Nadine J Walters – My Life

Today’s Question to Myself: What do I love about my home?

My Answer: Just about everything.

To give a little background on why I’m asking this question, I have to share a link to Ingrid Fetell Lee’s website, The Aesthetics of Joy. I subscribe to her emailed newsletter, which arrived in my inbox today. Ingrid is a designer whose focus isn’t just on style—it’s on cultivating happiness in our surroundings. She loves color, form, and comfort, and after reading her latest newsletter about how she and her husband shared the book The Big Orange Splot with their child’s schoolmates, I found myself reflecting on my own home and the many changes it has undergone over the years.

My house is 45 years old, built in 1980. We purchased it in 1984 when it was just a small two-bedroom, two-bathroom home. In 1990, we added two more bedrooms. It sits just off a golf course that backs onto a river, with bike and hiking trails nearby. Many of our neighbors have been here since the beginning, while others have lived in the cul-de-sac for more than a decade. My children grew up here, and now they bring their own children back to visit.

Now, let me elaborate on why I love my home. I have lived here for so long that I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I know every creak and crack, every repair that needs attention, and the story behind every dent, scratch, and leak. That’s just the structure. Over the years, I’ve changed furniture, floors, windows, and even renovated the bathrooms and kitchen. Is it a design showpiece? No. But it’s mine. It’s comfortable. It’s a true reflection of my husband and me.

Right now, I’m sitting in what I call my cozy studio—surrounded by books, art supplies, a TV, and a loveseat—typing away at my worktable with my dog at my feet. And it feels so very good.

So, I turn this question to you: What do you love about your home?