Kristen Happy New Year – I’m so happy you’re here! This past year was full of many celebrations! In February 2022 we became a family of four as we welcomed our son, Niccolo! I can hardly believe Nico will soon turn one-year-old.
We’ve made lots of progress over the past year with projects in our century-old, Victorian farmhouse. Andy continued to renovate and transform the out houses on our property into extensions of his studio space, and I completed many DIY home decor projects. In collaboration with some incredible brands, including Frame It Easy, Decoberry Curtains, and Graywind Blinds, to name a few, I’ve slowly added more and more character and personality to our beloved home. My social media following has continued to grow, and I’m incredibly active in sharing the behind the scenes of my projects – especially on my Instagram page @maplehousebuffalo – where I share weekly design tips and tricks, and answer my followers’ many DIY, design and home decor questions on a weekly basis.
My favorite project of this past year by far was Nico’s nursery! We decided on a music theme, as Andy and I are both musicians and have always connected through our love of music. I really wanted to include a wainscoting accent wall, and Andy brought my vision to life. Here’s a photograph of the room today, and I’ll be sharing more details on its design, soon!
In April, we transformed our home for the second time to host a wedding for Andy’s mother! She and my father-in-law celebrated a romantic, spring-inspired wedding here at Maple House, where we hosted their ceremony and cocktail reception. They have quite a love story, which I will be sharing about soon as well.
This year also did bring some hardship. Just before Nico arrived, our oldest son, Matteo, was diagnosed with asthma. Following one scary night with severe croup, an ambulance ride to the ER, two more ER visits and countless visits to the pediatrician and allergist, we were able to get his asthma under control. His condition is now well-managed through the use of daily inhalers and an at-home nebulizer. We have also developed an affinity for children’s books about asthma, as these have provided tremendous comfort for Matteo. His favorite is The Lion Who Had Asthma, by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Second and third runners-up are I Have Asthma, What Does that Mean?, by Wendy Chen, and The ABC’s of Asthma, by Kim Gosselin.
In late April/early May, I came to terms with the fact that I had post partum depression. Thankfully, I sought help from my doctor – and the love and support of family and friends. Please know if you are experiencing this illness, you are not alone. It’s important to speak with your doctor and ultimately, to get help.
This year, I’m excited to continue sharing simple, affordable, and fun vintage-modern-inspired DIY & design projects. Remember – my pictures may be styled and beautiful – but like any family – life can become hectic and our home can get messy. We are not perfect, but our house is filled with a lot of love, and that’s what’s most important! I wouldn’t be able to do all of this without the support of my husband, my family and my friends. I am so grateful to them for all of their encouragement.
I hope that this space continues to bring a smile to your face, a little more beauty to your world – and most importantly, inspires your own sense of fun and creativity. As always, I would love to hear from you, so please always feel free to write me or leave a comment.
All my best,
Kristen
