Rebuilding, Redesigning, and Sharing: Life Lessons and Design Inspiration

Good to Be Back

Hi friends! It’s been a minute, and I’ve missed this space…and you! Two years ago, I stepped away from posting, writing, and documenting all things design because life…well, life got intense. Two members of our family faced serious health challenges. I’m beyond grateful to say they’ve overcome them, but the journey left us navigating new realities and a fair bit of trauma along the way.

As I’ve shared before, we are no strangers to hardships and life-disrupting diagnoses, but this last round went beyond anything we’d faced. We almost lost my eldest son. By the grace of God, he’s still here with us, and our family’s resilience is something I’ll never stop being grateful for. As a mom and wife holding the center of our family, I felt pushed to my very edge.

A Time to Pause

During that season, my world narrowed down to what was immediately essential: caring for my son, walking alongside my husband, supporting our three other kids through the upheaval, and keeping us afloat. Truthfully, I couldn’t even begin to think about my own well-being until my son was finally accepted to a specialized day program in January and we had the incredible gift of nursing support this past May. Only once that help came in, could I start to find myself again.

Design Lessons, Life Lessons

Running an interior design business through all of this was…a lot. Remodels, new constructions, big projects — they’re rewarding but demanding. We’ve walked alongside families through massive time and financial commitments, sometimes uprooting them from their homes and routines. It gets intimate. We’re in the thick of it with them. And it’s always been an honor to be allowed in.

But there’s a flip side: the pressure was immense. Balancing contractors, city permitting, and client calendars against the backdrop of my own family’s unpredictable needs often left me stretched too thin.

That’s when I realized it was time to channel my creativity into a more sustainable, balanced way forward…one where I could still design in ways that felt controlled and manageable, while also sharing and teaching what truly lights me up.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love.

The Plan That Was Always There

Here’s a story I’ve never told: exactly five years ago, I spent a weekend away during COVID, mapping out a plan…to evolve my design business, which I began in 2009, into teaching, writing, and sharing online. I was ready. And then, days later, my brother passed away suddenly.

Everything shattered — my heart most of all. I wondered if I’d ever feel inspired to create again, since my brother had been such a source of that spark. Yet, the design business took off, giving me something to pour my spirit into. I like to think my brother had a hand in it, sending me strength from beyond.

But through the years, I carried this longing to teach, to write, to share through this medium. This return isn’t just about “getting back into writing.” It’s me finally stepping into a plan I’ve carried in my heart all along 🩶

A Fresh Start at Cocó Curated Living

So, what’s next? I’m excited to welcome you into this new chapter!

This isn’t just a new name. It’s a new lens. It’s about what truly supports us: beautiful design, yes, but also systems, inspiration, favorite products and tools, and the everyday rituals that make life more livable. Our homes need to hold us not just in beauty, but in function, in rest, and in resilience when life gets hard.

I’ll still offer a select handful of design services [stay tuned for details!] but the heartbeat here is broader: sharing lessons, inspiring creativity, and helping you shape a home and life that nurture the vision you have for your life.

This blog is where it all comes together. Expect posts that break down design, lifestyle, and home organization in ways you can actually use, not just admire. Think brain dumps from a design junkie mixed with real-life mom hacks, remodeling lessons, and the bigger philosophy of creating homes that support the way we live.

I’ll share my favorite products and tools along the way — things that genuinely make life and home management easier — and often show them in action through videos. Whether it’s a styling trick, an organizing hack, or a remodel walk-through, you’ll be able to watch, learn, and follow along at your own pace.

This room has been a sweet reminder of why I love creating.

Our Own Home, Finally!

Yes! We’ve been remodeling our own house after 18 years, putting into practice everything I’ve learned from designing for others, blended with what our own family truly values and needs. Spoiler: it’s chaotic, but fun. More importantly, it’s been intentional and actually very grounding. Every decision has taken time, thought, and care: a curated process, not a rushed one. I’ll be sharing that journey here, complete with teaching moments, lessons learned, and a few stories to keep it real.

A family moment in the middle of demo — real life is always a little messy.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who checked in while I was away. Your messages, comments, and nudges (like “we miss your morning walk motivations” or “where are your reels?”) and of course the prayers, meant the world.

As Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed, often reminds us, life is “brutiful”…both brutal and beautiful. So here’s to living a little more brutifully: teaching, sharing, and learning together and building spaces and lives that truly support us. [If you haven’t read Untamed it yet, you can find it here.]

I’m so glad to be bacK…and I can’t wait to keep sharing with you

through Cocó Curated Living!

Save this inspiration to Pinterest!

If this post resonated, I’d love for you to join the list so you don’t miss the design ideas, inspiration, and stories coming next.

Giveaway!!! I’m gifting 3 copies of Untamed by Glennon Doyle!
Sign up by October 1st to enter. Winners announced in my newsletter!

NOTE: This giveaway is hosted by Cocó Curated Living. It is not sponsored by or affiliated with Amazon, Glennon Doyle, or the publisher.