Designing a Home When Life Is Loud

I used to think that design work requires peace and stillness—that creativity only flows when your life feels perfectly aligned. But let me tell you something from the middle of my very real, very loud life: beauty still shows up in the chaos.

I’m writing this with two teenagers under my roof, three dogs who act like toddlers, and a husband who loves me deeply but still somehow asks where the ketchup is every single time. It’s a house full of noise, needs, interruptions, and love. And some days, it’s just...a lot.

And yet, amidst it all, I’m making homes.
For clients. For my own family.
For people who need calm, function, and beauty just as much as I do.

I used to think I had to wait for the stars to align before I could do my best creative work. Now I know better. The truth is: the chaos doesn’t block the creativity. Sometimes it fuels it. It sharpens your instincts. It reminds you to trust your gut. And it teaches you how to find beauty in the most unexpected places—like under a pile of laundry or between barking fits.

Recently a client walked into her finished space and said, “This feels like a deep breath.” That meant more than she’ll ever know. Because while I was designing that breath of fresh air for her, my own life felt like a whirlwind. And still…the beauty showed up.

And honestly? That’s not just true in design. That’s life.

We don’t wait for perfect conditions to build something meaningful. We build in the middle of it all—in the mess, the exhaustion, the teenage eye rolls, the barking dogs, the overflowing inbox. We create homes, businesses, families, and moments of peace while life hums (or crashes) all around us.

If you’re in a season that feels full and frayed but you’re still trying to show up—you’re not behind.
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re living.
And sometimes, that’s when the most beautiful things come to life.

Even when someone’s yelling for snacks.

Design by House of Life and Love

Love,

Lindsay