share post

{5 Minute Break} 7 Delightful Homes to Inspire

by | Aug 17, 2015 | Decorating Inspiration, Moving, My Life

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

{5 Minute Break} 7 Delightful Homes to Inspire
BHG

Sometimes when your home is in a bit of chaos due to life changes or you are in the middle of big transition like moving from one home to the next, it’s easy to feel pretty overwhelmed at times (am I right? High fives to those of you who have moved or in the process of moving this summer.)

It’s tiring knowing you can’t go back to where or how things were (especially if you liked the way things were), but when you look forward to what’s ahead, arrival at the destination seems like such a big mountain to climb.

{5 Minute Break} 7 Delightful Homes to InspireBHG

As exhausting as that in between season can be, I think it’s a good idea to give yourself at least a little break now and then to dwell on pretty things. Pretty things can help remind us that this season of high pressure and stress won’t (hopefully?) last forever.

Even a short coffee break to catch up on blogs or read a few magazines helps to assure me I’m not just creating a big unnecessary mess for myself by tearing apart my home, but I’m preparing our family for the next adventure ahead. That’s an exciting thought, isn’t it? At least, that’s what I tell myself when I’m just hoping to fit in a shower and I can’t even find a bar of soap.

Grand adventures in life always start out with a season of planning, preparation, hard work and even unpleasant changes to get things organized and ready.

{5 Minute Break} 7 Delightful Homes to Inspire
BHG

In those unsettling seasons, it can be easy to lose focus and energy because we all get tired. You might have trouble thinking and sleeping, you might worry or even question your sanity as you are stumbling along weary on the path. But adventurers will always find their way home. We have to remember this bumpy road we might find ourselves on is just a temporary detour to get through to our next desired destination; it is not a permanent place to dwell. Change can be invigorating, but when you are in the thick of it, peace, inspiration and motivation can be hard to find.

{5 Minute Break} 7 Delightful Homes to Inspire
Traditional Home

{5 Minute Break} 7 Delightful Homes to Inspire
{5 Minute Break} 7 Delightful Homes to Inspire
{5 Minute Break} 7 Delightful Homes to Inspire

To counteract the craziness of seeing my home undone and our years of memories stacked up in a bazillion bins and boxes, I went on a beauty seeking mission online to recharge and re-inspire! My eyes feel much better now after even just a five minute refresh to enjoy something beautiful. I thought you too might need a little beauty break to escape or gear up for whatever you have to get through this week.

I hope you give yourself permission today to pause for a moment of rest. Enjoy these delightful spaces before you head off on your own crazy or bumpy adventure this week!

Are you on the road towards your next adventure? Tell me about it!

30 Comments

  1. Mary

    I love the vintage visual!

    Reply
  2. Jenny

    Hi Melissa!! We moved in April, so I completely agree with everything you just said!! I didn’t realize how much more work it is to move OUT of the big house compared to moving INTO the big house!! We have downsized into an older, non-custom, home & I feel more inspired here than I have anywhere else I have lived. It’s been a fun summer of unpacking & settling in & making this place our home!
    My next great adventure? Well, it starts today, literally! So the timing of this post was perfect! Another way that God is telling me that I am doing the right thing!!… Design school, here I come!!!
    Blessings to you, Melissa! Thank you for being you!! :)

    Reply
    • Kay

      Yes, what a coincidence, as we, too, are in a mid-move!
      Our next house is a very cute Dutch colonial, which has been in re-do for 3+ years.
      Good things come to those who wait, amIright?
      Meanwhile, because all my design energy is going into the Dutch colonial, I have ceased to care about our current house.
      That’s no fun! I need to nest where I live!
      Oh, well — happy new house to you gals!

      Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Wow, congratulations on settling into your new home AND the new adventure! How much fun to be going to design school! Enjoy this season, Jenny! :)

      Reply
  3. Stephanie

    Melissa, thank you for this post! Yours was just the voice I needed to hear. We too are int the process of leaving a home which finally felt “done”. Why then are we moving? Well, to quote my husband, “There is nothing left for me to do here.” So we are in the middle of gutting and restoring a fifties ranch. It has been a challenge trying to merge my style (I’m not even sure what that is at this point) with our new/old house. Packing up twenty years of “our stuff” is proving to be quite the task. So thank you for reminding me to enjoy the journey and to look forward to what lies ahead.

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      I’m so glad you shared your comment. Kindred spirits on a similar journey! I know I’ll be relating to what you said about merging a current style with a new place soon, too, that’s always the challenging part. But my husband just said this weekend that while we might have loved the comfort of just settling in one place to relax, adventure keeps us on our toes and enjoying new experiences. Enjoy your new home, I hope you’ll come back and share more about your remodeling (or share it on Home Love Stories so I can see!!).

      Reply
  4. Kaitlyn

    Loved reading this. I am currently going through a move and this was refreshing and motivational for me. The pictures were lovely as well! Thanks.
    – Kaitlyn | http://www.TheCrownFox.com

    Reply
  5. Jo

    I know exactly how you feel, Melissa! We recently sold our home of 27 years and moved into an apartment with the bare necessities for the next 6 months while our retirement home is being built. We broke ground last week! I miss ” my life” that is all packed up in storage, but, I am loving the temporary home thst I have at the moment, tho it’s not ideal, it is still a blessing! Thanks for your book and for these pretty eye- candy of lovely appointed rooms today. I ❤️ them. Wishing you many blessings on your new move and home venture. ❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Thank you Jo! Wow, after 27 years that must be a bittersweet feeling to be moving to a new place! Wishing you many blessings on the journey with your new home.

      Reply
  6. Seana Turner

    Just wanted to say that I think you are so right about it being exhausting to not just go back to the way things were. Some steps forward are significant enough that you cannot retreat, and doing things differently always takes energy. Dwelling on beauty for a bit is a great way to refresh:)

    Reply
  7. Linda Stoll

    I’m just a few steps ahead of you, Melissa! We just moved into our little house, nestled in a town between ocean and bay, 5 weeks ago! The transition’s been a rocky one with a surprise around each and every corner.

    http://creeksideministries.blogspot.com/2015/05/in-which-this-is-all-so-very-bittersweet.html

    I found that writing my way through every step and being cheered on online friends was a huge unexpected.grace. I took my ‘neighborhood’ with me and it made all the difference!

    ;-}

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Wow, I’ve always dreamed about living in Cape Cod, what a blessing for you! I’m sure it has been hard leaving a home after so many years. But it sure is wonderful that we can take our community with us when we share it online! Blessings to you in your new home and the adventure still ahead! Thank you for sharing, Linda.

      Reply
      • Linda Stoll

        One of the reasons we moved to the Cape was to do life with my parents. Much to our stunning shock, my dad died the day after we moved. To say that has changed everything would be an understatement.

        Now we KNOW that God wanted us to be here … for my mom.

        Thanks, Melissa …

        Reply
        • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

          Oh, no, I’m so sorry to hear that! But I’m sure you being right there for your mom was a source of comfort in such a sad time for all of you. Take care.

          Reply
  8. Gloria

    “…you might worry or even question your sanity as you are stumbling along weary on the path.” Your words really struck a cord today. My husband and I are both 70 and we decided a couple years ago to retire from farming and move to town. The crazy thing is we are building. All the planning was great fun but now as we are bombarded with all the decisions, I find myself looking forward to a day or two where I can just forget it all…just for a little bit. Definitely getting weary, but the end is in sight and your words of encouragement are just what I needed to make it until we are moved in and settle once more! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Melissa @ The Inspired Room

      Oh I am sure that is quite the adventure!! I’ve never built a home but I know all of the decisions would keep me awake at night! But I think the end result would be amazing, a home designed just for you. Just think, you get much of the stress out of the way up front and then you get to move in peacefully, rather than moving into a fixer upper and wrestling with decisions forever while you live in the mess. Ha. Soon you’ll be ENJOYING the rewards of those decisions and sleepless nights! Hang in there.

      Reply
  9. Nancy O'Brien

    Melissa, you have a lovely way of approaching the challenges in your life. Good luck on your journey…may each step bring joy.

    Reply
    • Penny

      What a thoughtful comment Nancy. Melissa I echo that thought. the homes you showed us are lovely.

      Reply
  10. SandyL

    This is just the kind of post I need to read right now considering I’m currently getting our home ready to be put on the market while building our downsized home — going from 3400 sf to 2000 sf. Making decisions and selections for the new house has been more time consuming than I had imagined — but I’m enjoying that process. Believe me, I’m enjoying the process of weeding through the years of accumulation much less!! Even so, I’m managing better than I thought I would be at this point — and today’s post (and previous ones) might just be the reason why!! I’m following along with you, Melissa. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  11. Maggie

    Moving is hard I know. Trying to remember all the little things to do. Change of address, utilities, dealing with sometimes not the greatest movers. Put your faith in God and let him guide you. He will put you in the right place. Take as many breaks as you need.. Enjoy what ever life has in store…

    Reply
  12. Misty bragg

    Beautifully written and couldn’t have come at a better time! We just moved 4 weeks ago and the list of projects and changes to the home seem endless. This is a great reminder to take a break once in awhile!! We’ve already done so much in such a short amount of time, I need to remind myself of that on the days I become tired and ‘burnt out’ Thank you so much for your wobderful, encouraging words!!

    Reply
  13. Terri

    I”m sending you happy thoughts! I know how difficult it is to move, get set up…it’s such a process. Are we ever really ‘settled’?….ever? I don’t think so. Melissa, your next home is very lucky to have you moving in. You’re going to make it a beautiful, comfortable, awesome place to call HOME~ <3

    Reply
  14. Heidi Hochstetler

    Oh glory! This spoke volumes to me… goosebumps just before another trip to Home Depot! Weary, worried, and simply overwhelmed, I started the day with so much concern. Our family is moving to a fixer upper much closer to our children’s schools. We are excited and filled with gratitude for this opportunity, but the past few weeks have been difficult to breathe… home inspections, difficult buyers for our “old” home, son in a car accident, a phone call saying I have skin cancer, waking up a beautiful 50-year-old home that was painted dark blue (top to bottom, even the trim!), choosing new paint colors, having additional family around, and managing a family schedule with four teenagers. Thanks for sharing this! You say, “I hope you give yourself permission today to pause for a moment of rest.” Yes! We are choosing to do this this evening! No more working on the house… family time, quiet time! Blessings as you journey through the move!

    Reply
  15. Kimberly

    This was the perfect post for me today! Thank you thank you! We just moved into our first home and your site is such an inspiration for our future renovations and decor choices. While I gravitate toward white, grey and light spaces our home is filled will red oak, hand planed boards, floors, cabinets, even ceilings. The rustic kitchen featured above may be a good middle ground for honoring the home (we purchased it for the love and craftsmanship with which it was built) while merging my personal style – Do you have any further details or photos?

    Thank you! xox Kim

    Reply
  16. B taylor

    The grays are exactly what I would use. Love the soft palette!!!
    We just bought an adorable house. So excited to get started on the redecorating, although of ton work ahead, it will be a labor of love. We will be removing a lot of wall paper and painting every single room including kitchen/bath cabinets and furniture!!!?

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Heidi Hochstetler Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Decor Finds:

browse categories:

browse archives:

let’s stay connected!

Follow for daily
Home Inspiration:

get my free decorating guide

home decor inspiration, free downloads,
and more, straight to your inbox

css.php