How my childhood shaped the design of my home

It is only with hindsight that I can reflect on the time I spent in Women’s aid refuges as a child and how it has influenced my choices in adult life when it comes to aspirations and my work.

I hope you have all had a great weekend. I am sorry this is a day late. We flew out on Friday to stay with our best friends who emigrated to the States a few years ago. I have to admit that Austin was never on my bucket list but I love it here. It is a place for outdoor living, swimming and paddle boarding on one of the many lakes. The rolling hills and landscapes are just stunning.

Travel is not something I have delved into yet on here but it is coming. I never travelled abroad as a child with my family and this has definitely been a gift that I want to give to our three daughters.

This week, I'm sharing something a bit different, after kicking off a new three-part series last Sunday on creating a calm and tranquil home. I felt there was an opportunity to talk about how our pasts shape the spaces we create in adulthood.

Personal Journey

Growing up in Women’s Aid refuges deeply influenced my desire for stability and nurturing spaces. My mother, sister, and I spent time in these shelters, moving away from our home and my biological father, who my mother was forced to marry.