Seeing bits and pieces of my family on the walls was just what I needed to feel settled going into Shabbos.

I

’m not saying I like this gig because I’m currently in the midst of a renovation myself, but then again, I’m not saying I don’t.

In my previous house, I was dedicated to accumulating all sorts of fun art: children’s projects, framed to enhance their nostalgia and saturation; family photos, enlarged and printed on resin; vintage mirrors and maps, which I encourage you to source for your own homes; and Judaica, vibrant and meaningful.

Once the renovation kicked off, we moved into a rental home. The move was on a Wednesday, and by candle-lighting on Friday, every single little piece was hung. I say this not to laud my own organizational skills, nor to impose any kind of pressure checklist in your lives. It felt uncomplicated to me: individualized memorabilia have a way of personalizing a space like few other things can. And while this current home is temporary, it was so important to me to transform it into a place that felt like ours. Seeing bits and pieces of my family on the walls was just what I needed to feel settled going into Shabbos.

And really, regardless of your lifestyle, personalizing a space is a universal premise. While our dwellings are all temporary, it is the little injections of life, of family, of personality, that transform them from a house to a home. I’m off to water my asparagus fern from last issue

Rivki Rabinowitz
Editor, Family Room