The following is an excerpt from the Home with Love chapter in Divinely Designed: A Beautiful & Functional Home. Divinely Designed will be available for preorder in February 2020. Learn more about Divinely Designed here >
“When I think of love, one particular home comes to mind—our {Country Road} project. In 2018 we had the awe-inspiring privilege of designing and renovating an original farmhouse for one of the most loving couples we have ever met. Ironically, this project we almost passed up turned into one we will always cherish. At a moment when Jayme and I were discussing how overbooked we were and that we could not take on one more project, the phone rang. On the other end of the line was the friendly voice of a pleading man (definitely a husband calling on behalf of his wife—I know that voice well, haha). He explained that he and his wife had walked through our {Hidden Hillside} project when it was for sale and had fallen in love! He went on to tell me that it was truly his wife’s dream home, but a few features did not work for their home-based business, so they were grudgingly forced to continue their search. Now, they had found a home in the same town that was perfect for all of their logistical needs, but they felt it needed a full renovation to match their style. He also explained that his wife so badly wanted our team to make this house into a home, just like we did with {Hidden Hillside}.
At a moment when Jayme and I were discussing how overbooked we were and that we could not take on one more project, the phone rang.
Like many others who had walked through it, he exclaimed that they could just feel the heart that our team had poured into it. He asked if we would look at the home they found and consider putting the same heart into it for them. As we talked, he sent me a link where I could see photos of the house. I immediately recognized it as one of the houses I had already spent time perusing online. It had a staircase that captivated me and I had already dreamed of the opportunity to get my hands on it. It did not take more than a minute to take back the words Jayme and I had just spoken about not taking on any additional projects. I could see Jayme watching me throughout the conversation and shaking his head. He knows me all too well and knows that when I fall in love with people or certain project opportunities, I abandon all sense of reason.
In 2018 we had the awe-inspiring privilege of designing and renovating an original farmhouse for one of the most loving couples we have ever met.
A few days later we met this beautiful couple at the charming farmhouse and instantly grew attached to them both! They were dream clients and it was a dream project with so much potential. We spent a couple of hours walking the farmhouse that they hoped could be morphed into their dream home. Oh! It could! It really could! I could see it—the 1920s house in modern-day glory and home to this sweet, sweet couple. Within days they bought the farm—literally. And we got busy redesigning their soon-to-be home.
Our entire Beautiful Chaos team fell head over heels for this magically in-love couple; their adoring and sprightly relationship was so easy to draw inspiration from and every detail of the renovation was dreamed up in reflection of them. As we planned the new kitchen layout, it was mostly centered around how the Missus loves to cook for and feed her precious, hardworking hubby.
She wanted to build a garden in the side yard and have the ability to prepare farm-to-table meals. I understand this particular language of affection and therefore took my assignment of making her dream kitchen come to life oh so seriously! Designing custom cabinetry is one of my specialties and I wanted her kitchen cabinets to be extra special—in both beauty and function. I was so excited to present my design plan to them and hopeful that the cabinet drawings would win their immediate approval. Mission accomplished: they loved everything! Or so I thought.
Mission accomplished: they loved everything! Or so I thought.
I was concerned when we got a call from the Mister immediately following the presentation. He explained that they both loved my design, but he wanted to switch something up—and he wanted to keep it a secret from the Missus. He was excited to tell me that he wanted to surprise her with a built-in espresso machine. The Missus loves coffee and it was something she had always wanted. Ahhhh—this is exactly why I love them! We were all so excited to play a part in this sweet hubby’s incredible gesture of love for his wife. So, our team drafted two sets of cabinet drawings—one set for all of us that included the surprise espresso machine, and a second set for the Missus that showed a full-length cabinet in its place. The day that java-making machine was installed is a memory that will last a lifetime. Though the entire main-level renovation turned out beautifully, the kitchen is a perfect reflection of this couple’s great love and literally the heart of the home.
We were all so excited to play a part in this sweet hubby’s incredible gesture of love for his wife.
We also discovered that their love is anchored in the love of Christ. Suddenly everything made sense: the whisper to accept their project, the inspiration to design it in love, the way their bond charmed our team, and the way a lasting relationship between us and the couple has been created and is treasured. Love wins. “Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells” (Psalm 26:8, NIV).”
Update: Divinely Designed is now available for purchase! See the sources from this project here.
