I can remember being around 9 years old and actually enjoying dusting the house. 😂 Why would a kid enjoy that? For me, dusting meant taking every accessory off the furniture and putting it back in new places—different arrangements, different rooms, different looks. Even then, I loved changing how a space felt.
As I got older, my mom let me choose my own bedding and accessories. Around age 11, black, white, and red were everything. I rearranged my bedroom constantly—moving furniture, changing artwork, and creating new looks every few weeks. I loved turning old things into something new. My favorite creation was a plain mirror that I painted black, white, and red. It hung proudly on my wall, and I loved that no one else had one like it. It was mine—and it was unique.
Fast forward to my first apartment with my husband, Joel. For the first time, the entire space was mine to design. I bought a black corduroy sofa and loveseat with a black metal and glass dining table—clearly, contemporary style had my heart back then. I loved adding artwork and accessories and was so proud to call the space our own.
In 1998, Joel and I bought our first home—a three-bedroom, two-bath house that quickly became a never-ending design project. We lived there for five years, and nearly every room was painted and redesigned at least twice. In 1999, I went back to school and began my interior design degree at Seminole State College. School didn’t feel like work—it was something I truly loved. Learning came easily because I was studying my passion.
By 2004, we moved again, this time into a four-bedroom, two-story home. That same year, I graduated with an AS degree in Interior Design, and I was beyond excited to have a degree in something I genuinely loved. We lived in that home for 10 years, and by the time we moved out in October 2014, the design and décor had completely transformed from what it was on day one.
In 2015, our home sold and we waited for a new one to be built—our third new build. This time, I took a basic floor plan and redesigned it to fit exactly what I wanted. My architecture classes finally came into play as I added rooms, doors, windows, and reimagined the living spaces. It was so much fun, and my confidence had grown tremendously since our first home. The finishes felt right, intentional, and truly us. We moved in April 2015 and started fresh with everything. Many of those projects were shared on Facebook and later became part of the ongoing blog for Love Thy Room.
Then came 2023, a year that truly defined our love for transformation. We sold our home and moved into a new house in Avalon Park—a home that hadn’t been touched in nearly 20 years. We completely remodeled and renovated it from top to bottom. Walls came down, rooms were added, the kitchen and bathrooms were fully redone, a built-in fireplace was added, and every single detail was updated—right down to the door hinges. Nothing remained the same. It was a labor of love and one of the most rewarding projects we’ve ever taken on.
I took a leap of faith at the end of 2014, and that’s when Love Thy Room was born. My goal has always been to provide affordable design advice so everyone can enjoy their home—no matter the budget. I also work with realtors and homeowners to style and stage homes for sale, focusing on furniture placement and accessories to make a space look its absolute best. To me, it’s never about how much something costs—it’s about how items are grouped and placed. A home styled with thrift-store finds can be just as beautiful as one filled with high-end furniture.
Design isn’t my hobby—it’s my way of life. I constantly educate myself on new trends and styles, and one day I hope to rehab a home from the early 1900s. My all-time favorite show is Rehab Addict, and I love learning from the pros. I’m drawn to spaces that use unique materials and make a statement.
On a personal note, I’ve been married to Joel for 28 years. He is an incredible husband and father to our daughters, Kaitlyn (21) and Jordyn (18). He supports everything I do—and thankfully agrees with all my design ideas and house projects. I’ve also been a classroom teacher for 29 years, a career that has been incredibly rewarding and has allowed me to spend meaningful time with my daughters as they grew up.
We now live in Avalon Park, an amazing neighborhood in Orlando, Florida—and I truly believe your home should be a place you love, feel inspired by, and are proud of every single day.