How One Woman Used Design as Therapy After Her Divorce
Name: Dani Loseke, partner, two boys
Location: Bloomington, Illinois
Years lived in: 7 months, renting
This may sound really cliche, but after my divorce, I used designing and decorating as my own therapy. My goal was to make my home a place where I could come home and feel like I was on a vacation. Before I moved in to this three-bedroom ranch, I lived in a very small, but charming two-bedroom rental. It took me a while to fill my house with furniture and decorations (both bought and made) but I love it and I accomplished my dream. It may be a little too girly for my boys (11 and 14) but they don’t complain, although I’m not sure they even notice when I do something different. But this isn’t a sad divorce story, because I have a super hot fiance. So I would say this is actually a story of a girl that didn’t know she had a knack for decorating (or so she’s been told).
What is your favorite room and why? Hmmm, I guess I would have to say the living room. I could sit in the room with the TV off and just enjoy the ambiance.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Basically whatever I like.
If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I would love to change the kitchen cabinets, the 1960s feel is just dated and makes the kitchen so dark. Even if they couldn’t be replaced, I would totally paint them white to lighten up the room and to better match the appliances. And don’t get me started on the carpet on the walls in the basement…
Any advice for creating a home you love? Like I mentioned before, be patient in your new home. Live in the space for a while before you go out and buy pieces to fill it. Something else I found is sometimes just moving items around can really change the look of a space. I will often put something away for awhile and then bring it back out and give it new life. Another thing that I love about my home is that I have a handful of pieces that I made/crafted myself, which really personalizes my home. And it also makes me feel really cool when someone says “Where did you get that?!” and I can say “I made it!”
Thanks, Dani Loseke!
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