let it simmer

In the days of instant gratification and a microwave generation. With what seems like magic {which is really just lots of unseen, hard work} behind television, magazines, and websites… there’s a secret arsenal we like to use that’s a little old fashioned.

We like to take our time. You know… Let it simmer.

We believe that when it comes to creating a space that really suits your family and their needs, the best laid plans are topped off with a good dose of letting it simmer. Thinking through ideas carefully, and making sure they’re utilized to their fullest. We’re slow and steady wins the race over here {see our bathroom remodel that took nine months} because we wanted to wait for what we truly wanted. And there’s a lot to be said about that.

We talk about fear on our site a lot, because it seems to be the popular hold up. Not to be confused with the idea of letting fear and hesitation dominate your decisions for your home, it’s just a good idea to think it through before you pull the trigger. Here’s a few reasons we love this approach when it comes to bringing all those ingredients together for the perfect space, and then from the rolling boil… to a nice little simmer. Here’s where we’ve found it worked for us:

1. The process.

You’d think I’d gotten over myself a long time ago. But somewhere, somehow when it comes to some stage in a space… I have a small freakout session and second guess everything. One time it was the shock of the paint on the wall when it first went on. I thought it was too blue, and it freaked me out. Another, it was the chair in a corner. I convinced myself it looked like the pillsbury dough boy and that no one could love that chair and in five years they’d be burning it in the corner. Recently, with the Ronald McDonald House, it was my giant painting. I’d stared at it a bit too long, and decided that rainbow bright vomited, and that no one should see its atrocity in the space… I was a sham, should quit while I was ahead, and move on.

I’m really glad I didn’t let any of those brief panic attacks affect my design choices.

Sometimes, we stare at it too long. We start to second guess ourselves. We wonder if we’re making mistakes. We come at it from different angles like an anxious bee attempting to land on a flower.

Then Jamin, as he always does, talks me off my cliff. I come back down to reality, and we move forward with the plan. He’s really handy like that. It’s how we roll and what we do. I face those doubts head on, and then either move forward, or tweak it a little. But I never make decisions hurriedly, or in a panic. It helps me filter out the unimportant stuff. Putting a space together takes guts and follow through. I think sometimes, we waste a lot of time on fear and second guessing, and it’s easy to get caught up in the moment.

It’s also easy to get caught up in what feels like instantaneous magic when we’re surrounded by social media and everything else. We all need to remember that a lot of hard work, time, and energy go into these spaces. And it’s important to let the process take place, unhurriedly. It helps us make the best possible choices for our home and those who live there.

Our kitchen was like that. And it was a slow evolution with our family as we went. Painting those perfectly wonderful builder’s grade cabinets the first time was a real scary thing to tackle. But it was a gradual change that we did over time, because there’s a lot to be said for breaking the rules… but doing so sensibly. So after initially waiting to paint those cabinets, we finished them and then went back for new touches. A new island counter top. A fresh shelving unit in the pantry. That green, on the island that some would consider scary… But we did it slowly and it was a part of the process.

So, even my freakouts are a part of the process. It’s important to let it simmer, no matter what your process looks like.

And once we went through the process, and let it simmer… we wondered what took us so long.

2. The best laid plans are sometimes worth a second look. And a third. 

Here’s where I contradict myself and make ya say, what??? Letting it simmer can help you think through your ideas and make sure they’re, well, actually practical.

I was flipping through an old sketchbook the other day, where I put all my initial ideas. Because Emerson’s space started out with a swing. For her bed. I was obsessed with the concept for about a week. I would tweak it here and there and try to talk Jamin into building it. See?! I would say… She needs this swing in her room! It will be glorious and wonderful and well designed and fabulous! And every other adjective I could muster to convince him. We even ordered a high quality rope to make it happen, which now sits in the garage to this day… {Don’t worry. One day we will build a ridiculously huge swing to make up for it. We all have those pieces that are waiting for their moment of glory, yes?}

While that idea is fun and grand, sometimes it’s best to let those sketches in my sketchbook simmer for a while, whilst considering the practicality behind it.

There’s a fine art of learning what to listen to. What to drop, and when to move on with those gut instincts. The creative process is like that. And sometimes, I think we don’t allow ourselves time for fine tuning that second and third draft. Theres a real difference between silly fear, and simply refining a good idea for the sake of practicality and longevity.

Bonus: Let it simmer, and you’ll probably save time and money.

Basically, I’m really glad I took my time and thought it through. Because I think it’s great to express fun in a space, especially a child’s. But I’m not Hildi a-la Trading Spaces, bless it. We all make our mistakes. And sometimes it’s good to think on the practical side for long term when it comes to your ideas.

3. Let it meet your needs

And change with you as your family grows. Form should follow function, right? It seems so simple, but sometimes we get a little confused with which came first… the chicken or egg scenario.

It should be our number one mantra when planning a space, but sometimes we get caught up in the pretty… and forget the important.

We say this all the time, but don’t be afraid to change your spaces. Taking your time helps you curate those thoughts, ideas and inspiration to make wise choices based on function.

Once upon a time this was a dining room. And then we looked at each other when realizing we used it about twice a year to host fancy parties {by fancy we mean we broke out some glass plates} and realized we had a higher need for our family. This real estate could be used daily for so much more. Enter: Homeschool. And I can honestly say we will have another room like this in future homes for us, no matter what the set up looks like. Our kids needed a space to work. Why was I letting some architect of a mass-produced house tell us how to use it?

It’s the most important element that seems to be forgotten in lieu of crazy pinterest finds and wild shelving schemes. It’s what makes a space real.

The best spaces aren’t purchased as a room on discount. They aren’t thrown together overnight by a magical decor fairy. Homes are not a one size fits all, and nor do they come with a forever fit. They come with careful thought and consideration. Let it grow and change with you, to fit your needs. That sofa you love may be absolutely gorgeous, and we say go for it… but only if you’ll truly use it. That shelf may be the most gorgeous antique you’ve ever laid your eyes on. But if it doesn’t fit in your space, it’s okay to rethink.

Let your choices for your home be practical, and you’ll never regret it. Let it simmer… it helps in keeping all those ideas realistic with your feet on the ground.

So, let it simmer. You won’t regret it.

You’ll appreciate your home even more for what it is, and fully utilize all that valuable real estate.

Can you think of a time when you let it simmer… and you were glad you did? We’d love to hear from our fellow old fashioned friends. Have an inspired day!