Creating a Meaningful Home: Capturing Joy

Todays guest post for the Creating a Meaningful Home Blog Series is Kristen Duke of Capturing Joy. Welcome Kristen

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Hi there, Im Kristen Duke and I share my life adventures at Capturing Joy. I am a mother of 4, author, Texan, photographer, foodie, diy-er, and I love life.

Im so delighted to be here today to share how I aim to create a meaningful home. I want my children to have happy memories of their childhood, and I strive to make our home happy with color and whimsy and words of affirmation for them to see. I feel that our home should be a safe haven from the crazy in the world, and I want my children to know they are lovedno matter what.

I rescued an old framed canvas from my neighbor and turned it into 2 different projects in my home that make it more meaningful. This canvas art coins a phrase that I want stuck in the heads of my children as they make mistakes in life.

They see this as they walk down the stairs each morning, and I hope it gets cemented in deep. You can see more of the Canvas Art, and how I made it, over on my site.

I used the frame that was around this canvas to make another piece of art. I am very passionate about Decorating with Pictures in my home, and encourage others to do the same. I am so passionate that I have over 100 posts for how to decorate your home with pictures on my blog, written by my creative blogger friends and myself. Here are my two favorites at my home:

The first, I Repurposed this giant frame and the second, I used Vintage Windows as a Picture Frame. If you want to see the funny before canvas that was inside the blue frame, click on the link!

It is a passion of mine to encourage others to get images OFF of their computer and onto the walls of their homes. I feel strongly that:

a) our children build their self esteem seeing pictures of themselves around the home

b) strengthens family unity that we are a TEAM and work together

Thus, making our homes more meaningful.

Adding to t he FUN factor, this year so far weve completed room makeovers for the boys and the girls. My girls are 7 and 4 and share a room, and I wanted to make something fancy and whimsical for them that they could grow into, but to also just lay on the bed and smile at its charm.

I put a lot of meaning into my Girls Fancy bedroom Makeover, its all in the details. I just love hearing over and over how much they love it. My boys are 10 and 12 and also share a room, and I brought in their favorite inspirational quotes and sports college teams to inspire them in my Boys Room Reveal. To see more details and how-tos of each room, click on the links.

I am a photographer, and I also love to display the landscape art Ive taken throughout the years. In our family room below, on the fireplace is taken of a pier/the ocean in Puerto Rico. Its a meaningful print because I snorkeled in that very spot with my husband and brother, and we saw a sting ray. My brother lived in Puerto Rico, and this represents our visit there. Then the circle metal print on the right is a field of Texas bluebonnets I took on a golden springtime day.

My boys helped me distress and paint the green console table, and my husband built the Sliding barn door TV coverall meaningful to me, I find joy in the handmade diy home decor. I love that most every piece in our home has a good story behind it.

Ive made little printables with scriptures on them, quotes such as Dont yell unless the house is on fire, and personalize our space with other bits of inspiration, too.

Im nearly done with my Master bedroom makeover, where I have filled the walls with pictures of my husband and I, places weve traveled together, and phrases that mean something to us. That is a space that is just us where pictures of the kids are not allowedthey are everywhere elseits a retreat to have reminders to strengthen our marriage. (Check my blog soon for the reveal).

All of these projects are meaningful to me because I put time, thought, and effort into making it just right. Thank you for allowing me to share a piece of my joy with all of you!
If youre on social media, you can also find me here:

Pinterest//Facebook//Instagram//Twitter//Google+

Thanks so much Kristen for showing us the gorgeous ways you and your family have created a meaningful home and have made incredible memories over the years.

Kristen is an amazing photographer and Blogger. I was apart of her series earlier this year on Decorating with Pictures, and I was thrilled that she chose to be apart of this series.

From DIY to recipes, from fashion to travel, Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke is a fun and fabulous blog filled with the most amazing pictures. A favorite project of hers is, the stenciled ceiling she created for her girls bedroom. How incredible, dont you think?!

Via: Creating a Meaningful Home: Capturing Joy