I remember sitting in my home office in Hobart, Tasmania, the room dimly lit as my partner had already gone to bed. It was one of those nights where the weight of decisions felt heavier than usual. I was contemplating whether to buy a ticket to return home for good, knowing that my life as I knew it hung in the balance.
From Carefree Designer to New Beginnings
In my previous life, I was a single woman, a traveler, and a hard-core designer. My days were filled with long walks on the beach, designing whatever inspired me—houses, fashion, furniture—you name it. I enjoyed tea with friends, surfing, traveling, and living without a care in the world. But my current situation was far from carefree. I had left everything behind when I married and moved to a new country. Despite the challenges, I believe it was one of the best decisions I ever made. It allowed me to redefine what home, family, and career meant to me.
The Turning Point
That night, staring at my computer screen, I felt uncertain. I hadn’t been able to make this place my home in the five years I had been here. I needed a way to turn my life around, and I needed it now. Just as I was about to buy that ticket, I noticed a stack of post-its waiting for me to sketch something. I thought, if I can sketch a plan to turn around my home on one of these post-its, I’ll commit to implementing it and stay put.
The Post-It Plan
That night, I covered the walls of my home office with colorful post-its, each one a step in my plan to use my home to turn my life around. It wasn’t a flashy ambition, but it was practical. I started again with the simplest of plans and a full commitment to making it work. Nine years later, I’ve moved myself ahead, proving that anything is possible. It took courage, vulnerability, and the willingness to try, fall, and get back up again countless times. And that post-it plan became the blueprint for refurbishments, renovations, reshufflings, and paring down lots of stuff that were holding me back.
Returning to My Roots
Incredibly, one of the outcomes of this moment in life was me going back to my roots to learn to think like a designer again. Now is your turn. If you feel inspired by this journey, why not try it yourself? Grab a stack of post-its and start sketching your ideas. Reflect on what you need to change in your home or how you would redesign what you have already so that it helps you become stronger. Use your space as a canvas to visualize your goals and find what’s holding you back. This simple yet powerful exercise can help you see your path more clearly and commit to making it happen.
Your Journey
Now, I’d love to know where you find yourself on your journey to having the home that helps you turn around your life and doesn’t get in the way of you getting the best version of your home you want. Are you still figuring out how to make home happen? Are you in the messy middle, feeling overwhelmed? Or are you riding high and looking to make your home and house even better? What changes would you make to your home to better support your lifestyle? How do you envision your ideal living space? What challenges have you faced in making your house feel like home?
Send me a message and let me know. I monitor this blog and inbox myself and read every message. It means the world to me that you’re here.
Get Your Design Project Started With These FREE Resources to help you on your building designer journey
- Get Marisol’s FREE Book “How To Get The Most Out Of Your Home Designer…Even If The Designer is YOU” here.
- Watch Marisol’s FREE Workshop “Home Design Secrets” here. Would it be too out there for you to get started with your home and follow the same steps I followed to redefine my home? And how about me guiding you the same way I guide my clients when I design their houses? Step by step, you’ll find it all here.
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- Marisol Miro Quesada works as a building, architectural, house, interior, and landscape designer specialising as home designer. Schedule a call to chat about your project or get a free quote here.