cure!

A tiny home tour

photo by Julia Sale

This month we took a tour of the lovely home of Julia and Garrett Sale. If you've ever wanted to see the inside of a tiny house, here is your chance! We were so surprised at how roomy it felt!

Garrett and Julia got married this past May and after spending a month traveling around Europe for their honeymoon, they moved into their lovely tiny house and have been working to make it home ever sense. At just around 480 Sq. ft, they have made great use of all of their space while somehow managing to keep it feeling open and spacious.

In reference to their style, Julia and Garrett tend to gravitate towards mid century modern, clean lined shapes. Julia loves all things earthy and noted that she has to be intentional about pulling in color to mix things up. One of her favorite parts of the house?? The window over the sink :) As a self proclaimed nature lover and plant collector, she loves being able to look outside while doing menial chores like washing dishes.

One thing we always ask on home tours is what people's relationships to their belongings looks like. Julia's mom always says, "You can't take it to heaven with you". Julia said she used to be much more sentimental. Obviously there are items that she feels connected to but she's gotten better at purging when she doesn't need something anymore. Having a tiny house helps with that on a very practical level!

One of Julia's favorite items in their home is a small wooden frog instrument that Garrett bought on their honeymoon. She admitted that it has not always been her favorite as she initially thought it was a total waste of money but the memories it brings to mind have made it become one of her favorites.

Furnishing a house is a process. Even a tiny house! Julia shared that being creative and practicing patience have been helpful for them in terms of putting a home together. Many people can't just go out and buy a house full of furniture. Julia discovered that taking the time to really figure out what you like is helpful in creating a house that flows well together. With Pinterest and Instagram, it's easy to get caught up in just making your home look like everyone elses. When you take the time to step back and really ask yourself what you gravitate towards, you are likely to make your house more of your own and not a copy of something you have seen before. A few of her favorite shops for home goods, decor, and furniture are West Elm, World Market, and Mid Mod Collective. 

We all have favorite spots in our home, Julia loves their bathroom. For a tiny house, the bathroom is pretty big and she loves to make it feel as much like a spa as possible. She focuses on the little things-- stating that sometimes the details make all the difference. Lighting a candle, hanging dried eucalyptus, or buying a fluffy robe are all small ways to set ambiance.

I asked Julia what home means to her and loved her response. She laughed and prefaced-- 'this is going to sound so cheesy but my mom always says "Home is where the heart is" and I completely agree, any place feels like home with Garrett. '

When I asked Julia how she hopes people feel when they come to her home, she said "I want people to feel welcome- to feel like they can sit down and stay awhile. I always want to have a spot for people to sit because when you have a spot, you are more likely to feel like it's okay to stay awhile."

Thank you Julia and Garrett for opening up your beautiful home to us and to our readers!

bringing plants indoors

Have you ever felt like a room in your home was missing something? That it is completely decorated, filled with your favorite things but isn't quite right? It may be time to add in some green - with a plant of course! Today we've laid out a few ways to use plants inside + indoor plants that help filter your air, keeping your space looking and feeling fresh!

Photo Credit: Adam Ford

Photo Credit: Life Simplified

Photo Credit: CONVIVAL

Photo Credit: Ashley Lauren Design Studio

Photo Credit: Kirsten Grove

Wheather you go big with a ficus or keep it small with baby succulents, adding plants into your home is the perfect way to melt the winter blues away and bring life into your space! Below, HYD has picked six different plants that not only look pretty, but also filter your air. (that's a win-win in our books!)

Images: 1/2/3/4/5/6

With spring right around the corner be sure to pick up your favorites at the local nursery! 

Your Local Box Source

Help You Dwell is excited to get all our readers in the know about a great local source for all your custom box, packaging, and shipping needs! 

Knoxville Box & Container, Inc. has been serving Knoxville since 1985. Recently, HYD's good friend, Chris Castleberry, took over operations of the company and has expanded it to serve companies like HYD as well as local customers in need of box supplies for moving, storing, or even custom printed boxes for small businesses and much more.

We had a chance to catch up with Chris one chilly morning recently and it was great to take a tour of the facility, see some of the 20 employees he has working, and speak with him about how easy it is to get great prices on packing materials that are more expensive everywhere else in town. The good news for HYD is we get a better price on boxes which means our clients do too!

If you're looking for packing supplies at a great price with all kinds of options plus you want to support a local business, check out Knoxvillebox.com for more details! 

what is "hygge"?

hygge

pronounced: /ˈhʊɡə/
origin: Danish
noun
a quality of cosiness + comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment of well-being. 

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Where did this concept come from?

Photo from It's Me, Charlotte! 

US Ambassador of Denmark describes hygge as: "the felling you get around thanksgiving, like being cozy and being with other people". It is imperfect and very casual. Practicing hygge is more about how things feel than how they look. 

Charlotte Higgins, from the Insider describes it as "a feeling of calm togetherness and the enjoyment of simple pleasures, perhaps illuminated by the gentle flicker of candlelight." 

Listen to Tsh, from The Art of Simple and Erin Loechner talk about hygge on this podcast. 

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What does it look like?

Photo from House Beautiful. 

• Hospitality.

• Shared experience.

• Being an inviting person in an inviting space. 

• Creating a ritual, habit or space that allows you to enjoy the present moment. It isn't about striving for a specific style or look, but it is about being intentional with what you create space for in your space and mind. 

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How can you incorporate this in your life and home? 

Wanna read more? Check out this book. 

You might have a specific blanket, pair of sweatpants or coffee mug that you can describe as
hyggelig, meaning hygge-like. These are your things that induce coziness and calm for you. 

Bringing the outside in is very hygge. Incorporating natural elements in your home, creates a sense of life and growth. 

A way to engage in this way of being is by putting your devices down. Shifting our focus from a bright little screen - to the people and places around us, invites us to participate in the moment to moment. 

11 Ways to Make Your Life More Hygge according to Country Living. 

We love that hygge is not something that you can order online, or grab at Target. It is unique to your life, your family and the way you live. It takes a little thought and creativity to incorporate hyggee, comfort and coziness into your life. 

Blog image source: The Art of Simple. 

welcome cassandra....

1.5 years ago this small town mid-west girl up and moved her life to East Tennessee for a job. I currently work at Blackberry Farm as a Junior Interior Designer, but that is only where the story begins. 

Image by Texture Photo

I started chasing this dream with one goal in mind: to get out of Kansas. I had no idea I would  fall so in love with Knoxville, TN and the people it has brought into my life.

My love for design became more than a hobby when I was in college. It wasn't until I was three years in and crying my way through pre-med classes that I knew something had to give. With a little help from a best friend, I switched majors and never looked back. I graduated with a small group of girls with a Bachelor degree in Interior Design and a minor in Construction Management. Space planning, simple, yet functional spaces, and tiny houses are where my true love for design soars.

I always thought the west part of the country was where I'd land, but the second I got the call to move to East Tennessee I knew God had much bigger plans for me than I could have ever imagined. When I stumbled across HYD I knew this was it. This was my passion, my goals, dreams, the whole reason I got into design; to help others. To help the everyday person find comfort, ease, and happiness within their home with a bit of rearranging, re-purposing, and overall function of their space. 

In my free time, you can find me trying to save my plants from dying, adventuring into the Smoky Mountains, or more than likely, cleaning up dog hair from my two husky pups.

I can not thank the #girlbosses of HYD enough for helping me pursue this dream alongside them. I hope you will too! 

sidenote: I have to give a shout-out to my husband. Not only did he follow me across the country but within the last year we have purchased a house, gotten married & enjoyed every minute of life together in our new home. ah, life is good.

join us: customized ideas for your space

-- You are invited to our first Help You Dwell workshop of 2017 --

Intro to the Art of Organizing:
Customized Ideas for your Space

Saturday, February 11
10am to 12pm @ The Hive

We've designed a hands-on workshop with you in mind. This event is a great way to get practical and realistic advice and direction for the hard-to love area in your home. We will be discussing organizational ideas and design direction all geared towards you and your spaces. 

Attendee's leave with a refreshed vision for their space, tools to make it happen and a beautiful HYD Canvas Tote. 

Light refreshments will be provided! 

We can't wait to meet you and share our thoughts and ideas for your home. Space is limited.

envisioning your space

Organizing and decorating can be challenging. We've found that it's easy to feel weighed down and stuck in the "stuff" that hinders us from loving our dwelling places. Think about the pile of mail on the kitchen counter, the clothes stacked on a chair in your bedroom, the crafts spread on your kids floor, and the mixed up files in drawers of your office... you might already be ready to give up after just thinking about it! 

A fresh approach might be the change you need in perspective to conquer your challenging space. Thanks to Instagram and Pinterest, we've lost a lot of our ability to envision things on our own. We pin the image of an immaculate office and elegant bedroom that are way outside of our budget, and when we shut our computer we settle back into the reality of our lackluster spaces. 

ENVISION.

enjoy these creations as you start to imagine your spaces with new eyes. 
Ashley Dawn Addair is the creative behind the visual beauty below. 

Close out of Pinterest, shut the computer, and open your creative mind. Here are some questions to think about as you re-think areas of your home. 

1. Who will use this space most? 
2. What key furniture does this space need?
3. What colors create the mood you want to inspire?
4. What textures deliver comfort, function and coziness? 
5. How can you create natural/warm light in this space? 
6. What memories do you want to make in this space?
7. How do you hope your guests feel in this space?
8. What current items in this space are you ready to purge/donate?
9. Do you prefer exposed or hidden organization of the stuff essential to this space?

Each space and home and it's people are unique. Don't limit your space by the images you see online, dream up your ideal space and incorporate the specific items you already love and possess. 

Happy envisioning friends! If you'd like some help and direction in your space, we'd love to work with you. 

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*bonus- we stumbled upon this beautiful blog this week and had to share... Simple as That. Here's a link to a post with a free printable calendar "Collect Moments-Not Things"! 

home resolutions for 2017

The dawn of a new year is a great time to reflect and dream about the days ahead. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the lists of "shoulds", let's be practical as we think about how to be better stewards of our homes this year. 

There are ways to maintain order and organization on a daily and weekly basis but the beginning of a new calendar year is a great time to plan for the next four seasons. We're suggesting tasks, projects and specific areas of focus for each season. Show your home some love throughout the course of an entire year, one season at a time. 

So, we did some research and added our own touch to create a free printable for you. We've taken into consideration the weather and other factors that effect the ease and importance of certain tasks. Download, print, and share the Home Resolutions for 2017 right here on our blog! 

Our team is ready to help you with those areas that need organization, every season of the year. Give us a call to schedule your free consultation today 865.345.9080. 

"home" for the holidays

Custom Design for HYD by The Happy Envelope

Ms. Angelou was really onto something when she penned the above quote. As we have reflected on it, we've thought not only of the many clients we've been fortunate to serve this past year, but of our own living situations as well.

Each of us have our own challenges to create "home" in the places in which we live. You may not own your home, you may have to share your home with roommates that aren't family, your home may be temporary, it may be smaller than you need, or you may be in just the right spot. Whatever the circumstances, home is where you happen to be. It's the place where family & friends can gather, it's the place where you can cook breakfast in your PJs, or maybe it's just the place you can find some quiet. 

Home doesn't have to look a certain way or be a specific place, it is much more of a feeling, a "place" we create as we tend what we have.

This year, I (taryn) have moved from my home of 9 years that my husband, his dad, & several friends, & I had spent countless hours making our home. It was not an easy place to say goodbye to. So many wonderful memories were made there, first baby steps, countless birthdays of family & friends, wedding celebrations, showers, rich & meaningful conversations, Christmases, Easter brunches, Halloweens, the list could go on forever. Now as we live in a temporary home that is filled with someone else's furniture, kitchen gadgets, and home decor, I have grieved the loss of the place we loved so much. I have also celebrated these people I get to share a roof with in ways that I never did living in our former home. I've had to let go of how my home looks and, instead, clung to how my home feels. 

So, as you reflect on the idea of home this holiday season, I encourage you to go a little deeper than home just being a certain scent or even sitting on your couch. This holiday season our family has neither familiar smells or our own couch to sit on, yet we're home because it's where we are. It's where we're having conversations that matter, we're snuggling, sharing meals, we're trying to listen well, love hard, and show up each day. Honestly, I wouldn't trade this season for the world. I wouldn't have asked for it, but this chapter of our family's life will shape all 5 of us in ways we never could have been shaped had we not left 1983 Maplewood Drive.