Motherhood—especially to a 16-year-old—requires a level of energy, patience, and intention that often goes unseen. Between school events, extracurriculars, and the natural rhythms of raising a teenager, life can get overwhelming.
That’s why I’ve made it a personal mission to create a home and lifestyle that nurtures joy, rest, and inspiration for both my daughter and I. Our home is more than just a place to land—it’s our soft life sanctuary.
Ahead, learn why we created a space filled with fresh flowers and affirmations. (I’ve also included a few personal snapshots of the spaces in my home that bring me peace, reflect creativity, and represent the soft life I’m intentionally building with my daughter.)
Home As A Sacred Space
When we first purchased our home, I knew this place had to be more than beautiful—it needed to be blessed. Every door, window seal, and room was covered in prayer and anointing oil before we unpacked a single box. As Christians and believers, that spiritual foundation created a calming energy we continue to build on every day.
Each week, I bring home fresh flowers to brighten our space. On a daily basis, I grind and brew a fresh pot of coffee to ease into the morning, and light one of our many Noir Lux candles that fill each room with peace and purpose.
For my daughter, self-care looks like cozy reading sessions, vibing to her favorite playlists, or recharging after a full day of school activities.
Together, we’ve built an environment that supports our creativity, strengthens our bond, and most importantly, gives us the peace we need to thrive.
Designing For Peace & Personality
Our home blends rustic charm with a touch of modern, eclectic minimalism. Each room was decorated to inspire warmth, creativity, and emotional presence.
Interestingly, every room evokes its own emotion. This wasn’t planned, but it’s one of the things I treasure most about our home. It’s like our house understands us and gives us what we need as we maneuver and live throughout it.
I love quotes and expressive wall art because words matter, especially in the spaces we dwell. They serve as affirmations, grounding messages, and sometimes, gentle reminders to simply just breathe.
A Mother’s Retreat
My bedroom is the most minimal space in the entire home—and that was on purpose. As a mother, my mind is always running, always managing something. I needed one place where my thoughts could rest, where the visual clutter didn’t compete with my need to exhale. It’s my soft space. Clean, uncluttered, and calming—it’s where I reset, pray, daydream, and simply be.
A Home That Celebrates Life
Our household is non-traditional, and that’s part of what makes it so full of love. Whether we’re celebrating small wins, big milestones, or just the fact that we made it through a long week, we believe in making space for joy.
Our home holds our memories, our laughter, our smiles, our hardships, and our growth.
For my daughter Kamari and I, creativity and comfort are essential. She has a classic sense of style that merges preppy and street fashion. Kamari’s room reflects her personality with elegance and edge, and she re-designs it often! Her space, like mine, is a safe haven where she can express herself openly and freely.
Rejuvenation Is A Priority
Motherhood is powerful, but it can also be exhausting. That’s why in our home, rest isn’t just encouraged, it’s essential. We’ve created an environment where every detail—from soft lighting and cozy textures to calming scents and intentional pauses—supports our need to breathe, restore, and just be.
To us, the soft life isn’t about excess—it’s about surrounding ourselves with what truly feeds the soul.
At the very top of our home, we’ve carved out a creative loft. This space was designed to be flexible, open, and inspiring—a place where imagination leads and creativity flows without restriction.
Just below that is what we call our Zen room. It’s one of Kamari’s favorite spaces, where she can do homework, unwind with friends, or simply relax. A whiteboard wall serves as both a problem-solving station and a message board, where we swap affirmations and encouragement (especially when we’re not tackling high school math together).
In this season of life, I’ve learned that peace is the new luxury. A peaceful home doesn’t happen by accident—it’s something we create, protect, and pour into.
Motherhood is beautiful and challenging, but when your home feels like a sanctuary, you always have a place to land softly. This is what I call the soft life, and I’m grateful to be living in it, with just me and my daughter.
Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
