Raised by Makers, Healed by Making: Renovation for the Soul

3D model of our first office buildout for my home in Florida

I’ve always been a hands-on person. When I was younger, I’d volunteer to put together new furniture, build my own bed, or assemble whatever needed assembling. I didn’t realize back then that those same instincts would follow me into adulthood and grow into a love for woodworking and home projects.

My mom was a florist and a caterer, so she has worked with her hands for as long as I’ve been alive. She could take the simplest ingredients or a handful of flowers and turn them into something beautiful. I watched her make prom corsages, wedding bouquets, centerpieces, and entire meals that looked like art. She poured creativity and care into everything she touched.

My dad was the same way, just in a different lane. From the military to his years as a longshoreman, he built and repaired things constantly. I watched him rebuild cars from scratch. He’d fix whatever broke in the house. He passed those skills to my brothers, and without me realizing it, he passed them to me too. I was always curious about how things worked, how something was put together, and why certain materials could create something bigger and better.

Fast-forward to 2020. I was in a new home, in a stressful yet meaningful job, and I needed something to ground me. I started paying attention to how people were transforming their houses with simple tools, small budgets, and a bit of imagination. I wanted to create a home that felt like peace, not just a place to live.

Our first big project was a navy blue board-and-batten feature wall in the living room. It changed the entire vibe of the space and lit a fire in me. From there, building became more than a hobby. It became therapy. When everything at work felt unpredictable, wood wasn’t. Measure twice, cut once, and the outcome made sense. There was a beginning, a process, and a clear finish line. That gave me something my professional life couldn’t always give me at the time.

So I built through the stress, and our home blossomed because of it. We finished a full office built-in. We transformed a nursery. When we moved to Texas, I kept going. Every project helped me breathe a little easier.

Home is my refuge from the world. DIY and renovation is not about perfection, because Lord know, with four kids, chaos is part of our everyday life. But I still need order, warmth, and places for things to belong. I need to walk into a home that gives me the same peace I’m trying to hold inside.

So when I renovate or build something, it’s not just about making it pretty. It’s about creating a space that reflects love, care, and calm. Woodworking brings me joy. It brings me light. And every project is another way I take care of myself and my family.

Social Media Post for Reference