Why, hello there!
My name is Mercedes and I am a believer of The Home. A house is made of four walls and a roof, but your home is made of people and memories. It is a place where you should find refuge and safety, where you love, laugh, and cry. I believe that you should love where you live and what you fill your home with should be a reflection of who you are.
I grew up in Northern Michigan where the summers were short yet glorious and the winters were long but the colors in fall made it all worth it. I don’t have unpleasant memories of those long, cold winters because they were filled with snowmen and sledding and hot cocoa. I did not grow up in a large house – in fact, it was quite cozy for a family of six – but it was a wonderful home. When my parents sold that home a few years ago, it felt like loosing a member of the family because although it was a good change, our homes hold an important place in our hearts.
At a ripe old age of 16, I moved from those snowy banks and sandy beaches to the mountains of Utah to attend Brigham Young University. I graduated with my degree in Physiology and Developmental Biology in 2016 and as a published scientific author (super neat, right?!?!?). My plan had been to attend medical school, but God made it clear to me that I needed to follow a different path. It was a difficult decision, but my trust in the Lord has led me to a life I absolutely love! I taught High School Biology for a couple years before I had my kids. My husband, Jordan, and I have a three year old son, Elliott, one year old daughter, Theia, and a 40-pound fluff ball of a dog, Major.
We bought our first home in Arkansas where I really discovered my love of all things DIY and now we live in Utah. Thank you for being here and following along as I take our house and transform it into Our Home.

Check out some of my latest posts!
- How I Painted my BanisterAs part of my staircase makeover, I made a last minute decision to paint the banister. The orange tone in the wood didn’t bother me until we updated our flooring a few years ago. Ever since then, the tones have clashed with all of the other wood tones throughout our house and changing that felt … Continue reading How I Painted my Banister
- Staircase Makeover RevealI don’t think I’ve ever been more wrong about the timeframe of a project! What I thought would take me two weeks took me almost two months. To say I am relieved that this project is over would be an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, I’m super happy with how it turned out and would … Continue reading Staircase Makeover Reveal
- Staircase Moulding PlanI have had grand plans for this staircase for a few years now and even though I can’t do all of it right now (things like removing walls and tearing out carpet are going to have to wait for a bit…), I am finally getting around to starting the process! Traditional picture frame moulding, box … Continue reading Staircase Moulding Plan