MOOOMMM! I SPILLED!!

Inspiration can come from anything. A song that keeps coming up in your life, the way light hits one of your favorite rooms in the house, beautiful colors in nature. Then there are the stunningly beautiful and also practical parts of life, like motherhood, that can change the way we look at everything. Motherhood has been an amazing inspiration for our Founder and CEO, Denese Butler. With her tremendous background in textiles and design, while also being a mom to three boys under seven, Denese has been able to balance the practical use of space without compromising design and aesthetic. 

cleanable runner from episode 3 of “fix my frankenhouse”

Let's first talk about something inevitable with kids... while their little hands may try their best to not spill that full cup of juice, spills happen! There are stunning materials available that are also really practical when it comes to having a family. They are often referred to as "performance fabrics" and are washable or cleanable items. You will need to go through a designer for something like this (products like this haven't made their way to big box stores - YET!). Between the spills and wrestling matches that happen on a sofa, this is one piece worth investing in when it comes to cleanable fabrics. Wondering the best way to clean your sofa? Check the label or tag for detailed instructions! 

Another functional design idea inspired by motherhood is furniture with STORAGE. With a family comes many toys, books, blankets, and other important items! There are several practical furniture pieces that you can incorporate while maintaining a beautiful design. In Episode 3 of HGTV's "Fix My Frankenhouse," Denese used a coffee table that had storage and in Episode 4, the dads built an amazing, custom island bench seat (with storage!!). While the coffee table and island bench seat were great additions for these designs, other pieces you could use to maximize storage would be tables, beds and benches throughout your home. One design tip to keep in mind is that no matter what kind of storage item you decide on, the piece needs to compliment the rest of the design in the room and make sure it's practical for the space and YOUR family!

Here is a peak into how Denese and Mike used this practical idea in their own home! To make the most of their living room space, Mike built a storage bench which functions as a spot to hide the kid's toys and offers additional seating. Mike was able to use 2x3 birch plywood, pine (ripped down to size), piano hinge (how cool!), metal screening for the the baseboard heating on the wall, finish trim, and paint to bring this idea to life. 

We hope sharing a few ideas about how to incorporate practical ideas into your home's design while not having to sacrifice style was helpful! Comment below or connect with us on social if you have any questions and tag us in your designs!