Hi, I’m Donna.

And I freakin’ love houses.

Sometimes, more than people. But, shhh – don’t tell anyone.

But I don’t love houses just because they look amazing in photographs or are filled with the latest trends or designer stuff. Hell, no.

I love houses that feel like home and reflect the people who live in them.

It all began with a magazine

When I was young I wanted to live in a big, old house. I was entranced with their deep windowsills, quirky layouts and exquisite silence.  I loved how they made me feel safe. But my parents never wanted one. (Something about them being too much work….)

I remember hoping desperately they would buy a gracious stone lady in our small town.

But it wasn’t to be.

So when I stumbled on an early edition of Renovation Style at the ripe old age of fifteen, it was sheer delight. I fell in love with re-imagining existing homes to fit the lives of the people who lived in them. I was hooked.

Eventually this fascination led me to the words of William Morris:

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. 

Those words changed my life.

In that moment, I realized what makes a house beautiful isn’t how classy the furniture is – it’s how it reflects the people who live in it

Ever since I’ve been fascinated by how we live in our homes, how they shape our lives – and how caring for them and making them our own is really a way to care for ourselves.

From my university dorm room to quirky apartments to city condos to heritage houses, I’ve been experimenting – seeking to make my own spaces reflect who I am and support how I want to live my life. Everything seems to come back to that.

I’ve been through the trenches of renovations that went way over-budget, contractors that disappeared, learning to DIY things I would rather have hired someone else to do … and carried on to create a home I love.

A home that I’m proud of.

A home that works for my family.

A home that isn’t perfect … but fills me with delight.

And you can too. It is possible.

I help real people – with real houses and real budgets – create homes they love

Any home can be beautiful. And the most beautiful homes are the ones that have been lovingly crafted by the people who live in them.

I want to live in a world where people don’t furnish their houses to keep up with the Joneses – but to delight and comfort themselves.

I want to live in a world where people go to someone else’s house and don’t envy it – because their own house feels so good they wouldn’t trade it.

I want to live in a world where people don’t buy random stuff to fill up their houses – because they want their home to be a personal reflection of who they are.

I no longer believe beautiful things make a house beautiful.

A house is beautiful when it’s decorated with things you love and it’s suits your life down to a tee.

Beautiful homes are not just for the rich and famous – they are for everyone who wants one.

I have made it my personal mission to take Morris’ idea one step further and help people create houses that are both beautiful and functional.

It’s really all about you

As well as being a self-taught designer, organizer and declutterer, I’m also a trained life coach.

My approach is focused on you.  My goal is to help you create the home you want, one that will work for you as well as bring a smile to your face and warmth to your heart.

I have spent the past twenty years learning to help people like you do just that. (And I love it.)

I believe you can have a home you love  – and that you can create it. Frankly you’re the only one who knows you well enough to do it.

But I also know how scary and overwhelming it can be to be. I too have been terrified of making a mistake.

So I’ve got your back.

I’m here to guide and inspire you on this journey of creating a true home for yourself and your family.

I know the ins and outs of creating a space that works and looks good. No form over function here.I know how to combine styles and wood tones and how to put the pieces together. I know how to calculate quantities, what kind of lights to buy and what to tell the electrician when he comes to install them.

The million little things that might sound horrendously boring or scary to you.

I’ve got that.

So you can enjoy the ride – and create something that’s perfect for you.