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Theo’s surprise nursery makeover Part One: How to paint a striped feature wall

Thursday ~ Posted by Karen Schravemade

This week I’ll be revealing a very special room makeover that is incredibly close to my heart.

Words can hardly express the courage and heartbreak and hope that lie behind this one project. Never before have I painted a room with tears running down my cheeks and a prayer constantly on my lips. Some of you already know this story, and some don’t. For those who don’t, I want to share a little of the journey behind this surprise makeover.

After years of trying to conceive through IVF, my sister-in-law Jen fell pregnant with twins. Four months ago she went into labour at only 24 weeks gestation, and was air-lifted to Brisbane, where she gave birth to Theodore Matthew and Imogen Grace. The tiny babies were given a 60% chance of survival.

The babies began a long and arduous battle against the odds. Little Imogen in particular struggled through one setback after another – first necrotising entercolitis, which required emergency bowel surgery, then meningitis, and finally a Golden Staff infection. This was the final blow for her fragile little body, and at just 3 and a half months of age, precious little Immy lost her fight for life.

Imogen on the left and big brother Theo on the right
In the midst of the overwhelming grief and sadness, doctors gave my sister-and-brother-in-law some good news – after four months in hospital, Theo was doing well enough to be discharged home in the next two weeks.

They were coming home!! My mind immediately turned to the room Jenny and Dean were planning to use as a nursery. Because Jen went into labour so early and they’d spent the next four months living in a city far from home, they’d never had a chance to do up that room or buy any baby gear. They had no cot, no change table… nothing.

The room intended for use as the nursery was currently their study/ sewing room/ storage room. It looked like this:

I felt a sparkle of hope as I realised I could do something to help. I couldn’t take away any of the grief or pain… but I could give Theo the special homecoming he deserved, and let Jenny and Dean know just how much we loved and supported them. I wanted them to feel completely enfolded in love from all their family and friends, in a real and tangible way. It’s been their dream for so many years to bring home a baby of their own, and while none of us could have foreseen a homecoming so bittersweet, so underscored by sadness, I wanted it to also be infused with hope and joy.

With only 2 weeks to completely transform the room, I had no time to waste. So I set to work emptying out the room to give me a blank slate to work with. Luckily there was plenty of storage space in the other two spare rooms, currently used as guest bedrooms.

The next step was to paint the entire room a fresh white. It’s hard to see in the before photo, but the walls were a dirty cream colour which made the already-small room feel even more closed in. This picture shows some of the white going onto the walls, and you can kind of see the contrast between the white and cream.

I chose Dulux “Lexicon Half” in a low sheen finish, with the same colour in gloss for the window and door architraves. It’s a very fresh, crisp white with the slightest nearly-imperceptible undertone of grey, which makes it a cool white to banish those warm and creamy tones. Perfect!

Then it was time to tackle the striped feature wall.

I’d decided on a base colour-scheme of white and grey for the nursery, with accents of blue and green, and here and there a happy little pop of yellow. I wanted the overall feel of the room to be calming and serene: a sanctuary of peace for an emotionally-exhausted new Mummy.

I envisioned my stripes to be quite wide, around the 16-19cm mark. I began by measuring the height of the wall (2258mm), and then I divided this measurement by the number of stripes I wanted on the wall in order to work out what the exact width of each stripe would be.

This was a process of trial and error – I knew that with ten stripes on the wall, the stripes would be too wide (22.5cm) so I needed more than ten. So I just started plugging numbers into my calculator. 11 stripes? Still too wide. 12 stripes? Perfect – that worked out to 18.8cm each.

I started from the top and marked out 18.8cm intervals with a pencil, going down the wall. Then I took a 1 metre long spirit level ruler (I had to buy one – it was only $14 from Bunnings) and ruled lines straight across the wall from one end to the other. (E.T. kindly dropped by to hold the ruler in place so I could take this photo. Look at those freaky alien fingers.)

There was no need to make any more measurement markings on the other side of the wall: it’s actually more accurate to use a spirit level to get the lines perfectly straight, instead of measuring down at intervals from the ceiling, which may not be dead level.

Next I marked with a small cross the stripes that would be painted in the feature colour. This was to accommodate my Mummy brain, which gets confused easily.

I used painter’s tape to mark out my pencil-lines, like so:

You’ll notice that every second stripe looks a little wider. That’s because you have to remember to tape the OUTSIDE edges of the stripe that will be painted. Hence my little pencil marks.

The next step is crucial to gettting those crisp, clean edges you want for your stripes, without any of that pesky bleeding underneath the tape.

Secret weapon: seal the edges of the tape in the background wall colour, BEFORE you paint the stripes.

You can see from this photo that I laid it on pretty thick, using a small foam roller. The white bleeds underneath the tape, but because it’s the same colour as the wall, you can’t see it. And then it dries and creates a seal, so the next colour can’t bleed under.

After the sealing layer has dried completely (usually a couple of hours – check the recoat times on the back of the paint tin) it’s time to get this stripe party started.

I chose Taubman’s “Silvertone Grey” for the stripes. I stressed about that colour. I knew I wanted a pale grey, because bold stripes to me look a bit circusy, and that would detract from the calming feel I was trying to create in the room. I made sure to hold paint chips up next to the curtain fabric I’d chosen, because grey is a colour chameleon, and can look completely different depending on what it’s next to. It matched the curtain fabric very nicely. But it was SO pale. Aaaagh – anxiety! Should I go a shade or two darker?

Let me tell you, “Silvertone Grey” is a very, very pale grey on the sample paint chips; it’s even paler when you crack open the tin and stare down at a colour that looks nearly white and freak out that it will barely even be visible on the wall.

No such worry needed. As soon as it hit the wall I knew it was absolutely perfect next to that crisp white. And of course paint always dries darker than it appears in the tin.

Lesson: when painting stripes on a white wall, always go a shade or two lighter than you think! Silvertone Grey turned out to be the perfect colour for this room. In case you were wondering, I painted the stripes with the same small foam roller I used to seal the tape.

As I painted, let me tell you, I was praying my little heart out. Praying that this room would be a true sanctuary for Jenny; that every time she sits in here with her baby boy, she will be at peace. That it would be a refuge from sadness and pain… that God’s presence would saturate the very air around her, enfolding her in love and hope for her future. With every stroke of the roller I prayed, “Lord, let your peace be in these very walls…”

More than the right paint colours or a beautiful nursery, I want that for her. The overwhelming comfort of a God who loves her and walks with her through her grief.

More drying time here before applying a second coat to each stripe. At this point, it’s important to remove the painter’s tape before that top coat dries, so the tape doesn’t pull the dried paint away from the wall. So I painted one stripe at a time and removed the tape while the top coat was still wet:

Ta-da! Perfect crisp edges. Such a relief!

And here is the completed wall:

I can’t wait to show you the completed nursery – the best is yet to come! Can I just say, it looks absolutely amazing!! A total transformation.

Tomorrow I’ll post the final room reveal and a video of Jenny’s awesome reaction to the surprise. It was so good, it made me want to go on one of those home makeover shows so I can do this for a living and make people this happy every day. It was truly a blessing to see her with a huge smile on her face, completely and utterly blown away by the beautiful room.

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Thanks for reading, and I’d love it if you would leave a comment so that I know you were here! Tell me – what’s the most meaningful painting project you’ve ever undertaken? Anyone tried stripes on a wall before? Inspired to give it a try?

UPDATE: You can see the final room reveal here! Here’s a sneak peek:

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Categories: Decorate, DIY, Featured, Home

« October pick: Room by Emma Donoghue
Theo’s surprise nursery makeover Part Two: room reveal! »
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Lovely comments

  1. Michelle Hutchinson says

    Monday at 11:12 am

    Absolutely beautiful Karen!

    • karen says

      Monday at 11:22 am

      Thanks Michelle!! xo

  2. saryjoy says

    Monday at 11:12 am

    Gorgeous! What a blessing. I so wanted to do stripes in my new house but wasn&#39t game! Why didn&#39t you do this a month ago when we were painting?! 😉

    • karen says

      Monday at 11:22 am

      Haha! It&#39s never too late for stripes… 😉

  3. Karen L says

    Monday at 11:12 am

    Gorgeous Karen…. what a beautiful thing to do for Dean and Jenny. You have a beautiful heart…

  4. karen says

    Monday at 11:12 am

    Thank you Karen! x

  5. Michelle Hutchinson says

    Thursday at 7:47 am

    Absolutely beautiful Karen!

    • karen says

      Thursday at 11:57 am

      Thanks Michelle!! xo

  6. Julia M. Reffner says

    Monday at 11:12 am

    Oh, I love your new look! And your post made me cry. I love your heart…

    • karen says

      Monday at 11:22 am

      You have such a tender heart. Love you Jules.

  7. Pepper says

    Monday at 11:12 am

    You are so talented, Karen!!! What a beautiful gift to give to Theo and his parents.

    • karen says

      Monday at 11:22 am

      Thanks, Pepper. It felt so good to be able to do something, you know? I was so happy they loved it.

  8. saryjoy says

    Thursday at 9:38 am

    Gorgeous! What a blessing. I so wanted to do stripes in my new house but wasn't game! Why didn't you do this a month ago when we were painting?! 😉

    • karen says

      Thursday at 11:58 am

      Haha! It's never too late for stripes… 😉

  9. Casey says

    Monday at 11:12 am

    It is so, so beautiful and it&#39s just a wall! 😉 But all the prayer that you put into that room…it&#39s going to breathe God&#39s love on this little boy and his mummy. I can&#39t to see what you did with the rest of the room. It turned out SO good Karen!

    • karen says

      Monday at 11:22 am

      Thank you, dear Casey! I can&#39t wait to show you the rest!

  10. Karen L says

    Thursday at 10:01 am

    Gorgeous Karen…. what a beautiful thing to do for Dean and Jenny. You have a beautiful heart…

  11. karen says

    Thursday at 11:59 am

    Thank you Karen! x

  12. Julia M. Reffner says

    Thursday at 1:31 pm

    Oh, I love your new look! And your post made me cry. I love your heart…

    • karen says

      Thursday at 7:48 pm

      You have such a tender heart. Love you Jules.

  13. Pepper says

    Thursday at 1:58 pm

    You are so talented, Karen!!! What a beautiful gift to give to Theo and his parents.

    • karen says

      Thursday at 7:51 pm

      Thanks, Pepper. It felt so good to be able to do something, you know? I was so happy they loved it.

  14. Casey says

    Thursday at 2:56 pm

    It is so, so beautiful and it's just a wall! 😉 But all the prayer that you put into that room…it's going to breathe God's love on this little boy and his mummy. I can't to see what you did with the rest of the room. It turned out SO good Karen!

    • karen says

      Thursday at 7:53 pm

      Thank you, dear Casey! I can't wait to show you the rest!

  15. Krista Phillips says

    Monday at 11:12 am

    Beautiful wall! Can&#39t wait to see the rest of it!

    • karen says

      Monday at 11:22 am

      Thanks Krista – I&#39m just itching to share!

  16. Krista Phillips says

    Thursday at 8:03 pm

    Beautiful wall! Can't wait to see the rest of it!

    • karen says

      Thursday at 8:12 pm

      Thanks Krista – I'm just itching to share!

A blog by

Karen Schravemade

welcome!

Hi friends! So glad you're here! I'm Karen, Aussie stay-home Mum to four littlies, former teacher of Creative Arts, agented writer and interior decorator. I'm on a journey to bring beauty to my home and enjoy a more creative life with my kids - I'd love for you to join us. (Curious? Read more here!)

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5 years ago, I was struggling with social media ad 5 years ago, I was struggling with social media addiction.⁠⠀
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My compulsion to scroll on my phone was making me deeply unhappy, but I couldn't seem to stop. ⁠⠀
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It feels incredibly vulnerable, but for the first time, I'm sharing my raw and honest story about how I became addicted to social media, and the exact steps I took to break free. ⁠⠀
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I've gone from wasting hours on a mindless distraction that only ever made me feel worse about myself, to falling in love with God's Word and finding true rest + peace in his presence.⁠⠀
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I'm a speaker at the 2020 Christian Women's Self Care Conference, and the topic of my session is "Stop the Scroll and Feed your Soul - how to break social media addiction and find rest in God's presence."⁠⠀
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There are 55+ speakers in total, speaking on a wide range of topics relating to self care. Registration is FREE, but only for a couple more days until conference starts on November 9th! ⁠⠀
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If you want to hold your seat, just tap the link in my bio and select "Self Care Conference", which will take you to the registration page.⁠⠀
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I hope you'll be blessed!⁠⠀
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Meanwhile, please tell me I'm not alone - has anyone else ever struggled with this?? Do share. ⁠⠀
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PS... You can read more of my story in my latest blog post! (Link in bio -> Visit the blog). ⁠⠀
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I also shared this super cute DIY phone box to help you interrupt the pattern of mindlessly picking up your phone!⁠⠀
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xo Karen⁠⠀
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#selfcare #christianwomen #christianlife #socialmediaaddiction #phoneaddiction #selfcaresistersociety
If there's one word to describe how many women hav If there's one word to describe how many women have been feeling this year... it would be "depleted."⁠⠀
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I mean, for real. Who would've guessed back at the start of this year that we'd be dealing with a global pandemic, homeschooling our kids, financial uncertainty, and a total lockdown on many of our most comforting routines?⁠⠀
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Ladies, it's time to refill those emptied-out tanks before this year is out. I'm so excited to share that I'll be speaking at the 2020 Christian Women's Self-Care Conference, alongside 55 other bloggers, authors and speakers. ⁠⠀
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It's totally online, and our aim is to bless you with help and encouragement for your 2020-wearied soul! ⁠⠀
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Even better, registration is FREE until the conference begins on November 7th, so make sure you hold your seat today! Just click the link in my bio and choose "SELF CARE CONFERENCE".⁠⠀
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Hope to see you there!⁠⠀
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xo Karen⁠⠀
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P.S. Swipe - do you recognise one of those Day One speakers...? More on what I'll be speaking about, very soon! It's a goody!! 😉 😍⁠⠀
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#selfcare #selfcaresistersociety #2020⁠⠀
It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right It’s Reconciliation Week in Australia and right now my heart is so heavy with the injustice in the world that I’m struggling to even find the words.

Knowing that I’m inherently complicit in that injustice because of my privilege is sobering. At times I’ve been silent when I should have spoken and at other times I've spoken when I should’ve shut up and listened to the only voices in this narrative that really matter - the voices of those who’ve experienced this sort of prejudice from inside their own skin.

Racial injustice has always grieved my heart, but there’s a difference between empathy and kindness. Having empathy is important, but it’s not enough. Kindness speaks and acts. And right now I don’t really know what to say but somehow I feel it’s important to say something anyway, however imperfectly. Because there is nothing as deafening as silence in the face of systemic suffering.

I don’t know a lot. But I do know that Jesus was always on the side of the oppressed and marginalised. And the Bible tells us that one day, the last will be first and the first will be last. To me that means that in God’s new restored kingdom, these corrupt systems of the world will be turned on their head. In that day, those who’ve benefited from a system of white supremacy (myself included) will be the least. Those who’ve been oppressed and mistreated in this life will be honoured and elevated with the nobility they deserve. What a day that will be!! 🙌

But it’s not enough to know that someday it will all be made right. I hope to see heaven come to earth. I hope to see more black leaders, politicians, policy makers, authors, artists, influencers, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, bank managers, lawyers, judges, scientists and professors. The system is unfairly stacked and our privilege is self-perpetuating. I pray for it all to be turned upside down within our lifetime.

In the (paraphrased) words of MLK, let’s not prefer a negative peace which is an absence of tension (aka passivity, complacency, complicity, silence), over a positive peace, which is the presence of justice. “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
‭‭Amos‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. Sc We’re in week one of homeschooling over here. School closures will last at least five weeks. I will not lie, I was anxious about how I would cope. But we are slowly finding our rhythm and perhaps one day in the distant future I’ll even have time to start scheduling posts to Instagram again. For now, this is a random mid week check-in to say, how are you surviving, friends? I’m thinking of you! Wishing you an oasis of calm in the midst of everything, whether it means getting up half an hour earlier than the kids for a morning walk alone, or locking yourself in the bedroom at night with a good book while hubby puts the kids to bed. #doneboth #wewillsurvive 💗
Easter iso style - camping on our land! When so ma Easter iso style - camping on our land!
When so many are feeling hopeless right now, we are thankful for the hope Jesus brings. 💚🧡 Happy Easter, friends!
There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠ There is no right or wrong way to be right now.⁠
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I've felt led to share some hope and peace with you this week. That doesn't mean you need to put any extra pressure on yourself if you are struggling to tap into peacefulness right now.⁠
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I'm an Enneagram 4, so I am well accustomed to getting trapped inside my own feelings. For the feelers, the weight of the world's problems can sometimes feel intense and overwhelming.⁠
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I was on the beach the other day, praying for a "4" friend who is struggling with this exact thing. And all of a sudden, all of these butterflies started flying from the sand dunes toward the sea, and out over the waves.⁠
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It was a windy day and they were being buffeted around. But I was so intrigued that despite their fragility, they stayed on course, flying directly into that strong wind to get to where they were headed. It started with one, then two, then dozens upon dozens of them. None of them were blown into the water or whipped out of sight. They just flew straight on, above the waves.⁠
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And it made me think of the sensitive souls of this world. Our "butterflies", who bring so much beauty with their creativity, perception, and deep compassion for others. ⁠
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Our butterflies are being extra buffeted right now by the winds of change and pain. That doesn't make them weak. In fact they have within them a surprising strength, to stay the course and to fly above the waves.⁠
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The thing is, you don't have to change who you are to be strong. You don't have to be something you're not. Your sensitivity is not a weakness - it's designed into your DNA by God. With so many people hurting and afraid at the moment, we need your compassion more than ever.⁠
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If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to not be okay. Just trust that even if you feel buffeted by the winds, you are lifted by his grace above the waves, and you will not be drowned.⁠
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And even if you feel like you're flailing around out there, you never know, someone else might just be watching you, admiring your beauty and your grace. 🦋
I was reading a random little story the other day I was reading a random little story the other day from the book of Numbers, in the Bible. ⁠
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A king was scared of the Israelites and so he paid a prophet to curse them. Except every time they tried it, the guy spoke blessings instead. This is what he said:⁠
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"God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king." (Numbers 23:20-21)⁠
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Even the curses of the enemy will be turned into blessings for the people of God. ⁠
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He has given us an inheritance that cannot be shaken. ⁠
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💜 What blessing are you thankful for today? ⁠
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I'm thankful for the leadership of my local church, who continue to minister to peoples' needs both spiritual and physical. Our pastors have their own families and needs, yet they consistently look outward to care for their flock. ⁠
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Let me know yours below! Let's name as many BLESSINGS as we can!⁠
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xo Karen
Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠ ⁠ For famil Thank you God, for your goodness.⁠
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For family and a home and a table to gather around with our loved ones.⁠
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Thank you that when so much else is changing, you remain the same.⁠
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Thank you that you are for us and not against us. That your heart is toward us. That in you is all we need, now and always.⁠
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We pray for those who are lonely and isolated and anxious and unwell. For those whose jobs and livelihoods are lost or threatened. Give us creative ways to reach out with kindness, that we can be salt and light in a dark world. ⁠
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Let kindness for others not feel like a drain on our limited resources, but a natural outflowing of your continuous, abundant supply. ⁠
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Shelves may be bare, but you always have more than enough.⁠
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Every blessing comes from your hand and we are grateful.⁠
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Amen
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind an “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:27⁠
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There is truly nothing like God's peace.⁠
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The world can offer mindfulness and yoga and candles and calming diffused oils and self-help. Nothing wrong with any of those things, in fact they can be beautiful tools - I use all of them. ⁠
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But I can say from genuine experience that the peace God gives is not like the peace the world gives. It's on a whole new level. ⁠
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It's the peace that he gives when you're in the middle of a storm and the world is turning to crap all around you and you're at the very end of yourself and self-help has begun feeling like trying to drag yourself from a pit via a rope around your waist that you're tugging on with your own two hands. ⁠
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We can't always lift ourselves out of anxiety or fear. So drop the rope. Stop striving. And ask God for HIS peace. He has an abundant well of supply for you to draw from. ⁠
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Fear is trying to hold tight to control in a situation we can't control. ⁠
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Faith asks us to let go, to repent of our fearfulness and surrender it all to God.⁠
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How do you find this miracle of peace? In the letting go.⁠
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We were never meant to carry this burden anyway. ⁠
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How are you doing today? Let me know how I can pray for you. ⁠
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xo Karen
I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me th I was praying yesterday and felt God telling me that it's time to make a transition. Instead of being a person who looks for support from others in times of stress or uncertainty, he wants me to offer support TO others. ⁠
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I've often felt like I don't quite have it together. I'm sensitive, I feel things deeply, I tend to get trapped in my own head and in negative thought spirals.⁠
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But I felt like he was saying that I have something to offer, anyway. Just because I've always been a person who views myself as needy or weak does not mean God views me that way. He can see the strength that is in all of us and he delights in calling it forth. I love how when Gideon was hiding in fear in a winepress, God's angel greeted him by saying "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."⁠
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He was the furthest thing from a mighty warrior at that point. But God knew the battles he WOULD win in his future. He saw what did not yet exist and spoke about it as if it was already a reality. He saw Gideon's true identity and spoke directly to that buried and hidden place within him.⁠
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So. Maybe all I need is a shift in perspective. From looking inward at my own lack, to looking up at him. HE is the source of any hope and help I can offer. And if he wants me to share that, it would be my privilege to obey.⁠
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So let me know... is there anything you're particularly struggling with right now? If you're feeling anxious or burdened, I would love to support you in prayer. 🙏⁠
⁠
xo Karen
We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but We haven't been quarantined yet in Australia, but I know many of my American friends are stuck at home right now. Either way - sounds like a good chance to do "one thing for the home."⠀
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If you're feeling anxious, it can really help to get out of your head for a little while and do something practical. We can't control anything in the outside world right now, but we CAN complete one concrete task to make our immediate environment feel calmer and function better. And sometimes just having that one little win is all we need to break us out of a negative thought-spiral and restore some equilibrium. ⠀
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If you're feeling a bit helpless and panicky, I hope this helps. It's one thing you CAN control. And doing something with your hands will give your mind a much-needed break. ⠀
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🌟THIS MONTH'S PRIZE: A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD! 🌟⠀
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Here's a reminder of how to play:⠀
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1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
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2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
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3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
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4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
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5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun!
I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux I’ve been quiet this week. In situations of flux or stress my tendency is to withdraw and process. (I’ve learned this is very Enneagram 4 of me.) I also feel major reticence about adding to the current noise. I feel there are enough voices talking loudly all at once about the same thing and you don’t need one more.
So I give you instead a prayer for peace. If you are feeling anxious, let this be your exhale today. 💙
Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... Weekend feels courtesy of the "Hamptons House"... 😉⁠
⁠
What are you up to this weekend, friends?⁠
⁠
xo Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook. (Click through to my Facebook page via my link in bio)⁠⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⁠⠀
⁠⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⁠⠀
⁠⠀
xo Karen⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythingandeverythinginitsplace
We are getting closer on the home build front... a We are getting closer on the home build front... after two years of sketching dozens upon dozens of floor layout ideas and ultimately trashing all of them, I finally have a plan I LOVE!! ⁠
⁠
It ended up being a highly collaborative effort between our architect and myself - he came up with a general concept and gave me external parameters to suit the contours of the block, and I then designed the internal layouts to fit. ⁠
⁠
Turns out that is exactly what I needed - some guidelines! Amazing how much better our creativity flourishes within constraints. It was way too open-ended before our architect came on board, and I was flailing around in all that freedom like a tadpole in the ocean. Within a day or two of having a blank footprint to work within, I actually had a decent plan. We've tweaked it a little since then, but it's virtually the same.⁠
⁠
I love it when something you've struggled with for the longest time suddenly just clicks. Has this ever happened for you?⁠
⁠
Now we just need to draft it up properly and then see if we can actually afford to build it. Lol. ⁠
⁠
One step at a time... 😆Celebrating progress today!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
⁠
P.S. Let me know if you'd like to see a sneak peek of our plan in stories!!
So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on f So here's a little Enneagram primer to follow on from yesterday's chat! This is just off the top of my head, so please take it with a grain of salt - there is SO MUCH more to each type than what I can sum up in a sentence.⁠
⁠
Here are the 9 types:⁠
⁠
1 - The Moral Perfectionist: self-critical, organised, driven by the desire to make things right and good⁠
2 - The Helper: relationally driven, people focussed, places others' needs ahead of their own⁠
3 - The Achiever: success driven and ambitious, gets things done, image conscious⁠
4 - The Romantic Individualist: creative, driven by the desire for uniqueness, feels things deeply⁠
5 - The Investigative Thinker: introverted and analytical,  detached from emotion⁠
6 - The Loyalist: community minded, a team player, driven by the need for security and anxiety about the future⁠
7 - The Entertaining Optimist: positive, energetic and playful, driven to squeeze as much fun out of life as possible⁠
8 - The Protective Challenger: a natural leader, confrontational, confident and determined⁠
9 - The Peaceful Mediator: conflict-avoidant, gentle and steady, driven to seek inner peace⁠
⁠
I'm a 4 wing 5, married to an 8 wing 7. They do say opposites attract 😆⁠
⁠
Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? ⁠
⁠
xo Karen
ENNEAGRAM⁠ ⁠ Where are my fellow Enneagram fan ENNEAGRAM⁠
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Where are my fellow Enneagram fanatics??!⁠
⁠
I've only recently "discovered" the Enneagram, and OH. MY. GOODNESS. What a game changer. ⁠
⁠
If you're not familiar with it, it's a personality typing system.  I've always been interested in personality differences and human behaviour - that's probably the novelist in me. But none of the other systems I've come across have resonated with me as deeply as the Enneagram.⁠
⁠
It is so accurate, it's almost uncanny.⁠
⁠
Basically, there are 9 types, representing 9 different ways of looking at the world, each with different motivations, behaviour traits, strengths and flaws.⁠
⁠
I'm an Enneagram 4. That's the "Romantic Individualist". It's an artistic temperament driven by creativity, love of beauty, a desire for uniqueness, introspection, and authenticity.⁠
⁠
I guess it's no surprise that when I had to ask my friends and readers to sum up my strengths for an assignment I was given, the two words that came up most frequently were "creativity" and "honesty".⁠
⁠
Enneagram 4's feel deeply and are very connected to our emotions. We'd  much rather have a meaningful conversation about deep feelings than make small talk about trivial things. ⁠
⁠
Each type can pull a little more to one or other of the numbers beside them, giving a different flavour. I'm a wing 5 (the "Investigative Thinker") which means I tend to be less temperamental/ moody, and more steady, reserved and analytical. ⁠
⁠
I'm also daydreamy, a big-picture thinker, and despise administrative details. My "fatal flaw" (each type has one) is comparison and envy. Ohhhhh yep, that certainly rings true. Because while we want to stand out and be special, which can be prideful, we also struggle hard with insecurity and feeling like we never quite measure up.⁠
⁠
Yes, yes and YES.⁠
⁠
If you haven't done the Enneagram test, do a search online - it's honestly so interesting and self-revealing.⁠
⁠
If you know your type, what number are you? xo
So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I f So I found out I have bronchitis. 🙄At least I feel less like a whiner - if I get sick I usually shake it within a couple of days, so I was starting to feel irritated with myself for still being crook after three weeks!⁠
⁠
Anyhow, could be worse, and I do feel like I'm starting to pick up again now. ⁠
⁠
This buffet in our living room holds a changing arrangement of mostly-white vases, with a bit of blue glass and green foliage thrown in for good measure. ⁠
⁠
Are you a chronic re-arranger, or do you prefer to leave things as-is? ⁠
⁠
To be honest, I've always been a "get it exactly how I want it then leave it like that forever" type of girl, but I've been loosening up and playing around more with my décor this past year, and it struck me that my buffet has gone through several style shifts now. I actually like it a little bit better every time I make a change! ⁠
⁠
Hope this new week will be an awesome one for you, friends!⁠
⁠
xo Karen⁠
BLACK vs WHITE⁠ ⁠ Let's talk kitchens! Our hou BLACK vs WHITE⁠
⁠
Let's talk kitchens! Our house build is on my mind, and even though we're only at the plan stage, I'm trying to nail down my ideas in a general creative direction. ⁠
⁠
The last three kitchens I've designed have been all white, with accents of grey. I really want to use black in my next kitchen. I love the drama of it (as we already established, I like a bit of drama. Ha.) I keep veering back and forth between all black, or some combination of black and white. ⁠
⁠
I'm interested to know... what would you choose? My guess is that white-on-white is still gonna be the most popular choice, and black will probably be controversial, but I could be wrong! ⁠
⁠
So let me know - I'm keen to hear your opinion!⁠
⁠
1. All white⁠
2. All black⁠
3. Black + white⁠
⁠
🖤♡🖤♡🖤⁠
Karen
It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for th It's Friday! Time for our weekly "One Thing for the Home" challenge! ⁠This month I'm gonna raise the stakes and give away a $50 Amazon Gift Card. 🎉🎉WOOHOO!!⠀
⠀
You can win just by getting something done that you've been meaning to get to around your home! ⠀
⁠⠀
Here's how to play.⠀
⁠⠀
1. Decorate, declutter or organise one thing in your home, this weekend. No task is too small! One shelf or one drawer is all you need to tackle to be eligible!⠀
⁠⠀
2. Post your "after" photo on the Facebook thread (click through via my link in bio). Pics DON'T have to be spectacular - they're simply proof that you did it.⁠⠀
⠀
3. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.⠀
⁠⠀
4. Tag some friends either on THIS post or on the Facebook thread to play along! If you complete the challenge, you will get a bonus entry for EVERY person you tag.⠀
⠀
5. Entries will be given for every challenge completed this month. We play four times in March - once every weekend! You can participate once or all four times, it's up to you!⠀
⁠⠀
Giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The winner will be randomly drawn at 8pm AEST Monday, following the last Sunday of the month. Giveaway is open internationally.⠀
⠀
I'll be going live on Facebook today at 2.30pm AEST to kick off this week's challenge and show you the space I'll be tackling today. International timezones are on the third slide - swipe right to see! Or click through my link in bio at any time to see the video saved on my feed.⠀
⠀
I hope you join us! This will be fun! 🤩⠀
⠀
May the odds be ever in your favour! 😉⠀
⠀
Let's get this accountability ball rolling - let me know below what you're thinking of tackling this month!⠀
⠀
xo Karen⠀
⠀
P.S. You can decorate, declutter or organise anything you like. No task is too small! Tackle a drawer, a shelf, or a storage tub. Do that niggly little job you've been meaning to get to. Hang that picture. Paint that stool. Sort through the kids clothes. We’ve all got that “one thing” - let us know yours! xo⠀
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#onethingforthehome #organized #organising #organisedhome #organisedlife #organisedmum #homeorganising #tidyhome #organization #organizedhome #aplaceforeverythinga
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