The Day I Took the Curtains Down (And Took Back My Life) ✂️✨
Hi, I’m Abby—and if you had told me five years ago that I’d be building custom cabinets in my garage, hanging wallpaper made from bedsheets, and turning a very basic builder-grade house into a cozy dream home for five kids 🧒👧🐇… I probably would have laughed out loud.
But here I am. 💪
This is the story of how I turned a 2007 builder-basic into a soulful DIY haven—and why I believe charm, character, and function can coexist beautifully (even on a budget 💸).
The Day I Got the Keys 🔑 (and Ripped Down the Curtains)
I still remember the exact moment I stepped into this house. No furniture. No plan. Just me… and those hideous, heavy dining room curtains. 😬
Without a second thought, I reached up and ripped them down. No folding. No hesitation. Just ✨freedom✨.
That was the moment everything changed.
I wasn’t just redecorating—I was reclaiming. This wasn’t just a house anymore. It was going to be ours.
It Wasn’t a Dream Home—But the Dream Was in Me 💭🏡
Let’s be real for a second.
The house was fine. Like, “safe beige” fine. Clean lines, neutral walls, very meh. The kind of house where you feel like you’re visiting an insurance commercial. 🥱
But I didn’t need perfect. I needed possibility.
Because I’m not beige. I’m five-kids-deep in motherhood, fueled by cold coffee ☕, covered in sawdust, and deeply obsessed with turning chaos into comfort. And this house? It needed to catch up.
I Had No Idea What I Was Doing—So I Just Started Anyway 🔧🪚
I had no idea how to use a drill. Or how to measure things without immediately forgetting the number. I was overwhelmed, under-qualified, and over-tired. But I also had five kids and a big, beating heart that whispered:
You can figure this out.
So I did.
I enrolled in design school 🖊️. I learned how to read blueprints and build drawers. I messed up more times than I can count. But I kept going—because I believed in the vision of a home that reflected us.
Fabric on My Walls, Dreams in My Head 🛏️🌙
One of my very first “real” DIYs? Hanging a canopy over my bed using nothing but curtain rods, bedsheets, and pure determination. 😂
Was it fancy? Nope.
Was it mine? 100%. And that made it magic.
Every time I walk into that room, I feel held. Cozy. Calm. It’s not just fabric—it’s intention. And that’s what makes a house feel like home.
DIY Isn’t About Perfection. It’s About Permission 🎯💕
You don’t need a Pinterest-worthy budget to make your home beautiful.
You need courage. Creativity. And permission—your own—to make bold choices.
Paint the cabinets. Build the shelf. Wallpaper the ceiling. If it sparks joy and adds value to your life, go for it. (And if it doesn’t work? We’ll figure it out together. Pinky promise. 🤝)
What’s Next? So. Much. More. 😍📋
This house is far from done—and I love that.
Upcoming? A secret staircase makeover 🌀, a dreamy kids’ bathroom redo 🛁, and maybe even some product designs with my name on them (gulp). Yep. I said it. 😅
I’m learning, growing, and DIY-ing in real time. And you’re invited to every messy, magical moment of it.
Let’s Do This Together 🛠️💛
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or not “handy enough” to start—please hear me when I say: you are not alone.
I’m here to cheer you on, teach you what I’ve learned (and what I’m still figuring out), and give you the courage to take the first step.
This isn’t just a blog. It’s a love letter to women who want more for their homes—and themselves.
Let’s build something beautiful. One project, one power tool, one deep breath at a time. ✨
📸 Follow the behind-the-scenes fun on Instagram: @abby_roadhome
