Camping in a House Full of Character

After the dust settles from Phase 1, floors restored, walls replastered, paint drying in soft, intentional tones, you’d think we’d be ready to settle in. But our furniture? Still sailing across the Atlantic in a 40ft container.

So here we are, camping in our own home.

Airbeds, Blow-Up Sofas & Improvised Charm

The bedrooms, freshly painted and fitted with custom wardrobes, are currently home to airbeds and duvets folded with care. In the living room, blow-up sofas sit proudly beneath a Gothic coving, flanked by a side table made from stacked books and a lamp balanced on a moving box.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s oddly poetic. The house is ready. We’re here. And everything else is catching up.

What This Teaches Us

There’s something grounding about living lightly in a space you’ve worked so hard to prepare. It reminds us:

• That comfort isn’t just furniture, it’s presence
• That beauty can exist in transition
• That even a blow-up sofa can feel sacred when it’s surrounded by intention

We’ve had impromptu dinners on the floor, movie nights wrapped in blankets, and quiet mornings watching light move across freshly painted walls. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours.

Final Thoughts: What’s Next

Once the container arrives, we’ll begin Phase 2: layering in the pieces that carry our history from all of our global travels, our aesthetic, and our rhythm. But for now, we’re embracing the pause.

The house is holding us, even without the furniture. Phases 3 and 4 will bring the real grit, structural changes, kitchen and bathroom overhauls, and thoughtful add-ons that will shape how we live in this space long-term. It’ll get messy again. And that’s okay.

This fall marks our first season back in our home country, and we’re leaning into it with full hearts. The air is crisp, the leaves are turning, and we’re counting down to our favourite festive time of year. We’re already on the hunt for the perfect stair wreath to wrap around the entry bannister, something lush, seasonal, and just a little dramatic. Because even in transition, beauty matters.

Our Vision: Preserving Soul, Adding Warmth

We’re not here to erase the past. We’re here to honour it. Our renovation is less about transformation and more about translation, taking the language of Gothic architecture and making it speak to modern family life.

We want this home to hold us. To reflect who we are, and who we’re becoming. Keep following us for our phase 2 updates! 🖤

Next post …… Decorating for the holidays….