Guest Post from design dna: Hearth and Home

Allow me to introduce today’s guest blogger Colleen from designing dna. Colleen has pursued her dreams of interior design and writing. She has a great imagination and makes you dream while reading her blog.  It is a real pleasure having her here today.  

 Hi everyone! I’m delighted to be your guest today!

Recently, I was poking around on the internet and one thing led to another…

(You know how that is.)

before I knew it, I was sitting happily in the kitchen of Delishhh! A new friendship was born and here I am, stopping by to gab about hearth and home.

Basically, I have a simple philosophy:

I believe that at our core–in the depths of our souls, we have a need to be surrounded by beauty.

We were born with it. It’s in our DNA.

This fundamental desire for beauty may manifest itself in a variety of ways such as a love for food,

personal beauty, external surroundings, music, a deep love of nature, order, beauty in literature, art, relationships, hearth and home…

For me, it’s always been about hearth and home,

but it wasn’t always easy to to live with.

When I was newly married and beginning my family, it was the era of,

“You’ve come a long way baby.”

Suddenly, it seemed, women had choices in life and many went to find themselves in a career.

But contemporary culture can be fickle, confusing issues and making a mess of most things. As an entire generation of women went to work outside of the home, somehow along the way, choosing to stay at home, to excel in the art of homemaking, became a less than admirable thing to do–a default for those who weren’t educated or smart enough to “have it all.”

Today the art of keeping a home is celebrated, as it should be.

Thank goodness, what was once old, is new again!

Not only has the importance of homemaking been rediscovered–hospitality and creative home keeping is an honored art–something to aspire to–a ministry, even.

OK, If you haven’t already figured it out, I’m a romantic when it comes to the home, and the heart of the home, which is the kitchen.

If you were lucky enough to have a mom who cooked,

you’ll know what I mean, when I say that

kitchens are

a bit of heaven on earth;

the place where the fragrance of meals being prepared, mingles with the fellowship of loved ones at the table–where both bodies and souls are nourished and nurtured.

Sharing a meal isn’t just about food, after all. That’s our time and place to regroup and share what the day held for us…

and laugh and cry, and argue and pray.

And somehow, usually, by the time dessert is served, everything’s been hashed out and it’s alright.

That’s the power of what you are doing at home.

Welcome back.

You’ve come a long way baby.

Thanks Colleen for such a lovely post. If you haven’t already, hop over to visit Colleen at designing dna!