I believe we are all searching for places where we can exhale. Places where we feel safe. Places where we feel known. Places that draw us closer to the people we love and the God who created us. 

That is what this lake home became. 

Not simply a destination. Not simply a vacation home. But a sanctuary.

Too often, people believe a home must belong entirely to one aesthetic. Rustic or modern. Cozy or sophisticated. Traditional or contemporary. But homes, much like the people who live within them, are rarely one-dimensional. The most compelling spaces tell a layered story. They honor history while still making room for growth, change, and evolution.

Color is one of the most powerful storytellers we invite into our homes. It is intuitive, emotional, and deeply personal, often speaking before a single word is said. Just as we are called to be intentional with what we allow to shape us, we should be just as thoughtful with the colors that surround us. When chosen with care, color does not just fill a space, it reflects who we are, what we love, and the life we are building within it.

Our souls are God-given. They are tender, intuitive, and shaped by what surrounds them. Scripture teaches us to guard our hearts and to surround ourselves with what is good, uplifting, and life-giving. If that is true for our relationships and influences, then surely it is true for our homes as well.

Like I have said in the past, expectations are everything when building or remodeling a home! If you are thinking about building a home this year, or are in the process of building a home this year, I have some insights that I want to share with you.