Meet The Nester

Hi there! I’m The Nester. Why? Well, my real name is quite unique and hard to pronounce and it just seemed easier to use a pretend name. This is my family full of handsome fellas.

I started Nesting Place in November of 2007. I’ve always had a love affair with my house, ok, with all houses, and this blog is a place for women to come and find decorating encouragement, creative ideas, and be reminded that “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful”.

Find out about the dresser here

I’m a design school drop out who took a week long course so I could be a certified home stager and redesigner. So I don’t have much training as far as schooling but, I’ve had lots of experience in real houses. My husband is an ambitious entrepreneur so we have had a few times of plenty and lots of lean times. We have lived in 13 different houses/apartments/condos some for only a month or two while waiting on a closing, some for years.

I know what it’s like to want a pretty house and not have much to work with and still have to get dinner on the table and nurse little children. I know what it’s like to rent and live with white walls and ugly carpet. I have decorated on no budget in the past. I’ve decided not to wait until my house is perfect to share it, use it and love it. I regret those years where I spent my time wishing my home was something more and not enjoying what I had.

Two things I invested in–a well made, neutral 8×10 rug and a well made, small scale sectional–it’s 6 years old, but with $200 worth of white fabric, it looks brand new, and now I can throw it in the wash.

About six years ago my husband and I decided to save up a little cash every month to put towards furnishing our home. We sat down together and made a plan. I focused on one room at a time and committed myself to use the money wisely and purchase items that would serve our family well for years in any home. It was fun and scary and rewarding.

I do not advocate going into debt to furnish your home.

Most of the photos you will find on Nesting Place are photos I took of our home–if I grabbed the photo from someone else, I’ll tell you with a link to them.

We have lived in three different rentals in the past three years and before that we owned a home and were able to spruce up the outside of it. I painted some of the walls in our last rental but we are keeping them all white in the current rental. It’s a fun challenge and I love decorating challenges!

This is the last house we owned:

The old nest before and after

My motto is “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful” and I have to remind myself of that daily. I love our home and want it to be a place to live a real life where all who enter are free to be who they really are, faults and all.

I’m so glad you are here. Decorating your home is an adventure and a journey! I hope you find acceptance and encouragement here and learn to love your nest more every day!

I’ve also written an ebook giving away all my secrets of making decorative tassels. You can find our more here.

Nesting Place was the name of my little tassel making business and then my redesign business. A few years ago we moved to a new city. Instead of going back into clients homes, I have decided to write about what I love. It’s my dream job. Now, if the pay were only better…

The Nester has been featured at these fine sites:

and again here.